jimmichael

Q: Airport Express won't recognize TSC printer

We are having a really weird issue with a new 802.11n Airport Express. It refuses to recognize a specific USB printer attached to it (TSC TTP-245c label printer, to be precise). By "refuses to recognize" I mean the printer does not show up in the Printers dialog within the Airport Utility (5.6 in this case... don't even get me started on 6.0, which doesn't even HAVE a printer dialog anymore) and attempting to send print jobs to it fail.

 

Anyway, the really bizarre thing is that the Airport Express DOES see other USB printers we connect to it, and the TSC printer DOES work fine on other USB print servers, or from a notebook PC via USB, etc... even an OLD g-only Airport Express can see the TSC printer just fine. It's ONLY the specific combination of a NEW Airport Express and the TSC-245C printer that doesn't work.

 

I'm sure I'll get replies asking me to update a driver, update firmware, etc. So let me save you the trouble... this has absolutely nothing to do with drivers as the print server (Airport Express) itself cannot see the physical printer attached to itself, and the Airport is already running 7.6.1 (though I did try and revert back to 7.5 to see if it made any difference, and it did not). I also verified that the TSC printer is running the latest firmware available for it.

 

So what do you do when you have two devices that are working fine independently with OTHER devices, but won't work with EACH OTHER? Is there any way to get this information to Apple so they can investigate why their new device is having trouble with this one particular printer model? I've already started the process of telling TSC that they need to obtain a new Airport Express to see if they can figure out what's wrong, but it could very well be a problem on Apple's side... after all, their OLD Airport works against this printer just fine.

 

All that said, I'm not expecting to get any magical fix from these forums... I'm mainly trying to find out how this can get "run up the flagpole" at Apple so they can perhaps investigate. Is anyone aware of similar problems with OTHER brands of printers? Again, the symptom is simple: Connect a USB printer to the new AirPort Express and it just isn't seen by the Airport.

 

Any advice appreciated!

Airport Express n

Posted on Feb 22, 2012 12:32 PM

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Q: Airport Express won't recognize TSC printer

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  • by Joseph Kriz,

    Joseph Kriz Joseph Kriz Feb 22, 2012 1:12 PM in response to jimmichael
    Level 5 (5,144 points)
    iPhone
    Feb 22, 2012 1:12 PM in response to jimmichael

    I don't think all printers will work.

     

    Have you read this Apple article?

    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1253

     

    Still not working?

    If your printer still doesn't work with AirPort Base Station or Time Capsule printer sharing but does work when directly connected to your Mac, contact the printer manufacturer for additional information.

    As the article states above, you would have to contact the printer manufacturer.

    Apple has no control of third party vendors.

  • by jimmichael,

    jimmichael jimmichael Feb 22, 2012 1:22 PM in response to Joseph Kriz
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 22, 2012 1:22 PM in response to Joseph Kriz

    Thanks... I had found that article before coming here, but it has no real useful information on what to try WHEN your printer isn't even "recognized" by the Airport.

     

    I could understand the argument that "not all printers will work" (though I don't know why one USB printer would work when another one wouldn't), but don't you think it's a little odd that an older Airport Express can see this printer fine and only the NEW model has trouble with it?

     

    I've already contacted the printer manufacturer and they are supposedly working on it.. but again since an older APPLE device can see the printer and only their new one cannot, it COULD mean that Apple changed something that is now "breaking" this printer... right?