Wireless Print Server - Without Connecting to Router or PC

Is there such a device? A friend is moving into a place for a couple months
and doesn't want to run wires all over the place. They are using a wireless
router for their WAN/LAN, but the router and DSL model are in a room without
a PC. They would like to have the printer in a different area of their house
where there are no computers other than her wireless laptop and no lan
drops.

Basically they would like a wireless print server that can connect to the
network and share the printer, but it must be standalone with no ethernet
cables required, only wireless.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

On Mon, 27 Mar 2006 18:26:49 GMT, in alt.internet.wireless ,
"Luv-N-Life" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Basically they would like a wireless print server that can connect to the
>network and share the printer, but it must be standalone with no ethernet
>cables required, only wireless.
>
>Any ideas?

Did you do a websearch for "wireless print server"?


(by the way, beware - not all printers work with print servers, if its
any sort of MFD or printer with fancy drivers (eg ink level monitors)
fuggedaboutit)
Mark McIntyre
--

"Luv-N-Life" <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>Is there such a device? A friend is moving into a place for a couple months
>and doesn't want to run wires all over the place. They are using a wireless
>router for their WAN/LAN, but the router and DSL model are in a room without
>a PC. They would like to have the printer in a different area of their house
>where there are no computers other than her wireless laptop and no lan
>drops.
>
>Basically they would like a wireless print server that can connect to the
>network and share the printer, but it must be standalone with no ethernet
>cables required, only wireless.

You're not really looking for a "wireless print server". What you
really want is a "wireless printer client", where the device acts as a
wireless client, and connects to your existing wireless access point
or router. It then uses Windoze sharing to allow users to print.
Unfortunately, the industry likes to call everything a print server,
no matter how it's connected.

For example:
| http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...&ssbinary=true
You can checkout the setup at:
| http://www.linksysdata.com/ui/WPS54G/6045/Protocol.htm
Note that the wireless setup is really that of a client, not a server.

There are lots of other such devices around. I just used WPS54G as an
example. Almost all of them act as printer clients.

Also, you don't really need a wireless router to make one of these
print servers work. It can be used in Ad-Hoc mode, where the wireless
laptop connects directly to the print server. This is not the common
arrangement, but is possible for simple wireless networks. Since more
than one wireless client can connect to the print server, in ad-hoc
mode, it really is a server.

Also, if you have a multifunction printer, with scanner, fax, printer,
modem, whatever in one box, you will need to verify that the drivers
and software for these devices can be shared over a network. The
printer will usually work, but the other functions may be a problem.

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Yes, I did a google and came up with a few devices but all seemed to require
a pc or ethernet drop to work, which isn't what we need.

Thanks.
"Mark McIntyre" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Mon, 27 Mar 2006 18:26:49 GMT, in alt.internet.wireless ,
> "Luv-N-Life" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>Basically they would like a wireless print server that can connect to the
>>network and share the printer, but it must be standalone with no ethernet
>>cables required, only wireless.
>>
>>Any ideas?
>
> Did you do a websearch for "wireless print server"?
>
>
> (by the way, beware - not all printers work with print servers, if its
> any sort of MFD or printer with fancy drivers (eg ink level monitors)
> fuggedaboutit)
> Mark McIntyre
> --

Thanks for the info Jeff.

I clicked on the two links but one was just a picture and didn't quite
understand what the second one meant.

From what I understand they could use a 2nd wireless router, that the
printer could connect to and share it over their network? They want to have
the printer in a separate room from everything else, and don't want cables
running in our out of the room.

I apologise for not following you fully here, this is a new area to me.

Thanks.
"Jeff Liebermann" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Luv-N-Life" <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:
>
>>Is there such a device? A friend is moving into a place for a couple
>>months
>>and doesn't want to run wires all over the place. They are using a
>>wireless
>>router for their WAN/LAN, but the router and DSL model are in a room
>>without
>>a PC. They would like to have the printer in a different area of their
>>house
>>where there are no computers other than her wireless laptop and no lan
>>drops.
>>
>>Basically they would like a wireless print server that can connect to the
>>network and share the printer, but it must be standalone with no ethernet
>>cables required, only wireless.
>
> You're not really looking for a "wireless print server". What you
> really want is a "wireless printer client", where the device acts as a
> wireless client, and connects to your existing wireless access point
> or router. It then uses Windoze sharing to allow users to print.
> Unfortunately, the industry likes to call everything a print server,
> no matter how it's connected.
>
> For example:
> |
> http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...&ssbinary=true
> You can checkout the setup at:
> | http://www.linksysdata.com/ui/WPS54G/6045/Protocol.htm
> Note that the wireless setup is really that of a client, not a server.
>
> There are lots of other such devices around. I just used WPS54G as an
> example. Almost all of them act as printer clients.
>
> Also, you don't really need a wireless router to make one of these
> print servers work. It can be used in Ad-Hoc mode, where the wireless
> laptop connects directly to the print server. This is not the common
> arrangement, but is possible for simple wireless networks. Since more
> than one wireless client can connect to the print server, in ad-hoc
> mode, it really is a server.
>
> Also, if you have a multifunction printer, with scanner, fax, printer,
> modem, whatever in one box, you will need to verify that the drivers
> and software for these devices can be shared over a network. The
> printer will usually work, but the other functions may be a problem.
>
> --
> Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
> 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
> Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
> Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Jeff, I did a Google on that model number (WPS54G) and it does exactly what
we are looking for.

Thanks for your help!

"Luv-N-Life" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:5MYVf.13795$K11.10491@clgrps12...
> Thanks for the info Jeff.
>
> I clicked on the two links but one was just a picture and didn't quite
> understand what the second one meant.
>
> From what I understand they could use a 2nd wireless router, that the
> printer could connect to and share it over their network? They want to
> have the printer in a separate room from everything else, and don't want
> cables running in our out of the room.
>
> I apologise for not following you fully here, this is a new area to me.
>
> Thanks.
> "Jeff Liebermann" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> "Luv-N-Life" <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:
>>
>>>Is there such a device? A friend is moving into a place for a couple
>>>months
>>>and doesn't want to run wires all over the place. They are using a
>>>wireless
>>>router for their WAN/LAN, but the router and DSL model are in a room
>>>without
>>>a PC. They would like to have the printer in a different area of their
>>>house
>>>where there are no computers other than her wireless laptop and no lan
>>>drops.
>>>
>>>Basically they would like a wireless print server that can connect to the
>>>network and share the printer, but it must be standalone with no ethernet
>>>cables required, only wireless.
>>
>> You're not really looking for a "wireless print server". What you
>> really want is a "wireless printer client", where the device acts as a
>> wireless client, and connects to your existing wireless access point
>> or router. It then uses Windoze sharing to allow users to print.
>> Unfortunately, the industry likes to call everything a print server,
>> no matter how it's connected.
>>
>> For example:
>> |
>> http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...&ssbinary=true
>> You can checkout the setup at:
>> | http://www.linksysdata.com/ui/WPS54G/6045/Protocol.htm
>> Note that the wireless setup is really that of a client, not a server.
>>
>> There are lots of other such devices around. I just used WPS54G as an
>> example. Almost all of them act as printer clients.
>>
>> Also, you don't really need a wireless router to make one of these
>> print servers work. It can be used in Ad-Hoc mode, where the wireless
>> laptop connects directly to the print server. This is not the common
>> arrangement, but is possible for simple wireless networks. Since more
>> than one wireless client can connect to the print server, in ad-hoc
>> mode, it really is a server.
>>
>> Also, if you have a multifunction printer, with scanner, fax, printer,
>> modem, whatever in one box, you will need to verify that the drivers
>> and software for these devices can be shared over a network. The
>> printer will usually work, but the other functions may be a problem.
>>
>> --
>> Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
>> 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
>> Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
>> Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558
>
>

On Mon, 27 Mar 2006 12:48:01 -0800, in alt.internet.wireless , Jeff
Liebermann <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>"Luv-N-Life" <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:
>
>>Basically they would like a wireless print server that can connect to the
>>network and share the printer, but it must be standalone with no ethernet
>>cables required, only wireless.
>
>You're not really looking for a "wireless print server". What you
>really want is a "wireless printer client",

Eh? He wants a decide he can plug into a printer, connect to the
existing wireless network ,and share the printer. Thats a wireless
printserver surely?

>Unfortunately, the industry likes to call everything a print server,
>no matter how it's connected.

Ah, I see, you're using personal naming conventions...

>Note that the wireless setup is really that of a client, not a server.

Well, its serving print services to clients elsewhere on the network.
Its a server as far as I'm concerned.

If you take your naming route, then *every* device is a client, even
the router, since its a client of the modem, or of some DHCP server,
which is in turn a client of some other device etc etc etc...

>Also, if you have a multifunction printer, with scanner, fax, printer,
>modem, whatever in one box, you will need to verify that the drivers
>and software for these devices can be shared over a network. The
>printer will usually work, but the other functions may be a problem.

And even printers may not work - my lexmark 5150 certainly didn't.
Mark McIntyre
--

On Mon, 27 Mar 2006 21:17:47 GMT, in alt.internet.wireless ,
"Luv-N-Life" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Yes, I did a google and came up with a few devices but all seemed to require
>a pc or ethernet drop to work, which isn't what we need.

Huh? There's about a million out there, and none of them require
either an ethernet drop or a PC.

Did you search for "wireless print server"?

For example

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...115114-3733263
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...115114-3733263
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/en...5995-6083.html
http://www.netgear.co.uk/wireless_pr...er_wgps606.php
http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?...rtner=register

Of course, you still need to run power to 'em. And some of them
/additionally/ let you use them wired to ethernet if you want to.


Mark McIntyre
--

Jeff Liebermann <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:(E-Mail Removed):

> You're not really looking for a "wireless print server". What
> you really want is a "wireless printer client", where the device
> acts as a wireless client, and connects to your existing
> wireless access point or router. It then uses Windoze sharing to
> allow users to print. Unfortunately, the industry likes to call
> everything a print server, no matter how it's connected.


I don't follow your point re nomenclature.

IMO and IME these devices *are* print servers. Client PCs logically
connect to the print server which delivers a service of managing the
printing of data streams to one or more printers. The wireless
variety happen to be linked to the rest of the LAN via wireless.

Why do you think otherwise?

On Mon, 27 Mar 2006 22:41:15 +0100, Mark McIntyre
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>>You're not really looking for a "wireless print server". What you
>>really want is a "wireless printer client",
>
>Eh? He wants a decide he can plug into a printer, connect to the
>existing wireless network ,and share the printer. Thats a wireless
>printserver surely?

Well, I'll admit that it's hair splitting. If the print box logs into
the wireless router, then it's a "wireless print client". If the
clients log into the print box, it's a "wireless print server". I
probably shouldn't have mentioned it and just called everything a
server.

>>Unfortunately, the industry likes to call everything a print server,
>>no matter how it's connected.
>
>Ah, I see, you're using personal naming conventions...

Guilty as charged. I'm into creativity this week.

>>Note that the wireless setup is really that of a client, not a server.
>
>Well, its serving print services to clients elsewhere on the network.
>Its a server as far as I'm concerned.

Ok, I give up. It's a print server. Print client sounds funny
anyway.

>If you take your naming route, then *every* device is a client, even
>the router, since its a client of the modem, or of some DHCP server,
>which is in turn a client of some other device etc etc etc...

Yup. If all it did was connect, then that would be true. Where we
get into trouble is where the device has two functions. Strictly
speaking, it's a "wireless bridge client" in the same box as a
"Windoze print sharing server". At least it's not an acronym.


--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558 (E-Mail Removed)
# http://802.11junk.com (E-Mail Removed)
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS