Setting up wireless printing

Question

I'm getting ready to set up wireless printing for my two desktops (Dell Dimension 9100 with XP Pro and Dell XPS 420 with Vista Ultimate) and my laptop (Dell XPS M1710 with Vista Ultimate). The reason for setting up wireless printing is simple: too many incompatibilities with my current home network and the printer I'm using (Dell AOI 942).

I'm on a wireless DSL router and the home network is already wireless, for the sake of my laptop and my smartphone. The two desktops are hardwired (Ethernet) to the router.

My plans are to invest in a wireless printer which will recognize the wireless network, inserting itself as a "network" printer with capabilities of printing from any one of the computers.

The printer I have tentatively picked is 802.11b/g and Ethernet - capable.

Here is my gameplan:

(1) If both wireless and Ethernet can be used simultaneously, then I simply connect the printer to the wireless router, which would allow for printing from the two desktops (I think). I would then print wirelessly to the printer with the laptop.

(2) If I have to pick either wireless OR Ethernet, then I'm not sure where to go from here. I think that I would need wireless adapters for each of the desktops (they don't have that capability currently) and make the entire network wireless (I think I could then ditch the Ethernet cables). The other option might be to use a wireless printer server but then I think I will still need wireless adapters for the desktops (or not).

I really need for all of my computers to talk with my printer.

Thanks, in advance, for any help you can give,

Mark.

PudgyOne · Answer

I use a Wireless Printer Adapter 3300 on my wireless network. We have 3 laptops connected and we can be anywhere in the house, yard, etc, to be able to connect and print. This way I don't have to keep a host computer turned on for the other computers on my network to print.

If you setup the printer via USB Cable to a host computer(preferabably the Vista one) things will go easier. It can be setup for the XP machine but you then have to make sure to read near the bottom for the configuration. Please remember you must run this patch on the Vista machine(works for XP, also) to completely remove the printer from your computer.

Restart your computer.

Download the proper drivers

XP Drivers

Vista 32-bit Drivers

Install the proper drivers. You'll be prompted when to connect your printer)powered on)

If you connect the printer to a host computer,

The basics are:

1) Establish a working wireless network (follow your manufacturers instructions)
2) Attach the printer to its host computer
3) Be able to print from the host
4) Enable File and Print sharing on the host
5) Set the printers properties to be shared
6) Add a network printer on the client via the Add Printer Wizard

Printer Sharing on XP/Vista Network

Go to Control Panel. Choose printer. Then choose Add Printer.

Choose Add a local printer. Click on Create a new port. The default in the drop down box is Local Port. Do not change that. Click Next.

A dialogue box will appear asking for you to enter a port name.

Type in the \\computername\printername

Printers

Setting up wireless printing

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