Problem sharing a laser printer from Airport Extreme

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Level 2

204 points

Problem sharing a laser printer from Airport Extreme

We bought for the office an HP LaserJet 400 M451nw printer that I want to connect to and share from the WIFI network we have here, created with three Airport Extremes.

Unfortunately, this doesn't appear to be working. I've tried "First Attempt", etc., with no luck. Seems to me that sharing a printer ought to be really simple. The printer is connected directly to the AP and has a local IP address.

Has anyone else had luck with the above model printer and the latest Airport Extreme models?

Thanks.

Posted on Mar 18, 2015 12:40 PM

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Answer 1

Forrest Author

Level 2

204 points

Mar 18, 2015 12:52 PM in response to Forrest

I have been trying WPS to set this up to no avail. The Airport Utility just spins. This is done directly on wifi.

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Answer 2

Mar 18, 2015 1:04 PM in response to Forrest

Make sure your Extreme wireless is set to a name that is short, no spaces and pure alphanumeric. Base station name as well can help.

The first attempt with WPS is the best way.. but if it fails there should be a manual method of giving the printer the setup info.. please double check using the manual and whatever connection method.. ethernet or USB direct to the computer and then use the setup utility for the printer..

HP seem to really be problematic and I see people here strongly recommending Brother.. just because they are working a lot harder on Apple compatibility.

I still like old HP lasers with proper ethernet cards in them.. for office use at least.. works fine with all my network devices... but then I never have to bother with airprint.

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Answer 3

Forrest Author

Level 2

204 points

Mar 18, 2015 1:07 PM in response to LaPastenague

The printer is already set up and it works fine over regular LAN and it's internal WIFI. I can connect to the web console and configure from there, where I get the PIN for WPS setup. This is what isn't working correctly. There are two options, one is to push a button on an Access Point (that doesn't apply here) and PIN. I tried "First Connect" or whatever, and that didn't work, either. Very frustrating for something that should be very easy to accomplish.

I will see if the printer needs a firmware update. Otherwise, I'm not sure what could be wrong -- I'm following the directions.

Thanks.

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Answer 4

Mar 18, 2015 1:24 PM in response to Forrest

From what I am hearing PIN does not work on HP printers but first attempt should.

So are you going into the airport utility and using Printer WPS setup.

You can only use first attempt and the HP must then immediately try.. as there is a 60sec time out for this.

If this is what you are already doing and it fails.. setup from a PC.. using the CD that comes with the printer as there always has to be a manual method of giving the printer the password..

But then you say it is already working over wireless.

The printer is already set up and it works fine over regular LAN and it's internal WIFI.

So the problem is drivers for the computers..

Or what.. sorry I am confused when you say it is already setup and works fine... and then that it does not work???

If you want airprint to work I think you will find that it must connect by wireless and only by wireless.. airprint is extremely fussy.

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Answer 5

Forrest Author

Level 2

204 points

Mar 18, 2015 1:32 PM in response to LaPastenague

The printer itself works on the LAN and WIFI via the normal WPA method.

But, HP's printers are not very smart, in that you can only use wither WIFI or LAN connectivity, not both. Since our WIFI network is comprised of Airport Extremes, I thought it would make more sense if I joined it to the WIFI network via the WPS method.

I've tried both approaches, using a PIN and First attempt; I also connected the printer directly to my Mac Pro via USB and tried doing this, and no luck.

Maybe the HP firmware is bad. I have to see if there is an update for it, but I thought I would ask someone here if there's some magic way to just get this working.

Thanks.

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Answer 6

Mar 18, 2015 1:48 PM in response to Forrest

Other people have got it working but it isn't reliable.

How do I restore Airprint in my HP M451dn printer?

There seems to be reports that the smart install is actually causing it to fail.

we were then told that there were known issues with setting this printer up using the default SmartInstall feature and it had to be manually disabled from the printer itself. HP gave me the step by step directions to disable it via the printer's menu and sure enough, it then quickly installed.

I recommend you ring HP support and get them to talk you through how to do this.

HP has gone downhill.. way way downhill.. !!

The drivers and software that comes with printers was written by the boy scout troup .. !!

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Answer 7

Forrest Author

Level 2

204 points

Mar 18, 2015 2:21 PM in response to LaPastenague

I'm not sure what SmartInstall is. I manually configured the printer through the web-based console, for the LAN and local WIFI. I can probably figure out how to do the above if I understand more what it is.

Is this suggesting that I reset the entire printer back to factory defaults? I can call HP, too. I need to know what to disable on the printer menu.

I agree, HP's stuff has really declined in quality.

Thanks.

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Answer 8

Forrest Author

Level 2

204 points

Mar 18, 2015 2:30 PM in response to Forrest

I found this link:

http://www.itninja.com/question/disabling-the-hp-service-smart-install-for-hp-la serjet-400-m401

And I think this doesn't apply to me, as I didn't download the SmartInstall software -- it's not enabled. When I go to the printer, that menu is disabled, too.

I do see that the firmware is outdated, so I'll give that a try.

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