Wireless access to parallel printer ??

  • Thread starter Thread starter Douglas Brown
  • Start date Start date
D

Douglas Brown

I have to provide a home for a Lexmark Optra 1200 printer (parallel
interface). Problem is space - it will have to go upstairs (1st
floor), my PC is on the ground floor, total straight line distance
about 20 meters. There's a wooden floor/ceiling in the way, plus one
(maybe two) load bearing (brick) walls supporting the central
stairway, plus sundry furniture & metal cabinets.

I guess I need a wireless link. I'm not a newbie, but I've not used
wireless Tech before. Browsing the web has so far only confused me :-
Print server, or not? 802.11 or Bluetooth?

My PC has a 1.4Ghz Athlon, 512Mb, Win 98SE (fully patched), USB 1.1,
no NIC installed (but I have one lying around). There's an Epson C60
ink-jet printer currently connected to the parallel port, but I can
move that over to USB. Also price may be an issue, especially as the
budget might be limited to around £75-£100 (gbp) -- yet to be
negotiated with my wife!

Also ... any security implications in such a set-up? ( I run the
Zone-Alarm firewall - relevant?)

Can anyone point me at some friendly non-confusing info on the web?

-- MummerX
 
Just to avoid the shock later, might be important to note that these types
of generic print servers don't manage the propietary "bi-directional" code
that tells your computer that the printer is low in in, out of paper,
jammed, etc.

//rus//
 
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