Wireless Printing and MFPs

Jun 16, 2007 1 Replies

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Mr Ed 19 years ago

I have a wireless network, with the home PC (Windows XP) connected to directly to a LinkSys Wireless G Broadband Router which is connected directly to the Internet Modem. Occasionaly I connect to the Intenet via the wireless router from a wireless laptop. My computer is normally on 24/7.

I will buy a laser MFP shortly, probably a Samsung SCX-5530FN. This has an inbuilt ethernet port and USB 2.0. I want to locate this in a different room from my home PC and router and connect it to the home network via wireless. Now from what I have read, wireless print servers dont support MFPs properly. There are print servers available that do support SOME MFPS, but even then support is not always up to scratch.

So I am thinking that my home PC can be the print server (as it is on

24/7 anyway) with the remote printer connected via a wireless bridge (or AP). I believe that I will not lose any MFP functionality (other than maybe performance) in this configuration (e.g. should still be able to scan to my home PC and receive faxes to my home PC) and will also be able to print from my wireless laptop PC to the printer. For the wireless AP/bridge I can just use another Linksys SRX router.

Does this sound OK ?

Thanks for your help.

Mr Ed.

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Jeff Liebermann 19 years ago

I'm too lazy to do much looking, but there are quite a few HP products that have built in 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connectivity. That might be easier than hanging some external contivance on your printer in order to avoid a CAT5 run.

MFP? Oh, Multi (mal)Functional Product. Got it.

Note that it doesn't have to be connected via wireless. I can also be bridged via power line networking or phone line networking.

In general, that's true. Most print servers include compatibility lists for what printers will work and/or have been tested. I've had excessive entertainement with various combinations of print server and multi-funk printers. I suggest you make VERY sure it will work before you spend the time and money.

Why are you thinking of a USB wireless print server? You have ethernet. Use the force Luke. Just install a "wireless client bridge" or "game adapter", plug it into the ethernet port, and you're done. There's a list of possible devices at:

If it has a "client mode", it will work. The nice thing about

802.11a/b/g wireless is that all it does in encapsulate ethernet packets. It's literally an ethernet extension cord. Therefore, if your prospective printer driver can remotely operate all the necessary functions of the printer via ethernet, then wireless will always work (unless the driver scribblers do something stupid). Forget about USB.

I don't think you can use another SRX router. They do NOT have a client mode. I would look it up and check, but you didn't bother mentioning the exact model number and I'm really lazy tonite.

Nope. Forget about USB, use ethernet.

Ummm.... Mr Ed was a talking horse on TV back in the 1960's. Are you sure you want to be known by that name?

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