Wireless Print Server---Help!

[Buz2b]

The wife and I both have laptops and I have a desktop also. My HP multifunction printer is attached to that desktop. I want to be able to print from both of our laptops. I guess I need a wireless print server but not sure which one and how it will function. Will I still be able to connect/print with the desktop system? Can someone give me a wireless print server 101 summarization? I'm a little lacking in this subject, to say the least. Recommendations would be helpful and appreciated too. Thanks!

 

[boomerang]

How do you access the internet with the laptops? Through a wireless router?

If so, you have all you need. Just share the printer and put them all in the same workgroup.

If this is not the case, give us a litle more information on your network setup.

 

[Trashman]

Print server is a nice addition if your desktop is not running majority of the time, your desktop would need to be left on in order to print if shared.

 

[boomerang]

Yes, but he may be in an even better situation if his multifunction is network ready.

With a router he would be golden. No print server required.

 

[Trashman]

most definitely...i agree

 

[Buz2b]

Ok, sorry for not giving enough info. I told you I was "lacking" in this. LOL! The desktop is not always on, nor do I wish to leave it on. Yes, I access through a wireless G router. I'm not sure if the HP 1300 PSC series multifunction printer is network ready either. I do remember reading something about some wireless print servers not working with multifunction printers.
Thanks for the replies so far. Hopefully this info helps.

 

[imported_Tick]

Bump because I'm in a similar situation.

 

[Trashman]

I've read mixed opinions on multifunction printers being shared through network, obviously you wouldn't be able to scan or copy, but print should be no problem.

 

[cessna152]

Not to point out the obvious; but, double check that whatever Wireless Print Server you get is compatible with whatever device you have. Too many people I know have just assumed it would work

 

[boomerang]

Your HP has no ethernet port. From what I can gather, it has only a USB interface.

Get a USB print server. Examples here.

It will connect by ethernet cable to one of the ports on your router. The printer itself will connect to the print server using USB. There will be software that comes with the print server that will need to be installed on every computer you want to print from. It will assist you in creating a port that will exist on the router that you will choose to print to. It is quite easy to set up as long as your network is functional. It sounds as if it is.

You do not need or want a wireless print server.

You will be able to print through your network from any machine on your network. The desktop will not have to be on.

A very good point has been brought up. The printing itself will work fine, but sharing the other functions will most likely not work. I highly doubt your multifunction is capable of sharing the other functions.

Edit: As a side note, pay attention to the layout of the various ports on the print server. Personally, I don't like wires plugged into both the front and back or back and side. I like all the connections on the back. I find it easier to put the print server where I want it. I am a neat freak however.

 

[Madwand1]

You don't need the desktop to be powered on all the time in order to be a usable print server -- you only need it on when you're going to print, and it doesn't even have to be logged on. For most people, that's not all that often, and probably not worth the trouble of giving up the secondary functions of your multi-function, not to mention the mere hassle of getting it set up. I'd suggest learning to share (if you don't already know how to do that

 

[akers]

There are no doubt a number of good wireless print servers on the market. I have been using two Belkin 54G print servers for over a year. One at work and one at home. The installation was so easy that I thought I must have missed something. They have both been trouble free and reliable despite having a 2.4Ghz phone system at home.

Look Ma, no wires!

 

[professor1942]

I have the D-Link 714P+ wireless router + print server and it works flawlessly for this purpose. The only thing it sucks at is in connectivity between wireless and wired PC's, eg. playing a LAN game or transferring a file from laptop to desktop, where the connection quite often drops out. If you don't need this functionality I'd recommend the product.

I'll never go back to using the PC parallel port...

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: boomerang
Yes, but he may be in an even better situation if his multifunction is network ready.

With a router he would be golden. No print server required.

Some routers have built in print servers. I think D-Link makes a wireless router with built in print server for easy intergration.

 

[Googer]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833127038

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi...sp?Submit=Suggested&Description=33-127

 

[Buz2b]

Boomerang,
What you say makes sense. Thanks. I can just get a USB print server (not a wireless one) and connect between the router and the printer. Sounds good to me. I just have to do the research and find one that will be compatible with my printer, as cessna152 mentioned. I am not worried about the multifunctional aspect of the printer at this point; only printing from the wireless laptops. However, that does bring up one other potential glitch; the desktop pc. If I understand correctly, I would then only have access to the printer from the desktop via the USB print server, which would then not be able to access the copy/scan functions. So, to restore that function to the desktop pc, should I want to use it, I could just pull the printer?s USB cable from the print server and hook it back up to the desktop pc, correct? BTW, I just checked out the web site of the first server in your list, the EDIMAX PS-1205UM and it is indeed compatible with my printer.
Madwand1, I also understand your viewpoint. The problem is I am trying to avoid having the desktop on most of the time. The need for a printer comes up sort of frequent but in spurts. Not enough to warrant having the desktop pc running all the time though. I thought of just doing the ?shared network? printer procedure and even researched it step by step, but again, that would mean leaving the desktop on all the time.

 

[Googer]

I know that they also make USB device servers that are compatable with Hard Drives and Scanners. I think one of those might work better.

 

[Googer]

http://www.keyspan.com/products/usb/server/

http://www.silexamerica.com/us/products/network/usb/index.html


http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Reviews-187-ProdID-H2H1.php

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: Buz2b
Boomerang,
If I understand correctly, I would then only have access to the printer from the desktop via the USB print server, which would then not be able to access the copy/scan functions.

Yes, that would be the case.

So, to restore that function to the desktop pc, should I want to use it, I could just pull the printer?s USB cable from the print server and hook it back up to the desktop pc, correct?

Yes, but the printer would be tied to the port on the router (print server). You would want to do a second install of the printer and choose the USB port on the desktop. You could rename them to something different so you can keep track of which is which. They'll both appear in any drop-down and the different names will allow you to pick the appropriate printer. You will probably need to make the instance of the printer with full functionality the default printer. You will have to mess around with it some. The potential is there for some "situations" because it is a multifunction. Check the HP site for drivers that may allow you to do what you want. They may have a driver package that is print only.

This method could be useful for other purposes. Say you frequently printed black text documents in draft mode on an unusual size of paper. You can have an instance of the printer with the defaults set up that way. No more clicking through the screens to choose the draft, black, paper size or whatever. Very useful. Especially so in an office environment.

Hope I haven't overwhelmed you.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: boomerang

Originally posted by: Buz2b
Boomerang,
If I understand correctly, I would then only have access to the printer from the desktop via the USB print server, which would then not be able to access the copy/scan functions.

Yes, that would be the case.

So, to restore that function to the desktop pc, should I want to use it, I could just pull the printer?s USB cable from the print server and hook it back up to the desktop pc, correct?

Yes, but the printer would be tied to the port on the router (print server). You would want to do a second install of the printer and choose the USB port on the desktop. You could rename them to something different so you can keep track of which is which. They'll both appear in any drop-down and the different names will allow you to pick the appropriate printer. You will probably need to make the instance of the printer with full functionality the default printer. You will have to mess around with it some. The potential is there for some "situations" because it is a multifunction. Check the HP site for drivers that may allow you to do what you want. They may have a driver package that is print only.

This method could be useful for other purposes. Say you frequently printed black text documents in draft mode on an unusual size of paper. You can have an instance of the printer with the defaults set up that way. No more clicking through the screens to choose the draft, black, paper size or whatever. Very useful. Especially so in an office environment.

Hope I haven't overwhelmed you.

That is not true!

If you use a USB Device Server you can use a mulifuntion printer on your network along with most other usb devices.


http://www.keyspan.com/products/usb/server/

http://www.silexamerica.com/us/products/network/usb/index.html


http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Reviews-187-ProdID-H2H1.php