Hi,

 

What's the cheapest way of printing from my pc (downstairs) to a printer upstairs?

 

Cheers

 

Vijay

networking? what sort of printer is it?

wireless print server, you can buy em cheap now. if you dont want cables running all over the place reciver plugs into printer and transmitter into pc load software and bingo..

It's an older HP Laserjet 4. Have you got any links to a wireless print server?

 

Cheers guys,

 

Vijay

cheepest way is cat5 cable then set up the computer you want to print from to use the printer as it's default (i use this setup) £2 for 5m cat5 cable

aye if you dont mind lifting floor boards CAT5 network cable is the way to go. If a uber nerd but i dont have wireless at home. Got cat5 going to 3 rooms from the loft where my server and internet gateway is.

But this depends on whether his Lazerjet has an ethernet controller onboard, which I dont think they do, and I dont think it was an option either. I think it was LTP or serial only.

 

The only one I could find which would be useful was the one listed below in the link

http://www.dsl-warehouse.co.uk/product.asp?pr=PPSX1

It has a LTP port on too, as most print servers has just got USB ports, as this has been the norm for printers for the past 3-4 years or so.

 

According to Linksys' website it is wireless but only with a certain make of Linksys note book wireless card, im not quite sure as their description is a little confusing..

 

Why it is like this I dont know. It is possible you can plug the server into a wireless router and that will sort it out. It will probably be a good idea to actually ring Linksys and get some answers from them direct.

But this depends on whether his Lazerjet has an ethernet controller onboard, which I dont think they do, and I dont think it was an option either. I think it was LTP or serial only.

 

The only one I could find which would be useful was the one listed below in the link

http://www.dsl-warehouse.co.uk/product.asp?pr=PPSX1

It has a LTP port on too, as most print servers has just got USB ports, as this has been the norm for printers for the past 3-4 years or so.

 

According to Linksys' website it is wireless but only with a certain make of Linksys note book wireless card, im not quite sure as their description is a little confusing..

 

Why it is like this I dont know. It is possible you can plug the server into a wireless router and that will sort it out. It will probably be a good idea to actually ring Linksys and get some answers from them direct.

 

there is no need to buy a print server. all you do is turn both computers on then on the computer that ISNT connected to the printer, go

 

Start > Printer and Fax > Right Click > Add printer

now you should have a pop up window appear. click next > A network printer or a computer not connected to this printer > click next > on the printer that comes up (i.e hp deskjet 880c)

you should be fine then.

 

i have also included the manual for the print server (which you dont need).

 

any problems doing this then pm me

 

hth

as per the info above, if he doesnt want to run cables through his house, then a print serve is a possibility, i forgot about this thread vijay sorry i did mean to come back to you.

 

some useful info there guys however if vijay isnt inclined to go for a cable run then helping him with either a print serve or wireless set up would be easier.

 

yes cat5 would be cheaper for him as long as he wants to run cable up stairs, however there is another alternative, he can get two wireless network cards for both machine (depending on if he has two machines) this hasnt been pointed out yet, and he can share the printer over the wireless network. this is another option, however if he doesnt want the other computer on all the time and just wants the printer on then it would be a print serve option.

 

you have to assess all the possible options.

 

vijay, can you answer as to the following:

 

do you have two computers, one upstairs one downstairs?

do any already have wireless capabilities

if no wireless cards, and you dont want a load of cable running everywhere then get two wireless cards or usb dongles and connect printer to the pc upstairs and put on the printer share network, you will have to create a new local network after installing the hardware, then do same down stairs but tell it to look for a new network, it willfind the one you made and join that one, you can then password protect it.

bluetooth

there is no need to buy a print server. all you do is turn both computers on then on the computer that ISNT connected to the printer, go

 

Start > Printer and Fax > Right Click > Add printer

now you should have a pop up window appear. click next > A network printer or a computer not connected to this printer > click next > on the printer that comes up (i.e hp deskjet 880c)

you should be fine then.

 

i have also included the manual for the print server (which you dont need).

 

any problems doing this then pm me

 

hth

 

He didnt state whether the printer upstairs is connected to a printer.

 

If it is the easiest way is to share the printer as normal, then browse to the computer on the network, right click on the printer and select connect.

 

If he has Windows XP installed it should also automatically show up in his printers.

even better.... move the printer downstairs!!

Hi guys,

 

Cheers for all the info. There isn't a pc upstairs although that is an option as I have a laptop that I could use. I don't have any wireless capabilities at the moment but intend to as I'm going down the carputer route soon. What's the cheapest way of getting a wireless network set up?

 

Cheers

 

Vijay

Hi guys,

 

Cheers for all the info. There isn't a pc upstairs although that is an option as I have a laptop that I could use. I don't have any wireless capabilities at the moment but intend to as I'm going down the carputer route soon. What's the cheapest way of getting a wireless network set up?

 

Cheers

 

Vijay

 

you will need a wireless card either a PCI (inside computer) or a dongle (a usb stick). for each of the computers. and thats it.

 

if you want to have the web on all of them try getting a wireless router (you will still need the wireless cards for the computers)

any suggestions on wireless cards?

 

Cheers

 

Vijay

netgear or belkin. netgear are the easiest to set up and cheaper than belkin

cheers, I'll have a look. Am I right in saying I should be looking at ones with a 54mbps transfer speed?

 

Vijay

This any good? http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=178495

anyone? :)

yeah they are fine buddy

Just go buy a cheepo printer off ebay. one upstares one down. job done and costs about a tenner.

cheers. so if I had 2 of those, would they just connect to each other? and if I added a third (USB) would I need anything to connect 3 or would they just see each other?

 

Thanks

 

Vijay

cheers. so if I had 2 of those, would they just connect to each other? and if I added a third (USB) would I need anything to connect 3 or would they just see each other?

 

Thanks

 

Vijay

 

yeah they will,

Cheers bud. I'm a little confused about the speed thing, will the ones I posted in the link run at 125mbps?

 

Vijay

unless your transfering huge files the 54mb cards will be fine