Question about wireless printers...

[Hork]

I've noticed that some printers have wireless printing, and others have both wireless printing and an ethernet jack for network printing.

In addition to various laptops connected wirelessly, I have at least two desktops that are networked by an ethernet switch connected to my router.

If I don't want to hook up the printer to a particular computer via USB and share it (which requires the computer it is hooked up to to be on), can I print to a wireless printer (without the network ethernet jack) via one of the wired computers?

I guess what I'm asking is whether the wireless printer appears available to all computers on the network (whether the computer is connected via wire or wireless), or do I need to get one that also has the ethernet jack to print from my wired computers?

 

[VirtualLarry]

It depends on whether or not your router has "AP isolation". If it doesn't, or if it's turn off, then every computer, whether on wired or wireless, is all on the same LAN. Therefore, just install the LAN printer drivers on every machine that you want to access the printer, and you should be good.

 

[Hork]

So there's no real reason to pay the extra money for a wireless printer that also has an ethernet jack for printing at home/small office?

 

[Cerb]

So there's no real reason to pay the extra money for a wireless printer that also has an ethernet jack for printing at home/small office?

If every computer is hooked up wireless, they all get excellent signal strength, and wireless transfer rates never make you wish you had it wired...then, no.

That said, I've only ever seen one printer that had wireless but not wired, so I'm not sure where the extra cost comes in.

 

[corkyg]

My ink spitter is both wireless and wired. It can connect via USB or CAT cable. I have it installed as a network printer, and it is available to all systems on my wired LAN. It is also available wirelessly to a guest with a laptop wireless capability with the proper access code.

BTW - the wireless/wired capability had no significant impact on cast.

 

[Hork]

I think we need to clarify what I mean when I say "wired".

I don't mean connected via USB to a computer that must remain on to print to a shared computer. I do mean connected via ethernet and installed as a network printer.

The low-end wireless printers do not have an ethernet jack. Those that add them are a step up in price.

I still don't know that I've gotten a definitive answer. If I have a wireless printer that is only connected to the network wirelessly, will I be able to print from computers that are only connected via ethernet cable?

 

[bruceb]

I have an HP7410 all in one unit. It has RJ45 LAN jack, USB Jack and Wireless all built in. I have my main desktop connected thru the USB .. no problem. I set the WiFi Name and Password in the Wireless config on the printer. I then load the software for the HP on any computer that wants to use that printer. Just be sure all your computers and the printer are in the same Workgroup. It will work just fine (Verizon DSL with a Westell Modem/Router)

 

[jjsbasmt]

Although I have a Lexmark printer, I have the same type of setup 'bruceb" has and it works very well for printing and scanning. I have never had a issue with the all-in-one waking from sleep/standby mode to print or scan from any computer attached to my network wired or wireless.

 

[corkyg]

To further clarify, my HP 6980 has a USB port, Cat cable port, and is wireless. It cost less than $150. I have it Cat5 cable connected to my LAN's wireless router. That way it is both wired and wireless at the same time.

 

[Cerb]

I think we need to clarify what I mean when I say "wired".

I don't mean connected via USB to a computer that must remain on to print to a shared computer. I do mean connected via ethernet and installed as a network printer.

The low-end wireless printers do not have an ethernet jack. Those that add them are a step up in price.

Ah. In general, a business printer will be superior to a consumer printer. If you can find some wireless-only, with a major cost difference, I'm going to guess that they are significantly reliant on the host computer. Printers that can function purely as IP printers will tend to be much better in terms of quality, non-resource-hog drivers (the drivers have less real work to do), and you always have the option of pure IP printing, should you still be running it when it loses driver support.

You're not just paying for a jack, you are paying for the printer to be a networked computer.

I still don't know that I've gotten a definitive answer. If I have a wireless printer that is only connected to the network wirelessly, will I be able to print from computers that are only connected via ethernet cable?

If it has an ethernet jack, you can print from all three (USB, LAN, WLAN).

 

[Howard]

A wireless printer doesn't need to be wired to the router. That, and wired is faster. But otherwise everything else should be the same. I have a wireless AIO that's got a cable running to the router, FWIW.

 

[Lanyap]

I think we need to clarify what I mean when I say "wired".

I don't mean connected via USB to a computer that must remain on to print to a shared computer. I do mean connected via ethernet and installed as a network printer.

The low-end wireless printers do not have an ethernet jack. Those that add them are a step up in price.

I still don't know that I've gotten a definitive answer. If I have a wireless printer that is only connected to the network wirelessly, will I be able to print from computers that are only connected via ethernet cable?

Yes, a wireless only printer can be used by wired computers on the local wireless+wired network router. You don't print directly to a wireless printer. It goes through the local router. Depending on the printer, you may need to initially connect the printer to a computer via USB to get the wireless function setup and connected to the wireless router. After that any computer on the local network that you can load the printer driver on can use the printer. I setup a Canon MX340 wireless only printer like this a few weeks ago. Some wireless printers may use the WiFi WPS automatic setup process.

 

[Hork]

Yes, a wireless only printer can be used by wired computers on the local wireless+wired network router. You don't print directly to a wireless printer. It goes through the local router. Depending on the printer, you may need to initially connect the printer to a computer via USB to get the wireless function setup and connected to the wireless router. After that any computer on the local network that you can load the printer driver on can use the printer. I setup a Canon MX340 wireless only printer like this a few weeks ago. Some wireless printers may use the WiFi WPS automatic setup process.

Thanks Lanyap, that was the answer I was looking for... that the computer wired via ethernet to the wireless/wired router would be able to print to the wireless printer not connected via ethernet.

I think I'll still try to find one that has an ethernet port, and enable network printing since people are bringing up wireless speed as a possible issue.

 

[Erudite21]

I use an MX870 that I bought last May for $150 shipped by Amazon. I have seen the price go as low as $125 shipped. Not only is it an awesome printer that you can easily buy good cheap generic ink for, it also works wonderfully in wireless mode. Never had any issues with speed. I have printed many large documents (50+ pages) without any delay. The printer is on my network through the Uverse 2-Wire 3800HGV-B router.