printer wireless network question
 

OK computer guru's. I have an Epson Stylus CX4200 Series printer. I am running with Verizon DSL through a D link DI 524 wireless router. I want to connect the printer to the router to be able to print from my laptop. The laptop is primarily used downstairs while the printer resides upstairs. I see that my USB cable supplied with the printer has your standard flat type of connector on one side and a more boxy shaped connector on the other(this boxy shape plugs into the printer). On my router there is another boxy shaped female connector. Is there a cable available that has the boxy connector on either end to interconnect the printer to the router or am I barking up the wrong tree here? Thanks

Wrong tree. The boxy thing on the router is to hook up to your actual DSL "modem" via USB instead of the ethernet (CAT5) it is probably using.

Something like this is what you need - no affiliation, recommendation for that vendor, site, etc. implied - just the first example I found on a froogle search.

Thanks much for saving me from wasting time.

My printer has a built-in network card. I have it hooked into my router instead of to a computer. Thing is, I have to have my desktop turned on to print (acting as print server) wirelessly from my laptop. I just print from my desktop if I have to have it on to print anyway. (I turn my computers off when I'm not using them--saves power and limits the computer's accessibility to hackers.)

Buy a wireless print server. D-Link as well as everyone else makes them. $30-40 bucks.

Scott

Do I need a wireless print server if I already have a wireless router? Can't I just use a print-server and my existing router?

legion,

if your printer has a card built in, you can connect to it wirelessly with the equipment you have...just plug it into the wireless router internal switch in the back. You should be able to create a link to that printer from your Laptop, wirelessly, via the IP Address and not thru a shared printer resource or a print server.

find the IP Address of your printer, then try adding a new printer. pick LOCAL and uncheck the box to auto-install, at the next screen pick the lower area to add a port and in the listbox pick TCP/IP. At the next screen, put in the IP Address of the printer and give the new port a name. Follow the directions from there on out...

im kinda doing this from memory so its probably not 100%, hop e it helps

Good luck,

Thanks. I tried installing the software that came with the printer on both computers. The problem is, it tries to make the last computer I install the software on the print server, causing contention when both computers are on. I'll give your method a try.

If you have Windows XP, you can easily network all your computers and they'll print to any printer on the network even if the printer is just connected to one of the computers.

Legion,

if you can isolate the print driver or find it on the CD you should be ok. During the Add Printer wizard you will eventually have to tell the PC where the driver is.

125shifter is right, you got everything you need. Trouble is, the installation software is muddling up the water.

if your printer has a dedicated network card in it...odds are you can print directly to it and simplify your life. Thats what Bill Gates told me anyway ;)

Sure you can use a regular wired print server.

I ditched all my desktops years ago. Every box in my house is a laptop so I'm free to roam.

The wireless print server let's me put the printer out of the way, I can stick it in a closet if I want.

I just like the convenience of less cables.

Scott