needymacuser
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Printer to AirPort Extreme problems.

Having connected my Epson SP 1400 printer to my AirPort Extreme as suggested in the Setup Guide, I am continuously told that my printer is not connected.

I have been through all the suggested proceedures, both in the trouble shooting section of the setup guide, and the usual 'How To' suggestions on the internet, but to no avail. The printer list shows my printer as being active, but off-line, or unconnected.

Any suggestions as to how I might remedy this problem would be greatly appreciated.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Oct 6, 2013 10:59 PM

by John Galt,Solvedanswer
John Galt John Galt
Level 8 (49,601 points)
Mac OS X
A:

needymacuser wrote:

 

... I have been through all the suggested proceedures,

 

Review the following to ensure all the suggested procedures did not omit something helpful:

 

Mac Basics: Printing in OS X Mountain Lion & OS X Lion

 

Troubleshooting printer issues in OS X

 

If you are still stuck, consider resetting the printing system in accordance with the following:

 

Mac OS X: How to reset the printing system

 

After you do that you will need to add the printer again according to the instructions here:

 

OS X Mountain Lion: Set up a printer

 

The instructions are identical for Lion.

 

If that does not result in success, "hard reset" your Extreme to preclude the possibility of a corrupted internal parameter that is preventing your printer from working. After it resets you will need to reconfigure it:

 

To "hard reset" an AirPort Base Station: make sure it's powered up, then press and hold its tiny reset button and keep it depressed for five to ten seconds, long enough for its LED to flash amber rapidly. Release the reset button. Then, the LED will glow amber steadily for about a minute. Then, it will flash amber, slowly, about once every second or two, waiting for you to configure it with AirPort Utility.

 

If that does not help, the possibility of a printer malfunction should be examined.

 

If none of the above helps, write back for more recommendations.

Posted on Oct 7, 2013 9:49 AM

Close
needymacuser

Q: Printer to AirPort Extreme problems.

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by John Galt,Solvedanswer

    John Galt John Galt Oct 7, 2013 9:49 AM in response to needymacuser
    Level 8 (49,601 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 7, 2013 9:49 AM in response to needymacuser

    needymacuser wrote:

     

    ... I have been through all the suggested proceedures,

     

    Review the following to ensure all the suggested procedures did not omit something helpful:

     

    Mac Basics: Printing in OS X Mountain Lion & OS X Lion

     

    Troubleshooting printer issues in OS X

     

    If you are still stuck, consider resetting the printing system in accordance with the following:

     

    Mac OS X: How to reset the printing system

     

    After you do that you will need to add the printer again according to the instructions here:

     

    OS X Mountain Lion: Set up a printer

     

    The instructions are identical for Lion.

     

    If that does not result in success, "hard reset" your Extreme to preclude the possibility of a corrupted internal parameter that is preventing your printer from working. After it resets you will need to reconfigure it:

     

    To "hard reset" an AirPort Base Station: make sure it's powered up, then press and hold its tiny reset button and keep it depressed for five to ten seconds, long enough for its LED to flash amber rapidly. Release the reset button. Then, the LED will glow amber steadily for about a minute. Then, it will flash amber, slowly, about once every second or two, waiting for you to configure it with AirPort Utility.

     

    If that does not help, the possibility of a printer malfunction should be examined.

     

    If none of the above helps, write back for more recommendations.

  • by needymacuser,

    needymacuser needymacuser Oct 7, 2013 11:27 PM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 7, 2013 11:27 PM in response to John Galt

    John,

     

    Thanks for your very helpful advice, it helped me get my printer up and running in no time.

     

    Now, can you tell me if I can set up to print from my iPad through AirPort Extreme.?

     

    Once again, I would appreciate any advice you could give.

     

    The less experienced and less knowledgable mac users among us, should be very grateful that that we have people like you to help us out of situations like this. I know I am!

     

    Thanks again, and regards,

     

    Cedric Martin

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Oct 8, 2013 12:00 AM in response to needymacuser
    Level 8 (49,601 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 8, 2013 12:00 AM in response to needymacuser

    Glad to help.

    Now, can you tell me if I can set up to print from my iPad through AirPort Extreme.?

     

    That is literally another subject altogether.

     

    To print directly from an iPad you need an AirPrint - enabled printer on the same wireless network as the iPad. Your Epson SP 1400 is a USB-only printer: no AirPrint.

     

    Workarounds for making an iPad to print to your Epson printer exist, but they involve varying amounts of money or inconvenience:

     

    1. Using your Mac as an AirPrint print server

     

    Search for the following products:

     

     

    These are utilities you install on the Mac you normally use for printing, enabling it to act as an AirPrint print server. The Mac must be "on" but may be asleep for them to work. The iPad needs nothing else, no iOS apps need to be installed and no configuration is necessary. If your computer can print, so can the iPad, using one of these utilities on your Mac.

     

    2. Free iOS apps available from printer manufacturers may enable printing directly from your iPad to selected printers. Search for them in the App Store. Success with such apps tends to be unpredictable, and their integration with other iOS apps that can print is often incomplete.

     

    3. You can also buy this standalone hardware AirPrint print server, bypassing the need for a computer altogether:

     

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

    ​  

    It is the most expensive option but it has the advantage of being able to print to any printer on your network, even older ones that may predate AirPrint by decades.