Airport extreme stopped connecting to printers

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Level 1

4 points

Airport extreme stopped connecting to printers

I have an Airport Extreme whose usb port connects to a usb hub which connects to a Demo label writer. Its Ethernet ports connect to an HP 1212nf printer, an OKI color printer, and one Mac. Everything has worked for a long time with no problems. About a week or so ago I couldn't connect to either of the two ethernet-connected printers or the usb connected printer. The one ethernet port that connects to a MacBook Pro is working just fine. Has anyone come across this problem before? I've tried powering off the Airport to see if it could again connect to the printers with no luck. Has the Airport partially died or what? I've done several resets via the Airport Utility, but have been afraid to do a hardware reset for fear of loosing all my settings. HELP!!

Posted on Dec 21, 2022 5:57 AM

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Answer 1

MyOldMac2 Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 22, 2022 10:51 AM in response to Tesserax

It is an airport extreme (serial number C86T11HJ3F1R, firmware is 7.9.1, Model A1521). I've had it for several years. I bought it from someone who had bought, but never used it (it was still shrink-wrapped). It has worked without failure all that time. I have 2 ethernet-connected printers attached (OKI C9500 and HP1212nf) and I'm using the third ethernet port to directly connect to another MacBook Pro. The USB port is connected to a USB hub that connects to 3 printers (OKI C9500 subpart, Dymo Labelwriter, and Epson C120). The MacBook Pro I use to configure the Airport is a MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) running Catalina. The WIFI is woking fine, as is the third ethernet port. I'm using Airport Utility Version 6.3.9, if that helps. Have I left anything out?

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Answer 2

Dec 22, 2022 11:29 AM in response to MyOldMac2

Great info. So, the process to figure things out begins. Unfortunately, there is not going to be a simple quick answer without more troubleshooting.

Can you run a quick check by unplugging the USB hub and all 3 Ethernet cables, restarting the AirPort Extreme and then check each of the 3 LAN <--> Ethernet ports using your Mac?

Does the small green light next to the Ethernet port light up when you make the connection at each port?

Does the Mac connect OK at each Ethernet port, or only one?

If you temporarily connect only 1 USB device as a test......not the hub.....to the USB port on the AirPort, do things work that way? Are other USB devices OK when they each connect directly to the USB port?

If none of the USB devices work when you temporarily connect them to the USB port on the AirPort, then that likely points to a defective or failed USB port on the AirPort.

If all of the USB devices work OK when you connect each one of them to the USB port on the AirPort, then now it is time to reconnect the USB hub to the AirPort and the USB devices to the hub. If things don't work when you connect the hub, then that points to a defective USB hub, since you know that USB port on the AirPort is good from your previous checks.

Finally, if you open AirPort Utility and click on the picture of the AirPort, a smaller window will appear with info about the AirPort. Is there a listing for Status? If yes, what is the message next to Status?

Is the indicator light on the front of the AirPort green, or blinking amber?

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Answer 3

Tesserax

Level 10

151,929 points

Dec 22, 2022 11:22 AM in response to MyOldMac2

No, that should do it. Thanks for all the details. That was very helpful.

Have you tried simply connecting your MacBook Pro to the other LAN Ethernet ports to see if it gets access to the local network/Internet? If it can't, then chances are that the built-in Ethernet switch may be faulty. If it can, then we can try further troubleshooting.

For the USB printers, I suggest to start by removing them and the USB hub. Then try adding one printer, at a time, directly to the port. If each work, then add the hub back. Then try adding one USB printer at a time.

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Answer 4

Tesserax

Level 10

151,929 points

Dec 22, 2022 8:50 AM in response to MyOldMac2

To start with, which exact model is your AirPort Extreme base station? Regardless, how long have you had it?

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Airport extreme stopped connecting to printers

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