Networking – How to check if a router support Bonjour protocol

bonjouriosprintingwireless-networking

I am trying to print something from iPad using printer connected with WLAN. However, iPad unable to discover printer and after searching on internet, I found that iPad and other iOS devices uses AirPrint technology based on Bonjour protocol and also found that not all router support Bonjour protocol.

I searched on internet to find methodology to check if wireless router support the Bonjour protocol or not. However, I could not find a method which can be used to check wireless router for Bonjour protocol support.

Any suggestion which could help me to check that Bonjour protocol support in router will be appreciated. I have windows to computer and want to use to validate the Bonjour protocol support and do not want to install in any app on iPad.

Best Answer

Most routers should support Bonjour;

I don't know of a way to check if a router supports Bonjour, however, it was released in 2002, so I'd expect any router released from 2005 onward is likely to support it.

Try disabling "Airtime Fairness" on your router;

I found that while using WiFi I could connect to the printer's web configuration pages, I was unable to find the printer on iOS and macOS devices using AirPrint.

Following other people's advice, once I disabled "AirTime Fairness" on the router, all came good.

This worked with an Epson WF-3640 and an Asus RT-AC88U (both on latest firmware).

On ASUSWRT based Asus routers;

To disable "AirTime Fairness", you can;

  • Click “Wireless” on left
  • Click “Professional” tab
  • Set “Band” to “2.4GHz”
  • Set “Airtime Fairness” to “Disable”
  • Click “Apply”

NB: If your printer can also connect to WiFi using 5GHz, you'll need to repeat the steps above, while setting the band to 5GHz instead.

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