HP printer is wireless, what can it do?

[George]

The small network here has a wired Linksys router, two PC's (Win-XP-pro),
one wired print server (for a laser printer w/parallel port), and an HP7410
printer (with a network interface card) that is connected by cable to the
local ethernet/LAN. This HP also has a "wireless" capability, a small blue
icon stays lighted on front.

Would greatly appreciate some insights for these (obviously) elementary
questions...

a) Is the wireless feature primarily ONLY for, let's say, a laptop to print
wirelessly to this HP Printer, or just to clean up wires in the office?

b) Is it true it can't be BOTH connected by wire and at the same time have
wireless capability? That is... since it's connected by cable (presumably
the HP's wireless is presently disabled), then is it true that I'd need to
first DISCONNECT it from cable, then re-configure for 'wireless' by filling
in the wireless settings on HP... which would mean now ONLY the laptop can
connect and the PC's can't (unless I added a wireless-access-point (WAP) to
the router, so ALL PC's could sent thru wireless into the printer, right?)

c) Is it true this wireless HP device only really "receives" signals (things
to be printed), or is it possible (or worse, "certain") that it could be
used for someone outside home to "get into" my entire network (far beyond
just printing)? Is this likely? (Right now, I assume wireless is
disabled...but if it isn't, I noticed some settings that said "open" "no
security/authentication". But it also said "Connected: No".

d) Can the HP printer act as a (and be my) WAP and eliminate the need for me
to buy a separate WAP? Is this commonly done? Any
advantages/disadvantages?

e) Is it true that the wired connection now in use (HP is plugged into
router) would almost for certain be the fastest, and that if I re-configured
everything to use the HP printer's 801.11b wireless connection along with a
(newly installed) 801.11 b/g WAP...the connection would likely or for sure
be noticeably slower?

f) Any way to keep the fast wired-connection to the HP printer, yet at same
time allow it to 'accept' a wireless signal from a laptop, so that laptop
can print (thru the air so to speak) to the printer? (Sort of best of both
worlds... fast wired connection for desktop PC's, plus convenience of
wireless for laptop remote printing)

g) anything else I'm missing here, that I should know about regarding
wireless printing, networks, etc.

Thanks, greatly appreciatd,
George

 

[Steve Winograd]

The small network here has a wired Linksys router, two PC's (Win-XP-pro),
one wired print server (for a laser printer w/parallel port), and an HP7410
printer (with a network interface card) that is connected by cable to the
local ethernet/LAN. This HP also has a "wireless" capability, a small blue
icon stays lighted on front.

Would greatly appreciate some insights for these (obviously) elementary
questions...

a) Is the wireless feature primarily ONLY for, let's say, a laptop to print
wirelessly to this HP Printer, or just to clean up wires in the office?

The wireless feature lets someone who has a wireless network use the
printer anywhere in the house. With a wired connection, the printer
has to be near the network switch or router, and you have to run a
wire to the printer. That's not practical in some setups, e.g. the
printer is in Dad's basement office and the kids want to print from an
upstairs bedrooom.

b) Is it true it can't be BOTH connected by wire and at the same time have
wireless capability? That is... since it's connected by cable (presumably
the HP's wireless is presently disabled), then is it true that I'd need to
first DISCONNECT it from cable, then re-configure for 'wireless' by filling
in the wireless settings on HP... which would mean now ONLY the laptop can
connect and the PC's can't (unless I added a wireless-access-point (WAP) to
the router, so ALL PC's could sent thru wireless into the printer, right?)

I don't know if the printer can be connected to BOTH at the same time,
but there's no reason to do that. If you had a wireless network, all
of your computers could use the printer, regardless of whether the
printer is using a wired or wireless connection, and regardless of
whether the computer is using a wired or wireless connection.

c) Is it true this wireless HP device only really "receives" signals (things
to be printed), or is it possible (or worse, "certain") that it could be
used for someone outside home to "get into" my entire network (far beyond
just printing)? Is this likely? (Right now, I assume wireless is
disabled...but if it isn't, I noticed some settings that said "open" "no
security/authentication". But it also said "Connected: No".

The printer can connect to an existing wireless network through a
wireless router or WAP and "receive" print jobs. The printer doesn't
accept connections from other devices. However, if you're not using
the printer's wireless capability, I recommend disabling that
capability.

d) Can the HP printer act as a (and be my) WAP and eliminate the need for me
to buy a separate WAP? Is this commonly done? Any
advantages/disadvantages?

No, the printer can't be a WAP.

e) Is it true that the wired connection now in use (HP is plugged into
router) would almost for certain be the fastest, and that if I re-configured
everything to use the HP printer's 801.11b wireless connection along with a
(newly installed) 801.11 b/g WAP...the connection would likely or for sure
be noticeably slower?

A wired Fast Ethernet connection is much faster than 802.11 b/g.
However, printing doesn't usually require transferring a lot of data,
and I don't think you'd notice any difference in printing speed
betweeen the different types of connection.

f) Any way to keep the fast wired-connection to the HP printer, yet at same
time allow it to 'accept' a wireless signal from a laptop, so that laptop
can print (thru the air so to speak) to the printer? (Sort of best of both
worlds... fast wired connection for desktop PC's, plus convenience of
wireless for laptop remote printing)

See above -- there's no reason to have both wired and wireless
connections on the pritner.

g) anything else I'm missing here, that I should know about regarding
wireless printing, networks, etc.

If you set up a wireless network, protect it from unauthorized access
by using the highest level of encryption (preferably WPA2 or WPA) that
your equipment supports.

You could either replace the existing wired router with a wireless
router, or connect a WAP to the wired router. But it's hard to find a
WAP, and WAPs are often more expensive than wireless routers.

Thanks, greatly appreciatd,
George

You're welcome!
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Steve Winograd]

The small network here has a wired Linksys router, two PC's (Win-XP-pro),
one wired print server (for a laser printer w/parallel port), and an HP7410
printer (with a network interface card) that is connected by cable to the
local ethernet/LAN. This HP also has a "wireless" capability, a small blue
icon stays lighted on front.

Would greatly appreciate some insights for these (obviously) elementary
questions...

a) Is the wireless feature primarily ONLY for, let's say, a laptop to print
wirelessly to this HP Printer, or just to clean up wires in the office?

b) Is it true it can't be BOTH connected by wire and at the same time have
wireless capability? That is... since it's connected by cable (presumably
the HP's wireless is presently disabled), then is it true that I'd need to
first DISCONNECT it from cable, then re-configure for 'wireless' by filling
in the wireless settings on HP... which would mean now ONLY the laptop can
connect and the PC's can't (unless I added a wireless-access-point (WAP) to
the router, so ALL PC's could sent thru wireless into the printer, right?)

c) Is it true this wireless HP device only really "receives" signals (things
to be printed), or is it possible (or worse, "certain") that it could be
used for someone outside home to "get into" my entire network (far beyond
just printing)? Is this likely? (Right now, I assume wireless is
disabled...but if it isn't, I noticed some settings that said "open" "no
security/authentication". But it also said "Connected: No".

d) Can the HP printer act as a (and be my) WAP and eliminate the need for me
to buy a separate WAP? Is this commonly done? Any
advantages/disadvantages?

e) Is it true that the wired connection now in use (HP is plugged into
router) would almost for certain be the fastest, and that if I re-configured
everything to use the HP printer's 801.11b wireless connection along with a
(newly installed) 801.11 b/g WAP...the connection would likely or for sure
be noticeably slower?

f) Any way to keep the fast wired-connection to the HP printer, yet at same
time allow it to 'accept' a wireless signal from a laptop, so that laptop
can print (thru the air so to speak) to the printer? (Sort of best of both
worlds... fast wired connection for desktop PC's, plus convenience of
wireless for laptop remote printing)

g) anything else I'm missing here, that I should know about regarding
wireless printing, networks, etc.

Thanks, greatly appreciatd,
George

After posting my first response, I realized that you might be asking
about a different type of wireless network than what I described. I
based my reply on an "infrastructure" network, in which the printer
and the computers connect to a wireless router or wireless access
point.

Then, I checked HP's "Wireless and Wired Network Guide":

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00389927.pdf

That document shows how to use the printer in an "ad hoc" wireless
network, which has a direct connection between the printer and a
computer.

The advantage of an ad hoc wireless network is that you don't need to
have a wireless access point or wireless router.

The disadvantages of an ad hoc wireless network are:

1. The printer can use either its wireless connection or its wired
connection, but (as documented on page 49) it can't use both of them
at the same time.

2. WPA encryption isn't available. Only the much less secure WEP
encryption is available for an ad hoc wireless network.

3. Performance is worse, especially with 802.11 g.

So, I recommend that you replace the wired router with a wireless
router and use an infrastructure network.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[smlunatick]

The small network here has a wired Linksys router, two PC's (Win-XP-pro),
one wired print server (for a laser printer w/parallel port), and an HP7410
printer (with a network interface card) that is connected by cable to the
local ethernet/LAN.  This HP also has a "wireless" capability, a small blue
icon stays lighted on front.

Would greatly appreciate some insights for these (obviously) elementary
questions...

a) Is the wireless feature primarily ONLY for, let's say, a laptop to print
wirelessly to this HP Printer, or just to clean up wires in the office?

b) Is it true it can't be BOTH connected by wire and at the same time have
wireless capability?  That is... since it's connected by cable (presumably
the HP's wireless is presently disabled), then is it true that I'd need to
first DISCONNECT it from cable, then re-configure for 'wireless' by filling
in the wireless settings on HP... which would mean now ONLY the laptop can
connect and the PC's can't (unless I added a wireless-access-point (WAP) to
the router, so ALL PC's could sent thru wireless into the printer, right?)

c) Is it true this wireless HP device only really "receives" signals (things
to be printed), or is it possible (or worse, "certain") that it could be
used for someone outside home to "get into" my entire network (far beyond
just printing)?  Is this likely?  (Right now, I assume wireless is
disabled...but if it isn't, I noticed some settings that said "open" "no
security/authentication".  But it also said "Connected: No".

d) Can the HP printer act as a (and be my) WAP and eliminate the need for me
to buy a separate WAP?  Is this commonly done?  Any
advantages/disadvantages?

e) Is it true that the wired connection now in use (HP is plugged into
router) would almost for certain be the fastest, and that if I re-configured
everything to use the HP printer's 801.11b wireless connection along with a
(newly installed) 801.11 b/g WAP...the connection would likely or for sure
be noticeably slower?

f) Any way to keep the fast wired-connection to the HP printer, yet at same
time allow it to 'accept' a wireless signal from a laptop, so that laptop
can print (thru the air so to speak) to the printer?  (Sort of best of both
worlds... fast wired connection for desktop PC's, plus convenience of
wireless for laptop remote printing)

g) anything else I'm missing here, that I should know about regarding
wireless printing, networks, etc.

Thanks, greatly appreciatd,
George

Wireless printers can be used with:

1) Wireless router -- Allows ever PC connected with this router to
access the
printer, including any wired PC.

2) Peer to Peer network -- Any wireless PCs can be set up to access
the printer
directly (aka ad-hoc wireless)
More configuration is
required for this type of
connection since printer may
need an IP address to be set up.

As for using both connections, this depends on the printer internal
"programming" (aka firmware) and you need to refer to the printer's
user / setup guide(s).