Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Setting up wireless printer

Aug 16, 2004 12:26PM PDT

I have 3 computer on a wireless network. None of them are wired into the router. My printer is wired to a desktop that is wireless to the router. I want to set up the printer so I do not need to leave the desktop computer turned on. It appears that the wireless printer boxes require that the printer be tied into a computer that is wired into the router. Is there any way to have the printer stand alone and handle print jobs without be wired into a computer? Bluetooth?

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Re: Setting up wireless printer
Aug 17, 2004 4:03AM PDT

You need a Print Server.

You could get either a wireless Print Server or, if your router has wired eNet ports (RJ-45) on the back of it, then you could get a Print Server that plugs into the back of the router.

If your printer is already wired for eNet (it has its own RJ-45) then you could just plug the printer right into the RJ-45 on the back of the router (assuming that is there, as well).

If your printer has an RJ-45, but is not real close to the router, you could even use a wireless Bridge to put your printer on your net, as well. (That is my current set up.)

I have gone through all these configurations, myself. Getting your printer on your network, whichever way you need to, is definitely the way to go.

- Collapse -
Re: Setting up wireless printer
Aug 18, 2004 5:34PM PDT

Your computers should see the printer, whether or not it is wired...it's probably a configuration issue. You have to enable file/print sharing on each computer, set up the printer as shared, with an 8-letter name or less, and if the computers are runnin xp, they should configure themselves if you have the wireless network set up right in the first place, (also check your firewall settings).

- Collapse -
Re: Setting up a shared printer
Aug 20, 2004 3:54AM PDT

You only need to enable file and print sharing if you have files or printers on THIS computer (whichever one we are at, at the moment) that you want to share. That way those resources become available from some other computer.

What Fred wanted was a printer that could be accessible without requiring another computer being on at the same time. That was why I suggested a Print Server. A Print Server becomes a networked resource that any netizen can utilize. Enabling a computers print sharing is not necessary since the printer (conected through a print server) is not directly connected to any computer.