Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.
Posted on 08/27/2010 12:25:57 PM PDT by Chickensoup
I have two printers, an HP Laserjet m13191MFP and an HP 1020. I now have three wireless laptops. We would all like to print to our printers and I understand that there is a way to make this happen. It is possible: that is what the nice man at STAPLES told me. But STAPLES does not carry the equipment.
I thought I could find it online. He told me it was called a "wireless print server." I am not sure that what I am looking at would work. I cannot tell where they would go on the printer.
Has anyone does this before.
Best Buys or Fry’s
Go to Bestbuy and ask for a print server.
You can search on ebay to see 1. They are small devices.
Many wireless routers allow you to connect both wirelessly and tyhrough Ethernet connection. There should be 5 ports on the back of the router (for example on a LinkSys router). One port is the input for your Internet cable and the other 4 are for attaching other computers or devices.
you could also have the printer(s) connected to a PC that’s always on, then share the printer(s) over the wireless network.
Best method is to hook the printers up to an old laptop or desktop running windows. Print from the pc they are connected to to prove that they work, then share the printers using windows sharing.
The wifi print servers are total crap. Of the list of crap wifi print servers that works the best is the airport from apple.
RE HP 1020
I have this printer working with a D-Link DP-301 USB print server and a D-link Extreme G wireless router (Ver.3) Followed the install instructions and the data was sent from my Windows XP computer, through my router and into the print server (I could see the print jobs in the print history page of the server) but the printer did not print. The solution was to use my printer install disk to remove all of the 1020 print drivers from my computer and reinstall the printer. Reattached the printer to my computer and test printed. That worked, so I reattached the USB cable to the print server and used the Windows Add Printer utility to set-up a new HP-1020 definition using the TCP/IP port I created during the first install attempt. Tested the printer and it works great. It also works with the other computers in my home network.
You’re right! At first, I couldn’t believe what you said. But then I just followed your steps, it worked! But, somehow, it worked only for the first page after I reset the print server. I think there is some bug in my print server (mine is D-LINK DP-311U).
A wireless print server is set up using a direct connection to the router and to the printer and once the wireless parameters are set up the device can be connected by USB to the printer and will act as a wireless receiver for the printer. They can be tricky to set up. I would suggest either Linksys or Trendnet to begin with and be sure to check the charts that cross reference the type of printer and the OS for compatibility.
and one more thing, if you work from home but tunnel into your company’s VPN, the printer will NOT show because it’s on your home network and not the company network (unless you connect the printer to a company-networked PC, and share the printer over the company network - which is how I do it at home).
Amazing, I just posted this thread, and as I continued to search for information about the topic, the thread came up first on the Google listing. FR must have a direct connect with the googlebot.
Never had a problem with my printer and wireless. It’s an HP Officejet. Only problem with the printer is the tray. It is heck getting it in to keep the paper ready to print.
Hated wireless. It always went off and was only using 54 percent of the speed it was capable of; that is if it stayed on line. Changed that finally. Had a Best Buy come out and change it to something which I don’t know what; but it’s at full speed now and 5 times as fast.
Don’t use a wireless keyboard either unless you have a very tiny screw driver when it decides to stop. LOL
But you have to open up the computer visibility and setup security.
If they are cheap printers buy one new one with built in networking and plug it right in or go wireless.
If you have 1 networked printer it can easily replace 2 or 3 non networked printers.
Print servers are really a pain in the butt.
I am learning that.
It helps to know the router you are using. However, in general this is how to make it work.
First, wireless print servers are troublesome. If you can locate both of the printers near your router and use a hardwired connection to connect them to the network, that would be the preferred connection.
Second, HP’s branded print servers are the most reliable with their printers. Although pricey if you pay retail, they are available from eBay and the internet at substantial discounts (as much as 60-90% discount)
The way it works is you connect a print server to each of the printers and connect that to the router via ethernet cable or, in the case of a wireless print server, the wireless network. Usually there is an install disc that creates a tcp/ip port for the printer to print to and adds it to the list of installed printers.
The print servers compatible with the 1020 are
HP Jetdirect ew2400 (J7951a)
HP Jetdirect en3700 (J7942a)
HP Jetdirect 175x (J6035c)
For the 1319 MFP I don’t get any network information. I’m guessing the faxing and scanning across the network are not supported but printing probably is. A call to HP tech support will likely give you some direction.
You can try other brands of print servers, but the results are not guaranteed.
I am grateful, thank you.
Amazing, I just posted this thread, and as I continued to search for information about the topic, the thread came up first on the Google listing. FR must have a direct connect with the googlebot.
..
Nyaaaaa.. it just goes to show ya how closely FR is watched by some. ;-)
Just ‘cuz yer paranoid doesn’t mean “they” aren’t watching.
I had the same problem when I got a new laptop, and I suggest that before you spring for a wireless print server or two, connect each of your printers directly to each laptop to make sure that there are drivers compatible with your new computers. If not, go to the printer manufacturer’s website and see if they’ve issued new, compatible drivers. If your printers have some age on them there may not be any such drivers, and your only option would be to get at least one new printer.
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