can I connect wifi laptop remotly to printer?

1jim · 4 March 2006 at 10:44AM

Hi
I am thinking about buying the dell £339 laptop which is wifi enabled. I will then get a router to allow it to connect to the laptop/internet
Can I get the laptop to connect remotely to my printer (which is connected to my pc via usb) so that I can print out in a different room? if I can what do I need and how would I do it, had a quick scan of these pages but couldnt find anything
thanks
Jim

tigermatt · 4 March 2006 at 10:54AM

Hi 1jim :hello:

What you need to get is a wireless ADSL router (assuming you have ADSL Broadband) which can communicate with the laptop. Netgear DG834G is a very good choice: http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=52244

You then need to connect the PC to your router somehow. You could either use an ethernet cable which would mean you would have to have the router close to your PC. You would also need a network card in your computer, if you don't already have one, to connect the ethernet cable to. (Network cards available here: http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=16791262798&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=104381)

Alternatively, if your router will be placed away from the PC, you will need a wireless adapter to connect the PC with the router, just like the laptop. You can either have a USB adapter or PCI Adapter, USB is easier to install but might not be able to fit in the back of your PC. (USB: http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=16791303487&action=&product_uid=60014 ; PCI: http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=16791316264&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=50127)

Once you have done that you just need to do some simple sharing of the printer on your PC, if XP then just right-click the printer in Printer Properties, click Properties then Sharing then type a name for your printer. You can then connect to the printer from your laptop by going to Add Printer, picking the network option, then typing \\PCName\PrinterName - replacing PCName with the network name of the PC and PrinterName with the sharing name of the printer.

Hope this helps

Little_John · 4 March 2006 at 10:56AM

You will need to create a network.
Laptop wirelesly to the router, the pc is proberbly using your existing connection so it will be close to the router so connect that with a network cable. share the printer with windows printer sharing, ensure that the networking is configured correctly and working and use the add printer wizard to install a network printer, browse he network for the printer and select it and it will install the drivers from the other pc as long as they are both the same version of windows.

there as other ways of installing the printer in network neighbourhood but that way will guide you though the process.
you can also buy a printserver to take out the requirement for the PC the printer is connected to being on if you want to print but that increases the cost.

appleblossom · 23 May 2006 at 1:34PM

thank you Tigermatt, you have just saved me £50 as I was about to go and order a wireless server. for the last 6 months i have been running up and down stairs connecting my printer to my laptop!!!!

tigermatt · 28 May 2006 at 5:14PM

julieblake wrote:

thank you Tigermatt, you have just saved me £50 as I was about to go and order a wireless server. for the last 6 months i have been running up and down stairs connecting my printer to my laptop!!!!

I'm glad my advice could help you and save you some money. Setting up a network can sound quite daunting at first, but once you get to know what can be done, you can setup virtually anything you like. (With the time, money and effort of course!

)

can I connect wifi laptop remotly to printer?

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