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Thread: Computer time! Wireless Print Servers?

  1. #1
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    Computer time! Wireless Print Servers?

    I've been digging around the web awhile and forgot to tap into the vast resources here. Why are wireless printer servers not more common and readily available? Can anyone point me in the direction of a good unit? Another option would be a wireless router with a printer server built in even if it was a hardwired printer connection. Basically I'm just lazy and I want to lie on my couch and surf porn and print it off without getting up to plug the laptop into a printer in the next room.

    Ideas, suggestions, reviews or direction to availability would be appreciated.
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    I have a Brother printer that I bought for $100 at Wal-Mart that is networked into the router. The wireless print servers I have seen are at least half that price.

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    I have a color laser on the home ethernet that is accessible by the laptop on wireless as a shared printer from my main server. Did that make sense? You need to start with a network printer or print server. Each network printer has its own IP address on the network. Those can be made wireless, but I suspect there is a speed penalty compared to a 10/100 or better wired network. If you have a wireless network at home with a desktop hooked into a printer, you can share that printer on the wired or wireless network.
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    I have a Trendnet TEW-P1P that was pretty cheap, like 50 bucks or so. Plugs right into the parallel port of the printer. Quality control may be an issue as I had to return the unit twice before I got a unit that worked, though it's been fine ever since.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Cirquerider View Post
    I have a color laser on the home ethernet that is accessible by the laptop on wireless as a shared printer from my main server. Did that make sense? You need to start with a network printer or print server. Each network printer has its own IP address on the network. Those can be made wireless, but I suspect there is a speed penalty compared to a 10/100 or better wired network. If you have a wireless network at home with a desktop hooked into a printer, you can share that printer on the wired or wireless network.
    With Win 2000 or XP, it's not well known, but you do not need a print server if your printer has its own IP address on the network. Add Printer > Local Printer > Create a New Port > Standard TCP/IP Port. Do this on each PC.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nobody Famous View Post
    With Win 2000 or XP, it's not well known, but you do not need a print server if your printer has its own IP address on the network. Add Printer > Local Printer > Create a New Port > Standard TCP/IP Port. Do this on each PC.
    I've got to get the printer on the network first. I take it you're assuming I've got a computer hooked up to the printer already. I don't, I just have laptops.

    I'm not clear on the printers referred to. You guys are saying they have wireless cards in them already or are you assuming something similar to above? I know HP has/had a printer with wireless although I haven't found it yet just a reference to it. I'd be interested in hearing of any other printers with this built in. That is likely the easiest since wireless print servers I've read about have numerous compatibility issues.
    It's not so much the model year, it's the high mileage or meterage to keep the youth of Canada happy

  7. #7
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    I was referring to a situation where a printer has an ethernet connection and an IP address on your home network, and where you can get a reply from pinging the printer's IP address from a laptop (the printer does need not need to be hooked up/wired directly to the laptop). In this case you do not need a print server, (i.e., it's an unnecessary complication), that's the only point I was tryting to make, sorry to get OT.

    To be exacting, you can also do this with printers that do not have ethernet connections, ... you just need to setup and know the \\devicename\sharename of the printer.
    Last edited by Nobody Famous; 10-01-2006 at 09:05 PM. Reason: clarity
    “The best argument in favour of a 90% tax rate on the rich is a five-minute chat with the average rich person.”

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    I'm missing something I think. It's not really the networking I'm looking for. It's fine if it only prints off of one computer. It's the no wires and too lazy to get my ass off the couch I'm looking for. It doesn't hit me as a big stretch to add a print server to a wireless router but it doesn't seem common so maybe it is.
    It's not so much the model year, it's the high mileage or meterage to keep the youth of Canada happy

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by L7 View Post
    I'm missing something I think. It's not really the networking I'm looking for. It's fine if it only prints off of one computer. It's the no wires and too lazy to get my ass off the couch I'm looking for. It doesn't hit me as a big stretch to add a print server to a wireless router but it doesn't seem common so maybe it is.
    You have a wireless router? Buy a refurb'd network ready printer for $80 and plug it into the router.
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    Quote Originally Posted by cj001f View Post
    You have a wireless router? Buy a refurb'd network ready printer for $80 and plug it into the router.
    Yep that can work. Have to move the router around but that's certainly no biggee. Found a new one for $95Can. Thanks.
    It's not so much the model year, it's the high mileage or meterage to keep the youth of Canada happy

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    Quote Originally Posted by L7 View Post
    I've been digging around the web awhile and forgot to tap into the vast resources here. Why are wireless printer servers not more common and readily available? Can anyone point me in the direction of a good unit? Another option would be a wireless router with a printer server built in even if it was a hardwired printer connection. Basically I'm just lazy and I want to lie on my couch and surf porn and print it off without getting up to plug the laptop into a printer in the next room.

    Ideas, suggestions, reviews or direction to availability would be appreciated.
    If the printer and router are in the same area, then the wired will be the way to go. I've used Buffalo Technology model LPV3U2 for USB stuff (Windows OS's) and they seem to work good. I have had major problems with Hawking Technology HPS1U and would not use another one.

    I also had some issues recently with a 3 device (2 parallel, one USB) D-Link model recently. These were all wired versions. Also all the HP JetDirects work that I have used and are safe but more pricey than some of the above.

    For wireless SMC makes some nice ones that I have set up. The wireless will be close to double in price of the wired models from the same manufacturer.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cirquerider View Post
    I have a color laser on the home ethernet that is accessible by the laptop on wireless as a shared printer from my main server. Did that make sense? You need to start with a network printer or print server. Each network printer has its own IP address on the network. Those can be made wireless, but I suspect there is a speed penalty compared to a 10/100 or better wired network. If you have a wireless network at home with a desktop hooked into a printer, you can share that printer on the wired or wireless network.
    The speed hit you talk about is really not that big of deal (unless you are talking about really large print jobs (War and Peace type novels) or a bunch of people hitting the printer all at one time- like in a large business. The printers out there usually take a while to warm up if the are laser - after starting to receive data and need the full job in it's memory for the first page, but inkjets are so slow that it would not be the network speed but the printer speed that will slow down the data print job.
    The network speed is going to be faster than the parallel interface is transfer rate much slower (105 kbps max) than even 802.11b (11 mbps) and USB 2.0 is rated for 480 mbps if the printer controller in use could accept data that fast and use the older USB 1.1 for processing it. Many do not handle the info at the USB 2.0 full transfer that well for home style printers- hard drives etc. yes but printers no. USB 1.1 was only 11 mbps and many low end printers still use that slower interface.

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