i want to network a printer so i can use it with the laptop. Its in a different room from the router and if im going wireless i would prefer to use N as im going to upgrade to an n router soon.

I do have a homeplug by it thats being used by my dektop so i guess i could go wireless on that and use the homeplug for the printer if needed.

could i use two wireless routers, one to plug in to my modem and send the signal and one to plug in to my printer and desktop pc?


any advice would be much appreciated.

I've no idea what a homeplug is, but you shouldn't need more than one wireless router - though you'll need a dongle or somesuch for the printer to be able to communicate with the router in the same fashion as your laptop would

would any wireless dongle suffice or would it have to be specifically for printers?

What printer is it? I'd be suprised if you could get it to recognise + use a wireless dongle (USB).

Two main options I see....

1. Attach it to a computer that is attached to network, share the printer through that computer. Downside is the host computer has to be on to use the printer.

2. Get a small print server. These do the same job as the host PC in option one but they are dedicated and so much smaller (and cheaper!). You can get USB and Parallel port versions (something like this (http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/3476319/Edimax-PS-1206MFG-1Port-WiFi-USB-Print-Server/Product.html?source=5066&engine=froogle_pc&keyword=Edimax+PS-1206MFG+1Port+WiFi%2FUSB+Print+Server)).

There is also a third option - get a printer with built in WiFi adaptor. A lot of the all-in-one (printer/scanner/fax etc) devices have these built in.

i have a canon pixma 610 and dont want my desktop turned on all the time so need something like option 2. will have a look for a cheap n version, thanks

To be honest, unless you're printing absolutely enormous files, a standard G adaptor should do. You're limited by the speed of the printer and I don't think yours will cause much of an issue with a 54mb connection.

I only upgraded to wired gigabit networking in my office as I have a NAS RAID box and syncing up several gigs of new files each week was rather tedious with a 10/100 connection. Even when printing to my Epson A2, running through the 10/100 connection on the router caused absolutely no slowdown whatsoever.

You can buy routers with a USB port specifically for printers...

You can buy routers with a USB port specifically for printers...

looking at the apple one which is now dual band too, think thats a great feature, but i had compatability problems with my ethernet over power adapters.. unfortunately my printer is in a different room to my router..

I don't like homeplugs... had a PC blow up as a result of one being faulty.

I don't like homeplugs... had a PC blow up as a result of one being faulty.

not had a problem with mine, although had a pc blow up once when lightning stuck the garden..

hoe good are the routers with a usb port? been reading mixed reviews.

What printer is it? I'd be suprised if you could get it to recognise + use a wireless dongle (USB).I've worked in an office where some bright spark did this to the printer (no idea whether it was wifi or bluetooth though)

http://h71036.www7.hp.com/hho/cache/545395-0-0-225-121.html