HT201900: OS X: Connecting a Wi-Fi printer to your Wi-Fi network

Learn about OS X: Connecting a Wi-Fi printer to your Wi-Fi network
@kenjo
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Q: Have a wifi router; like to connect/use a printer via airport express to the wifi router

Have a working wifi router(Linksys EA4500) on which use MacBookAir, iPad and iPhones;

 

Nneed to connect a printer(HP C4588) to this network;


Ccould I use an Airport Express via USB to this Printer to make it available to all devices.

MacBook Air, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Apr 7, 2014 7:02 AM

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@kenjo

Q: Have a wifi router; like to connect/use a printer via airport express to the wifi router

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  • by Bob Timmons,Helpful

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Apr 7, 2014 7:15 AM in response to @kenjo
    Level 10 (104,879 points)
    Wireless
    Apr 7, 2014 7:15 AM in response to @kenjo

    Unfortunately, Apple does not provide a list of printers that are supported by the AirPort Express, so you will have to try this to know whether it will work or not. That is where Apple's 14 day return privilege will be of value.

     

    But.....even if the AirPort Express will allow printing....other advanced features on your All-in-One like copy, scan, maintenance, etc are not supported over USB.

     

    If you need those features, you must connect the HP to your network using wireless, or Ethernet if that type of connection is available on the HP model.

  • by @kenjo,

    @kenjo @kenjo Apr 7, 2014 8:59 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 7, 2014 8:59 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks Bob,

     

    The Apple Premium reseller says I must make the Airport Express as my main router.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Apr 7, 2014 9:14 AM in response to @kenjo
    Level 10 (104,879 points)
    Wireless
    Apr 7, 2014 9:14 AM in response to @kenjo

    The reseller is not providing you with correct information if you are asking about connecting the printer to the USB port on the AirPort Express.

     

    It does not matter whether the AirPort is the "main" router or not on the network.

     

    The USB port on the Express will only support printing.....if your printer is compatible with the Express.....which you will not know until you try it out on your HP device.

     

    If you want to use copy, scan, maintnenance and other advanced features on the HP device, you cannot connect it to the AirPort Express.

     

    If the reseller told you that copy, scan, maintenance, etc and other advanced features will work if you connect your HP device to the USB port on the AirPort Express......the advice that they offered is not correct.

     

    You can easily prove this to yourself if you connect the HP device to the USB port on the AirPort Express and then try to scan. You will not be able to do so.