Airport Express and HP Printer

Question

Level 1

0 points

Airport Express and HP Printer

Hello,

I just got my Airport Express working with my Linksys Router, works great!
I want to connect my HP USB Printer.

Currently i use the printer directly connected to my Windows PC in which i can print only on the computer and it's not wireless.

I want to connect it to my Airport Express, and be able to Print Wirelessly,
I tried to configure it but it is just not being detected in the Airport Utility, Is there a compatability issue going on?

The Printer model is HEWLETT-PACKARD PSC 1215 (ALL IN ONE SERIES)

Please advise,

Thanks,

Pushkar

Apple Dual Core 2.16GHZ Macbook, Mac OS X (10.5.2), Windows XP MCE PC

Posted on Mar 25, 2008 9:31 AM

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Answer 1

Tesserax

Level 10

148,453 points

Mar 25, 2008 9:58 AM in response to PushkarPatel

Unfortunately, not all USB printers are compatible with AirPort base stations. In addition, the AirPort's USB port does not support the "advanced" printer functions, like scanning, copying or faxing, of multi-function printers.

To see if your printer is compatible, take a look at one of these iFelix Unofficial AirPort Printer Compatibility links, depending on which AirPort base station you have:
o 802.11g AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS) or AirPort Express Base Station (AX)
o 802.11n AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBSn)

If your printer isn't listed, it doesn't necessarily mean it won't work, but simply that it has not been verified. iFelix also provides the following workaround for printers not on the list that would certainly be worth a try.

Also you can try this Apple Tech Support article to see if it will help: Printer troubleshooting for AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express

Here are some additional references:
o HP All-in-One, Photosmart and Deskjet Products - Mac OS: Connecting to USB Port of Wireless Routers
o HP Printers - Mac OS: Which Units Are Supported on a Network with a Macintosh Computer

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Answer 2

Apr 17, 2008 1:54 AM in response to PushkarPatel

I had the same problem. What I did was go into the 'system preferences' and click on 'print and fax.'

next I manually put in the printer (while my airport express wireless network was connected to my MBP - you push the + button under the blank column.

My printer (HP deskjet 5650) was already recognized by my computer because I printed on it via USB, so I had to click on it, and when the computer found it under my network. I saved the preferences, and exited out.

Hopefully this works. It did for me, only after 5 hours.

PS. on the ifelix list, the HP deskjet 5650 apparently isn't compatible. But mine is!

-Kyle

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