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Wireless printing

EvanAgee

EvanAgee

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 16, 2004
74
1
DFW Texas
Hello all,

I've got a Canon Pixma MP450, which is an all-in-one printer/scanner/copier. I'm wondering if there's a device I can get that will allow me to use the printer wirelessly. Maybe a bluetooth or USB adapter or the like. I'd like to ba able to keep the printer in a closet and still print to it from both of my Macs.

Anyone know of a good solution?
 
Here is a suggestion on what to get. I had this working on and epson printer and it worked fine. Just remember that you can only print while using this device. When you want to scan you have to unplug it and plug it into you machine directly.
 
Reflow said:
Here is a suggestion on what to get. I had this working on and epson printer and it worked fine. Just remember that you can only print while using this device. When you want to scan you have to unplug it and plug it into you machine directly.
Click to expand...

Okay, ordered and it has arrived. I was a little dissapointed to see that there's not a Mac version of the software apparently the setup on the Mac can be quite difficult.

From what I've seen I need to find the IP of the print server so I can setup the IP Printer through the Print & Fax preferences menu. Can anyone tell me how to find the IP of the print server either through the OSX interface or even through Terminal?

I'd appreciate any help in getting this thing setup. I have a Cannon MP450 printer.
 
Batt said:
I know this doesn't help now, but an AirPort Express would probably work. It did with my Epson.
Click to expand...

You mean your Airport Express is sending the data to the printer wirelessly? How is the printer receiving the data? Does it have built in wireless networking capability? Mine doesn't.
 
EvanAgee said:
You mean your Airport Express is sending the data to the printer wirelessly? How is the printer receiving the data? Does it have built in wireless networking capability? Mine doesn't.
Click to expand...

You plug the USB cord from the printer into the Airport Express. Works wonderfully!
 
Ugg said:
You plug the USB cord from the printer into the Airport Express. Works wonderfully!
Click to expand...

Ah, yes. I'm aware of that ability. I'm wanting something a little different. I don't want the printer to be hard-wired to ANYTHING. I want it to be sitting in a closet all by itself and plugged into a wireless print server that broadcasts the signal to the computers in my house.

I have the hardware (Netgear PS121), I just need to get it setup.
 
Could you go into your router's admin panel and look at the connected devices? That'll show you the IP address.
 
So far I've had absolutely no luck getting the Netgear to work with my Mac/Canon. Does anyone have a suggestion for a wireless print server that actually works on the Mac?

Thanks
 
EvanAgee said:
Ah, yes. I'm aware of that ability. I'm wanting something a little different. I don't want the printer to be hard-wired to ANYTHING. I want it to be sitting in a closet all by itself and plugged into a wireless print server that broadcasts the signal to the computers in my house.

I have the hardware (Netgear PS121), I just need to get it setup.
Click to expand...

I apologize in advance in case I'm missing the point, but I don't 'get' your answer here.

For the airport express solution you just need two mains sockets: one for your printer and one for an airport express, with both placed in the same cupboard on a double mains socket. You hook up the airport express to the printer with a usb cable. Anyone on your wireless network will then 'see' the printer. If you have windows laptops you just need to download the free Bonjour software from Apple and they will 'see' it also. I know as this is precisely what I've done at home (printer in utility room shared by macs and windows laptops).

The PS121 also needs a mains socket and be attached to the printer via usb so there is no difference...in fact it's worse as this needs also to be hard-wired to your network by ethernet cable.

Vanilla
 
Vanilla said:
I apologize in advance in case I'm missing the point, but I don't 'get' your answer here.

For the airport express solution you just need two mains sockets: one for your printer and one for an airport express, with both placed in the same cupboard on a double mains socket. You hook up the airport express to the printer with a usb cable. Anyone on your wireless network will then 'see' the printer. If you have windows laptops you just need to download the free Bonjour software from Apple and they will 'see' it also. I know as this is precisely what I've done at home (printer in utility room shared by macs and windows laptops).

The PS121 also needs a mains socket and be attached to the printer via usb so there is no difference...in fact it's worse as this needs also to be hard-wired to your network by ethernet cable.

Vanilla
Click to expand...

Ah, I just realized that you're talking about the Airport Express and not the Airport Extreme Base Station! I don't know why I didn't think of this before. I guess I didn't realize that the Express had a USB port on it. I think I'll be buying the Express. Thanks!
 
I wouldn't be all that quick to invest in a Airport Extreme base station until you check out all of the facts. My recent experience with this Apple product has been frustrating, as far as wireless printing goes, and has been so uncharacteristic of other Apple products I have used and enjoyed.

I recently upgraded to the Airport Extreme Base Station (802.11n) from an old Netgear router. The purpose of the upgrade, principally, was to print wirelessly from my MBP to an Epson printer. The base station is connected to a Windows XP machine in the den. After connecting the printer to the USB port on the base station, installing Bonjour for Windows, selecting the appropriate printer/driver, etc. I cannot get it to work. The MBP recognizes the epson printer as a default Bonjour printer, even says the printer is ready, appears to be sending documents to the printer, but nothing....just no connection.

I have given up trying to figure out what is wrong and so plugged the printer back into the PC, giving up on printing wirelessly from my MBP....
 
Handycamer said:
I wouldn't be all that quick to invest in a Airport Extreme base station until you check out all of the facts. My recent experience with this Apple product has been frustrating, as far as wireless printing goes, and has been so uncharacteristic of other Apple products I have used and enjoyed.

I recently upgraded to the Airport Extreme Base Station (802.11n) from an old Netgear router. The purpose of the upgrade, principally, was to print wirelessly from my MBP to an Epson printer. The base station is connected to a Windows XP machine in the den. After connecting the printer to the USB port on the base station, installing Bonjour for Windows, selecting the appropriate printer/driver, etc. I cannot get it to work. The MBP recognizes the epson printer as a default Bonjour printer, even says the printer is ready, appears to be sending documents to the printer, but nothing....just no connection.

I have given up trying to figure out what is wrong and so plugged the printer back into the PC, giving up on printing wirelessly from my MBP....
Click to expand...

I already have an Airport Extreme Base Station, I'm just looking to add an Airport Express that I can use to network my printer wirelessly.

Can anyone confirm that the Canon Pixma MP450 works with the Airport Express?
 
EvanAgee said:
I already have an Airport Extreme Base Station, I'm just looking to add an Airport Express that I can use to network my printer wirelessly.

Can anyone confirm that the Canon Pixma MP450 works with the Airport Express?
Click to expand...

I don't have your printer but I do have a canon IP 5200R and it works fine attached to the express. Technically its supposed to work wirelessly itself but found it quite flaky so gave up and used the usb port connected to an express.

Btw you probably know anyway, but remember that the express operates at 802.11g so you'll need to run your network at 802.11 b/g or setup two wireless networks, one at 802.11n and another at b/g.

Vanilla
 
EvanAgee said:
Can anyone confirm that the Canon Pixma MP450 works with the Airport Express?
Click to expand...

I have my Canon Pixma MP600 printing fine wirelessly via my Airport Express. I don't see any reason the model would matter...

What I do have a problem with my Express is it dropping the signal when streaming music, but I guess that's for a different thread.
 
Is it possible to scan wirelessly as well, through the airport express? (I have a canon pixma 520)
 
EvanAgee said:
Okay, ordered and it has arrived. I was a little dissapointed to see that there's not a Mac version of the software apparently the setup on the Mac can be quite difficult.

From what I've seen I need to find the IP of the print server so I can setup the IP Printer through the Print & Fax preferences menu. Can anyone tell me how to find the IP of the print server either through the OSX interface or even through Terminal?

I'd appreciate any help in getting this thing setup. I have a Cannon MP450 printer.
Click to expand...


Oh did really notice that you needed windows to set it up. As I have a mixed environment. If I remember correctly it really easy to setup in windows. All you have to do give it an ip address and go. Then go to printing preferences and use ip printing and add the address there.
 
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