Network Printer

[Tricky]

Currently, the printer in my home is connected to my PC; it is set to share; and every other computer in the house uses it as a network printer. All works fine... Sometimes, I must go out of town for a week, and I'd prefer to switch my PC to the OFF position while I'm away - but I can't - because then no one else would be able to use the printer.

Is there a way to connect a printer directly to a router so that anyone could use it without relying on a particular PC to be running?

I use an HP6510; needs a power cord and a USB connection. I've checked my current router and there's no USB connection on it anywhere!! Probably doesn't matter but some of the PC's are wired to the router while the upstairs PC's have a wireless connection.

Thanks,

[Leif]

You could use a network print server - such as the Linksys PSUS4.

[Tricky]

Thank you Leif. That's certainly worth looking into.
I checked the local price already; it can be had around here for US$59.
My printer is one of those All-IN-One jobs (Print/Fax/Scan), so I need to verify that the scanner will still function correctly. I know the fax would work fine.
I'd never heard of a printer server but I knew there must be something that would do the trick...

<img src=/S/cheers.gif border=0 alt=cheers width=30 height=16>

[Leif]

More and more printers are now becoming available with built-in network connectivity and you'd probably pay that much more for the original equipment if it was already fitted. Have you checked with HP to see if there is a network card option for retro-fitting? One less power supply to worry about...

[officespacer]

Hey, I'm in a similar boat as Tricky. I just got a printer/scanner/copier/fax all-in-one and i have a laserjet for printing in mass quantities of black and white that I want to tie into my home network. the problem i have is both printers will be in the same room as my PC and there is only ethernet jack in there. would that linksys be a good option for my situation?

[JoeP517]

If you really need both devices, then yes the Linksys would be a viable option. This ethernet print server - Google Search has links to many products to check out. Probably any well known brand name would work fine.

Joe

[MauryS]

If you are going to use a USB-to-Ethernet adapter for your printer, I would strongly suggest that you check first with both suppliers to verify if your printer will work in this manner. I had an HP color printer (cannot remember the model number, but something in the 900-range) and it would work fine through my adapter. But my current color printer, an HP C4380, will not. It is an old adapter, an Edimax1205Um, which does not say much. But the Edimax website used to have (and may still have) a reasonable explanation of why some printers will and others will not work in this manner. Your scanner and fax most likely will not work over the network, as the software provided is probably not able to address these devices over TCP/IP.

Maury

[Leif]

Possibly. The example print server I linked to has a 4-port switch, so I believe you would connect your network into it and your pc. Note it is only a single server, so you would probably need either a dual server or two singles - one for each of your printers.

As mentioned above, you may wish to check if the printer/all-in-one would operate with a print-server...

[officespacer]

Thanks and thanks, I will be sure to take a look. I found a couple multi-port print servers online that I may look into some more. If 2 single servers are cheaper though, I may go that route instead and save a couple <img src=/S/2cents.gif border=0 alt=2cents width=15 height=15>