Printing to AppleTalk printer via Ethernet

Question

I’ve read all the pages I could find about this topic, and several threads on this forum, and tried everything suggested but I still can’t get my Mac Mini with OS X 10.7.4 to print to my HP printer.
My hardware setup is thus: HP LaserJet 6MP is connected by its AppleTalk cable through an AsanteTalk bridge to an Ethernet hub. (There is also a DSL box connected to the same hub). The hub is connected to my Mac Mini via the Ethernet port. This setup worked fine with my old eMac with 10.3.9. The printer was recognized automatically and I did not need to do any special setup, at least with 10.3.9. I understand that Apple dropped support for AppleTalk with Snow Leopard, but is there any possible way to make this work?
I bought a Mac Mini with OSX 10.7.4, and I have connected the same hub to the Mac Mini via the Ethernet port. The DSL works fine. But I am unable to print. I have read through the following pages and tried everything suggested on these pages:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4670
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4507
http://gigaom.com/apple/how-to-resurrect-your-appletalk-printer-in-snow-leopard/
What I have done to set up the printer is:
1) I have downloaded the latest HP drivers and run Software Update today, to verify that all my software is current.
2) I powered down everything and then powered everything back up starting with the printer, then the hub, then the Mac.
3) In System Preferences -> Network, I noted that it says “Ethernet is currently active and has the IP address 76.212.150.40” So I am assuming the IP address of the printer is 76.212.150.40 However I'm not sure if I'm correct in assuming that.
4) I ran Terminal and typed PING 76.212.150.40 and got a series of replies,
64 bytes from 76.212.150.40: icmp_seq=0 ttl=64 time=0.071 ms and so forth.
5)I go to System Preferences -> Print & Scan. I click the + to add a printer, then the IP icon. For Protocol I have tried all 3 options, but the last time I chose Line Pinter Daemon - LPD for the protocol, because it’s an old printer.
6) For the address I put in 76.212.150.40
7) The “Print using” field came up automatically with Generic PostScript Printer, but I chose Select Printer Software... and chose HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - Postscript.
8) I click “Add” and I get a warning message, “Unable to verify the printer on your network. It cannot be currently determined if ‘76.212.150.40” supports the Line Printer Daemon Protocol. Would you still like to create the queue?” I click Continue.
9) The next dialog box asks me to verify my printer’s options (the only one is Total Memory and I set that to “6 Mb or more” because the printer has 7 Mb of memory. I click OK.
10) The printer shows up in the list of printers. Under it says, “Idle, Last Used.” I print a test page of one sentence, using Tex-Edit Plus. The printer’s status changes to “In use” in printer list. In the Print Queue, it says that it is printing my document, but under that it says “The printer is busy.” And it stays like that.
I have tried deleting that printer, and adding it again with all the above steps. I have also powered down the whole system and started up again. Now it says, “The printer is not responding.” and if I turn the printer and hub off and then back on again, I am back to “The printer is busy” message.
Is the problem here that I am trying to still use AppleTalk or LocalTalk? Besides the LocalTalk port, the printer also has 2 parallel ports (a B-type and a C-type) and an infrared port that I have never used. Would a parallel-to-USB cable or adapter solve this?
Is the problem that the DSL is interfering with the communication between the Mac and the printer? Is the problem with OSX 10.7.4? Or did I make a mistake in the setup process?
Is there a solution for this or will I have to buy a new printer? The printer still works fine and worked well with 10.3.9. I would hate to just discard the HP LaserJet because it is a workhorse that has printed over 120,000 pages for me and still seems perfectly useable.
Thanks for any help or suggestions.

Answer 1

BADD wrote:
Matt
You suggested earlier that "The only way you can print to an AppleTalk printer from OS  X 10.6 or later is if the printer is a shared printer running on a Mac running OS X 10.5 or earlier. 
I am using a Macbook Pro with 10.7.4 and like Bob Weaver, I have tried all of his methods as well. What is the set up as you describe above. I have an old HP laserjet 5m with the Directjet.
To be absolute about things, I should change that wording to indicate AppleTalk only printers need to be shared from a Mac running OS X 10.5 or earlier.
You have a JetDirect card that allows for other connections/protocols other than AppleTalk.
I am trying to use it with my mac using an ethernet cable. I cannot ping it, I cannot see it but my ethernet shows its connected with the green light. The HP is a work horse and I would hate to turn it into a door stop. Iv'e printed the config sheet and have entered the IP address with no luck.
I cuurently use a Netgear Wireless Router/Modem and have tried using its ethernet ports as well but I continue to have no luck. Can I print to this thing or is it a paperweight
You appear to be on the right track here, but you appear to need to make some changes to the JetDirect setting to use it on your network.  I have never worked with a JetDirect card, so I cannot give you all the specifics.  Bob Weaver's post will probably be of more help than my outline.  You may also want to search the Apple Discussion boards a bit more -- especially the OS X 10.6 archives.  There were a lot of posts regarding switching over from AppleTalk to network cards.
The basics are:
1.  Set the JetDirect card to use a routable address that your router can use.  You can look at the router's configuration to get the expected range of addresses and the gateway address for the router.  You will also need to pay attention to the subnet mask to make sure the two devices are on the same network.
2.  I generally recommend that you reserve an IP address on the router for the printer.  You will need the JetDirect's MAC address to do this.  The benefits of setting a static IP address for the printer is that you can power down the printer assuming it will hold the set address.  This saves a lot of time and headaches.
3.  When you configure the printer with the static IP address, subnet mask, and router gateway, be sure to turn off the option for it to get its address using DHCP.  That is, you don't want the printer to get a new address from the router every time you power it up or down.