How do I get a Brother HL2170W printer to work with an Airport Express?

I have a Brother HL 2170W wireless printer. I have tried to print to it through an Airport Express.(recent gift). I have it to the point where our ipads will see it in the Airport Utility as one of 4 wireless clients, but no app "sees it" as an air printer. If I try to print, and "select printer", it just says, "no air printer found".


I have tried the following instructions: (as seen here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2139105?start=30&tstart=0)



1. Open Airport Utility. Click "Manual Setup".

2. Select "Add wireless clients ..." from Base Station drop-down menu

3. In Wireless Setup Utility: Select "Allow client by PIN" and click "Continue"

4. Push HL-2170W's reset button(between Ethernet and USB ports) with pen or

paper clip for 3 seconds or so until yellow toner light flashes. The Brother will print a PIN number. (Yellow light will continue to flash as it searches for a network)

5. In Wireless Setup Utility enter PIN number and click "Continue"

6. After a minute or so Airport should recognize the Brother; press "Done"

7. Open "Print and Fax",and click "+" to add printer. HL-2170 will show in the Printer options and you should be good to go.


I have downloaded Bonjour (for my windows computer) and used it, to no avail.


I had a USB cable connecting the airport to the HL2170W as seen in the setup instructions that came with the airport. I have tried bothe with and without the USB cable.


What now?


Dave

iPad 2 Wi-Fi, iOS 6.1.3, wife's ipad is running iOS7

Posted on Sep 23, 2013 1:59 PM

Reply
4 replies

Sep 23, 2013 5:37 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob,


In the discussion thread that I referenced above, some users experienced success. My problem may be that I am running a windows xp machine. Airport Utility 5.6.1 is geared for Windows 7. I am using the utility that came with the Airport Express and it may not behave the same.


I have been using Printer Pro to print fom my ipad to the Brother, but it is clumsey in the fact that my Windows pc has to be fired up prior.

Sep 23, 2013 2:35 PM in response to dj1100rt

Unfortunately, the bottom line here is that the Brother HL 2170W is not an AirPrint compatible printer. Connecting a non-AirPrint printer to the USB port on an AirPort Express will not make the printer AirPrint compatible.


See this Apple support document to confirm:


http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4356


You might be able to get the iPad to print by installing an App like this:


PrintDirect for iPad on the iTunes App Store

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

How do I get a Brother HL2170W printer to work with an Airport Express?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.