Network Set-up/Printing

[toasty]

OK, I realize this isn't arcade/emulator specifc, but it is computer related, so I thought I'd ask in case anyone knew the answer.  I'm looking to set up a wireless home network that will basically connect the following:

One wired desktop
One wireless desktop (which is my cab)
One wireless laptop (although it isn't wi-fi ready right now and I can't install a card -- its a work computer -- so I think I'm looking at a USB situation)
Two Tivo boxes, with another one to follow in a few months -- these run on 801.11g, per my understanding.
One printer, which is connected to the wired desktop.

Currently, I am sharing an internet connection through a garden-variety router between a desktop and a laptop, both wired. The printer is attached to the desktop.

First question is whether I can share my printer to my laptop using my current configuration. A dude at Best Buy indicated that if I install the printer software on the laptop and share it on the desktop, I ought to be able to print directly to the printer attached to the desktop. Is this true? Does that work even though I'm basically just sharing an internet connection and haven't really set up a network per se, i.e., I can't share files between the computers?

If I can't do this, what sort of gear will I need? Do I need a print server of some sort? Also, can I move things back and forth between the Tivo boxes when I'm just sharing an internet connection, or do I need to have a more elaborate network set up? Finally, I gather that when you share an internet connection, your speed may degrade because you're sharing bandwidth -- does the router allocate a specific amount of bandwidth to each device on the network it recognizes, or is all the bandwidth available to whatever item is using it at the time? In other words, if the only computer using the internet connection at a particular moment is the desktop, does it get the full bandwidth, or a fraction of it?

Pardon the noobish questions, I'm just puzzled here. Thanks for any input.

[DaveMMR]

Well first off: to share your printer just right click your printer in the Printers & Faxes selection and choose "Share This Printer" under the share tab.  Then do the "Add New Printer" wizard on the other computers, you'll be looking for the printer's share name. 

I don't know much about Tivo's - so I'll let someone else field that. 

As for bandwidth with shared computers:  I use a cable modem and I never really noticed a significant drop in speed when more than one computer (plus a PSP) was using the connection for regular web browsing.  If each computer were, say, downloading really large files, there will be some bottleneck.  It's not something I would worry about though.

[Rudi]

Tivo:  I have a Series 2, which has a USB connector for the network connection.  I got a Linksys USB network interface, plugged it in, and it was seen right away.  The only difference between what you plan on doing is that mine is wired, whereas yours will be wireless, probably 802.11g.  Install the Tivo software on one of your desktops, configure it to see your Tivo boxes (Tivo has the instructions) and you can copy shows between the PC and Tivo.  If you have two Tivo boxes I believe you can copy them between the two.  Other than the router (which you have) and the Tivo with networking cards (which you will get), and a PC with a networking card, you don't need anything else.

Printer: Go to the PC with the attached printer.  Under the properties of the printer specify that you do want to share it.  That will make the printer available to all other Windows computers on your network.  This PC is now acting as a printserver.  Go to another PC.  Click on Add Printer under the Printers section.  When asked if the printer is Local or Network, click on Network.  Next screen has 3 options, Find a Printer / Type the Printer Name / Connect to a Printer on the Internet.  Choose Type The Printer Name, but leave the box below it blank.  Click on Next.  Next screen, expand your network, expand the computer that has the printer, you should see the printer name displayed.  Select it and click on Next.  Finish the wizard.  Do these steps on all PCs that you wish to use the printer.

Share Files:  You have to create a "share" on the computer that you wish to offer its files to others.  Go the properties of a folder, like C:\ for example, and click on the Sharing tab.  Click on Share This folder and give it a sharename.  That folder, and all folder beneath it, will be shared.  On another computer you can find this share by running Explorer, go to My Network Places / Entire Network / Microsoft Windows Network / Workgroup and beneath it you will see any computer that has shares.  Expand that computer, and you will see its shares, click on the share and you are connected to the other computer and can access its files.

Generally, share the resource, either printer or folder, you are now a server.  Either a fileserver and/or a printserver.  Go to another computer, browse your network and connect to the share.  You are now a client to the fileserver/printserver.  You are now accessing resouces, across the network, on another computer.

Network Usage:  All devices share the bandwidth.  If two workstations are downloading simultaneously, both get about 50% of the bandwidth.  On your home network there is no "dedicated bandwidth" that you can set without getting more expensive equipment, and it is not needed in 99.9% of the time.

If bandwidth is an issue, especially with wireless and Tivo, do wired.  Your 802.11g network is not as fast as most people think.  The ads say it is 52 mbps, but you will never achieve this speed.  If you have two computers with wireless connections in the same room as your wireless router and try to copy a file between them you will only achieve about 13 mbps.  This goes for Tivo too.  This can be a problem with Tivo if you are copying between them.  Wired does not have this speed problem.  The only other option is buy much faster 802.11 Pre-N equipment that is now available.  But that would cost several hundred dollars to replace your router and wireless cards.

-Rudi