Printing from Wireless Laptop to Networking Printer - WiFi-Forum - Wi-Fi Discussion Forum

#1 08-03-2005, 07:09 AM

Hello,

I just got off of chat mode with HP. I have a home network
that is primarily Ethernet.

I have an 802.11g WAP connected to my network via Ethernet.
The idea is so that I can let visitors use their wireless devices on
my Internet connection when they are visiting. I also want them to be
able to print to my printer, if needed.

My employer just issued me a laptop with 802.11g connectivity.
I've downloaded and installed the printer driver needed to print to my
HP networking printer (connected to my network via Ethernet).

I have good connectivity to my WAP from the laptop (it rates
the signal Excellent). So, I go to install a printer on the laptop.
When it gets to where I enter http://#.#.#.#, I put it in with the IP
address of the printer on my network. When I press Next, I get an
error message saying that Windows cannot connect to the printer.

I can ping the printer from the laptop and I can open the Web
interface from the laptop. But, I cannot install the printer from the
laptop.

HP says you cannot connect to the printer partially via
wireless and partially via Ethernet (path). Would this be a valid
conclusion?

Fred

#2 08-03-2005, 09:44 AM

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

Duane :)

#3 08-03-2005, 10:25 AM

Duane Arnold wrote:

>What's with the Oct 3, 2005 machine date?
>
>Duane :)
>
>
>
>
Thanks. Didn't notice the time was off. Don't have any idea how that
happened either.

#4 08-03-2005, 12:26 PM

"Fred Atkinson" <fatkinson@mishmash.com> wrote in message
news:u5j1f19dfaue4vpgvp9epna4phnvm8ks0s@4ax.com...
> Hello,
>
> I just got off of chat mode with HP. I have a home network
> that is primarily Ethernet.
>
> I have an 802.11g WAP connected to my network via Ethernet.
> The idea is so that I can let visitors use their wireless devices on
> my Internet connection when they are visiting. I also want them to be
> able to print to my printer, if needed.
>
> My employer just issued me a laptop with 802.11g connectivity.
> I've downloaded and installed the printer driver needed to print to my
> HP networking printer (connected to my network via Ethernet).
>
> I have good connectivity to my WAP from the laptop (it rates
> the signal Excellent). So, I go to install a printer on the laptop.
> When it gets to where I enter http://#.#.#.#, I put it in with the IP
> address of the printer on my network. When I press Next, I get an
> error message saying that Windows cannot connect to the printer.
>
> I can ping the printer from the laptop and I can open the Web
> interface from the laptop. But, I cannot install the printer from the
> laptop.
>
> HP says you cannot connect to the printer partially via
> wireless and partially via Ethernet (path). Would this be a valid
> conclusion?
>
>
> Fred
>

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

#5 08-03-2005, 12:41 PM

On Mon, 03 Oct 2005 11:18:43 -0500, Jerry Park <NoReply@No.Spam>
wrote:

>Connecting to a networked printer in Windows is counter intuitive.

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

>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.

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 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.

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

#6 08-03-2005, 01:16 PM

Fred Atkinson <fatkinson@mishmash.com> wrote:
> I have good connectivity to my WAP from the laptop (it rates
w> the signal Excellent). So, I go to install a printer on the laptop.
> When it gets to where I enter http://#.#.#.#, I put it in with the IP
> address of the printer on my network. When I press Next, I get an
> error message saying that Windows cannot connect to the printer.

> I can ping the printer from the laptop and I can open the Web
> interface from the laptop. But, I cannot install the printer from 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
http://www.hp.com/pond/j900a/index.h....x.x,PortNum=1 with the ip
address of my printer in the URL. This takes a while to open a java
applet.

That would also load a windows tool that is separately downloadable from
the HP Business site
< http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport...i nter+wizard >
"HP Install Network Printer Wizard". This is helpful if you need to
install drivers to support the printer, but it needs to be installed first,
so that's a bit of a pain, especially for a temporary visitor.

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.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

#7 08-03-2005, 09:01 PM

Fred Atkinson wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I just got off of chat mode with HP. I have a home network
> that is primarily Ethernet.
>
> I have an 802.11g WAP connected to my network via Ethernet.
> The idea is so that I can let visitors use their wireless devices on
> my Internet connection when they are visiting. I also want them to be
> able to print to my printer, if needed.
>
<snip>
> HP says you cannot connect to the printer partially via
> wireless and partially via Ethernet (path). Would this be a valid
> conclusion?
>
>
> Fred

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.

__spc__ · #8 08-04-2005, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Atkinson

Hello,

I just got off of chat mode with HP. I have a home network
that is primarily Ethernet.

I have an 802.11g WAP connected to my network via Ethernet.
The idea is so that I can let visitors use their wireless devices on
my Internet connection when they are visiting. I also want them to be
able to print to my printer, if needed.

My employer just issued me a laptop with 802.11g connectivity.
I've downloaded and installed the printer driver needed to print to my
HP networking printer (connected to my network via Ethernet).

I have good connectivity to my WAP from the laptop (it rates
the signal Excellent). So, I go to install a printer on the laptop.
When it gets to where I enter http://#.#.#.#, I put it in with the IP
address of the printer on my network. When I press Next, I get an
error message saying that Windows cannot connect to the printer.

I can ping the printer from the laptop and I can open the Web
interface from the laptop. But, I cannot install the printer from the
laptop.

HP says you cannot connect to the printer partially via
wireless and partially via Ethernet (path). Would this be a valid
conclusion?

Fred

Maybe I'm being thick here, but the printer driver needs installing on the PC to which it's connected.

Sharing on the printer then needs to be added.

Then on your g-enabled laptop, Add Printer > Network Printer etc. and you're off...

#9 08-04-2005, 10:36 AM

Peter Pan <PeterPanNOSPAM@akamailnospam.com> wrote:
> I now have a linksys wireless printserver (about $84 at walmart), works
....
> 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.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

__spc__ · #10 09-12-2005, 01:18 AM

Is this thread a sticky?!

#11 10-03-2005, 09:18 AM

Fred Atkinson wrote:

>Hello,
>
> I just got off of chat mode with HP. I have a home network
>that is primarily Ethernet.
>
> I have an 802.11g WAP connected to my network via Ethernet.
>The idea is so that I can let visitors use their wireless devices on
>my Internet connection when they are visiting. I also want them to be
>able to print to my printer, if needed.
>
> My employer just issued me a laptop with 802.11g connectivity.
>I've downloaded and installed the printer driver needed to print to my
>HP networking printer (connected to my network via Ethernet).
>
> I have good connectivity to my WAP from the laptop (it rates
>the signal Excellent). So, I go to install a printer on the laptop.
>When it gets to where I enter http://#.#.#.#, I put it in with the IP
>address of the printer on my network. When I press Next, I get an
>error message saying that Windows cannot connect to the printer.
>
> I can ping the printer from the laptop and I can open the Web
>interface from the laptop. But, I cannot install the printer from the
>laptop.
>
> HP says you cannot connect to the printer partially via
>wireless and partially via Ethernet (path). Would this be a valid
>conclusion?
>
>
> Fred
>
>
>
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.

daimoh · #12 06-11-2006, 07:10 PM

if adding network ports is too traumatic (or doesn't work, like with me), try connecting to the printer by using the computer name.

For instance, my desktop pc is called "saturn", ip address 192.168.2.101. If I attached to it via \\saturn (and not via the ip) I could simply right click and select "connect to", without getting that error message.

Weird I know, but what can you do?