Wireless Printing Question

jaffacaique · 27 Jun 2010 at 12:37

What I would like to do is to be able to print documents from my laptop downstairs without having to bring the printer downstairs with me also. So I was wandering what I would need to do to be able to acheive this.

Equipment using ...
Canon i865 (USB Printer)
Windows 7 (Home Premium)
*Belkin N+ Wireless Router

* Although the router has a USB port on it already I was not sure whether connecting the printer directly to it would cause it any damage.

Any helpful advice would be much apreciated as I no longer have the manual and it is no longer available to download from Belkins own website.

mcompute · 27 Jun 2010 at 22:54

Try plugging it in to the router. Ideally, you need to buy a wireless printer.

jahnsj · 28 Jun 2010 at 03:49

The USB port on the N+ is used for a network hard drive so you cant put the printer in to it. Although it wouldn't harm it if you did, it just would print.

This is your router: http://belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=459640

What you need is a print server or print server capable router.

This is Belkins print server capable router, in which case this one would replace the one you currently have.
http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=509867

These ones are print servers and hard drive sharing points which would connect to your existing router.
http://www.belkin.com/networkusbhub/
http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=505043

Gook luck!

Rainmaker · 28 Jun 2010 at 04:00

Do you have any other PCs, or just the laptop? It'd be a straightforward procedure to install the printer to a desktop PC (to which the printer remains plugged in via USB), and then simply set the printer as shared on your LAN. From then on, you'd just have to hit 'print' on the laptop and choose your main printer upstairs.

If not, you're a bit more limited and should start reading the post above.

jaffacaique · 30 Jun 2010 at 13:19

Thanks for helpful advice, Ive tried connecting the printer directly to the USB port on the router but no luck. I do have a second PC to where the Printer is connected and can print by sharing it as rainmaker had suggested. However I was looking at not running a 2nd PC whilst downstairs. Having looked at the Belkin 'Play Max' router this seems to allow me directly connect the printer to the routers USB port without running a second PC at the same time (can anyone confirm this as correct?)

Rainmaker · 30 Jun 2010 at 14:42

According to Belkin's site, yes you can plug in any 'compatible' printer to the router's USB port and it'll pop up a wizard to get you going.

Belkin said:
Print from anywhere in the house.
Printing has never been easier. Just connect any compatible printer to your Belkin router, and the PRINT GENIE App lets you print from any computer on the network, from anywhere in your home—wirelessly.

Taken from here. I dare say the manual on offer at that site will list exactly what a 'compatible' printer is. Good luck.