Wirless Printer Server

Rooky007 · 19 Feb 2007 at 18:43

Hi all..

At the moment my broadband router is in the spare bedroom under the bed as there a Telephone point there. My printer is in small box room with it Pc etc in which does not have a phone point. But I would like to be able to wireless print from my laptop to the printer.

I could either buy a new printer
Or
Printer server..

But what i like to ask if I have the printer server or wireless printer. Would I have to disconnect from the Broadband wireless connection and connect to the printer connection to be able to print? As a friend told me i would have to

kbc · 19 Feb 2007 at 20:25

Hmm... I think I understand what you're saying.

I presume this router you have is a "wireless" one and you're accessing the Internet through wireless?

You'd then just need a print server (does not have to be wireless) and connect it to your router, then you have access to the printer from the laptop.

Rooky007 · 19 Feb 2007 at 20:26

kbc said:
Hmm... I think I understand what you're saying.

I presume this router you have is a "wireless" one and you're accessing the Internet through wireless?

You'd then just need a print server (does not have to be wireless) and connect it to your router, then you have access to the printer from the laptop.

Thing is. the printer is no way near the wireless router

kbc · 19 Feb 2007 at 20:29

Rookies said:
Thing is. the printer is no way near the wireless router

In that case you'd need a wireless print server, providing you've got a Wi-Fi card on your laptop.

Rooky007 · 19 Feb 2007 at 20:30

kbc said:
In that case you'd need a wireless print server, providing you've got a Wi-Fi card on your laptop.

Yup I do have wifi on my laptop.

What i like to know is do i have to disconnect from the internet wireless connection to connect to the printer server connection? as this is what i been told

kbc · 19 Feb 2007 at 20:36

Rookies said:
Yup I do have wifi on my laptop.

What i like to know is do i have to disconnect from the internet wireless connection to connect to the printer server connection? as this is what i been told

From my understanding, that would be illogical.

I take it you're thinking in Windows, you'd have to disconnect from your broadband wireless connection to connect to your print server's wireless connection?

That would be quite useless, I think that's where ad-hoc mode comes into play. Your existing router wireless connection shouldn't need to be disconnected to use your printer. Your printer would basically join the existing wireless network.

Rooky007 · 19 Feb 2007 at 20:39

kbc said:
From my understanding, that would be illogical.

I take it you're thinking in Windows, you'd have to disconnect from your broadband wireless connection to connect to your print server's wireless connection?

That would be quite useless, I think that's where ad-hoc mode comes into play. Your existing router wireless connection shouldn't need to be disconnected to use your printer. Your printer would basically join the existing wireless network.

i am new to this and dont understand much about it. Where is Ad-hoc setting?

kbc · 19 Feb 2007 at 20:43

Rookies said:
i am new to this and dont understand much about it. Where is Ad-hoc setting?

I believe if you have a wireless print server not connected to a router, I would still be able to print as long as I have a Wi-Fi card.

Rooky007 · 19 Feb 2007 at 20:47

kbc said:
I believe if you have a wireless print server not connected to a router, I would still be able to print as long as I have a Wi-Fi card.

That what i though. but a friend of mine wanted to do this not to long ago so he got him self a wireless printer server and he said he found him self having to stop the wireless connection to the broadband router and connect it to the printer server as you can have both on same time. this is what need to find out and how to overcome it

kbc · 19 Feb 2007 at 20:53

Rookies said:
That what i though. but a friend of mine wanted to do this not to long ago so he got him self a wireless printer server and he said he found him self having to stop the wireless connection to the broadband router and connect it to the printer server as you can have both on same time. this is what need to find out and how to overcome it

That's the reason for "Wireless Print Servers", you have them to join your existing wireless network connection - scalable. The software provided by the print server's manufacturer will allow you to configure the print server to use the same SSID as your existing wireless network.

Whereas Ad-Hoc mode will allow the print server to communicate with your client-PCs directly bypassing the router.

Rooky007 · 19 Feb 2007 at 20:56

kbc said:
That's the reason for "Wireless Print Servers", you have them to join your existing wireless network connection - scalable. The software provided by the print server's manufacturer will allow you to configure the print server to use the same SSID as your existing wireless network.

Whereas Ad-Hoc mode will allow the print server to communicate with your client-PCs directly bypassing the router.

Hmm need to go and see if i can find one cheap enough dont want to spend silly amount on one. a

kbc · 19 Feb 2007 at 21:01

Rookies said:
Hmm need to go and see if i can find one cheap enough dont want to spend silly amount on one. a

Linksys have always been reliable for me. In fact I'd try and keep the same brand for compatibility reasons.

Rooky007 · 19 Feb 2007 at 21:12

kbc said:
Linksys have always been reliable for me. In fact I'd try and keep the same brand for compatibility reasons.

cheers will have a look round and see what i can find

Rooky007 · 20 Feb 2007 at 22:19

What if i brough a new printer with Wifi built in.. Would I be able to pair it up to my network?

I dont want to have to come out of my broadband connection to have to connect to printer to print. I am very new to this and dont have a clue. And dont want to spend a lot of money and finding it dont work