wireless printing...no network

[sampsonti]

Looking to use my wireless laptop for printing uses. Have 2 current printer hooked up to desktop via USB. Is it possible to keep these printers this way and make one of them also wireless:confused:

I do not want to network anything. Just want to hit PRINT on the wireless laptop and hear that printer work its magic...;)

Any assistance is greatly appreciated....:)

[BoUgS]

how does your laptop and desktop connect to the internet?

[XXnarg]

...I do not want to network anything...Networking means interconnecting resources. If you refused to to network (interconnect resources), how do you expect to be able to share them among computers?

What is it about networking that you want to avoid doing?

[sampsonti]

Internet connect is DSL with wireless router. I am just looking for the least complicated way to just have the laptop print wirelessly. I do not want the 2 computers sharing/networking...if this is at all possible. I actually have 2 laptops. One is for work only. Would like to use this also with printer wirelessly(is that a word)

Again thanks for any input...:)

[RL007]

For what you are trying to do you will probably need a wireless print server. Something like this:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2073458&CatId=371

[heavylee]

OP doesn't have to use a wireless print server. The desktop is the print server. OP just needs to put the machines on the same workgroup and share the printer from the desktop.

[XXnarg]

As heavylee says, the least expensive way is going to be to turn on printer sharing on the computer to which the printer is attached. You do not have to share any files but you would need to have the computer turned on in order to print. You would be using that one computer as a print server.

As RL007 says above, you could use a separate print server, which would allow you to print and not have the one computer turned on. You would connect the printer to the print server and run setup procedures.

The first option would lead to the fastest printing overall, assuming the computer is turned on when you need to print.

Printing through the network is faster than printing through a directly attached printer. If you print directly from the desktop, that would print faster than if you print from the desktop through the network and print server.

OP, the two computers already are part of a network, they just aren't sharing any resources and can't talk to each other. The fact that they are using a common device (router and internet connection) defines them as being part of a local area network.

[RL007]

OP doesn't have to use a wireless print server. The desktop is the print server. OP just needs to put the machines on the same workgroup and share the printer from the desktop.

Thats what I figured also, but OP seems like he doesn't want to leave the desktop on all the time. Just giving other options.....

[stufine]

from what he says yeah.. doesnt want to network pc.. but he would be printing already if he did :)

[quazywong]

Huh?

you just go to share printer on ur desktop

go to laptop and browse for printer.

[sampsonti]

Thanks everyone for the input. Seems like the print server is my option that fits my needs the most. Want the option of printing from the wireless laptop without the desktop on....right...:)

Thanks

[saphyrre]

If you have a router, use the cheap $10 usb print server from compusa (i'm sure you can find one on ebay), and you don't have to worry about leaving your desktop pc on all the time. I have that usb print server and works great...for my HP laser printer, but my Canon printer is not supported ;)..so might want to check first.

[XXnarg]

If you have a router, use the cheap $10 usb print server from compusa (i'm sure you can find one on ebay), and you don't have to worry about leaving your desktop pc on all the time. I have that usb print server and works great...for my HP laser printer, but my Canon printer is not supported ;)..so might want to check first.Depending on the model of integrated modem/router OP has with his DSL circuit, he may or may not have spare ethernet ports to which he could attach a wired print server.

Good point about verifying that the print server supports the exact make/model printer.

[sampsonti]

can someone point me to the Compusa USB print server. I cannot seem to locate....Thanks...:)

[stufine]

i havent seen the 10$ one myself.. ive only seen with rebates making it 15-20$ but i dont see one atm

[XXnarg]

can someone point me to the Compusa USB print server. I cannot seem to locate....Thanks...:)That's not a regular price, that's when it's on sale. You'll have to watch the ads and Hot Deals to find it at that price.

If you want to wait for such a deal, you might consider doing print sharing on the desktop, as an interim measure. More than one person who was sure he needed a print server decided he'd just share his printer(s) on his desktop after he set it up and it worked well. There is less technical risk and less hassle that way.

[sampsonti]

you might consider doing print sharing on the desktop, as an interim measure. More than one person who was sure he needed a print server decided he'd just share his printer(s) on his desktop after he set it up and it worked well. There is less technical risk and less hassle that way.

How do you do this. I can see share the printer on the desktop where printers are hooked up via cables but how can you do this with the wireless desktop.....:confused:

[<><]

How do you do this. I can see share the printer on the desktop where printers are hooked up via cables but how can you do this with the wireless desktop.....:confused:
uhm, it doesn't matter if its wireless or wired, all your PC's need to have the same workgroup name and need to be networked for this to work.If you share the printer from the computer its connected to (in term making that PC the server), that PC will have to be on whenever you want to print from one of your other PCs.

If you go the wireless print server way (you only need the wireless version if your placing the printer away from your router and its not possible for you to run a cat5 cable to the print server, otherwise if you already have a wireless router you do NOT need a wireless print server, a regular one will do, and will still print "wirelessly" from your wireless laptop/desktop connection) you still NEED a router and network your PC's to have the same workgroup for them to see the printer. But this way, you dont have to have any other PC on (only your router/print server) for you to print from any other PC. This makes the most sense.

Hope it helps

[Hoseman666]

I have a similar need:

Have 1 notebook computer and a Canon MP830 printer, currently connected via USB.

Notebook uses broadband card for internet, plus has b/g and BT wifi.

Printer does not support BT module :(

What is simplest/cheapest/reliable way(s) to print wirelessly? There is no wifi home network/router. Was hoping to be less than buying a $100 BT print server that IOgear makes (and garners horrible reviews)

[jdramirez]

This sounds like it answered one of my questions... of course, I need to put my laptop back so I can use it. Ughhh. thanks, and as I start the process I will rep those who contributed.