Can't print to USB printer through my AirPort Express

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Level 1

9 points

Can't print to USB printer through my AirPort Express

I'm unable to print wirelessly from my MacBook Pro (Catalina 10.15.7) through an AirPort Express (2nd gen) that's connected to my Epson Stylus Pro 3880 printer via USB. My MacBook seems to "see" the printer just fine! For example, Printers & Scanners > Epson Printer > Options & Supplies > Supply Levels shows all the various ink levels. But when I send a test page to the printer it sits in the print queue for a while, and then after about 5 minutes it disappears from the queue, without printing. While it's in the queue, it shows a status of "Printing - Connected to a printer." A document from, say, MS Word, just sits in the queue but doesn't print.

Previously, I was able to print to my Epson printer via USB from my AirPort Express, from a Windows 10 machine (that's now dead). Now I'm trying the same approach for the first time with my MacBook Pro, and it's not working.

Things I've tried:

If I connect my MacBook Pro directly to the printer via the same USB cable, it prints just fine. I believe this rules out any issues with either the Epson print drivers or the USB cable.
I tried Printers & Scanners > Right-click on the printer > Reset Printing System. And then re-adding the Epson printer (and a wireless HP printer as well).
I tried resetting my AirPort Extreme (via AirPort Utility) and reconfiguring it. I used "Network Mode: Join a wireless network." (Which is how I had it set when I was printing just fine from my old Windows machine.)
I wouldn't think it should matter, but I tried connecting my MacBook Pro via an Ethernet cable to the same router that the AirPort Express is (wirelessly) connected to. (Vs. using the MacBook wirelessly, as I usually do.)

Any ideas/suggestions?

Many thanks -- Steve

Posted on Dec 22, 2020 10:47 AM

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Answer 1

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

23,395 points

Dec 22, 2020 7:04 PM in response to ssickels

Addendum II

You mentioned that it is a 2nd generation AirPort Express:

AirPort Express 802.11n (2nd Generation) - Technical Specifications

Have you tried to connect the Stylus Pro 3880 to the Ethernet LAN port of the AirPort Express?

For questions about how to use the AirPort Express, you may want to post in the AirPort - Apple Community.

https://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1613/en_US/airport_express_80211n_2nd_gen_setup_guide.pdf

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Answer 2

ssickels Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 23, 2020 4:37 AM in response to Jan Hedlund

Hi Jan -- Many thanks for all the ideas; appreciated!! I'll work through your suggestions and will let you know how it goes. (It may take a few days...)

I'll address a few points that you raised:

Re Addendum II: The Ethernet port on my Epson doesn't work; only the USB port does. So I can't use the AirPort Express's LAN port. Background: I had always used the Epson with a TP-Link wireless (USB) print server, but it was so unreliable that several years ago I switched to the AirPort Express (much better!). When I switched, I also tried (for the first time) using the Epson's Ethernet port, but it didn't work -- even when connected directly to my MacBook Pro. Hours of on-the-phone Epson tech support/troubleshooting determined that the Ethernet port was non-functional. At that point, it was out of warranty, and because the AirPort Express worked fine for a USB connection, I didn't bother sending it in to get the Ethernet port fixed.
Re Addendum: And yes, the reason I don't use a fully wired connection to the Epson is its location. (I might have been able to run an Ethernet cable to it from my router, but that's a non-option -- as noted above.)

All the best, Steve

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Answer 3

ssickels Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 25, 2020 3:07 PM in response to ssickels

Hi Jan,

Well, I tried all of your suggestions, and it's still not working. I'm mystified!

I set up my HP printer to print through the AirPort Express (located where it sits with my Epson 3880). It prints just fine. And I made sure I wasn't printing wirelessly direct to the HP. So this seems to rule out any issues with the AirPort Express: either how it's set up, or signal strength/interference.
I tried out the "European" driver you found. Same problem.
I'm able to print just fine through the AirPort Express from an ancient Windows laptop (Windows 7).
My wife's MacBook Air has exactly the same problem as my MacBook Pro.

Whether or not you have any additional ideas, I really appreciate your taking the time to give me a bunch of good suggestions.

Many thanks -- Steve

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Answer 4

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

23,395 points

Dec 22, 2020 5:31 PM in response to ssickels

Hi,

The connection between computer and printer, via the AirPort Express, seems to be working for ink level reports, but not for printing. You have tested a direct USB cable connection computer to printer; OK. So, why is the ẁireless printing not working?

Just guessing here. Something appears to be affecting the AirPort Express during the print phase. Voltage drop? Wireless interference? You will have to carry out further tests. You mentioned an HP printer; did you also try connecting that printer (via USB) using the AirPort Express? Any access to another computer (Mac or PC) that you could use for a test?

Just to rule out some kind of odd software problem, you could perhaps even try another printer driver for the Stylus Pro 3880. Different regions have somewhat different driver versions available for macOS Catalina (and Big Sur).

https://epson.com/Support/Printers/Professional-Imaging-Printers/Epson-Stylus-Pro-Series/Epson-Stylus-Pro-3880/s/SPT_CA61201-VM?review-filter=macOS+10.15.x

https://www.epson.eu/support?productID=3642&language=en&os=36#drivers_and_manuals

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Answer 5

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

23,395 points

Dec 22, 2020 5:57 PM in response to ssickels

Addendum

I should perhaps also have asked why the printer is not connected (Ethernet) to one of the LAN ports of the Wi-Fi router. It would probably be correct to assume that this is related to the printer location.

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Answer 6

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

23,395 points

Dec 25, 2020 7:11 PM in response to ssickels

Hello Steve,

Thank you for the update.

The problem appears only with the combination Mac computer + Wi-Fi router + AirPort Express + Stylus Pro 3880:

The Mac computer is wirelessly connected to the Wi-Fi router.

The AirPort Express is wirelessly connected to (has joined) the same Wi-Fi router.

Two Mac computers have been tested.

A MacBook Pro is running macOS Catalina 10.15 (OS on the MacBook Air?).

Two Epson printer drivers have been tested on the MacBook Pro (driver version on the MacBook Air?).

The Stylus Pro 3880 is connected via USB to the AirPort Express.

Stylus Pro 3880 built-in Ethernet port not working.

No problem with MacBook Pro + Stylus Pro 3880 (direct USB cable).

No problem with Windows 7 PC + Wi-Fi router + AirPort Express + Stylus Pro 3880.

No problem with MacBook Pro + Wi-Fi router + AirPort Express + HP (USB) printer.

So, again, all individual components appear to be OK. The printing problem only with Mac + Wi-Fi router + AirPort Express + Stylus Pro 3880.

Have you at some point tried to wirelessly connect the MacBook Pro (or Air) directly to the AirPort Express? That is, just for a test, excluding the central Wi-Fi router. The AirPort Express would then be configured as a "normal" base station (router), providing its own Wi-Fi network (to which the computers connect). The AirPort Express USB port connected to the printer as before.

Otherwise, no bright ideas right now, but I will report back if anything turns up.

Merry Christmas!

Jan

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Answer 7

ssickels Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 26, 2020 8:09 AM in response to Jan Hedlund

Hi Jan,

Your summary is exactly right. And many thanks for following up!

Regarding the MacBook Air: it's running Big Sur. The driver I downloaded from the Epson page is the same as for Catalina (v 10.90).

Per your suggestion, I tried reconfiguring the AirPort Express as a separate network -- albeit not connected to the Internet. Then, I connected to it from my MacBook Pro and tried to print. Still no luck. (As before, it does show the ink levels.)

All the best, Steve

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Answer 8

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

23,395 points

Dec 26, 2020 9:32 AM in response to ssickels

Hello again,

Not many variables left now. In order to fully rule out Wi-Fi, one more thing to try would be connecting the MacBook Pro directly by cable to the Ethernet LAN port of the AirPort Express (when this device is operating as a base station, using its own network, without an Internet connection, still with USB to the printer). Should not make a difference, though.

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Answer 9

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

23,395 points

Dec 26, 2020 10:02 AM in response to ssickels

Addendum

It appears to be some kind of strange interaction between the Stylus Pro 3880 firmware and USB, the AirPort Express USB, the Epson driver(s), and the Macs.

Do you still have the TP-Link print server?

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Answer 10

ssickels Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 26, 2020 12:10 PM in response to Jan Hedlund

Hi Jan,

I tried connecting to the LAN port on my AirPort Express (when it's operating as a base station). And as you suspected, no luck.

Unfortunately, I didn't keep the TP-Link print server.

And you mentioned the Epson's firmware. I checked, and it looks like mine is up-to-date (last updated in 2015). Weirdly, as far as I can tell, the Mac version is downloadable only from Epson's UK site.

The good news is that I can use the printer by hooking directly via USB. Not ideal for me, but it works...

Also, I queried my friends on Facebook about this, and one photographer friend commented that her experience is that Epson printers don't do well wirelessly with Macs (whereas with windows they're okay).

Many thanks, Steve

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Answer 11

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

23,395 points

Dec 27, 2020 10:44 AM in response to ssickels

Hi Steve,

>Weirdly, as far as I can tell, the Mac version is downloadable only from Epson's UK site.

I wonder what the Network Firmware lpe1105 (09-Jan-2018) on the EU and UK sites does.

https://epson.com/faq/SPT_CA61201-VM~faq-149365?faq_cat=faq-topFaqs

It looks like the (American) LFP Remote Panel 2 Utility (v3.25), and for an Ethernet connection, the EpsonNet Config Utility (v4.9.8), can be used for firmware updates.

Good to hear that you can use the printer through the direct USB connection.

Kind regards,

Jan

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Can't print to USB printer through my AirPort Express

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