Daft Question : Can I plug a USB wireless dongle into my printer and print over my network?

Draeger · 18 Jul 2012 at 12:07

Having a bit of a rethink of desktop PC locations at home. Need to move my main desktop downstairs into the dining room to replace the wife's desktop. We both need to be able to use a fairly powerful PC and mine is still in our 16 month old sons room which obviously precludes me from using that once he goes to bed in the evening.

However, she prints a lot of text documents off using her HP Laserjet black and white printer and I need to be able to use my HP 2575 all-in-one printer. Trouble is I would rather not have two printers sat in the dining room next to each other. Is it possible to plug in a spare wireless dongle via the printers USB port and then find it on my network in order to print from it or is that a complete non starter?. That way I could leave my printer upstairs somewhere.

Ta.

Linkex · 18 Jul 2012 at 12:12

I'm not aware of any printer coming with this feature, but if it does, it would say so in the manual. However, if you are willing to replace both printers with a networked all in one, you could both use the same machine.

Draeger · 18 Jul 2012 at 12:33

Cheers. I'd rather try and stay with her laser printer as she runs a part time business from home, legal accounting and prints off page after page of documents which is where the laser printer comes in handy for speed as well as conservation of ink. I think with a wireless networked all-in-one we would go through an inordinate amount of ink every month.

That said, perhaps my only option if I want to have just the one printer downstairs is to purchase a wireless one for my own use to replace the 2575 and leave it upstairs. Just had a sudden thought on the attaching of a wireless dongle which is why I asked.

bremen1874 · 18 Jul 2012 at 12:41

I think the 2575 has an Ethernet port. If it does you could use Powerline adapters to locate it where you want.

Smit · 18 Jul 2012 at 12:49

bremen1874 said:
I think the 2575 has an Ethernet port. If it does you could use Powerline adapters to locate it where you want.

Indeed it does.

So if the router is upstairs also then can connect the printer directly to that or use powerline adapters as suggested

Draeger · 18 Jul 2012 at 13:03

Cool, didn't think of that. The router is downstairs plugged directly into the BT master socket. I use TP Link USB WN822 units for the network into my O2 Wireless Box. So a homeplug into the old 2575 via an ethernet cable sounds like a plan. Probably cheaper than buying a new wireless printer I would imagine.