Airport extreme as a print server

I am trying to get printers set up on my airport extrememe and I am having little to no success.


Printers: Dymo labelwriter 450 Turbo

Zebra LP2844


I am able to get the Dymo recognized by the airport xtreme, but It will not print to it, I just get "printer offline" in the print que.


I can not find the Lp2844 at all when plugged in with USB to the APXtreme.


Both printers will work when plugged directly into my Macbook Pro. (Mojave 10.14.2)


Any general help on getting printers to work through the Airport would be great. Specifically to these printers would be even better.

Posted on Jan 22, 2019 6:40 PM

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Jan 22, 2019 10:57 PM in response to Romannchavannes

If you are trying to plug in both printers at once I presume you are trying to use a USB hub? Not all hubs are compatible.


So test first by plugging the printer directly to the USB port on the Extreme.


Apple's instructions are not particularly helpful.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203159


But it can be a problem caused by the printer being previously plugged into the computer and now plugged in by USB.


Apple recommends you clear all printers before you start.. Then attempt to add the printer.


Some printers simply are not compatible with sharing over a network.


If you can load the printer and it is recognised by the computer as available on the network but still refuses to print, try changing setup so the computer is linked directly to the Airport Extreme and not via another router. This can be crucial where bonjour is not recognised by the main router.


It would help if you described the network.

What is your main router.. make and model??


How is the Extreme connected and in what configuration? Bridge or as router?


Can you get the computer to directly connect to the Extreme if it is using wireless or ethernet from the main router which is NON-APPLE?


It should be possible to directly connect to a printer using IPP method .. I will test this and post back some screenshots if it works.

Jan 22, 2019 11:35 PM in response to LaPastenague

I have run out of edit time.


Apparently the firmware of the Lp2844 matters.


https://sellercentral.amazon.com/forums/t/wifi-wirelss-adapter-for-zebra-printer/142748


There is a good chance if you got it from shipping company it simply is not going to work.


The article also lists other (real.. ie non-apple print sharing devices.. like TP-Link)

You can often pick these up for a few dollars.


It might then be possible to use it via IPP instead of bonjour printer..


In the end.. it is better to save your money and just buy a new wireless printer that is airprint compatible.


OR


Plug the printer into a computer.. and share it with the network.. again that solves the problem of print servers and drivers.


As a btw.. the older airport utility is better to use with setting up printers.. at least you can see them.



My old canon printer has no drivers after Mountain Lion.. sad. Makes it useless.. very sad!!


But at least you can see if utility can actually see the printer.


The latest airport utility is useless.

If you have old mac running older firmware it might suit as a print server.. or for setup.. even windows would work to load the old utility so you can see what is going on.

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Airport extreme as a print server

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