Airport Express can find printer but can't print to it?

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Airport Express can find printer but can't print to it?

My wife wants to be able to print from her iPad to our printer (Epson RX680). The printer itself is not wireless but I was told the main purpose of the AirPort Express is to give your printer wireless printing capability. Here's my rundown.

Mac Pro desktop (2007) running OSX (10.7.2)

AirPort Express (latest firmware update)

I have the AirPort Express plugged in, ethernet cable from port 1 in my router connected to AP Express, USB from my printer into the AP Express. Print Sharing is on. Ran AirPort Utility. I believe I used AirPrint Activator to get my printer to be recognized. I don't have and AirPort card in my Mac Pro so I'm not able to test printing from my computer but AirPrint does not work from an iPad or iPhone. I tried a reset several times in hopes that trying several different set ups would work.

I emailed Epson. This printer is not listed as an AirPrint printer. They said I'd need to contact Apple. So if my printer is not capable of AirPrint then what good is the AirPort Express? Apparently if I had an AirPort capable printer I wouldn't need the AirPort Express to print anyway?

Anyone know how to get the AirPort Express to work with nonWiFi printers? Thanks.

AirPort Express-OTHER

Posted on Nov 17, 2011 7:32 AM

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Answer 1

fuquam Author

Level 1

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Nov 17, 2011 10:02 AM in response to fuquam

I asked a Mac tech and this was his answer. Maybe it will help if anyone else is having the same issue. I'll probably return the AirPort Express. It seems that it is doing more harm than good. I might try a Belkin wireless print server.

I suspect the problem, is that the router, is not entirely compatible with airprint protocols, or not configured for it. I think, since the Mac Pro is connected via ethernet, it must be fairly close to the router. A simpler solution may be to move the printer connection directly to the Mac Pro and have that machine share the printer to other users on the network.

Many third-party routers (non-apple) do not have the bonjour auto-configuration protocols for airprint and other bonjour functions. That makes it difficult for an airport express to perform the network extension function completely. This is especially true when a router is configured for DHCP as that changes devices IP addresses periodically.

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Answer 2

Tesserax

Level 10

158,328 points

Nov 17, 2011 10:08 AM in response to fuquam

iOS devices are dependent on AirPrint in order to print to network printers. Although it may sound like AirPrint has something to do with the AirPort Express Base Station's print server function, it actually does not. Instead, USB printers attached to the Express (or Extreme/Time Capsule) are shared out to non-iOS clients as it was originally designed to do.

Apple introduced AirPrint with the latest iOS devices but it is intended to be used with AirPrint-capable devices.

However, you do have a number of work-arounds:

Printopia (recommended)
AirPrint Activator for Mac
Get an AirPrint-capable printer

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Answer 3

fuquam Author

Level 1

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Nov 17, 2011 11:54 AM in response to Tesserax

Thanks Tesserax. This is helpful. I couldn't find any explanations using the Google machine (on line). I looked in to Printopia last night but was hoping to avoid paying $20. I like my printer and don't want to buy a new one just to b able to print from an iPad/iPhone. AirPrint Activator did not work. It did recognize my printer but when I tried printing and photo from my iPhone, AirPrint did not find my printer. I might suck it up and buy Printopia tonight. Thanks again for the reply.

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Answer 4

fuquam Author

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Nov 17, 2011 2:11 PM in response to fuquam

My modem/router has 4 network ports and one USB port. I might have better luck just connecting the printer to the USB port, keep "print sharing" on, and trying Printopia. If that works I'll return the AirPort Express ($99) and purchase Printopia ($20). Will post back once I try it for anyone else with similar issues.

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Answer 5

Jul 21, 2014 10:55 AM in response to Tesserax

Printopia is now Handyprint. Download was easy and my older Canon printer (which is connected to an Airport Express) is now "visible" on my iOS devices.

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Answer 6

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,360 points

Jul 21, 2014 12:21 PM in response to whoneedsanalia

Printopia is now Handyprint.

Do you have the link to an official release that you can share, or has your information been provided by another forum famous for rumors and speculation?

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Answer 7

Jul 22, 2014 8:14 AM in response to Bob Timmons

I don't know how official the release is. I just clicked on the link that Tesserax provided Nov. 17, 2011. The notice from that link indicated the change in company name.

Twenty-four hours on and the patch seems to be working fine. I can still print from all my iOS devices. I do have two caveats: 1. do the manual install and uncheck all the optional search engine boxes or it looks like you'll wind up with spam for life and a new search engine to boot (unless you already use Yahoo), and 2. the patch is a 14 day trial after which time you're asked for a "donation" of whatever amount you'd like to make in order to attain a license key.

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Answer 8

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,360 points

Jul 22, 2014 10:08 AM in response to whoneedsanalia

Thanks for the info. I think you may have mixed things up a bit. The link that Tesserax provided mentioned that AirPrint Activator was now known as Handy Print.

Editors' review

by: Download.com Staff on October 18, 2012

Airprint Activator, now known as handyPrint, is an app that lets you put Airprint support on older printing devices that do not natively support this protocol.......

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