Printer network???

i have a hp j5780 printer. i also have 3 computers on opposite ends of the house. is there any way to inexpensivly network them all? i can run cables, fyi if that makes a diff.

 

Assuming that you have a normal network (wired or wireless), what you need is a printer server (they can be wired or wireless) with a USB port. If you also need to get a router for the network, then you can get a router with a USB port. I recently bought an Asus WL-500g router which has two USB ports, one for a printer and one for a hard disk. This is a less expensive route than a separate router and printer server, but is only convenient if the router can be close to the printer.

John

 

i have a small home network with two pc,s (wired).two laptops(wireless).and and old pc 1.3ghz athlon 80gb HD.next to the router with the printer plugged into that under the stairs.and all pc's and laptops can print.and if the printer is switched off.the old athlon spools all the printer jobs until im ready to print.
it's not the best option but it works for us.

 

i have a linksys WRT150N

 

i dont have any networks in my house. i have dial up. so is they're any ways to do this? all my computers have wireless b/g things... does that matter?

 

If all of your PC have wireless you can setup a Adhoc network. This is when pc's talk to each other without a router. Then turn on file and printer sharing. Connect the printer to 1 pc and the others can print to it.

Or install a wired or wireless network with the use of a wireless router. Add a print server to your printer and connect to your router. Then setup each pc to print to a network printer.

If desktop PC's you can connect with cat5e directly to the router. Some routers have a serial port for connecting external modems. This use to be common 10 yrs ago. Now it seams only high end router have serial ports for backup to there normal service.

 

how do you do the ad-hoc thing???

 

I have personally have not done this, I do not like the security problems this creates. So some of the detail may not be correct. I would recommend running the Network wizard first. Then you can check and modify the settings after it is setup.

You go to your port connection properties. The select Wireless connections. Add a new connection. Set your security type WPA, enter key, then tell it to connect to another PC (adhoc). Enter the PC SSID, which should be it's name that shows up on networks. You will need to do it for every pc you want to connect to. You will need to do his to every pc. Don't worry if the first one fails, should correct it self on the second one.

 

when you set up your network you are asked in the set-up if you want a ad-hoc network or just a standard network.
most routers just plug in and go and setting up printer and file sharing is easy to set-up as its all done with a set up wizard. google and the help files on your pc is the best place to start. take your time.