2 wireless computers to wireless printer!

raging bull · 07-07-2022, 11:02

SWMABO Has dictated we need to have access to a printer to allow her to print out documents rather than passing the info to me and using my office printer (hard wired to router)
So my question is would we experience any problems say requiring to print from both computers at the same time?
NB Computers are not networked at all, just stand alone laptops.

Jaymoss · 07-07-2022, 11:19

if it is hardwired to router then both laptops should be able to connect to it through that. The laptops do not need to be networked together just on the routers network

Run the drivers on her laptop and select ethernet as connection type it should find it

Halcyon · 07-07-2022, 11:26

If the printer is hard wired to a router then they dont need to pass the info on to you in order to print. You could just get the IP address of that printer and add the printer to her laptop.

Add new printer. Select to add printer by TCP/IP or host name. Type in the IP address. You will get prompted to add the print driver. Done.

tweetiepooh · 07-07-2022, 11:41

We have a printer attached to our local network using a wireless bridge and multiple users on the network can print at the same time. But we have a laser printer that has own print engine so it sorts out the print jobs.
Some cheap printers are essentially dumb and all the intelligence is done at the computer. I don't know how that would handle multiple jobs.

One tip is to fix the IP for the printer, this can be done in the router or fix it in printer by switching off DHCP and using fixed IP. It's not vital but does mean you always know what the printer's IP address is.

Also I have had great fun with firewalls (Linux mostly) blocking network printer discovery. Your usage may vary.

Halcyon · 07-07-2022, 11:54

Yep, good idea to set a static IP. Go for something high up in the table for example 192.168.1.250
Obviously check what IP settings you have.

You also can get some printers that do Wireless printing but the wireless link is just between you and the printer. These are generally annoying.

If it has an ethernet port on the back it is a network printer so will handle the print server side of things fine.

raging bull · 07-07-2022, 12:44

I will take the boss to my computer supplier and show her what is available!
[Needs to fit within a given space.]

Halcyon · 07-07-2022, 13:18

If you want it accessible to anyone on the entwork make sure it is a network printer you choose.
If its just a new printer to hook up to her machine, then any printer hooked up via USB cable will do.

nomadking · 07-07-2022, 16:03

Seeing as it's a very obvious situation that could occur, the systems must be able to cope. Something like a start of job message and an end of job one, would suffice. Any other device couldn't send until that job had finished.