How to connect laptop to printer wirelessly

Message

Sand · #1 Post by **Sand** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 3:53 pm

Hi, I hope I can ask this question technologically clear enough to make it understood because I am somewhat challenged with computer terms.

My situation is that I have a laptop (my only computer) and a five year old HP Officejet printer (710) , and I would like to be able to print wirelessly from the laptop to the printer (which is in another room), without disconnecting the laptop and connecting all the cables to the printer each time .

I looked over the printer and see only three connections in the back; they are all the same size and shape like you would use to plug in a phone to the wall.

I've gone online and found some adapters that sound like they might work, but I'm not computer knowledgeable enough to know whether they are what I need. They run from 29.00 to 40.00. One is called HP BT 450 Bluetooth wireless network printer adapter. The 40.00 one is by Belkin. Does the printer need to be wireless also for these adapters to work? I also found one article that sounded like I didn't need to purchase anything; just 'share' my computer with my printer. Is that possible too?

My daughter has a large device that connects to the printer that cost @ a hundred dollars, but, I don't want to pay that much as I would like to in the future replace the printer with a wireless one. I only keep this old one because a friend gave me a lot of free ink for it.

Sorry this is so long. I would appreciate any suggestions or directions on how to go about making this possible.

I have the T42 2379 DXU notebook with Bluetooth and wireless.

Thanks,
Sand

upboardin · #2 Post by **upboardin** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 5:27 pm

Do you already have a wireless network in place? Is there another computer connected to the printer?

If you answered yes to ALL the above, you could just share the printer, then connect to from the ThinkPad via wireless network to the serving computer. Its free, no other equipment needed.

If you answered no to ANY of the questions above, a print server (Jetdirect) would be the most reliable solution. however at that point it mat be cheaper to get a new printer with a wireless server built in. Like the HP K550DTWN http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/en ... 01375.html I Have one of these and love it. Speed and quality of a color laser but 2x faster and lower TCO. Has built in ethernet and wireless. plus the auto duplex is very handy.

Regards,
Justin

Sand · #3 Post by **Sand** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 7:42 pm

Justin,

I don't know what you mean by having another wireless network in place. I only have this laptop and the Linksys Router that it's working wirelessly with.

I looked into the other HP printer you suggested, but I would need a copier as well. In fact, I want to get an all-in-one with a flatbed scanner The HP 7410 is likely. But for now, I would just like to use the printer I have until the ink is gone.....if I can find a way to connect them.

Thank you for your reply,
Sand

#4 Post by **carbon_unit** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 9:24 pm

With your present setup one of those HP jetdirect print servers would work well.
http://tinyurl.com/237f59 for a parallel printer and http://tinyurl.com/2ytmro for a USB printer.
Those jetdirects work real nice. Just set it and forget it. I tried a Linksys one once and I had to play with it all the time to keep it running.

Sand · #5 Post by **Sand** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 1:51 am

I'm wondering if it's possible to convert a parallel port to a USB port with an adapter of some sort, and then I can connect a wireless USB adapter to that?

Like this one.

http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do?lev ... 20wireless%
20printer&uniqueSearchFlag=true&An=text

Sand

#6 Post by **GomJabbar** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 5:51 am

I am pretty sure converting only goes one way. You can convert Parallel to USB on the computer, but you cannot on a peripheral because there is no way to install the USB drivers on the peripheral.

You could look to get an older router with a parallel port print server built in. I used to have one made by SMC. However, I believe carbon_unit has the best solution for you.

Sand · #7 Post by **Sand** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 9:05 pm

I've just recently been given a Linksys Wireless-G PrintServer. Model WPS54G. It has a USB cable with a parallel port at the end so can I convert the parallel printer to a USB printer? I've been reading others experiences with setting it up and they seem to have had a lot of problems, so I would like to know if I can even use this before I get all frustrated trying to connect it.

Thanks,
Sand

davidspalding · #8 Post by **davidspalding** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 7:49 am

You are set. Your Linksys wireless print server should be able to connect your printer to your wireless network and you can print. Sounds like the WPS54G is a router, but the owners guide will indicate if you have to replace your existing router with this one, or simply connect this to the router you're using, as a peripheral device.

Read all associated manuals. They should detail all the steps you need to take. If you need more help with the WPS54G, Linksys tech support can help better than us IMHO.

BeeJayEmm · #9 Post by **BeeJayEmm** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 11:23 am

(All quotes snipped for brevity)

davidspalding wrote:Sounds like the WPS54G is a router

Sorry, actually it's a wired/wireless USB print server, like Sand said. Here is the product info. However,

carbon_unit wrote:I tried a Linksys one once and I had to play with it all the time to keep it running.

and

Sand wrote:I've been reading others experiences with setting it up and they seem to have had a lot of problems

so it might be more trouble than it's worth. Plus, I don't know who made the USB to parallel port adapter cable you have, but on Belkin's site, they say this about their similar cable:
Note: When using a HP Officejet or other multifunction product, this cable will only allow access of the printer capability. It will not work with the faxing and scanning capabilities of the multifunction product.Link here.

davidspalding · #10 Post by **davidspalding** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 8:03 am

BeeJayEmm wrote:(All quotes snipped for brevity)
davidspalding wrote:Sounds like the WPS54G is a router
Sorry, actually it's a wired/wireless USB print server, like Sand said. Here is the product info. However,

Quite right, the routers are numbered like WR### and such.

Sand · #11 Post by **Sand** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 11:57 am

Yeah, I'm still working on this, but under the Feedback comments on Amazon there are some excellent step by step instructions and suggestions on how to go about it. I'm hoping they will help. In case anyone in the future may want to read it, this is the site:

http://www.amazon.com/review/product/B0 ... ewpoints=1

Thanks for all the help,
Sand