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G Colin
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Can AirPort Express Base Station 704b2d be set up with AirPrint for? iPad 3

Trying to set up Airprint for iPad 3

Have AirPort  Express purchased in 2007.  My iPad gives me a message that  "THE AIRPORT EXPRESS NAMED "BASE STATION 704b2d" CANNOT BE SET UP BY THIS SOFTWARE.

Any help will be appreciated.

Cole

Posted on Aug 30, 2013 7:43 PM

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G Colin

Q: Can AirPort Express Base Station 704b2d be set up with AirPrint for? iPad 3

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  • Helpful answers

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Aug 30, 2013 7:49 PM in response to G Colin
    Level 9 (50,243 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 30, 2013 7:49 PM in response to G Colin

    Your AirPort Express is too old to be configured with the iOS version of AirPort Utility. You need to configure it using a computer.

     

    Mac versions

     

    Lion, Mountain Lion: AirPort Utility 5.6 (using this workaround)

    Snow Leopard: AirPort Utility 5.6.1


    Windows versions

     

    Windows XP SP3, Vista SP2, Windows 7 SP1 or later: AirPort Utility 5.5.3 for Windows

  • by Diavonex,

    Diavonex Diavonex Aug 30, 2013 7:52 PM in response to G Colin
    Level 9 (66,730 points)
    Aug 30, 2013 7:52 PM in response to G Colin

    If your iPad is already connected to the Airport Express and working, follow the steps below to enable AirPrint.

     

     

    Setup AirPrint Printer

     

    1. Buy an AirPrint enabled printer; see list below

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4356

     

    2. Run the CD provided and set printer and iPad on the same network

     

    3. Start printing from your iPad using AirPrint

  • by G Colin,

    G Colin G Colin Aug 30, 2013 9:01 PM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 30, 2013 9:01 PM in response to John Galt

    Thanks for your patience. This is my first discussion.

    Here's my problem.

    My Airport links my PowerBook G4 to our HP PHOTOSMART 3310 wireless printer.

    If I get a new Airport which one do I get?

    Our devices that want to be connected are:  PowerBook G4 (Mac OS 10.5.8),

                                                                     iPad 3,

                                                                     iPhone 4S,

                                                                     MacBook Pro (Mac OS X 10.7.5)

                                                                     HP Photosmart 7520

                                                                     HP Photosmart 3310

    Is there any Airport that will work with all of this stuff so we can Airprint from the iPad and iPhone?

    I hope this is clear.

    Cole

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Aug 30, 2013 10:05 PM in response to G Colin
    Level 9 (50,243 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 30, 2013 10:05 PM in response to G Colin

    Thanks, yes that's clear, though I'm afraid the answer won't be

     

    Your original AirPort Express can be configured with your PowerBook G4 just fine, but it's too old to be configured with your newer MacBook Pro without resorting to a somewhat inconvenient workaround. Therefore, use your PowerBook to configure the Express, should that be necessary. It's not necessary if your network is already functioning though.

     

    I didn't go far back enough in the links I posted regarding Mac versions of AirPort Utility. For your G4, download and install AirPort Utility 5.5.3. That should work for your Express, and there will be no pressing need to purchase a new AirPort Base Station.

     

    If you decide to buy a new Express or Extreme though, you will need to configure it with your newer MacBook Pro or one of your iOS devices. The PowerBook will connect to its wireless network without any problem, but it can run no version of AirPort Utility capable of configuring any current production AirPort Base Station.

     

    As far as AirPrint is concerned, your HP Photosmart 7520 is an AirPrint - enabled printer, but the 3310 is not. If you require that printer to be available for AirPrint on your iOS devices, the most cost-effective solution for you might be this dedicated AirPrint print server from Lantronix:

     

    http://www.lantronix.com/it-management/xprintserver/xprintserver.html

     

    There are workarounds that can enable your MacBook Pro to act as an AirPrint print server, but the disadvantage would be that the MacBook Pro would need to be connected to power and have its lid open for it to be available for printing purposes. Research the following two products:

     

    handyPrint (donation-supported)

    Printopia ($19.95 with free trial)

     

    Your wireless router - in your case, the Express - is an essential link in the AirPrint communication chain. Off the top of my head I am not certain if your original Express will support the protocol required for AirPrint but I believe it does. I no longer have one that I can test.