How do you print from an iPad without a wifi network?

Question

Level 1

16 points

How do you print from an iPad without a wifi network?

Hi,

I use my iPad to view music in various different schools and would like to be able to print it.

Non of these schools have wifi networks or Apple AirPrint printers, just standard Xerox and HP USB / Ethernet printers.

I understand you can't directly plug your iPad into a printer using a USB cable like you can on a MacBook but I was hoping there was a work around, for instance connecting a printer to an adapter and then creating an ad hoc network to join the two devices together (iPad & printer)?

Any help would be great fully appreciated!

Stophen

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Sep 25, 2016 1:08 PM

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Answer 1

imobl

Level 7

21,150 points

Sep 25, 2016 3:04 PM in response to Stophen

You would have to ask each school for access to their printers.

Unless you know the details of the network, you would not be able

to connect. Unless the school provides the access, they may take

a dim view of you attempting to create your own ad hoc network.

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Answer 2

sberman

Level 10

273,498 points

Sep 25, 2016 3:26 PM in response to Stophen

Are you planning to produce this printout for your own use, or for the school's (students or onsite personnel's) use?

if it's for your own use, then capture the music as you view it (perhaps using the iPad's camera) and print it later when you have access to your own AirPrint-capable printer.

If it's for the school's use, then consider purchasing an AirPrint capable printer (if you don't have one already) and take it with you to the schools. Use a Wi-Fi hotspot, created from either your iPad (if it has cellular capability) or your cellular telephone (presumably an iPhone) and connect the iPad and printer on that network.

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Answer 3

kb1951

Level 10

126,161 points

Sep 25, 2016 3:49 PM in response to Stophen

Is this something you could e-mail to a school official and have them print it out for you?

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Answer 4

Stophen Author

Level 1

16 points

Sep 25, 2016 11:36 PM in response to imobl

Hi,

The printers are not attached to wireless networks as the schools I work in don't have them.

I have good access to the printers ports (i.e. USB & Ethernet) and I regulary plug my MacBook into them to print.

What I need is some kind of 'work around' / adapter to be able to print from my iPad.

Cheers,

Stophen

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Answer 5

Stophen Author

Level 1

16 points

Sep 25, 2016 11:45 PM in response to sberman

Hi,

I use the iPad to view music, i.e. PDF's etc. The iPad is just the right size to go a music stand. What I would like to do is then be able to print that music for my students.

I work in many different schools so buying printers for all of them would be too expensive and too heavy to carry around.

Is there some type of adapter I could plug into the printers to make them wireless (like an airport express) and connect the two via a hotspot, either created by my iPhone or iPad?

Cheers,

Stophen.

Reply

Answer 6

Stophen Author

Level 1

16 points

Sep 25, 2016 11:52 PM in response to kb1951

Hi,

I could email my documents to be printed but the school systems use Windows and sometimes there are compatible issues.

Also, the school office are busy enough without me making their life harder and I could be waiting weeks for the print outs.

What I am after is a way to print from my iPad to a non AirPrint printer, I am very happy to buy adapters etc, I'm just not sure what would work.

Cheers,

Stophen.

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Answer 7

Sep 26, 2016 4:48 AM in response to Stophen

Hi. If you have your MacBook at school along with the iPad, you may be able to AirDrop the file to your computer, and print it from there. Here's some info on AirDrop http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac-software/how-use-airdrop-on-macs-wirelessly -share-files-update-3500407/.

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Answer 8

Stophen Author

Level 1

16 points

Sep 26, 2016 8:53 AM in response to Diana.McCall

Hi,

Thanks for the suggestion but the idea is that I use my iPad for all my work needs so I don't have to carry around both devices.

Cheers,

Stophen.

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Answer 9

Demo

Level 10

166,747 points

Sep 26, 2016 9:04 AM in response to Stophen

This isn't the solution that you are looking for, but you could purchase a small AirPrint printer to take with you from school to school. Many of the AirPrint printers can create their own ad hoc WiFi Networks. This set up would work virtually anywhere but you would have to haul the printer around with you. I know that HP makes printers that will create their own networks.

I don't know of any adapter that you can plug into an iPad that will let you plug a cable into a printer.

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Answer 10

Demo

Level 10

166,747 points

Sep 26, 2016 9:05 AM in response to Stophen

This isn't the solution that you are looking for, but you could purchase a small AirPrint printer to take with you from school to school. Many of the AirPrint printers can create their own ad hoc WiFi Networks. This set up would work virtually anywhere but you would have to haul the printer around with you. I know that HP makes printers that will create their own networks.

I don't know of any adapter that you can plug into an iPad that will let you plug a cable into a printer.

Reply