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Question

Setting up printer in University setting

Jul 2, 2015 7:55AM PDT

My daughter has an HP laptop running windows 8.1. (which does not have bluetooth) and a HP 8610 printer. She just went off to college. The campus provides free wifi. Since it is a campus wide network the printer is not allowed to connect to the network. She did try setting up the printer wifi direct, but under than configuration she cannot connect to the internet while connected to the printer. This is problematic for printing instructions, documents, etc. that professors post through the school portal.

Hard wire ethernet works but the computer also thinks that is a network, so you have to unplug it to access the internet and then reconnect and find the printer each time you want to use it - not awful , but cumbersome. Due to space, the computer and printer are across the room from each other, which means a cable has to run around the floor board. I was thinking about using a USB to ethernet converter on each end of the ethernet cable, but not sure if a USB connections would be any better. So before we make that investment, thought I would check here to see if anyone had any thoughts. With thousands of students at campuses that provide wifi, this cannot be a unique problem. So a long winded way of asking, what is the best way to print from a local printer that is not allowed on the network you are using to access the internet ( she can also hardwire into the network if that makes any difference) and still allow you simultaneous access to the internet.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Adding bluetooth is a 2 dollar thing.
Jul 2, 2015 8:13AM PDT

Post was last edited on July 2, 2015 8:15 AM PDT

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Please explain
Jul 2, 2015 11:31AM PDT

While I appreciate your response, I am not sure about either comment. Are you saying adding blue tooth to both the printer and the laptopis a $2 answer? If so, I wish you would elaborate. Currently neither have this service. And it is not a layout issue - the issue is being able to use the printer while also using the internet. So there were two questions -

1. Would connecting by USB solve the problem - since ethernet made it think there was both a wifi and a hardwire network,defaulting to the hardwire for internet acces, I wanted to make sure connecting by USB would not have the same effect. And I wanted to verify whether the USB hub on the printer can be used for direct connection to a laptop?

2. Are there any settings/configurations that would allow another option. If I plugged the laptop into the network by ethernet, could I then use the wifi direct for the printer? I am sure it seems simple to you, but I was trying to limit the long distance hobbying to find answers. It doesn't matter where the printer is located if I don't know the best way to connect the printer to the laptop ( not through the network) in such a way that I can use the printer and the internet at the same time. If the answer is, "you can't", then fine, she will just live with the work around.

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My bluetooth dongle was 2 dollars.
Jul 2, 2015 12:36PM PDT

"HP laptop running windows 8.1. (which does not have bluetooth)" is why I noted that. You wrote it didn't have Bluetooth so I shared it's a cheap thing to add.

I did not check the printer for Bluetooth but wanted to show how cheap it is to add that. Examples are on amazon.com

OK about USB, I took a peek at the HP site and maybe I got the wrong printer but it looks good to go with USB. So maybe it's a furniture issue. I shared a picture of one of the few hundred printer stands folk use to not have the printer suck up all the open desk space.

WiFi is a dead end to me as you wrote why it fails.

Wireless USB can be found around for about 130 bucks on Amazon but good luck on support. It was awful.

A printer stand would be my solution.

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As renegade600 says, USB shouldn't be a problem
Jul 2, 2015 12:44PM PDT

You just plug the USB cable into the printer and computer's USB port, then have the WiFi or wired network connection in addition. The school's network doesn't have to know anything about the printer unless there's something you haven't told us that's added by the school. As far as having the printer across the room, you can buy 10' USB extension cables that work just fine for this purpose.
This is the obvious solution unless there's something else you haven't mentioned.

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Just curious
Jul 2, 2015 3:25PM PDT

Would prefer to run the cable around the floor board - which is part of the reason we went with ethernet for distance (that and not understanding the whole school set up - starting over I would have returned the printer for one with bluetooth and bought a bluetooth adapter for the computer - but I am now 1400 miles away and those options are gone) Would putting a USB/Ethernet adapter on both ends of the ethernet cord get the same result? Any knowledge of bridge connections?

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I'd forget bridging.
Jul 2, 2015 3:48PM PDT

You only need to read the web to see that's no solution.

Now a second ethernet card or dongle? Yup, that would do the trick.

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Maybe a picture would help
Jul 2, 2015 5:05PM PDT
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I meant to add some text below that picture...
Jul 2, 2015 5:12PM PDT

... I'm thinking you're confused about the computer's hookup to the printer and network, so I've attempted this little picture. As you can see, the printer and the network are NOT interconnected. The each have a separate cable connected into the back of the computer. The USB cable runs from the printer to one of the USB ports on the computer, and a separate network cable runs from the network into the network port on the back. Only the computer "sees" both the printer and the network. The network doesn't have to know anything about the printer, all it "sees" is the computer.
I hope this helps.
`
Good luck.

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Answer
set it up with usb
Jul 2, 2015 11:39AM PDT

you should be able to set up the printer by plugging a usb cable into the back of the printer. another way is to use a router and set up a local wifi network. might want to check the rules for this too.

either way you can use both the printer and internet at the same time.

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Answer
To add another cable option
Jul 3, 2015 11:59AM PDT

I don't see the suggestion of a USB repeater cable mentioned here. USB has issues with longer lengths but it also has the advantage of offering a 5v supply that can power and electronic buffer/amplifier. I've seen these used with school Smartboards which are too far from the PC for normal USB. I believe they'll provide 30" or more of wire and, IMO, hard wire is the way to go. Perhaps someone here knows more about these but you can google USB repeater cables for more information.

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Answer
Did you get it figured out?
Jul 21, 2015 2:18PM PDT

First of all as been previously said, the printer is completely separate from the internet stuff. Don't try mixing up the two. The printer doesn't need to be involved or go though or connect to the internet. Not even to print from the internet.

My thought, How much does she print? Can't she just take the laptop over to the printer and plug it in when she need to print? That's what my husband does when he want to print from his laptop. The printer can sit there with a usb cable attached waiting. Or just get a long enough usb extension cable but only bring it over and plug into the laptop to print.

But there sure should be a way to move the printer closer. You can put the printer on anything, how about a TV tray? How big is the dorm room? You don't need any fancy ethernet cables or adaptors. Just a printer cable which you probably already have. It's a small square plug at one end and a usb plug at the other. Then you can get a long usb to usb cable to extend it to the laptop.