Wireless printing options for IP printer

[lavachickie]

Currently I have a Xerox Phaser 860 connected via Ethernet to a Linksys
wireless router and 4 port hub. We are using it as an IP printer in a
mixed network of Mac and PCs. It's fast, reliable with no troubles.

Problem is, I'd like to move the printer into another room, but cannot
move the Linksys wireless router and 4 port hub. I've looked into
wireless print servers, but so far all are for USB printers. While this
printer can be used as a USB printer, I've read of problems with both
reliability and performance speed, so I don't want to do that. Given
the troubles reported, I'm wondering if there are other options that
don't rely on USB.

I contacted Xerox and they had no suggestions as they don't support
wireless connectivity.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Amy

 

[Stanley Krute]

Hi Amy

I've looked into
wireless print servers, but so far all are for USB printers.

I've set up several of my clients with the D-Link DP-311P
wireless parallel print server. It works flawlessly, and
installs easily (just be sure to follow the setup instructions
in the manual precisely). Highly recommended.

-- stan

 

[me]

Currently I have a Xerox Phaser 860 connected via Ethernet to a Linksys
wireless router and 4 port hub. We are using it as an IP printer in a
mixed network of Mac and PCs. It's fast, reliable with no troubles.

Problem is, I'd like to move the printer into another room, but cannot
move the Linksys wireless router and 4 port hub. I've looked into
wireless print servers, but so far all are for USB printers. While this
printer can be used as a USB printer, I've read of problems with both
reliability and performance speed, so I don't want to do that. Given
the troubles reported, I'm wondering if there are other options that
don't rely on USB.

I contacted Xerox and they had no suggestions as they don't support
wireless connectivity.

Can you get another wireless router so you have:

Printer-WirelessHubA


WirelessHubB-Network

Alternatively could you drill a hole through the wall and pass the
network cable through?

When we were having our office refurbed I asked the builders to leave a
little hole between two rooms so that wires can be passed between, they
did quite a nice job of it and lined the inside with a piece of
drainpipe.

 

[lavachickie]

This printer is USB or Ethernet; no parallel connection. Certainly
wouldn't want to use it if it did... sending huge jobs from InDesign or
Illustrator would take forever.

Glad you're having luck with it; many reports on the product at Amazon
are not pretty.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/cu...-7826144-5496144?_encoding=UTF8&s=electronics

 

[lavachickie]

You know, I'd thought about this two hub issue. But... will those two
hubs play well together? When I was seeking to extend a wireless
network, I was told I couldn't just throw another hub into play, but
rather had to get a specific type of device that would act as a
repeater.

But couldn't I just set up the hub, give it its own IP address within
the internal network, then point it to the original wireless hub as the
gateway?

 

[Fred McKenzie]

Currently I have a Xerox Phaser 860 connected via Ethernet to a Linksys
wireless router and 4 port hub. We are using it as an IP printer in a
mixed network of Mac and PCs. It's fast, reliable with no troubles.

Problem is, I'd like to move the printer into another room, but cannot
move the Linksys wireless router and 4 port hub.

Lava-

This sounds like a job for a Wireless Bridge. There are several
available, but I can't give you a specific. My experience with them was
poor because none I tried would pass AppleTalk. However, they should work
well for IP printing, and may be your least expensive solution.

My current setup overcomes the AppleTalk problem by using the "Wireless
Distribution System" (WDS) feature of 802.11g, using Buffalo WBR-G54
Wireless Routers (with firware upgraded). One is the base station and two
others are configured as WDS clients. Each has four ports, although only
the base station currently has more than one Ethernet connection to
equipment such as computers and the printer. The WDS client has the
ability to extend the base stations range, but I have that feature turned
off.

The Apple Airport Extreme is much easier to configure than the Buffalo.
It has WDS capability, but only one LAN port.

Fred

 

[Stanley Krute]

This printer is USB or Ethernet; no parallel connection.

Sorry, I misunderstood that point from your original post.

Glad you're having luck with it;
many reports on the product at Amazon
are not pretty.

It's been my experience that most folks have problems
when an installation requires careful following of
a specific set of steps. This is one such instance.

-- stan