WIFI printer ?

[monkey44]

When we use a printer with wireless between the PC and printer, does that signal between PC to printer with internal WIFI signals ... or, does it go from PC to personal ISP web server, then back to Printer?

Hope I'm asking this right? I know, dumb question ! Makes no sense, but Monkey needs a right answer and not a Monkey guess.

I'm wondering if the PC / Printer wireless signal connection requires a internet connection as well as the internal hardware?

I'm thinking it works like a wireless mouse, or keyboard -- and no internet is required.

[Gene_Ginny]

joebedford wrote:
...I use WiFi for both my printers, neither of which is near the router. Both work perfectly....

My laptop uses WiFi, my wife's desktop upstairs uses WiFi, my printer uses WiFi, my webcams use WiFi all through my $50 WiFi router which then connects, via an ethernet cable, to my cable company modem. The cable company only "sees" that I have one device. It all works perfectly and my wife and I can share the one printer.

[joebedford]

thebat68 wrote:
MOST of the info here is correct, however, as a 20 year computer tech. I would recommend NOT using wifi to hook up the printers. Hard wire the printer to the router (since you normally don't move printers around) and then use the wifi for your laptop. Although wifi works a lot of the time for printing it is still flaky and I would avoid it where I could and you can simply have your router in close proximity to the printer.

I use WiFi for both my printers, neither of which is near the router. Both work perfectly.

802.11 (WiFi) is only about 15 years old. The g variant that many (most) devices use is just over ten years old. The n variant is 8 years old.

[mileshuff]

I'm currently looking for a business grade WiFi capable laser printer that can handle 11x17 B sized paper.

[monkey44]

AllegroD wrote:

monkey44 wrote:

AllegroD wrote:
If you are going hard wire, you don't even need a docking station for a single printer, if the laptop and the printer have USB. One USB cable solves that.

Need two printers, and two HD monitors (large screen) at least.

What I'm trying to accomplish ::

Bring my field laptop in to the office, plug into Monitors and printers to process and print images. But, I don't want to always transfer data back and forth from the laptop to an office set-up.

So, thought if I could Dock the laptop, and then use wireless keyboard (rather then laptop keyboard, which is PITA on a desk ... then I could use the laptop to plug in, and won't have all the data transfer and update every time I use one or the other.

IF I'm not careful, I create details on one file, then (maybe) forget if it gets transferred -- (I know, I know, label / date it) but using field laptop in a dock to the larger processing system is much easier for the workflow (and storage). Then take the laptop with me.

It's nearly all images - sports and wildlife and some other outdoor stuff.

Seems like you have a pretty fair handle on your needs. With this amount of wires. A docking station makes sense.

Yes, but it always pays to run ideas by 'tech guys' because Monkey is so tech-dumb that easy methods often elude me. And then I also get good info that supports my thinking, which makes me more comfortable with my technology choices.

Thanks for all the advice guys -- happy camping - almost time for the best weather to arrive !!

[AllegroD]

monkey44 wrote:

AllegroD wrote:
If you are going hard wire, you don't even need a docking station for a single printer, if the laptop and the printer have USB. One USB cable solves that.

Need two printers, and two HD monitors (large screen) at least.

What I'm trying to accomplish ::

Bring my field laptop in to the office, plug into Monitors and printers to process and print images. But, I don't want to always transfer data back and forth from the laptop to an office set-up.

So, thought if I could Dock the laptop, and then use wireless keyboard (rather then laptop keyboard, which is PITA on a desk ... then I could use the laptop to plug in, and won't have all the data transfer and update every time I use one or the other.

IF I'm not careful, I create details on one file, then (maybe) forget if it gets transferred -- (I know, I know, label / date it) but using field laptop in a dock to the larger processing system is much easier for the workflow (and storage). Then take the laptop with me.

It's nearly all images - sports and wildlife and some other outdoor stuff.

Seems like you have a pretty fair handle on your needs. With this amount of wires. A docking station makes sense.

[CA_Traveler]

We use WiFi in the rig and at home for our 2 laptops, rig printer and home printer. So much less setup and no wires in the way for us.

[SteveB]

My HP4599 allows connection via ad-hoc wifi. It is the default setting of the printer. Maybe your printer allows the same then you could have a direct wireless connection between your computer and printer. I don't know if ad-hoc supports multiple devices.

[monkey44]

AllegroD wrote:
If you are going hard wire, you don't even need a docking station for a single printer, if the laptop and the printer have USB. One USB cable solves that.

Need two printers, and two HD monitors (large screen) at least.

What I'm trying to accomplish ::

Bring my field laptop in to the office, plug into Monitors and printers to process and print images. But, I don't want to always transfer data back and forth from the laptop to an office set-up.

So, thought if I could Dock the laptop, and then use wireless keyboard (rather then laptop keyboard, which is PITA on a desk ... then I could use the laptop to plug in, and won't have all the data transfer and update every time I use one or the other.

IF I'm not careful, I create details on one file, then (maybe) forget if it gets transferred -- (I know, I know, label / date it) but using field laptop in a dock to the larger processing system is much easier for the workflow (and storage). Then take the laptop with me.

It's nearly all images - sports and wildlife and some other outdoor stuff.

[AllegroD]

If you are going hard wire, you don't even need a docking station for a single printer, if the laptop and the printer have USB. One USB cable solves that.

[Oldme]

Our Laser printer/scanner is wired directly to the router at home.
It works great with the laptops except to scan. It will only scan
from the desktop hooked directly to it.

It was working until MS did one of the "updates" that included
network updates. I feel if our was WIFI and not going through the
router it would scan too. I say that as it does not show up as a device
on the network.

I am just throwing that out as you may want to scan and can't.
My neighbor has had a lot of problems with his new printer and
being on the network and it not being a "network" printer.
Luckily he found a workaround.

Be sure to review you options and needs.

[strollin]

wa8yxm wrote:
...
Intresting what shows up when I hit QUOTE is what I typed but it is DIFFERENT from what was in the message... Will edit the original message I typed.

I noticed that when I was responding...

[wa8yxm]

strollin wrote:

monkey44 wrote:
Hmmm .. to this technicapped Monkey, seems more trouble than its value. I can go thru a hardwire and use a DOCK to set up everything, then only have one wire to install when I want to hook up the laptop to 'home base" ... so that might be the best way to go based on all the info I have at this time.

Thanks for the input guys M44 🙂

If you only have 1 computer, that may be the best option. However, if you have multiple computers, tablets or phones, a wifi setup using a router would be better.

wa8yxm wrote:
When printing

PC ==><=== router ==><===Printer

When Browsing

PC ====><==== Router ==== ><=====ISP ====><=== Internet

IF using Verizon cell as hot spot it is possible they will bill you for all the data that runs through the phone.. EVEN if it is just returning to your printer.

Not sure about other hot spots... When I am using a hot spot my configuration is like this


Printer ---USB---PC---Hotspot.

Verizon, or any other carrier, is only going to bill you for traffic over their network. If you have a Hotspot setup and print without sending any data over their network, no data charges will be incurred.

Intresting what shows up when I hit QUOTE is what I typed but it is DIFFERENT from what was in the message... Will edit the original message I typed.

[derh20]

We just bought a new HP Envy 7640 printer. it has a built in router. I print to it with my Windows computer and my wife prints to it from her many "i" devices. works pretty well.

[strollin]

monkey44 wrote:
Hmmm .. to this technicapped Monkey, seems more trouble than its value. I can go thru a hardwire and use a DOCK to set up everything, then only have one wire to install when I want to hook up the laptop to 'home base" ... so that might be the best way to go based on all the info I have at this time.

Thanks for the input guys M44 🙂

If you only have 1 computer, that may be the best option. However, if you have multiple computers, tablets or phones, a wifi setup using a router would be better.

wa8yxm wrote:
When printing

PC ==><=== router ==><===Printer

When Browsing

PC ====><==== Router ==== ><=====ISP ====><=== Internet

IF using Verizon cell as hot spot it is possible they will bill you for all the data that runs through the phone.. EVEN if it is just returning to your printer.

Not sure about other hot spots... When I am using a hot spot my configuration is like this


Printer ---USB---PC---Hotspot.

Verizon, or any other carrier, is only going to bill you for traffic over their network. If you have a Hotspot setup and print without sending any data over their network, no data charges will be incurred.