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Resolved Sharing a printer using WiFi

Discussion in 'Networking (Hardware & Software)' started by jparnold, 2014/07/24.

  1. 2014/07/24
    jparnold

    jparnold Inactive Thread Starter

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    I have in the past set up a printer shared between 2 PCs using a router and RJ45 (ethernet) cables with the printer connected to one of the PCs via USB - problem was that to print from the second PC the PC with the printer attached had to be ON.

    I now would like to set up a printer shared via WiFi.

    Firstly can this be done using an ADSL2 model/router (with Wifi built in)?

    Secondly can the printer be attached to the ADSL2 modem/router and the PCs be able to access it either by ethernet cable or WiFi - the modem/router has a USB port.

    Tried to find this via Google unsuccessfully.

    The ADSL2 modem router (supplied by my ISP) has the following ports

    3 x ethernet ports
    1 x GbE port
    1 X WAN port
    1 X USB port

    Thanks

    John
     
    jparnold,
    #1
  2. 2014/07/24
    retiredlearner

    retiredlearner SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Hi jparnold, Just to clarify, the printer is NOT Wireless?
    I had a set up with a Hp 2050 MFC printer printing from 2 PC's through a small Hub. Both printer cables from each PC > USB A to USB B (Std Printer cable) went to the hub and then another USB A - USB B to the printer.
    The little hub has 2 push buttons and if you wanted to print something from PC #1 you engaged the appropriate button and printed your copy.
    I did not go through the Modem/Router.
    I now have a Wireless printer (HP 2540 MFC) and that prints for my main Desktop comp and my HP Notebook through Wireless directly from PC's to Printer.
    The hub cost $9.90 and I had a spare USB printer cable. Neil.
     
    retiredlearner,
    #2


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  4. 2014/07/25
    jparnold

    jparnold Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks Neil

    Should have clarified that the printer does NOT have Wifi.

    I really don't want to use a (mechanical) switch - want it to print seamlessly.

    I could run an ethernet cable from the second PC to the router but don't want cables running everywhere.
    The second PC can access the internet via Wifi and the ADSL2 Modem.

    It would be great if the second PC could print via WiFi. As mentioned there is a USB port on the modem and I don't know what it is used for.

    I guess the other option could be - can I add WiFi to the printer and if so can it print BOTH via WiFi AND via USB from the first PC

    John
     
    jparnold,
    #3
  5. 2014/07/25
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    To do what you want either the printer or the router must have a built in print server. A print server is software much like a Web server except that is serves printers over the network instead of Web pages.

    Many newer printers have a built in printer server along with built in wifi or RJ45 port. The printer connects to the router via wifi or cat5 and can then be used by any computer on the local network.

    Some newer, more expensive routers have a built in print server. The printer connects by usb to the router. It's not likely your router's usb port is for a print server. It's usb is probably a "usb to ethernet" bridge, meaning a computer without an ethernet port can connect to the router with usb.

    You will need to use a print server to connect your printer to the router. This is a small device with 2 ports, usb and ethernet. Printer connects to it via usb and a cat5 goes from the device to the router. Any computer that connects to the router by wifi or cat5 can use the printer, providing the device's software and drivers get installed on each computer.

    example: 10/100 Ethernet USB Print Server

    Your other option is to just get a new printer that has built in networking/print server.
     
    TonyT,
    #4
  6. 2014/07/25
    jparnold

    jparnold Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks Tony
    Understood.
     
    jparnold,
    #5

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