Question

Wireless printing question

Asked by: kam_uk

Hello

I have the following set up:

Internet > Wireless router > -Laptop (XP)  > Printer

The Laptop is connected to the router wirelessly, and the printer connected to the laptop via USB. The printer is *not* a wireless printer.

Is there any way to print wirelessly in my scenario? Is it possible to buy wireless routers with USB slots, so that I can connect the printer and print this way so that the laptop doesn't have any wired connections?

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Asked On
2009-10-18 at 03:39:49ID24821481
Tags

Wireless Print Servers

Topics

Wireless Networking

,

802.11 Wireless Access Points

,

Printers

Participating Experts
4
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500
Comments
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Answers

 

by: akahanPosted on 2009-10-18 at 09:51:23ID: 25600467

It would depend on your printer model.  Some printers will work with a "wireless print server", which is just a little box that you plug the printer into that connects wirelessly with your wireless router.  Other printers have slots in which you can insert wireless cards, so the printer is just another wireless device on your network.   And for other printers, there's no solution to your problem.

 

by: kam_ukPosted on 2009-10-18 at 10:05:45ID: 25600521

So there is no such possible scenario of having a wireless router with a USB port that the printer can link into?

 

by: MASQUERAIDPosted on 2009-10-18 at 10:12:09ID: 25600537

Yes there are lots but as akahan says you need to check your printer is compatible with them.
See this one on Amazon as an example: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0009RAY14/ref=asc_df_B0009RAY14449115

 

by: hdhondtPosted on 2009-10-18 at 16:16:41ID: 25601836

Most wireless routers also have one or more wired connections. If your router does, and if your printer has a network interface, you can connect the printer that way.

If your printer only has USB, take MASQUERAID's warning very seriously: most USB-only printers are very particular about the printserver model(s) they will work with. If your printer is not listed on the printserver's compatibility list, you must assume it will not work.

 

by: Darr247Posted on 2009-10-18 at 17:13:41ID: 25601974

Check out this link... if you plug in USB hubs, you can share up to 15 USB devices through 1 of these USB servers.
http://www.silexeurope.com/en/home/products/usb-device-servers/overview.html

I don't see any compatibility lists there, by the way, so I'm thinking the warnings above do not apply to those products.

 

by: hdhondtPosted on 2009-10-18 at 17:29:55ID: 25602036

There are compatibility lists. For the SX-2000WG+ see:
http://www.silexeurope.com/media/compatible/2000wg_compatible.pdf

 

by: kam_ukPosted on 2009-10-28 at 15:45:29ID: 25689074

Thanks guys....

Unfortunately, my printer - A Kodak ESP5 - is not listed on the compatability list for either of those...any ideas on one that will be compatible with my printer?

 

by: akahanPosted on 2009-10-28 at 16:09:01ID: 25689228

Your printer would work with a Kodak Bluetooth Dongle.  You get one of those, and stick in the USB slot in the printer.  Then, if your laptop has bluetooth (or a bluetooth dongle), you could print wirelessly from the laptop to the printer using bluetooth.

Are you generally familiar with bluetooth?  It is completely separate from your wireless network.  It's very short range:  Maximum about 30 feet from computer to printer.  And the printer can only talk to one bluetooth device at a time, so you wouldn't really have the printer on your network.

 

by: MASQUERAIDPosted on 2009-10-28 at 16:19:22ID: 25689275

Afraid not - the ESP 5 doesn't support wireless printing - although you can get a bluetooth dongle option for it.
They were sold off in bulk by both Rymans and Dixons Group in the UK because of the successor model - the ESP 5250 which supports wireless by design.

 

by: Darr247Posted on 2009-10-29 at 03:43:00ID: 25692186

See the SX-2000U2

http://www.silexeurope.com/77977842ff4d041fcabad5fa53fd76ea/en/home/products/usb-device-servers/sx-2000u2.html

That one has the ESP 5 in its compatibility list... attached, or http://www.silexeurope.com/media/compatible/2000u2_compatible.pdf

Plug the printer into that device with existing USB cord, then connect that device to your wireless router with cat5.

 

by: akahanPosted on 2009-10-29 at 09:33:43ID: 25695445

He wanted wireless.  There's nothing wireless about the SX-2000U2.  He'd be connecting the printer by USB cable to the SX-2000U2, and then connecting the SX-2000U2 to his router by ethernet cable.

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