almiller.77
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Can I print from an iPad air wirelessly connected to my Airport Extreme to an Ethernet connected Bonjour Generic Postscript printer?

I have a wired network containing (among others) an OKI B440dn printer, an iMac 27, a W7 Pro box and an Airport Extreme using 11ac. My Mac and W7 box both use Bonjour and see the printer as a Generic Postscript device. One of my friends has a Macbook Air and connects and prints perfectly via my Airport. Another friend has an iPad Air which happily connects to my Airport and gives flawless Internet access but cannot see my printer.

 

The B440dn is a superb workhorse I am unlikely to change for the next decade or so, so is there any way my friend can connect or should I recommend that he buy a more capable device?

iPad Air, iOS 8

Posted on Apr 24, 2015 8:13 AM

by rccharles,Solvedanswer
rccharles rccharles
Level 6 (8,522 points)
Classic Mac OS
A:

printing to a non-airprinter from an iPad

 

To print from the iPad, your going to have to install some more software:

-- install a printer app on the ipad. many printer makers have iPad applications for their printers.  Look in the app store

-- install enabling software on a computer which you have connected the printer

 

printing to a non-airprinter from an iPad

 

To print from the iPad, your going to have to install some more software:

-- install a printer app on the ipad. many printer makers have iPad applications for their printers.  Look in the app store

-- install enabling software on a computer which you have connected the printer

 

 

Generic Software:

You can connect the printer to a computer and install software on your computer to print from your ipad to the comptuer then to the printer.

 

Software for your computer's printer:

Enterprise level support for Mac and Windows

   Presto

    monthly subscription fee

    http://www.collobos.com/index.html

   

     Makes any printer AirPrint® compatible so you can print from an iPad® or iPhone®. 

     Reportedly works for any router.

     http://www.netgear.com/landing/genie/default.aspx

 

Mac software

Printopia

   http://www.ecamm.com/mac/printopia/

handyPrint  -- donationware

   http://www.netputing.com/handyprint/

 

Should you have some office printer that are connected to a computer there are print enablling applicaionts you can run on the iPad to print to such printers.

 

For Windows, try:

   O'Print

      http://oprintware.com/

 

   PrintCentral

     PrintCentral is the supreme printing app for the iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch

     A real DEBE -- does everything but eat.

     http://mobile.eurosmartz.com/products/printcentral.html

 

Mac and Windows

"WePrint enables printing to shared printers for iOS/Android devices from our range of printing Apps."

http://mobile.eurosmartz.com/downloads.html

Posted on Apr 24, 2015 5:19 PM

Close
almiller.77

Q: Can I print from an iPad air wirelessly connected to my Airport Extreme to an Ethernet connected Bonjour Generic Postscript printe ... more

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Ralph Landry1,

    Ralph Landry1 Apr 24, 2015 8:17 AM in response to almiller.77
    Level 8 (41,782 points)
    Apr 24, 2015 8:17 AM in response to almiller.77

    An iOS device can only print when it is on the same wireless network as an AirPrint enabled printer.  Otherwise files must be transfered to a computer to print over the network.

  • by Ralph Landry1,

    Ralph Landry1 Apr 24, 2015 8:18 AM in response to almiller.77
    Level 8 (41,782 points)
    Apr 24, 2015 8:18 AM in response to almiller.77


    For information on AirPrint see: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201311

  • by almiller.77,

    almiller.77 almiller.77 Apr 24, 2015 9:30 AM in response to Ralph Landry1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 24, 2015 9:30 AM in response to Ralph Landry1

    As described in the original post, the printer is connected to the Airport Extreme via Ethernet.

    The printer and the iPad Air are therefore on the same network.

    If you intend that the printer must be wirelessly connected to the Airport Extreme then I simply don't believe you (see the Lantronix xPrintServer).

     

    Sorry, but this response neither solved nor helped.

  • by Ralph Landry1,

    Ralph Landry1 Apr 24, 2015 10:29 AM in response to almiller.77
    Level 8 (41,782 points)
    Apr 24, 2015 10:29 AM in response to almiller.77

    The iOS device cannot print through the AirPort Extreme, which it would have to do for that printer.  The Oki B440dn is not listed as a supported printer in the knowledge base article I reference above.  The only way an iOS device can print directly is if the printer is an AirPrint supported printer.  Then the iOS device can print via a wireless connection to the printer, not via a wireless connection to a router (AirPort) then to the printer via ethernet connection, as in your case.  The printer and iOS device must communicate with each other wirelessly.

  • by almiller.77,

    almiller.77 almiller.77 Apr 24, 2015 4:56 PM in response to Ralph Landry1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 24, 2015 4:56 PM in response to Ralph Landry1

    Thank you Ralph. that answers my question!

     

    No comment on the design decision that excluded almost every printer on the planet.

     

    Regards

    ALM

  • by rccharles,Solvedanswer

    rccharles rccharles Apr 24, 2015 5:19 PM in response to almiller.77
    Level 6 (8,522 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Apr 24, 2015 5:19 PM in response to almiller.77

    printing to a non-airprinter from an iPad

     

    To print from the iPad, your going to have to install some more software:

    -- install a printer app on the ipad. many printer makers have iPad applications for their printers.  Look in the app store

    -- install enabling software on a computer which you have connected the printer

     

    printing to a non-airprinter from an iPad

     

    To print from the iPad, your going to have to install some more software:

    -- install a printer app on the ipad. many printer makers have iPad applications for their printers.  Look in the app store

    -- install enabling software on a computer which you have connected the printer

     

     

    Generic Software:

    You can connect the printer to a computer and install software on your computer to print from your ipad to the comptuer then to the printer.

     

    Software for your computer's printer:

    Enterprise level support for Mac and Windows

       Presto

        monthly subscription fee

        http://www.collobos.com/index.html

       

         Makes any printer AirPrint® compatible so you can print from an iPad® or iPhone®. 

         Reportedly works for any router.

         http://www.netgear.com/landing/genie/default.aspx

     

    Mac software

    Printopia

       http://www.ecamm.com/mac/printopia/

    handyPrint  -- donationware

       http://www.netputing.com/handyprint/

     

    Should you have some office printer that are connected to a computer there are print enablling applicaionts you can run on the iPad to print to such printers.

     

    For Windows, try:

       O'Print

          http://oprintware.com/

     

       PrintCentral

         PrintCentral is the supreme printing app for the iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch

         A real DEBE -- does everything but eat.

         http://mobile.eurosmartz.com/products/printcentral.html

     

    Mac and Windows

    "WePrint enables printing to shared printers for iOS/Android devices from our range of printing Apps."

    http://mobile.eurosmartz.com/downloads.html

  • by almiller.77,

    almiller.77 almiller.77 Apr 25, 2015 9:40 AM in response to rccharles
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 25, 2015 9:40 AM in response to rccharles

    Thank you rccharles, that is extremely constructive and shows me several ways forward; I like the look of the Netgear Genie app!

     

    Regards

    ALM

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Apr 25, 2015 11:07 AM in response to almiller.77
    Level 6 (8,522 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Apr 25, 2015 11:07 AM in response to almiller.77

    Good luck.  Post back if you have problems getting some solution to work.

     

    Robert