Printing from Wireless Laptop to Networking Printer

Thanks. Didn't notice the time was off. Don't have any idea how that happened either.

How is your printer connected to your network? Is it connected to a desktop or a print server?

What's with the Oct 3, 2005 machine date?

Duane :)

Are we talking E. S. P. here? ;-)

I already have a private/static IP address on the printer. All of my local devices (including my two VOIP adapters) have static addresses. I only use DHCP for initially setting up a new device or a visitor who might want to use my network from their wireless device.

The procedure above didn't follow my PC to the letter. But I did get it working with the aid of the above.

And HP said it 'couldn't be done'. Then explain the test page that just printed from my printer.

Thanks very much, guy.

Fred

w> the signal Excellent). So, I go to install a printer on the laptop.

Where are you entering http://#.#.#.# ? That would not be in an "add a printer" routine in Windows. Directly adding the printer IP in some spot where Windows is expecting the address of a print server won't work, unless you have already told it that it is a JetDirect connection.

If you are entering that into a browser window, some HP printers have self-install features there. On WinXP, There is some java issue. I let the screen timeout, failing to load any java applets, and then refresh the window, and everything seems to work. You said your browser window works, so in the left pane there should be a "internet printing install wizard" which should open a window to an appropriate HP page. For me that link is

That would also load a windows tool that is separately downloadable from the HP Business site <

You can simply "add a local printer" as someone else noted, but you have to be able to locate appropriate drivers. What I do to skip that step is share the printer from some other machine that already has it properly configured, connect to that share, which downloads the drivers, and then adjust the "port" for the direct IP address.

I now have a linksys wireless printserver (about $84 at walmart), works great and allows both the printer to be wireless, and also work like a locally attached printer to my wireless laptops. I did have to hardwire via USB into my router for a few minutes to set up the printer, but now it works fine with anyones wireless laptops.

One minor problem, that may explain part of it, when hardwired it checks the ink levels before printing, but doesn't wirless.. I would suspect it some sort of control stuff in the software that doesn't like non direct connects.

The wireless printservers almost all function as simple printers. None of the mult-function fax/scan/copy and extended status like ink levels works with them, in general.

I think the original poster had something with an HP JetDirect card. Those would offer full integration with networked PCs, and should be transparent whether wired or wireless.

Connecting to a networked printer in Windows is counter intuitive.

First note that better results are obtained if the printer is assigned a static address. You can access it by name, but that seems somewhat flaky to me.

The following is for Windows XP, but will be similar for other Windows versions.

From the printers screen, choose 'Add a printer'. When the Add Printer Wizard appears, click next. Choose 'Local printer attached to this computer' -- Don't choose 'A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer' as would be logical. Next, choose 'Create a new port'. From the pull down list, choose 'Standard TCP/IP port' Next enter the printer name or IP address (IP address works best) and the Port name (name the Port anything you want, like 'networked HP' Next you will need to choose a device type. If the HP device is listed, use it, otherwise, I generally use just 'Network Print Server (1 port)' Next you will choose or add the printer drivers. That should do it.