Wireless network printing Christmas gift (CostCo) for my sister

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anthony Susa
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Anthony Susa

What are today's wireless home network printing today?

I wish to give my sister in Texas a gift by buying online (probably at
www.costco.com) a printer and having it shipped to her. She has a laptop
with a D-Link or Linksys (I forget which) wireless PCMCIA card and wireless
router (with four wired ethernet ports) from CostCo of years past that I
gave her, hooked to her incoming cable feed.

Assuming the printer will remain stationary but the laptop PC will be used
with encryption around house - are these our printer options?

1. Buy a fully wireless networked printer and set it up anywhere in the
house sans wires (excluding the power cord). Then print to it via the
laptop PCMCIA wireless card.

2. Buy an ethernet wired network printer and set it up next to the existing
wireless router via a cat5 ethernet cable to one of the wired ports on the
wireless router.

3. Buy a USB printer (no innate network capability) and buy a special box
(dunno what it is called) that converts ethernet to USB so that she can
print to that special box via the laptop PCMCIA wireless card and that
special box will convert the signal to USB into the printer.

Are these our basic options today (assuming CostCo 300 to 500 dollar
printers)?

Tony Susa
 
2. Buy an ethernet wired network printer and set it up next to the existing
wireless router via a cat5 ethernet cable to one of the wired ports on the
wireless router.
Click to expand...

Do that one and be done with it.

Duane :)
 
Are these our basic options today (assuming CostCo 300 to 500 dollar
printers)?
Click to expand...

Option 4. Buy a Access Point or a writeless router.

Option 5. Bluetooth... more spendy typicaly speaking and less range.
Not so popular in America as most of our mobile phones don't have
bluetooth enabled. More popular in places like Japan and Finland.

Option 6: wireless usb... I'll have to hunt up the info but rather
than a print server... who's job it is to take documents and throw them
at the pritner and that's it, wireless usb permits remote keyboards and
accessories. Not 100% compatable with everything but good enough for
most multifuctional devices.

If you are able, you should at the very least buy a printer with wired
networking onboard. There are print servers who's job it is to take a
job, then print it, but these don't always work well esp since there
needs to be two way communication between the printer and the PC. "I
need ink" "I need paper" "I'm broken". There is no real established
offical protocal for this.... there should be but there is not. But
wired network takes this into account and you can jack a wired network
printer into a hub or a access point. Most wifi printers these days
offer wired networking as well.

Going with #3 you'll run into issues on $300 to $500 printers as those
tend to be all in ones... offering nifty stuff like fax, scanning, and
such. While printing is easy enough, scaning would not really be an
option unless the software supports it. Going with a network wired or
wifi... no problem.

If you are able, consider the wireless router. I'm sure you can
connect a PC to a printer over Wifi using I believe Adhavoc but the
wireless router allows very liberal placement of the printer, the
accesspoint/router and your choice of location for the laptop. As a
bonus with a DSL/cable connection that too can be over the wireless.
As a bonus in the event the wireless is flacky there is always wire as
a backup, easy as pie to hook up.

If your looking for just a printer... i'd look at either the older
ip4000R which I don't see at costco, or the ip5200R which I also don't
see at costco. www.newegg.com would be a good place to shop. Note
it's clear costco has the ip5200 but not the wireless edition
ip5200RUnless you had your heart set on an all in one or a laser these
are good printers... $200ish for the ip5200R to the price is modest...
cost per page for text very very low, quality pretty dang good,
warranty service from my experence top notch. It might be among the
more modest priced WiFi printers but should be at the top of anyone's
list when considering wireless printing.... unless you want a laser or
all in one.

Going all in one you pretty much gotta look HP. Technicaly I'm sure
the more spiffy canon models have an option for bluetooth, but any info
on this subject would be in Japanese and may not be an option in the
states, not that i'm ware. I'm not up on the current HP models so
someone else would have to advice you in that area. HP vivera inks
are not so fast to dry but on the right papers they are very lightfast.
Not a bad choice either. HP tends to have more software.
 
Duane said:
Do that one and be done with it.
Click to expand...

I agree. That way she can move it from one room to another and once it
is set up there shouldn't be any future configuration issues.
 
One other thing, you should keep it simple as your sister might hate you and
spit in your face in the long run for this if it's to complicated or
toublesome. :)

Duane :)
 
What are today's wireless home network printing today?
Click to expand...

The only time I would recommend wireless printers is if running the
CAT5 cable is impossible. In general, wired connections are better,
faster, more reliable, less trouble, and easier to setup than
wireless.
I wish to give my sister in Texas a gift by buying online (probably at
www.costco.com) a printer and having it shipped to her. She has a laptop
with a D-Link or Linksys (I forget which) wireless PCMCIA card and wireless
router (with four wired ethernet ports) from CostCo of years past that I
gave her, hooked to her incoming cable feed.

Assuming the printer will remain stationary but the laptop PC will be used
with encryption around house - are these our printer options?

1. Buy a fully wireless networked printer and set it up anywhere in the
house sans wires (excluding the power cord). Then print to it via the
laptop PCMCIA wireless card.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that will work. I setup an HP 5850 wireless injet printer a few
weeks ago. The customer had given up due to the complexities of the
installation and dragged me in to do the job. It took a while to
figure out and get it working. Of course, they had a 2.4Ghz cordless
phone next to the printer. When the phone was active, the printer
would disconnect and stay disconnected for about 3 minutes until after
the call was done. I could tell from the huge blue LED on the top
that it had switched from wireless connectivity to ethernet wired
connectivity and took its time going back to wireless. I eventually
arranged the access point, printer, and cordless phone in a
configuration that would not cause disconnects.

Incidentally, some wireless printers call themselves "Print servers".
This is not exactly true. It's actually a "print client" in that the
wireless part of the printer connects to the wireless access point. In
this mode (infrstructure) printing is done from the laptop to the
access point and then to the printer, not directly.

The HP 5850 has the ability to go directly from the laptop to the
printer using the ad-hoc mode. That works nicely but causes a big
problem. Her laptop cannot simultaneously be in infrastructure mode
so that it can browse the internet, and in ad-hoc mode so it can
print. It's one or the other, one at a time.

Since the HP 5850 has both a wireless and a wired ethernet connection,
one would presume that both can be connected simultaneously to an
access point or computer. Nope. It's one at a time with only one IP
address for the machine (not one for each interface).
2. Buy an ethernet wired network printer and set it up next to the existing
wireless router via a cat5 ethernet cable to one of the wired ports on the
wireless router.
Click to expand...

That would be what I would recommend. Note that there are external
print servers that talk to USB printers that are usually cheaper than
the built in ethernet adapters.
3. Buy a USB printer (no innate network capability) and buy a special box
(dunno what it is called) that converts ethernet to USB so that she can
print to that special box via the laptop PCMCIA wireless card and that
special box will convert the signal to USB into the printer.
Click to expand...

It's called a "USB Print Server". Watch out for multifunction
printers that have fax, scanning, and printing, in one package. Many
of them don't support all these functions over a network. With one of
these, it's usually best to purchase the internal ethernet adapter
that is made to work with the multifunction printer.

Examples of some USB print servers:
| http://www.netgear.com/products/details/PS101.php
| http://www.netgear.com/products/details/PS121.php
| http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Sate...837650&pagename=Linksys/Common/VisitorWrapper
There are others...
Are these our basic options today (assuming CostCo 300 to 500 dollar
printers)?
Click to expand...

Other people have listed some other options. I don't know exactly
what she will be doing with this printer. It could be photo quality
or run as a printing press. The requirements are different. In large
print quantities, a laser printer is more economical.
 
Big unanswered question here is, is money no object? Because the
network-enabled printers are all going to be MUCH more expensive than any
parallel/USB printer. Network-enabled printers are by far the easiest
solution, but you'll pay dearly for that convenience.

That really only leaves either a wired or wireless print server as an
option. And then you get into compatibility issues. So unfortunately, your
printer choices may be driven more by compatible, reliable, quality printer
servers than the features you desire in the printer. IOW, you may need to
investigate the printer server options FIRST before even considering which
printer. I've seen some pretty cheap print servers offered at CompUSA
lately ($10 after rebate), some wired, some wireless. There may even be
dual-mode models so she has more flexibility.

Jim
 
Anthony Susa said:
1. Buy a fully wireless networked printer and set it up anywhere in the
house sans wires (excluding the power cord). Then print to it via the
laptop PCMCIA wireless card.

2. Buy an ethernet wired network printer and set it up next to the existing
wireless router via a cat5 ethernet cable to one of the wired ports on the
wireless router.
Click to expand...

The HP6840 comes with BOTH wireless and wired ports so it could do either 1.
or 2.
3. Buy a USB printer (no innate network capability) and buy a special box
(dunno what it is called) that converts ethernet to USB so that she can
print to that special box via the laptop PCMCIA wireless card and that
special box will convert the signal to USB into the printer.
Click to expand...

I don't recommend that. Many people report problems with third party printer
servers. Frequently they will allow printing but won't send any status info
back to the PCs (eg ink level monitoring or paper out doesn't work). If you
go this route you need ti check that the printer server supports the printer
AND how well it supports the printer (eg does it support the status info).
 
Anthony Susa said:
What are today's wireless home network printing today?

I wish to give my sister in Texas a gift by buying online (probably at
www.costco.com) a printer and having it shipped to her. She has a laptop
with a D-Link or Linksys (I forget which) wireless PCMCIA card and
wireless
router (with four wired ethernet ports) from CostCo of years past that I
gave her, hooked to her incoming cable feed.

Assuming the printer will remain stationary but the laptop PC will be used
with encryption around house - are these our printer options?

1. Buy a fully wireless networked printer and set it up anywhere in the
house sans wires (excluding the power cord). Then print to it via the
laptop PCMCIA wireless card.
Click to expand...

Stay wireless and get a Canon iP5200R, excellent printer and peice of cake
to set up wirelessly.
 
Keep it simple, for your sake and for hers, especially if she has to set it all
up herself.

Netgear, Linksys, and others all make little boxes that make a printer into a
network device. HP and Lexmark make them, too, but overpriced. If the printer
is a USB printer, you need a box with USB on one side and Ethernet on the other.
If the printer is a parallel printer, then you need a box with a 25-pin parallel
connection and an Ethernet port. The modern ones are pretty easy to set up.
(I've used a couple of Netgear Ethernet adapters for parallel port printers, and
they work acceptably.)

Of course, you could always spring for a printer with networking built-in (altho
the cheap HP "networked" printers simply come with a little USB-Ethernet box).
Networked printers are typically mid-range laser printers and higher quality
inkjet printers, both sturdier business class devices with higher duty cycles.

In any event, connect to the printer to the router with Ethernet cable. More
relaible. Easier to troubleshoot. Easier to set up... Ben Myers
 
Duane said:
One other thing, you should keep it simple as your sister might hate
you and spit in your face in the long run for this if it's to
complicated or toublesome. :)

Duane :)
Click to expand...

This is why your wired printer suggestion is the only one that the OP
should select. Troubleshooting wireless and print servers is terribly
difficult over the phone unless both parties have the required
expertise.

Q
 
What are today's wireless home network printing today?

I wish to give my sister in Texas a gift by buying online (probably at
www.costco.com) a printer and having it shipped to her. She has a laptop
with a D-Link or Linksys (I forget which) wireless PCMCIA card and wireless
router (with four wired ethernet ports) from CostCo of years past that I
gave her, hooked to her incoming cable feed.

Assuming the printer will remain stationary but the laptop PC will be used
with encryption around house - are these our printer options?

1. Buy a fully wireless networked printer and set it up anywhere in the
house sans wires (excluding the power cord). Then print to it via the
laptop PCMCIA wireless card.

2. Buy an ethernet wired network printer and set it up next to the existing
wireless router via a cat5 ethernet cable to one of the wired ports on the
wireless router.

3. Buy a USB printer (no innate network capability) and buy a special box
(dunno what it is called) that converts ethernet to USB so that she can
print to that special box via the laptop PCMCIA wireless card and that
special box will convert the signal to USB into the printer.

Are these our basic options today (assuming CostCo 300 to 500 dollar
printers)?

Tony Susa
Click to expand...

The printer we use was $80 but is now discontinued. It is a 5850. It
has USB and ethernet wired and ethernet wireless.

We use the wireless so the printer and the router don't have to be
close together and no cables to run. It is only 802.11b but that is
faster than the printer.

We had to wire it for initial configuration and you just point a web
browser to it. The wireless connection has been trouble free.
 
If your looking for just a printer... i'd look at either the older
ip4000R which I don't see at costco, or the ip5200R which I also don't
see at costco. www.newegg.com would be a good place to shop.
Click to expand...

Buy.com has ip4000R for $150ish and $30 rebate if you pick up
thei Visa card. It's a great printer. I have it in both USB and wireless
modes and it works great. Fast, good quality, very easy to refill (one of
the last Canon printers that are like this) and even text on plain paper
is perfectly acceptable.

Highly recommended.

DK
 
Anthony said:
What are today's wireless home network printing today?

I wish to give my sister in Texas a gift by buying online (probably at
www.costco.com) a printer and having it shipped to her. She has a laptop
with a D-Link or Linksys (I forget which) wireless PCMCIA card and wireless
router (with four wired ethernet ports) from CostCo of years past that I
gave her, hooked to her incoming cable feed.

Assuming the printer will remain stationary but the laptop PC will be used
with encryption around house - are these our printer options?

1. Buy a fully wireless networked printer and set it up anywhere in the
house sans wires (excluding the power cord). Then print to it via the
laptop PCMCIA wireless card.

2. Buy an ethernet wired network printer and set it up next to the existing
wireless router via a cat5 ethernet cable to one of the wired ports on the
wireless router.

3. Buy a USB printer (no innate network capability) and buy a special box
(dunno what it is called) that converts ethernet to USB so that she can
print to that special box via the laptop PCMCIA wireless card and that
special box will convert the signal to USB into the printer.

Are these our basic options today (assuming CostCo 300 to 500 dollar
printers)?

Tony Susa
Click to expand...

Assuming that you want to get a color inkjet printer ...

The hp 5850 mentioned by some of the other posters is no longer available.
It's been replaced by the hp 6840, which until lists for $169 direct from hp +
s/h (at least until this Saturday http://tinyurl.com/cqnsk). You can probably
get it for slightly less at CompUSA, etc. I don't think Costco has it.

This printer can be connected either by wireless b/g or by cat5 cable (but not
both simultaneously) or usb. I have one at home which connects in wireless
infrastructure mode to my Linksys wrt54g router and one in my wife's office to
which she connects in wireless ad hoc mode. Setup of each was quite easy (and
my wife -- who has almost zero interest in the details of computer technology
-- easily uses the same laptop to print to both printers without the need to
re-configure anything).

However, if I were going to get one of these as a long-distance gift, I'd first
download and read the user manual, network guide, and setup guide
(http://tinyurl.com/bnvgj) so I could help with the setup over the phone.
Between firewall settings (for anything other than the native WinXP SP2
firewall) and encryption passwords, wireless setup can be daunting for the
non-technical.

If you get one of these printers, and opt to have it connected via wireless,
you should know that (at least on mine) the setup "wizard" only allows you to
setup WEP security, even though the printer supports WPA-AES. I found it
easier -- for the infrastructure mode connection, where I wanted the highest
possible security -- to set it up with no security and then use the printer's
"embedded web server" to configure the security appropriately.

I believe the 6840 is also the cheapest Ethernet-capable printer that hp
sells. Thus, if you run into interference from 2.4gHz phones or microwave
ovens, etc, use your option 2.

As far as I'm aware, network adaptors for printers, either wireless to usb,
ethernet to usb, or something like hp's plug-in JetDirect adapters, are in the
$80 (and up, sometimes up a lot) range, so take that into consideration when
pricing out your potential setup.
 
Jim said:
Big unanswered question here is, is money no object? Because the
network-enabled printers are all going to be MUCH more expensive than any
parallel/USB printer. Network-enabled printers are by far the easiest
solution, but you'll pay dearly for that convenience.
Click to expand...

It is not that much difference, and is probably cheaper to get a networked
printer than a printer with a separate print server. For example, see the
DeskJet 6840 with wireless or wired networking for $169 at
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF05a/18972-236251-236261-14438-f51-385457.html.

Personally, I bought a Photosmart 2610 all-in-one which I now see available at
Costco for $179 - see
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11008014&whse=&topnav=&browse=&s=1.
It has similar print specs as the DeskJet 6840 and also includes wired
networking, copying, scanning, fax and printing from camera cards directly. I
have it set up as you describe - it is connected to my router and I print to it
from my wireless laptop.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging
 
In responce to Anthony Susa <I wanna printer>
<pharaphrase mine>

I took the liberty of putting all the options quoted in this thread in
one reply without any prejusice or features, only price if available
and where to buy. They are grouped by mfg and in no particular order.

HP 5850 - compusa -older model-
hp 6840 http://tinyurl.com/cqnsk $169
HP Photosmart 2610 AIO Costco $179
Canon IP4000R $150-$180 Buy.com -older model-
Canon IP5200R $210 newegg.com
 
Quaoar said:
This is why your wired printer suggestion is the only one that the OP
should select. Troubleshooting wireless and print servers is terribly
difficult over the phone unless both parties have the required expertise.

Q
Click to expand...

Yes, I know as I have been on the phone with family members too many times
trying to fix computer problems. It's very painful at times when the person
on the other end is non technical.

Duane :)
 
Keep it simple, for your sake and for hers, especially if she has to set it all
up herself.

Netgear, Linksys, and others all make little boxes that make a printer into a
network device. HP and Lexmark make them, too, but overpriced. If the printer
is a USB printer, you need a box with USB on one side and Ethernet on the other.
If the printer is a parallel printer, then you need a box with a 25-pin parallel
connection and an Ethernet port. The modern ones are pretty easy to set up.
(I've used a couple of Netgear Ethernet adapters for parallel port printers, and
they work acceptably.)
Click to expand...

If you go this route you need to check that the printer server not only
supports the printer but also how WELL it supports the printer (eg does it
support the ink status info?).
 
Agreed. That's why it is generally best to match the brand of the print server
with the brand of the computer. AFAIK, HP and Lexmark sell their own brand of
print server. Don't know if Epson does. I don't see a lot of Epsons.

.... Ben Myers
 
Of course, a relatively brain-dead but reliable old workhorse inkjet like a 612c
does not provide ink status, so the brand of print server does not matter. Only
the reliability is important... Ben Myers
 
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