Broadband router versus network router

[dkryan]

Bear with me on what is probably fairly basic stuff to some of you.

I have a laptop that is "wi-fi'd" through the Linksys router connected to my desktop. The desktop is in my home office upstairs and the laptop is downstairs. I want to print to the Canon multi-function that is USB'd to my desktop.

I've loaded the printer drivers onto the laptop. However, don't I need a "network" router to make this happen? And if so, how do I set up the network and broadband routers to work together?

 

[uc50ic4more]

You either have to set up Printer Sharing on the "host" computer (the Desktop) so that the printer will appear as a printer on your laptop, or you could always just transfer the file(s) you'd like to print to the Desktop system and print from there.

I haven't set up Printer Sharing in a Windows system for a good long while, and I don't even know what you're using, but a quick Googling ought to set you up straight.

A router is a center of a network, in that all of the systems connected to it are, or at least can be, networked together.

 

[Bill in Utah]

On the computer that has the printer, right click it and click on sharing.

Share it and then on the computer on the net work, add a printer. Select Network, browse and then add it.

Works like a champ. Also, you will need to make sure that the host computer is on when you want to print.

There are other ways to make a printer work on the net work without a computer on (network drives with USB support is one of the cheapest).

Take care, bill

 

[PandaBear]

You have a few options:

1) move the file to the printer connected PC and print from there

2) enable printer sharing from that PC and install the printer driver and connect it to the PC, then print through it when that PC is on. Essentially you are using that PC as a printer server.

3) Buy a USB printer server (networked one), connect the printer to that USB printer server. Now you can print without any other PC on.

4) Buy a printer that has a build in wireless or wired network connection, and print to the printer directly via network.

 

[daman]

thanks guy's just did this to my set up's works like a dream.

PandaBear can u explane more on this USB printer server (networked one)how that works exacly where to get one how much,etc,etc??

 

[Bill in Utah]

Plenty of network print servers (some USB)

 

[daman]

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Plenty of network print servers (some USB)

thanks bill but how do they work?

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: daman
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Plenty of network print servers (some USB)

thanks bill but how do they work?
Well. (Most of them)

They spool your print jobs and then send them to the printer.

Pretty simple.

Some printers have these built in. Some are wireless if you have a router that supports wireless.

All of them show up on the network once a printer is hooked up. You may have to install some drivers for the printer on the computer you are trying to print off.

Most of the printers that have the network built in, you will install drivers on each computer.

 

[daman]

K thanks..

 

[PandaBear]

One thing though. Check the review of the model before you buy.

I bought a Linksys PSUS4 (but runs more like a PUSS4). This thing have some quirkiness to it that it only works in single direction and couldn't support a lot of printers out there, and mine is one of the not supported.

If your printer is on the support list I can sell you mine for $20 and see if it works for you, if not you can return it.

 

[daman]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
One thing though. Check the review of the model before you buy.

I bought a Linksys PSUS4 (but runs more like a PUSS4). This thing have some quirkiness to it that it only works in single direction and couldn't support a lot of printers out there, and mine is one of the not supported.

If your printer is on the support list I can sell you mine for $20 and see if it works for you, if not you can return it.

HP 750 PSC

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: daman

HP 750 PSC


http://linksys.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/linksys.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=16800

Seems like it is on the support list.

Want to give it a try?