Cannot add Epson Workforce 1100 on USB hub to second Mac

Hi -

I should've been more detailed:

• I have a powered hub plugged into the Airport Express
• The hub has three things plugged into it:
  • Hard drive dock (removable SATA drive dock)
  • Zebra thermal postage printer
  • Epson Workforce 1100
• The hard drive and Zebra are accessible (and automatically recognized) on both the iMac and the MacBook Pro
• iMac 27" is a Late 2009 running 10.9.5
• MacBook Pro is a Late 2011 running 10.10.2

On the iMac, I simply clicked the + under add printers and it showed "nearby printers" and listed both the Zebra and the Epson. I added the Epson and it downloaded the drivers from Apple.

On the MacBook Pro, there's no Epson visible. I'm suspecting it's a Mavericks vs Yosemite issue, but I'm hoping to find a workaround. I think I can share the printer through the iMac, but that seems likes a convoluted way to get from A to B.

Thanks for reading about my problem and responding!!! 😀

i'll have to try that - these types of printers would be cost-prohibitive to replace with networked versions. A Zebra printer just like this one with networking is $400+ and the Epson is a wide format (13x19) printer. I hate to drop a few hundred dollars when I have something that works greai

Thanks again for the suggestions - you are great!

Solution found, so I am documenting what worked for me just in case other people run into this:

• After this discussion was started, I realized that my Epson (and Zebra) no longer worked through the hub)
  • I powered down the hub (a Belkin USB-to-Go 7-port USB 2.0 hub)
  • Powered it back up
  • Reconnected the Epson to the hub
• Went to the iMac where the Epson previously worked and it still did not work so
  • I deleted the printer
  • Clicked the + and saw it was available to add back and added it
  • I went to the MacBook Pro and did the same (although I didn't have to delete first, since it was never listed there)

All's well that ends well - I suppose I have to put on the basic IT troubleshooting hat I wore from 20 years back to just patiently walk through the steps of adding a device next time.

@LaPastenague - thank you for reminding me it's an easy process if you are patient. You are right about avoiding use of a standard USB printer with a router (especially with a hub in-between!!!) but I would rather spend a couple of hours of downtime (as I am self-employed) if it can solve the problem over spending $800+ for an actual Zebra brand thermal postage printer that has built-in wireless (or even wired) networking capability. Even though I could get a newer, much better 13x19 printer for under a couple hundred dollars, I have a perfectly good printer here with maybe 100 13x19 prints done in its lifetime. I hated to just give up on it.

Now I know for sure that not only is the Airport Extreme capable of handling multiple printers via a hub without problems, it's probably the *only* consumer-priced router that can. I had multiple other routers here with USB ports and apparently they all used some sort of proprietary interface to make the computer see the printer as a typical LPD or other IP printer. The Airport Extreme distinguishes itself as seamlessly treating printers like direct USB devices (over Bonjour) while the printer on the hub sees the AE as a conventional printer sending data.

VERY happy with my purchase of the AE now and thrilled to be able to share this solution with clients and friends alike. If a router can handle two random printers of somewhat different types and ages so easily over a low-cost ($25 when I got it, now they go used for $50+) hub, it's the router for me!

Best regards to all who took the time to read my post - if anyone has any corrections to my statements (from a technical perspective) or suggestions on improving, please do not hesitate to educate me.

Chris