Why does Rendevous work with my printer when Airport USB doesn't?

T

TerryMcK

Registered
I'm just curious about something. My new printer (HP OfficeJet 5510xi All-in-One) is not supported by Airport Extreme as a USB printer. I assumed I would need to use the cable to operate it. As I was setting up a document for printing, while NOT connected with the cable, I noticed Rendevous was an option for connection, so I tried it and it worked over the Airport network. (This only works with printing, not with scanning and fax.)

Why is it that this works and the Airport USB doesn't? What is Rendevous anyway? And why wasn't the Rendevous capability mentioned in its literature; does HP even know it works?

Terry
 
Um. Airport and Airport Extreme are wireless networking protocols, and in no way are they related to USB. Rendevouz allows your Mac to automatically detect rendevouz enabled services and devices on your local network, so you dont have to remember lots of addresses for things. How exactly have you got the printer/network set up?
 
I also have a printer that is not Rendezvous compatible (HP Deskjet 3280 - it came out before Rendezvous HP started putting Rendezvous in their printers). However, when I plugged it into my AEBS, it also showed up as a Rendezvous printer. (There is no option in printer setup for Airport USB)

My guess would be that the AEBSs can read the VenderID and ProductID from the device and then makes a Rendezvous option for that printer.

Your printer probably isn't listed as "supported" under Airport Extreme because Apple doesn't want to give people the idea that they should be able to scan and fax with the device plugged into an AEBS.

Rendezvous is most likely not mentioned any where in your printer documentation, because on it's own it does not support it; it needs the Airport Extreme's wrapper, of which HP may not be aware.
 
Gnorno -- Thanks, very helpful. For the other responder's benefit, I have the HP plugged into the USB port on the AEBS, when I'm using it for printing only. When I want to scan, I hook the HP via USB directly to the Mac. When using the AEBS, the printer does not show up as an Airport USB printer, but does show up as Rendevous -- again, for printing only.

Now that I kind of understand that, does anyone know how to disable the HP Set-up Wizard? When I'm not USB hard-wired to the HP, the wizard pops up constantly wanting to install the driver/software. I did install it originally and it works fine when I'm so hard-wired, but when I'm not I get this request to install every time the Mac wakes up. I suppose I could trash the Wizard, but is there another way?

By the way, I tried to use the HP on-line Customer Support chat service. It was pretty cool (it doesn't work in Safari) -- reached them late last night -- except they don't support Mac :-(

Thanks for your help.

Terry
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top