Setting up wireless printing from my wireless computer

[Cathylp]

I have purchased a D-Link DPR-1260 Wireless printer server in order to
print from my wireless laptop. And I am having trouble understanding
how to get it installed.

I have a cable modem hooked up to a wireless router which feeds signals
to my wireless laptop. The laptop is my only computer and serves as my
wireless base station. I do not have a desktop but I am tied to my desk
because my wireless laptop is connected to my Del usb printer. I often
disconnect my laptop from the printer just so that I can have the
mobility I wanted when I purchased the laptop. But then when I want or
need to print something, such as an automated receipt from an online
purchase that says "Print this page for your records", I am in a fix!

So I called Del and they told me what to order and it was delivered
last night!

But I am confused by the installation instructions. The first
instruction reads "Connect an Ethernet cable to the Ethernet connector
on the Print Server's back panel (I was able to do this) and attach it
to the network. Now I am lost.

How do I attach it to the network? I believe that my wireless router
has an Ethernet connector on the back. Do I plug the other end of the
ethernet cable to that? If not what in the world do I plug the other
end of that Ethernet cable from the wireless print server to?

(there is a Note included that states "It is required that an Ethernet
cable is used during initial setup. Once your wireless configuration is
set, you may disconnect the Ethernet cable and begin communicating
wirelessly with your DPR-1260).

And where does my printer fit in? Is it attached by its usb cable to
the print server or do I have to have it connected to my PC during the
installation?

The Quick Install Guide (the only install guide that came with the
product) also talks about default IP addresses and states "The factory
default IP address of the DP-1260 is 192.168.0.10. The IP address of
the DPR-1260 must be in the same range as your network. You can change
the IP address of the DPR-1260 to match the IP address scheme of your
existing network. To access the print server's Web configuration
interface, assign an IP address on one of the wired PC's on your
network to the same IP scheme as the Print Server".

I do not have a clue as to what the IP address scheme of my network is.
And will I have to disconnect my wireless laptop from my wireless router
and wire it directly into my cable modem in order to connect to the
Print Server's Web configuration interface since I do not have a
"wired" pc on my network?

And one last question. Once I am able to get to the D-Link Setup
Wizard, it will ask me for the Wireless Network Name - SSID - of my
wireless network. How do I find that out? I have moved recently and do
not know where my paperwork is from when I originally setup the
wireless router (my son walked me through it on the phone and I did not
really have a clue what I was doing). After my move the cable company
came and set everything back up for me and got my wireless laptop
working along with my cable tv.

Please forgive me for such a long email. I am so excited about this
print server and I want so bad to get it working. I am not a pc novice.
I used to build custom PC's for people. But I am a network novice and
this stuff totally blows my mind.

Any help that you can give in sincerely appreciated.

Thanks!
Cathy

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

I have not yet come across a wireless router that does not have several
ports in the back for wired connections. Most have 4. Use a standard
ethernet cable to connect printer to router.

Once the printer is connected to the router, then you can begin it's
configuration from your wireless notebook. When configuration is complete,
then you can disconnect it from your router and put it where you like
(within reason).

BTW this is not a printing query, it's a networking one.

 

[Cathylp]

Thanks Cari for responding so quickly! But I still need just a little
clarification (although I am feeling much better about this task thanks
to you).

When you say below in the first paragraph "Use a standard ethernet
cable to connect printer to router", I assume that you mean use the
ethernet cable to connect the new print server to my wireless router
and not to try and connect my usb printer to the router using the
ethernet cable (I don't think my printer has an ethernet connection
point). If I am to connect the print server to the router with the
ethernet cable, you have answered one of my biggest question!

The second area of confusion is what do I do with my usb printer at
this time? It is sitting on my desk with the power on but does not have
the usb cable plugged into anything. I am currently using my wireless
laptop (without the printer attached) in my livingroom down the hall
from the room where I have my desk and printer. Do I need to plug the
printer back into my wireless laptop? Or do I need to plug it in the
back of the print server? The quick start guide does not mention the
printer at all.

Once, I have all the hardware connected I should be able to begin
configuration from my wireless notebook, as you stated below.

Thanks so much for your help!

Sincerely,
Cathy

P.S. Sorry I posted this to the wrong place but thanks for answering!

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

Yes, so you connect the print server to the router. The printer itself will
connect via USB cable from printer to print server. I thought at first you
meant you had one of the nice new printers that have wireless built in.