Sharing a printer over a wireless connection

Crock · 3 Feb 2006 at 11:14

Apologies, I know it will be a noddy question to some

I have two other computers in the house which hook up to the internet through my wireless router.

If I want to share a printer do I need to formally configure a network using XP's Wireless network wizard? If so, I know that XP normally configures the network to be encrypted. Is this good or bad? I know it's additional security but I've read on here that encrypting the data can cause overheating problems with the router.

TIA

Mel_P · 3 Feb 2006 at 11:20

I have a printer with an ethernet port - I just plugged it into the back of the router and it showed up on the network. You then need to install the (network) printer driver on each PC to use the printer.

Why do you need encryption? I don't think this is "standard"

Crock · 3 Feb 2006 at 11:24

Mel_P said:
I have a printer with an ethernet port - I just plugged it into the back of the router and it showed up on the network. You then need to install the (network) printer driver on each PC to use the printer.

Why do you need encryption? I don't think this is "standard"

Printer doesn't seem to have an ethernet port, Mel.
Apart from that it's not actually in the same room as the access point.

TBH I don't know if I need encryption or not. Just that if you run XP's wireless network wizard, it says that the network will be configured to be encrypted.

Thanks for your help.

Burbleflop · 3 Feb 2006 at 11:46

Is the printer plugged into a PC and shared from there? If so, ignore the Wireless Network Wizard. Just right click on the printer, select sharing, enable sharing, give it a name and press ok a few times.

On the other PC (ie the one that doesn't have the printer physically attached to it) browse 'my network places' and you should see the PC with the printer attached to it. Open it up and you'll see the printer. Double left click on the printer and it'll install it.

As for encryption, it can cause routers to overheat but it would have to be a pretty crappy router for that to be the case (Belkin, anyone?). I'd never run an unencrypted wireless network.

tolien · 3 Feb 2006 at 13:48

Windows won't force encryption on you, because it can't.

Crock · 3 Feb 2006 at 19:31

All sorted now. I've set it up using 128bit WEP.

Thanks folks.

tolien · 3 Feb 2006 at 20:32

If your kit will do WPA-PSK, use it in preference to WEP.

Mel_P · 7 Feb 2006 at 08:51

If your printer is in another room and is not ethernet enabled you can use something like this

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Wireless_Ethernet_Bridges.html

to connect to your network.

Skilldibop · 7 Feb 2006 at 09:48

Not if his printer doesn't have built in print server and ethernet port he can't....

You need either a wireless print server that you configure to sit on your network like anything else, Or share the printer off a PC that's part of the network. If you go for a wireless print server make sure you get one that supports the same security your network is using. Else you'll have a separate SSID for printing and it'll get awful complicated with multiple IPs, gateways etc. and if your kit isn't all singing all dancing it probably won't connect to more than one wireless network at once.

Mel_P · 11 Feb 2006 at 18:08

NOT for this one

The Belkin 802.11g Wireless Print Server lets you easily add two USB printers to your wireless, or wired network.

MAllen · 11 Feb 2006 at 18:34

Skilldibop said:
Not if his printer doesn't have built in print server and ethernet port he can't....

Skilldibop - you misunderstand what a Print Server is. On the OCUK page being pointed at, those Print Server boxes change a USB printer into a Network printer. You could look at a Print Server as adding a network card to a printer.

Mel_P · 11 Feb 2006 at 19:06

MAllen said:
On the OCUK page being pointed at, those Print Server boxes change a USB printer into a Network printer.

I thought from reading Crock's question, that was what he/she wanted? Perhaps I have misunderstood?

MAllen · 11 Feb 2006 at 19:13

Mel_P said:
I thought from reading Crock's question, that was what he/she wanted? Perhaps I have misunderstood?

Yeah - I understood it in the same way you did. But Skilldiop came in with some weird info which could have confused Crock. I was trying to make things clearer.... but it looks like I made it as clear as mud. LOL