how to find pin number on wireless printer to connect to air port

Just use first attempt to join. The printer should then be started as you have 1min or so to get it working.

If you must do it by pin.. you enter the pin in the box. eg, 12345678

Then type that pin into the printer..

So you get the pin out your brain.. or ???

The pin can come from either side but most devices now expect the pin to be supplied by the router not the client..

It is silly this was worked out so poorly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi_Protected_Setup

Our crystal ball is broken, so we cannot see your printer.

If you could provide a few hints......like the make and model number of your printer......we might be able to download the setup and installation guide to learn more about whether it even uses a PIN method.

But, since you have the printer right there, you might also have the installation guide and could check that information yourself.

It must be NOT connected by USB.. it has to be set to infrastructure mode in the wifi of the printer.

Mostly nowadays I do it by WPS.. but I have done Mac setup using utility supplied by manufacturer to manually type in the passwords..

If you have issues.. plug the printer into the computer by USB and run through the setup utility. Just do it manually.. takes the guesswork out of it completely.

Your HP model does NOT use a PIN method according the HP support materials. It uses "First Attempt", as LaPastenague has noted.

See:

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c02847467

If you want to try first attempt you really have to be quick..

In the printer learn how to connect for WPS by first attempt.. then go back so you are ready to start.. as soon as you put the airport into the state of WPS by first attempt it has to be within seconds.

Edit you already won.

Once it is connected by wireless then the issue is drivers and setup but this is nothing to do with airport and everything to do with Mac OS and HP drivers.

You might want to keep that HP Support link handy. Some good info in there.