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General discussion

"external" wireless cards for printers?

Jul 15, 2009 4:50AM PDT

I have an HP Laserjet 1018 that has been doing just great in the two years that I've had it. The only "problem" has been that I sometimes regret not having gotten a wireless/networked printer. Is there a way to add on an external wireless card to a printer?

Discussion is locked

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Hint.
Jul 15, 2009 4:54AM PDT
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Great! I was hoping that something like this was made...
Jul 15, 2009 2:27PM PDT

Linksys sounds good. I'll look around and see if I can't get one cheaper than 67 used (the lowest amazon price).

All I need is a unit that will let two laptops connect wirelessly to the same printer that our desktop connects to.

Thanks for letting me know what tree to bark up...

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(NT) Yeah ebay has some in the 30s.....
Jul 15, 2009 2:37PM PDT
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way to combine this with wireless router?
Jul 15, 2009 11:40PM PDT

I also might be getting a wireless router as well. Could printers hook up directly to one of them (in other words, is there a way I could get a router to double up and act as a wireless print server)?

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Yes.
Jul 16, 2009 12:15AM PDT

Just go to the maker of your choice web site and look over their offerings. However you may find it slow going and sometimes it's not a great solution. If you were going to not use the wifi print server then a simple eithernet print server is not hard to find.

EXAMPLES.

http://www.iogear.com/product/GMFPSU22W6/ which I picked up for 25 bucks at geeks.com not long ago may be what you really are looking for.

I took your first point literally that you didn't want to connect the printer to the router via ethernet.
Bob

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Yes I'd like to use both aspects--printing and internet
Jul 16, 2009 12:45AM PDT

"Just go to the maker of your choice web site and look over their offerings. However you may find it slow going and sometimes it's not a great solution. If you were going to not use the wifi print server then a simple eithernet print server is not hard to find."

Yes I would in fact like to use a wireless print server, and a wireless router (so I could take my laptop anywhere around my house, and connect online, as well as print to my Laserjet)--so I definitely would use the print server as well as the router (both wireless).

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(NT) Forgot to ask--what part would be slow going?
Jul 16, 2009 12:46AM PDT
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Slow as in
Jul 16, 2009 1:26AM PDT

You picking out such a router.

Frankly I don't like routers with print and media sharing. I've found these to be hard on owners to configure and maintain from Windows.

http://www.apple.com/airportextreme/ has it all. And yes it works with Windows machines.
Bob

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Nice toy, but a bit expensive!
Jul 16, 2009 1:38AM PDT

At $170 I think I'll get two separate units, especially if they are tough to work with.

Appreciate your time. At least I know what to look for now.

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One last question here--
Jul 16, 2009 7:53AM PDT

Do I need to purchase a wireless router in addition to the wireless print server?

I'm looking at a netgear WGPS606, and from this diagram, it looks like I have to get a router, in addition to this print server:

http://www.netgear.com/Products/PrintServers/WirelessPrintServers/WGPS606.aspx

Or is this just a plug for another product, that isn't needed for what I want? Just to clarify--previously I did mention that I'd like wireless internet access--but right now I'm talking just about wireless printer.

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Sorry, what wifi router do you have now?
Jul 16, 2009 10:03AM PDT

Or just what router?

I own TWO 606s because for 25 bucks it solved a problem so well I went for a second for another setup.
Bob

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Router=wired linksys
Jul 16, 2009 11:22AM PDT

My setup is entirely wired--my internet connection (linksys router that feeds my two computers and a VOIP phone connection), as well as a wired connection with my laserjet printer.

I looked and saw that Apple had an older version of that Airport you linked to for a hundred bucks, that would do both. Barring a good deal like that, I'd probably just get the two units (wireless print server and wireless router) separately.

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$25? You got them used?
Jul 16, 2009 11:27AM PDT

I see quite a few used/refurb print servers and wireless routers on amazon and ebay.

I'm assuming that you got them used. That wouldn't be that bad--provided I had a decent warranty?

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I got them
Jul 16, 2009 11:36AM PDT

NEW. But I can understand why. Setup required people to read the manual. Given no CLICK HERE TO MAKE IT WORK software I bet the return rate was over 80%
Bob