Guest Network Printing - Best Practices?

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Guest Network Printing - Best Practices?

I've installed a new 5th Generation Airport Extreme and turned on the Guest Network option.

After trying to get my network printer working when logged into the Guest Network, I came to this Support Forum to figure out what I was doing wrong. Thanks to the expertise of a number of forum members, especially Bob Timmons, I learned that network printing from the Guest Network is not supported via the Airport Express and Airport Utility.

Now, with that said and understood: what are the options for printing when logged in to the Guest Network? As I see them:

1. Emailing files/USB stick swapping

2. Moving the Guest computer to a a printer and connecting directly via USB cable

Are there other options that I'm overlooking?

Any and all thoughts on this are welcomed.

Posted on Oct 3, 2012 7:32 PM

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Answer 1

Bob Timmons

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185,042 points

Oct 3, 2012 7:51 PM in response to SageOne

If printing capabilities are important on the Guest Network, add an inexpensive wireless printer and designate it for use only on the Guest Network. Otherwise, the items mentioned above will work as well.

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Answer 2

SageOne Author

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Jan 15, 2013 2:21 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks Bob,

It's taken me a few months and a change of ISPs (from ATT to Charter) but I'm back on this now. 🙂

I did buy a wireless HP printer with wireless interface. I've attached it to the 5th Generation Airport Extreme Guest Network SSID, but cannot get a computer also connected to the Guest Network SSID to print or even see the HP printer. This includes a Mac with OSX Lion, New iPad, iPhone 4s, and company Dell running Windows 7. I've even tried to add the the printer via IP address manually both to the Mac and the Dell to no avail; even with the specific IP address the error msg says the printer isn't detected on the network.

When I connect to the 5th Generation Airport Extreme normally (not the Guest Network) all is well and printing is no issue on any of these computers, including the Dell (which is actually the one that will be dedicated to the Guest Network / HP wireless printer on the Guest Network.

I suspect there's some very key fact I'm not aware of, and hoping that you know exactly why this is not working.

Many thanks in advance.

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Answer 3

Bob Timmons

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185,042 points

Jan 15, 2013 3:45 PM in response to SageOne

If you are using AirPort Utility 5.x to configure the AirPorts, check to make sure that devices on the Guest Network are able to communicate with each other. Otherwise, computers will not be able to recognize the printer or send commands to it.

Open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility

Select the AirPort and click Manual Setup

Click the Guest tab below the row of icons

Make sure that there is a check mark entered in the box next to Allow guest network clients to communicate with each other.

Click Update to save the changes and allow the AirPort to restart.

If you are using AirPort Utility 6.1, there is not a setting for this. It is supposed to be enabled by default, but there is no way to know if this is the case or not....since it is not visible.

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Answer 4

SageOne Author

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Jan 15, 2013 6:40 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Many thanks, Bob!

Very interesting to say the least....

I am in fact running Airport Utility 6.1 (610.31), and had I seen such a setting would have long ago checked it on!

Interesting that they'd take an option away. After fighting ATT wars for months (originally thinking that the AE was the problem) I turned to Charter and have had no problems with stability since. I'm therefore loath to monkey with a well-working and stable system. But I'm too curious not to take the bait: what is the upside/downside to trying to run Airport Utility 5.x?

Thanks again, your knowledge of this stuff is unbelievable.

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Answer 5

Bob Timmons

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185,042 points

Jan 15, 2013 6:58 PM in response to SageOne

I am not sure what operating system you are using, but if it is Lion 10.7.x, AirPort Utility 5.6 for Mac OS X Lion can be installed and run along with AirPort Utility 6.1. It is just a matter of choosing the version that you want.

Things are more complicated if you are running Mountain Lion 10.8.x, but it is possible to install AirPort Utility 5.6 using a workaround mentioned in this article.

http://www.macworld.com/article/1167965/mountain_lion_and_the_ancient_airport_ba se_station.html

As I mentioned, the option to allow guest clients to communicate to other devices is supposed to be enabled by default in AirPort Utility 6.1.

So, if you went to the trouble to try to install AirPort Utility 5.6, there are no guarantees here. You may see that the option is already enabled....I cannot say.

Worth checking, though if it is not too much trouble. I know of no other reason why printing would not work on the Guest Network.

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Answer 6

SageOne Author

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Jan 15, 2013 7:44 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Right-O yet again, Mr Timmons! I remembered that back in the heat of the ATT wars I had installed Airport Utility 5.6 to see if that would stabilize the AE, so that was no issue. Opened it, and low and behold, Allow guest network clients to communicate with each other was NOT in fact turned on. Ticked the box, back to the Dell with Win 7, Add a printer, and Voila! There's the printer, installed the driver, and test print: DONE.

You are truly a valuable resource to this community. Thank you for your time.

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Answer 7

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,042 points

Jan 15, 2013 8:26 PM in response to SageOne

Ah, that explains it then. AirPort Utility 6.1 was picking up the previously configured settings from AirPort Utility 5.6.

Glad you got things going.

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