Wireless Printing to my multi function HP laser printer.
Wireless Printing to my multi function HP laser printer.
Author
Discussion

Greenmantle

Original Poster:

1,806 posts

126 months

Yesterday (15:27)
quotequote all
I'm looking for a device - plug in and power up and minimum config.
I have a reliable HP colour laser printer.
USB and ethernet connected.

Daughter is doing her GCSEs this year and uses an iPad.
I want her to be able to print out without bothering me.
Many years ago I had a 2101w HP print server which I tried but it didn't work.

Suggestions gratefully received.
I have seen the Linux based servers but rather go for something else if it exists.


Inbox

649 posts

4 months

Yesterday (15:29)
quotequote all
Well Apple will flog you this so it probably works pretty well.

https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/mac/accessories/prin...


Greenmantle

Original Poster:

1,806 posts

126 months

Yesterday (15:39)
quotequote all
Inbox said:
Well Apple will flog you this so it probably works pretty well.

https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/mac/accessories/prin...
cheers - I'm more concerned about the cost of consumables!
I have already stocked up on ink for my current one and given the propensity of Gen Zs to not understand the cost of anything I'd rather stick with what I have so that I can have a sensible control on costs.

sjg

7,626 posts

283 months

Yesterday (15:52)
quotequote all
Can run https://www.decisivetactics.com/products/printopia... if you have a Mac left on most of the time.

https://www.flyingbee.com/products/air-printer/ but for Windows.

Look for cups-airprint in the apps bit of Unraid if you use that.

There used to be boxes you could plug in that would do it but I can't find any for sale anywhere, presumably once AirPrint support got built in (my 8 year old Brother laser does it) there was less and less need.

Inbox

649 posts

4 months

Yesterday (16:11)
quotequote all
Can you use your router as a print server?

A lot of routers that have usb ports can act as a printer server.

Buttery Ken

21,121 posts

205 months

Yesterday (16:57)
quotequote all
Does the printer not natively support AirPrint?

Greenmantle

Original Poster:

1,806 posts

126 months

Yesterday (17:05)
quotequote all
Buttery Ken said:
Does the printer not natively support AirPrint?
afraid not

HP CM2320fxi MFP

Greenmantle

Original Poster:

1,806 posts

126 months

Yesterday (17:07)
quotequote all
Inbox said:
Can you use your router as a print server?

A lot of routers that have usb ports can act as a printer server.
have a newish Draytek which has Bonjour services but I think this "AirPrint" is something else.
Had a quick read and enabled Bonjour services on the router but nothing even though the printer is wired to the router.
Reading some more this AirPrint is too Proprietary and there are no devices that you can connect to the printer "USB" that will broadcast that protocol.

Looks like I'll be the print server for now!

Edited by Greenmantle on Tuesday 21st October 17:17

Rausages

17 posts

37 months

There is someone on ebay selling this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276782581983

which seems to be an old wyse terminal configured into an airprint server. Seems to be the easiest option if you don't want to build a print server yourself.

Road2Ruin

6,048 posts

234 months

Is the printer not WiFi compatible? All of our devices at home, Android and IPhone, all print directly to the one we have connected by WiFi. It is an HP model too. No further drivers or anything were needed.

It is connected to the network, if that makes any difference.

ziggy328

1,239 posts

232 months

Rausages said:
There is someone on ebay selling this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276782581983

which seems to be an old wyse terminal configured into an airprint server. Seems to be the easiest option if you don't want to build a print server yourself.
This. I have a 10 year old HP Envy printer whish has been faultless. Nothing else required. I can print wirelessly from my laptop and even my wife can print directly from her iPhone.

ziggy328

1,239 posts

232 months

ziggy328 said:
This. I have a 10 year old HP Envy printer whish has been faultless. Nothing else required. I can print wirelessly from my laptop and even my wife can print directly from her iPhone.
Just looked at the specs on your printer, no WiFi .....I thought my printer was getting on a bit !

Countdown

45,557 posts

214 months

Ive got a HP LaserJet 100 M175nw which is supposed to be able to print wirelessly (via Airprint I believe) . However it's never worked properly, you end up getting letters missed out of words and so on

ziggy328

1,239 posts

232 months

Does it have a USB port? If so you can buy an adapter for about a tenner that will act as a bridge to your router so you can printer wirelessly. You can also get a bluetooth version which should then allow printing from ther iPad.

Greenmantle

Original Poster:

1,806 posts

126 months

ziggy328 said:
Does it have a USB port? If so you can buy an adapter for about a tenner that will act as a bridge to your router so you can printer wirelessly. You can also get a bluetooth version which should then allow printing from ther iPad.
had a look at this

Found the Apple Airport Express & Extreme Devices.
I remember looking at these over a decade ago.
Why does Apple make it so difficult to find out information. Can't ask anyone since it is not discontinued.

All I want to know is:
Can I power it up, Create a WIFI hotspot, connect it to my printer via USB, connect the iPad to the hotspot and print using Airprint.

I'll keep on looking.

neilus

906 posts

300 months

Greenmantle said:
I have a reliable HP colour laser printer.
USB and ethernet connected.
What model of HP printer is it? Just spotted you have posted the model number, I suspect the bit below doesn't work for you as it doesn't support Airprint.

I have a LaserJet Pro M254dw connected to my LAN via ethernet and it advertises itself on the network and my iPhone & iPad just see it. I don't recall installing anything on either device and certainly have no additional hardware.

I'll have a look when I'm at home and post back here if I did need to install any apps on the devices.



Edited by neilus on Wednesday 22 October 13:19

S6PNJ

5,681 posts

299 months

Why can't you just connect it via ethernet to your network (either direct to your router or via a permanentyl on network switch) and leave it powered on. Then on your wifi connected device, install a new printer via IP address (the IP address of the printer) and you should have wifi access to the printer surely? I've done this with a different HP laser but not using an Apple device, only MS Windows devices.

Greenmantle

Original Poster:

1,806 posts

126 months

S6PNJ said:
Why can't you just connect it via ethernet to your network (either direct to your router or via a permanentyl on network switch) and leave it powered on. Then on your wifi connected device, install a new printer via IP address (the IP address of the printer) and you should have wifi access to the printer surely? I've done this with a different HP laser but not using an Apple device, only MS Windows devices.
The printer is connected to the network (has its own IP address)
but
The wifi device is IOS (iPad or iPhone). These do not have the concept of a printer device at the OS level.
I need a device that not only is WIFI at the point of entry but can also talk Airprint - hence why I am looking again at the Apple Airport Express / Extreme devices.

indigochim

2,024 posts

148 months

I did a quick google and its suggested that you can setup a windows PC as a bridge for printing from an ipad. I'd have a search for that on YouTube.

ziggy328

1,239 posts

232 months

I think this will you do it by enabling you to connect your printer to your router

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/375104318570?_ul=GB&amp...