Airprint

[recDNA]

I have an Epson network printer that is supposedly Airprint compatible yet Airprint fails to find it 9 times out of 10. Occasionally it DOES find the printer but Windows and Android ALWAYS find it.

Is there any way to train Airprint to find the printer by its local ip address (which I know)? The printer app works, but airprint is so much more convenient!

Epson Support is no help. Turning router, phone, and printer on and off then on again is no help. I need a way to manually tell Airprint the local ip so it finds it consistently.

 

[recDNA]

The iPhone, ipad and the printer are all in same 5gHz network. I checked the xfinity router and each connected to 5 gHz

 

[k1ward]

When it comes to networked printers, if I have to use WiFI, I always use a 2.4gHz connection. Can you use a wired connection? I find this the best.

 

[recDNA]

When it comes to networked printers, if I have to use WiFI, I always use a 2.4gHz connection. Can you use a wired connection? I find this the best.

Wired connection to iPhone isn't very practical imo. Anyway I don't know if my Xfinity router even HAS 2.4 gHz channels. I checked over 20 devices and they are all connected to 5 gHz. I would hate to slow down the net with the 2.4 gHz channels, even if I can. I would think iPhones have caught up to that tech by now.

 

[k1ward]

When I said wired connection, I was referring to “wired to you network, not the iPhone. You should be able to use the 2.4gHz network, you may need to disable the “AX”
protocol in the router’s settings.

 

[recDNA]

I don't know what a wired to you network is.

I get my internet from a cable underground to a combo modem/router. If I force the printer on to 2.4 gHz wouldn't the devices also have to be changed to 2.4 gHz channels for devices to find the printer?

 

[Ed7789]

I don't know what a wired to you network is.

I get my internet from a cable underground to a combo modem/router. If I force the printer on to 2.4 gHz wouldn't the devices also have to be changed to 2.4 gHz channels for devices to find the printer?

I think he was referring to connecting your printer to a wired network port on your router using an Ethernet cable. That could be an worthwhile attempt, and it would be the first thing I would try.

On the 2,4GHz channels, check in your wireless settings (on your router) if it has channels 1 through 13 listed. If it does have any of them, it means it supports 2,4GHz.

If devices connect over 5GHz, it typically means the signal is sufficient to sustain a minimal connection. That may be insufficient for AirPrint printer discovery that needs reliable multicast (mDNS specifically) delivery.

 

[recDNA]

I think he was referring to connecting your printer to a wired network port on your router using an Ethernet cable. That could be an worthwhile attempt, and it would be the first thing I would try.

On the 2,4GHz channels, check in your wireless settings (on your router) if it has channels 1 through 13 listed. If it does have any of them, it means it supports 2,4GHz.

If devices connect over 5GHz, it typically means the signal is sufficient to sustain a minimal connection. That may be insufficient for AirPrint printer discovery that needs reliable multicast (mDNS specifically) delivery.

Using the ethernet to connect to the printer, would the printer still have a local ip address? Would I have to delete the printer from all devices then start over to try to find it on network? It's an interesting idea that never occurred to me

I know there are 2.4 gHz channels, but not enough of them. My devices all get over 500 mbps down so the connections are excellent. Years ago on another router they were 2.4 gHz and not nearly as fast.

I dread setting up the network all over again but I wish the customer service rep suggested it rather than connecting printer by wifi. There is no mention of doing that in the set up printer directions.

 

[recDNA]

I looked it up and my printer can be wired to router BUT I would have to disable printer wifi, uninstall all the printer software and delete the printer from all devices then connect to ethernet and download and setup everything from scratch including the drivers. Oh I wish this was described in the directions for best setup. I can't see any reason not to do it since my router is only inches away from my printer!

Well thanks! Someday I'll have to try it but right now I don't have the heart to start from scratch.

Wow.

 

[Ed7789]

Using the ethernet to connect to the printer, would the printer still have a local ip address? Would I have to delete the printer from all devices then start over to try to find it on network? It's an interesting idea that never occurred to me

The answer to that first question is yes, in a typical home scenario. Your router will give it another private IPv4 address automatically.
And no, you don't need to delete from "all devices" (assuming that's the router's terminology for their address table).

I know there are 2.4 gHz channels, but not enough of them. My devices all get over 500 mbps down so the connections are excellent. Years ago on another router they were 2.4 gHz and not nearly as fast.

2.4GHz is the slower and usually saturated frequency band. It usually has much better range than 5GHz, but at the cost of raw bandwidth.

Having 500Mbps throughput has no real impact for local device discovery. That typically occurs at around 1Mbps.

I dread setting up the network all over again but I wish the customer service rep suggested it rather than connecting printer by wifi. There is no mention of doing that in the set up printer directions.

Because the typical home user doesn't want to see wires.

 

[Trees]

Sharing in the event it may help. Perhaps there is a firmware update available for the Epson printer that may contain AirPrint related fixes/updates? Maybe the particular Epson printer model's Epson support site has a troubleshooting section or document that could help?

 

[k1ward]

All I've ever seen Epson firmware updates do is remove the ability to use refilled or off-brand cartridges.