My Samsung ML-2850D printer is connected via USB to an Airport Express. I print to it from my Mac over WiFi. I want to check how much toner is left, so I know if I need to purchase a new cartridge soon. However, when I check the Supply Levels via system preferences, it says "Information Not Available." What is the best way to reliably find out how much toner is left?
How to find out how much toner is left in the printer, which is connected to an Airport Express via USB
airporthardwareprintingsystem-prefs
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Best Answer
Attaching a printer using Airport does not provide the same capabilities as attaching through USB, and one of the things that will not work is querying the printer for paper/ink levels etc.
When you have the printer attached locally, the driver has the ability to talk over USB for lots of things, including these services, reading from a card reader that may be on the printer etc. Once the printer is made wireless, these facilities are lost, and it effectively just becomes a dumb queue that you can drop a print into. About the only feedback it can give is if the printer is offline or not. If your printer is multifunction, you'll likewise lose the scanning/fax stuff also.
So unfortunately the only way is to hit up the printer direct, walk on over there and take a peek.