Once you get the settings straight, this printer is A+. This review will not focus on it's advertised features, but I can confirm that it does indeed do everything it says it will, fantastically. For a more in depth review on that kind of stuff, look at the other reviews. Really nothing more can be said that has not already been said.
First off, let me start off by saying that this printer was a pain in the butt to setup. I have been tinkering with and building computers since the mid 90's, and this one threw me for a loop for a few hours. After searching and searching and toggling this and toggling that, I was finally able to remedy the "Deep Sleep" issue that most, if not all, OSX/iOS users have with this printer.
The printer would work great for a few minutes, then you'd hear a click inside of the machine followed by unresponsiveness and "Deep Sleep" on the screen. Nothing would "bring it to life" but a reboot of the machine. You could not pull toner levels from it, load it's browser-based interface, or send print jobs. Upgrading the firmware seemed to fix a lot of people's' problems but it did not fix my problem.
To cut to the chase, these are the 3 settings I changed to fix this problem. They're accessed in the printers browser-based settings. You might have success changing these on the actual printer itself, but I did not try this. To access this page on Windows, open your web browser and for the URL, put in the IP of the printer. For example, my printer is set to the IP of 10.0.0.177 so I simply typed that in the address bar of Chrome and pressed enter. If you do not know your printers IP, on the printer, press Menu then goto Network> WLAN> TCP/IP> IP Address.
Once you're at the web-interface, these are the settings that I changed:
General Tab> Status> Automatic Refresh: On
1) Network Tab> Wireless Sub-Tab> TCP/IP (Wireless)> Boot Method: STATIC
2) Network Tab> Wireless Sub-Tab> TCP/IP (Wireless)> Enable APIPA: UN-CHECKED
3) Network Tab> Wireless Sub-Tab> TCP/IP (Wireless)> IPv6 Sub-Menu> IPv6: Enabled
All other settings left stock.
It will prompt you to restart the printer, and once it's back on, everything should be golden. All setttings work like a charm INCLUDING airprint! Many people were having problems with that. You will also notice that the printer responds very quickly when accessing various settings and data through the browser-interface.
This fix worked for my wireless setup, the same should go for a wired setup too. While changing the settings, goto Wired instead of Wireless. Good luck to you all.
Live this printer. The ONLY thing that I do not like about it is the ink. You can only use brother because the cartridges have a microchip on them. So you cannot use the cheaper refills.
Just installed and have successfully: Scanned to PC, Airprint (iPhone), print from Desktop PC (running Windows), and Macbook Air Laptop. None of these devices is wired, but I DID connect the printer via Ethernet to my Motorola Router/Modem combo. I used the provided disc to install on my Windows Desktop PC, and then after installing, it asked if I would like to make the available updates (just two) and those updates were under a minute combined. Overall having to mess with the wires behind my entertainment center in order to get the cables connected took longer than the actual installation of the printer which makes me VERY happy.
Like other reviewers, I went back and forth on whether to order this model bc of the negative reviews - but when I filtered OUT the reviews for the L2540DW and focused on the newer model L2550DW, I saw some of the complaints (most of which were negligible) and focused on installing the printer via ethernet to make it easier, which it was. I can't speak to setup via wireless Wi-Fi only (that seems to be the big complaint, but setting up past printers or even a new internet connection in a new apartment without an ethernet is always a hassle), but I will say so far I am happy with the print quality and speed of install. If you're going to setup via Wi-Fi only, I would do as other reviewers suggested and go straight to the Brother site to download the software prior to install.
I also turned off "DEEP SLEEP" mode right away at the suggestion of MPFerry(thanks!) as follows:
"On the printer:
1. Menu button
2. 1. General Setup then OK
3. 2. Ecology then OK
4. 3. Sleep Time then OK
5. While you see the sleep number, push Minus button and Stop/Exit button at the same time
6. DEEP SLEEP mode - push Minus button for OFF then OK
This should turn off Deep Sleep mode permanently! (Or at least until the next firmware update is installed, then you may have to do it again.)"
Now, to override the alert Brother gives you when it THINKS you are out of ink, I have user Allegra to thank for that as follows:
"Go to the buttons and follow these instructions:
MENU > GENERAL SETTINGS
Press the down button (minus sign) until you get to REPLACE TONER
Hit OK
Please the down button (minus sign) until you see CONTINUE
Hit OK"
Planning on doing as others suggested and when it comes time to refill toner, removing the chip from the original Brother brand toner and saving to place on the generic toner I'll buy.
In order to scan to either of my Macbooks, I did need to install the drivers etc and download the iPrint&Scan app from Brother, but its not something I'm bothered by. I installed on my macbooks right away so I wouldn't have to think about it in the future. Is it annoying that I can't hit the scan button on the printer and just have it ask me which computer I'd like to send it to? Yes, but a minor inconvenience that didn't put me over.
Bottom line, if you're able to connect the printer to your network via ethernet - it'll save you a lot of trouble installing. Fix settings right away to turn off "Deep Sleep" mode, and force the printer to "Continue" past when it thinks you're out of toner.
I'll update if it takes poop.
I am writing this post mainly to share an important option on the printer. When you purchase the printer, it is defaulted to STOP printing when it senses that the toner is low, even when the print quality is still good (can't force it to print until the pages become streaky). This is stupid. You can log onto the ip address of the printer and change the settings that way, but there is a much easier way:
Go to the buttons and follow these instructions:
MENU > GENERAL SETTINGS
Press the down button (minus sign) until you get to REPLACE TONER
Hit OK
Please the down button (minus sign) until you see CONTINUE
Hit OK
That's it!
Even after the printer gives you the warning and stops printing/doesn't allow you to print because of low toner, if you change this setting, you can print again.
Okay, as for the rest of this review, unlike some other people, I had a difficult time figuring out how to set this printer up. I am definitely above average for your TYPICAL consumer (no formal computer training/expertise but very comfortable around electronics/gadgets) in terms of comfort with gadgets, but I found setup difficult. The instructions were not clear for me, and it took me a while to download and setup the driver and installation, including onto my tablet, phone, and other devices.
That said, now that it's actually all set up, I really enjoy the printer. I like that it is wireless and I can print from my laptop or other mobile devices easily. The quality is good, the reliability is good, and other that that, I have no complaints at all and would likely buy this printer again.
This is my third Brother laser printer and this one is by far the best one I have had. My two others were MFP, print, fax and scan, but they were not wireless nor were they network printers, but I had them plugged in to the router so I could print on the network, but couldn't scan unless I was hooked up directly. It was time for a new drum and let's face it the cost of these have come down so much that it was time for a new printer with wireless capabilities. I haven't sent a fax in years so this was the machine I wanted. It was a fair price and I was ready to get it installed and ready to print. The setup was easy, but if you have a Mac or want to use AirPrint on your IOS device keeping its connected to the network after its connected is a challenge or at least for me it was. I am glad I didn't write this review before I figured out my issues, honestly I was about ready to return the machine, but I am so glad I didn't.
There are reports all over the forums and on Amazon about this machined how it loses connection when going into "deep sleep" and in order to print, especially with a Mac you have to turn off the printer and then back on and even then it may not work. Also with AirPrint once it's in deep sleep AirPrint doesn't work from your IOS device either. One solution to this problem noted by Brother is to update the firmware. That's always a good thing, but it didn't work for me. After some searching for a few days I discovered it's not so much an issue with the printer as it is with the Mac itself. Mac recognizes network or wireless printers it finds with Bonjour. Unfortunately for some when the Brother printer is in deep sleep and the Mac has been "sleeping" and you wake up the Mac, Bonjour fails to connect. Not sure why, but for me that's what was happening. So to fix the issue instead of adding the printer through Bonjour, I added using the IP address of the printer and BAM.....it works like a charm. Finding the IP address is pretty simple, the manual tells you how to do it right from the printer. Now when I print, my Macs see the printer connection and wake up the printer to do a job, even in deep sleep, no issues. However, my IOS devices still could not see the printer once it went into deep sleep. The fix for this is even easier. Find the IP address and then type the IP address into your browser and it takes you to the printer's management page. From here all you need to do is check the box in the wireless tab to enable IPv6 and then submit. No need to do anything else, just check the box to enable IPv6 and submit. Now my IOS devices always see the AirPrinter and can print when ever it is needed without manually waking up the printer or restarting it. So now the printer is ready when I need it working as it was intended.
Feature Product
- FLEXIBLE PRINTING - The Brother Digital Multifunction Copier offers flexible printing and scanning features including duplex (two-sided) printing and the ability to handle multiple sizes of paper, including card stock, envelopes, and more, to allow you to create professional-looking documents
- DYNAMIC FEATURES - Perfect for the home or small office, this digital copier (replacement for the DCPL2540DW) has a 250-sheet paper capacity, which improves efficiency by requiring fewer refills of legal or letter-sized paper. Maximum Monthly Duty Cycle- 15,000 printed pages. Recommended Monthly Print Volume- 2,000
- ENGINEERED FOR PRODUCTIVITY - A 50-sheet automatic document feeder saves you time with multiple-page copy and scan features. A built-in Ethernet network interface allows for sharing with multiple users on your network or connect locally to a single computer via its USB interface
- MOBILE PRINTING - Send print jobs to the Brother DCP-L2550DW via various devices including smartphones, desktops, tablets, and laptops(2)
- EXCEPTIONAL SUPPORT - Free at-your-side support, online or via phone or live chat, for the life of your digital multi-function copier;Mobile Device Compatibility: AirPrint, Google Cloud Print 2.0, Brother iPrint&Scan, Mopria, Cortado Workplace, Wi-Fi Direct
- AMAZON DASH REPLENISHMENT ENABLED: Upon activation, Amazon Dash Replenishment measures the toner level and orders more from Amazon when it's low. Wireless 802.11 b/g/n, Ethernet, 10/100 Base-TX Ethernet, Wi Fi Direct, Hi-Speed USB 2.0. Noise Level- LpAm=49 dB(A)
Description
The Brother DCP-L2550DW is the ideal choice for the busy home or small office looking for a fast, reliable multi-function copier. A replacement for the dependable DCP-L2540DW, this new and improved multiple-use copier includes a 50-sheet automatic document feeder, which allows multi-page copying and scanning, and class-leading print speeds of up to 36 pages per minute for increased efficiency. This printer and copier has a reliable Wi-Fi connection, which allows printing from wireless devices including desktops, smartphones, laptops, and tablets. For those who prefer hardwire connections, there’s an Ethernet interface for sharing with multiple users on your network. You can also connect locally to a single computer via USB interface.
Speed and efficiency are trademarks of the new Brother DCP-L2550DW multi-purpose digital copier. The 250-sheet paper tray handles letter- and legal-sized paper, reducing the need for refills. Automatic duplex (2-sided) printing also saves paper and creates professional-looking documents for presentations, newsletters, and other common office needs. Help to save money by using Brother Genuine high-yield replacement cartridges (TN-760), which are available through Amazon (also compatible with TN-730 replacement toner cartridge).
The Brother Digital Multi-Purpose Copier comes with a one-year limited warranty and free at-your-side support, online or via phone or live chat, for the life of your printer. At Brother, we want to ensure that your experience with us is exceptional. If your home or small office is looking for an efficient and user-friendly digital copier, add the Brother DCP-L2550DW to your Amazon shopping cart today.
(1) Based on competing in-class monochrome laser multifunction printers under 300-dollars. Print speed specifications gathered from manufacturer websites as of 1/9/2017.(2) Requires connection to a wireless network.(3) TN-760 High Yield vs. TN-730 Standard Yield. Up to two times more prints and lower printing costs based on yields and MSRP. Standard Yield and High-yield cartridges sold separately.(4) Approx. toner cartridge yield in accordance with ISO/IEC 19752 (letter/A4).(5) Reprinted from PCMag with permission. Copyright 2017 Ziff Davis, LLC. All Rights Reserved.(6) Approx. 300 pages per month in accordance with ISO/IEC 19752 (Letter/A4) using the 2 toners provided in box.(7) The mobile device must have NFC capability and run Android OS 4.4 or later.
This printer is satisfactory for me in all respects. It is inexpensive to operate, particularly when using off-label toner cartridges. It does a great job of scanning and printing, whether one page at a time or many pages at once (using the document feeder). It is fast. One thing that used to bug me was the way it tells me the toner is low when it isn't. I found the solution on youtube, but I'm giving it here also:
To RESET TONER and avoid “toner low” message:
Proceed quite rapidly after the first step. If you go slowly, it will revert back to a default screen and you'll have to start over.
1. Open printer front cover as if you were changing the printer cartridge - then go to keypad.
2. Press “okay” and wait for screen to go blank
3. Press “start.”
4. Press “up” arrow and then “down” arrow. The screen should say "00."
5. Press “okay.”
6. Close front cover.
Bought this for my mother in law. Works great, she only prints occasionally and primarily uses a tablet. Her IPad Mini maxed out at IOS 9.3.5 and the brother printer utility needs 10.x and above. So only her Android tablet can print, no real issue, just beware. Takes a minute for the print job to get routed wirelessly, just be patient. Good copy functions and automatic document feeder worked fine. Only real complaint is the cost of the toner. Brother branded toner will run ~$70 for a high capacity drum. I am pretty sure the firmware will prohibit using third party toner vendors so be careful. Overall this will work for her quite well. Remember, this is a basic entry level MFD with duplex printing without color. In that capacity it works very well.
Print what you want, whenever you want. This is my first laser printer. I bought this a just over a year ago and have gone through 2 reams of paper and I am still on the starter cartridge! Amazing! It scans great and copies great as well. I have no complaints as this is the best printer I've ever had. Very inexpensive for printing paper. The only thing that I've had to give up is color printing, which I have realized, that I don't actually need all that much. I was back in school using my GI Bill and had no problem printing my papers and assignments. I might upgrade to a Brother color laser printer this year and give this printer to my sons who are also in college. This is absolutely a great product that will save you money and hassles. I'm only upset because I didn't switch to laser printers long ago instead of wasting all that time, money, and aggravation on ink jet printers.
LIKES
Extremely economical. A year later and having printed 2 reams of paper, I am still on the original starter toner cartridge
No problem waking up from sleep mode
Like all modern printers, can be connected by USB, or as a wireless network printer
Scan quality is great
No printheads to clog, unlike ink jet printers. Print what you want, whenever you want.
DISLIKES
This is only a lower level laser printer, so color not an option. Would need to upgrade to another model for color.
Like all laser printers, might need a few seconds to warm up when first printing
Like other laser printers, slightly louder than an ink jet when printing
12/23/2017 Update:
I finally replaced the starter toner cartridge after going through 6 reams of paper. Great value! I print when I want and whenever I want without worrying to worry if there is still ink in the printer. This brother laser printer has been great so far, it scans great and makes copies, and I print from whatever mobile device I want to, from our cell phones, tablets, laptops, and the desktop. Great investment! Stop wasting money on inkjets, go laser - you won't regret it.
Printer arrived today, and I was able to set it up and install the software without a single glitch. I'm running Windows 8.1 and using a local USB interface. The reason for the purchase is my Canon inkjet died, and I needed a business-capable laser printer. I've had three Canon inkjet printers but I used at least two Brother laser printers previous to the Canon inkjets. There is a considerable difference between this DCP-L2550DW MFC printer, and the previous Brother laser printers besides the glitch-free install. The Windows print driver is far improved with more feature control and ease of use. Brother has a separate printer utility, iPrint & Scan, that provides a print and scan UI for document and image printing and scanning, it is very easy to use, and it is a vast improvement over the Canon print/scan utility. There is a third software, Nuance PaperPort, that is an impressive document management tool and includes a fast PDF reader. The install CD gave me the option to bypass the Nuance Paperport install and install it later. If you don't have a CD player in your machine, you can download the installer from the Brother support web page. During the install, the installer utility also installed printer firmware updates without a glitch. I have printed a text document, and graphic document, and the print quality is impressive. BTW, the printer woke up from a sleep and printed those documents without a glitch. The printer is quiet and the print speed is amazing. Being brand new, I cannot speak to the long term reliability of this printer but here are a few things I learned in my research: the older version of this printer, a Brother 2540 model, is the source of the vast majority of negative reviews for this printer--whether the 2540 or 2550 model. On the first dozen pages of negative reviews, only four pertained to the 2550 model, and three of those four reviews were wireless problems. Wireless printer problems are not unique to Brother printers; they are ubiquitous. If you think about it, the wireless challenge is to make a device in deep sleep mode respond to an interrupt signal--something humans don't like to do--and the majority of the negative reviews are expressing frustration with this challenge. I have returned a Kodak printer due to wireless problems. For these reasons, I stay with tech that works: local USB. The competitor printer nearest in features to this Brother printer is the Dell E514dw, and I noticed the Dell uses the same printer chassis as the Brother 2540 model but the Dell comes with a 10,000 monthly page duty cycle, and this Brother DCP-L2550DW comes with a 15,000 monthly duty cycle. Maybe the duty cycle difference is significant, maybe not (remember: "your MPG may vary") but I went with the higher duty cycle number. I didn't think I would have any install problems for a local USB connection but Brother has a support web site that is easier to use than Dell, and Brother comes with free telephone support if you need it. Bottom line: the 2550 model--including the bundled software--is impressive so far.
So -- I saw some reviews that said it was a med-difficult setup and I thought I'd write about the ridiculously easy time I had. I'm a Mac and a PC user, primarily Mac. Did NOT need a USB or Ethernet cable. I *have* set up other wireless printers before. However, this is not hard. Truly.
It took about 5 minutes to remove all the packing, insert the drum/printer cartridge and paper. Probably would have been faster, but had to go track down the paper.
READING THE Quick Start Instructions, I decided I'd go with the "Alternative wireless setup" directions rather than connect each computer/mobile device (even though the directions say Brother recommends configuring wireless settings from computer). If I have the printer on the network, then each device (Mac or PC) can find the printer like in any normal wireless environment.
Again. FOLLOWING THE EASY Quick Start Instructions exactly, I found my network using the Setup Wizard and used the up/down keys to enter the "key" or network password. Our password is 24 characters long and this took MAYBE 2 minutes. If you hold either key down, it will go through faster than repeatedly pressing the keys. PRO TIP: If you need to get to the alphabet first, use the Up key, if you need a character, start with the Down key. Either key will get you the whole alphabet and character list.
Saved everything and immediately went to my phone and printed off a note to test it.
And voila! All done!
UPDATE: For those who want to know about printing from the computers in our home, I used the "Find Printer" functions on our Macs and our PCs and the printer was found, Apple will auto-download the correct driver so that's super easy. Not hard to find in Win10 either. And in less than 5 minutes per device, was printing. SERIOUSLY -- YOU CAN DO THIS!! Even if you've never set up a wireless printer. This is an incredible price for a copier/printer and all the other functions. And it has (for me) a super small footprint. I could not be happier with this purchase.
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