How to hook up a printer WIRELESS

Ronald Epstein · 10-11-2004, 11:27 AM

I already have two computers sharing a wired
router with an added wireless router for my
notebook.

How can I take everything (2 computers + notebook)
and have them output to one printer that is hooked
up wireless?

I guess in my stupidity about this I am asking
how to effortlessly create a wireless printer
network in my home.

Don't want to spend a lot if I don't have to,
but I would like to have a wireless unit that
gives me a few hundred feet distance so I can
put the printer in another room.

Please be specific on what to buy and price.

Thanks in advance.

Ted Lee · 10-11-2004, 12:15 PM

hey ron -

i can't be very detailed because i've never done it (but have been thinking about it as well), but i know you'll need a wireless print server like this linksys:

http://www.linksys.com/products/prod...id=37&prid=584

we sell them at best buy for 150 bucks.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....4&type=product

i'm sure someone will chime in with more specific detail.

Diallo B · 10-11-2004, 01:34 PM

well ron,

this is how i have done it.

this works if you have multiple computers. i am assuming that you have more than one computer if you are using a router.

I have 3 desktops and 2 laptops throughout the house that all have different functions. 2 of the desktops are connected to the network on cat 5 cables via a smc router with wireless. The other desktop and the laptops are connected to the network via 802.11b.

one of the desktops is left on all the time and serves as the print server and download station (where all my downloads from the internet take place). this is the only computer that is connected to the printer. using win xp pro i go into the control panel and click onto 'printers and other hardware.' then i go to the connected printer right click it, click sharing, follow the prompts and the printer is set up on the network.

then i go into the control panels on my other computers, click on 'printers and faxes' and tell it to add a printer. then i tell it to find a printer on the network at which point it locates the networked printer. i finish up the wizard and then i have networked printing.

REALLY, really simple and no extra cost if you have a wireless router and multiple computers.

some may consider it a minor inconvenience to have to leave a computer on all of the time. also make sure that the computer being used as the print server has at least 256mb of ram. i have found that the more ram in the system the faster your printing. with at least 256mb it seems like you are printing directly to the printer. anything less and their is lag.

shaniceMW · 10-11-2004, 03:10 PM

i use the wireless d-link print server. works very well. i have one printer that is network ready and other 3 have no network card. i use the print server for those.

Tekara · 10-11-2004, 04:32 PM

a wireless print server is definately the way to go a simple linksys:
http://www.linksys.com/products/grou...rid=33&scid=37

or dlink:
http://www.dlink.com/products/category.asp?cid=10

is all you need

**HTF Ads**

Vanessa · 10-11-2004, 05:35 PM

Not the cheapest method, but as far as effortless goes, pretty close - use a printer with wireless built in. Like this HP one:

HP Photosmart 2710 All-in-One

I use it, and it works great. The printer is in the closet with the server.

Ronald Epstein · 10-11-2004, 05:50 PM

Well, let's try this....

Suppose I buy This Wireless Printer Router

Do I need anything else on the receiving end of
the printer? How does it receive the signal? Do
I need an additional receiver to plug into the
printer USB port?

Thanks all in advance

Ken Chan · 10-11-2004, 07:00 PM

That Linksys WPS11 only has a parallel port for the printer, no USB. It's also 802.11b, not 802.11g, which also means it's slower (not sure you'd notice...) You should get the other suggested Linksys or D-Link. There's also the Apple Airport Express for $129; it also has analog/digital audio out, so if the printer is near the stereo, you can play music too (with iTunes).

Anyway, what would happen is: you plug the printer into the gizmo via USB. Then the gizmo connects wirelessly to your existing wireless router/access point, which will require its own setup. Once that's done, it makes the printer accessible over the network, as if it was hard-wired. Then you use the usual control panels and wizards to connected to a networked printer, which may vary depending on which flavor of Windows (or Mac OS) you're running.

Diallo B · 10-11-2004, 10:51 PM

quick question for the people here with wireless print servers.

is there any advantage to using one of those over the setup that i described that i have above? if so, what are they? should i look to invest in one?

Patrick_S · 10-12-2004, 01:23 AM

The biggest advantage is that you don't have to leave a computer on all the time.

Ronald Epstein · 10-12-2004, 04:06 AM

I take it I can use an 802.11g server with an
80211.b router?