Recommended wireless print server?

[ChadTower]

We have two printers in my house... but both have been by the main PC in the basement.  Neither has ever been able to produce even crappy consistency despite being decent inkjets.  I have finally come to the conclusion that it's probably because the temp dips into the 50s in the basement in the winter and the ink just doesn't flow properly.

I'd like to drop a small usb printserver into the study upstairs in an out of the way place.  It is ironically one of the only rooms in the house that doesn't have a network jack.  Anyone have any recommendations for an inexpensive wireless printserver?  I'd like to avoid having an actual PC doing it if I could.  We don't print nearly often enough for that.

[ark_ader]

Nah cruise ebay and get yourself a Powerline adapter.  Those wireless print servers are  and do not work very well.

I have seen Powerline adapters as cheap as $29.99.

I'm assuming your house is on the same ring?

Also there is the Bluetooth solution, but you would have to get a new printer. 

[MustardTent]

Does either printer have an ethernet port?  Otherwise I don't know how a powerline adapter will do you any good.
I've been happy with my linksys WPS54G, although I probably wouldn't use it with a multi-function printer.  If you want a multifunction network printer, I'd suggest buying with with a built-in print server).

[MustardTent]

I stand corrected -- there are powerline USB devices. 

[ChadTower]

That doesn't solve the problem, unfortunately.  I'm not looking to run a PC in that room.  If I were there wouldn't be an issue - I could either expand the hardwired network to that room or just use a wireless NIC on the PC.  All I want is an occasional use printer - and thus only need a small printserver.  I'm not sure I want to pay $50 for one, though, and I haven't found a WPA capable unit yet for under that price.

EDIT:

This looks like it would do the job nicely but not at that price.   

[2600]

This is a little higher then you wanted to spend, but they are about to introduce a new model so maybe you can get the old one for a bit cheaper.

http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/features/printing.html

[csa3d]

Does either printer have an ethernet port?  Otherwise I don't know how a powerline adapter will do you any good.
I've been happy with my linksys WPS54G, although I probably wouldn't use it with a multi-function printer.  If you want a multifunction network printer, I'd suggest buying with with a built-in print server).

Don't buy this.  Mine was freeking HARD to install, largely because Verizon FiOS network config conflicted with the IP ranges that came with the Linksys router.  I had to grab an old router to force the print server to a different IP address and password and all.  I consider myself computer savy, and that took me some time to figure out.  Then to top it off, once installed, don't ever plan on printing photos if you'd like to hang them before you pass away.  My printer went from printing 1 page of text every 5 seconds to every 30 seconds.  I now have a really long USB cable instead and my 100$ investment sits next to the printer unconnected.

No firmware has been updated either, which is apparently part of my problem from my research.  Your experience may be different,  but from the searches I've done, I've found very little people who were ever happy with this.  I question if they really ever had a fast printer to begin with personally.

-csa

[MustardTent]

It's fair to say that my printer didn't operate at peak efficiency when using the printserver.  I lived with it cause it wasn't that big of a deal, and I generally expect some loss of quality in experience when installing a third-party device like this.

You can't blame the printserver for your IP issues with FiOS -- you have to be prepared for IP conflicts with your provider.  Adding the printserver did of course add a little complexity for installing a printer -- but nothing that seemed excessive.

I've installed this thing in a few neighbor's places as well and they're still happy with them.

Having said all that, a printer with a built-in server is much better.

[ChadTower]

Why would Fios' IP range have anything to do with your internal network ranges?  If you've got a proper router/internal DHCP server the two networks should be independent as far as IP ranges go.

I don't care at all about speed - I don't print that often.  I'm just sick of having to spend 30 minutes debugging the printer every time I do because the print quality is crap or just plain wrong.

[csa3d]

Why would Fios' IP range have anything to do with your internal network ranges?  If you've got a proper router/internal DHCP server the two networks should be independent as far as IP ranges go.

I don't care at all about speed - I don't print that often.  I'm just sick of having to spend 30 minutes debugging the printer every time I do because the print quality is crap or just plain wrong.

Fios puts the digital TV's and recorders on the same IP range as linksys defaults it's routers to.  In order to get the print server to work, you have to point it to the sub 100 range, and to do that, you need to first be able to access the admin panel, which you cannot do unless you have a spare router to access it directly through connection.

Try it.. you'll enjoy this print server a lot

-csa

EDIT:  I'll sell you mine if you want it

[2600]

Fios puts the digital TV's and recorders on the same IP range as linksys defaults it's routers to.  In order to get the print server to work, you have to point it to the sub 100 range, and to do that, you need to first be able to access the admin panel, which you cannot do unless you have a spare router to access it directly through connection.

Or you could of used a crossover cable.

[ChadTower]

Fios puts the digital TV's and recorders on the same IP range as linksys defaults it's routers to.

Interesting.  Are the DVRs behind your router, then, or in a DMZ?

There is no danger of me getting Fios any time soon - I can't even get DSL.  Plus I have DirecTV.   

[2600]

Interesting.  Are the DVRs behind your router, then, or in a DMZ?

There is no danger of me getting Fios any time soon - I can't even get DSL.  Plus I have DirecTV.   

The way my FIOS is setup is:

Router is connected to the "control box" via Ethernet.

The router then routes the traffic to COAX (for Set top boxes), Wireless, and Ethernet.  Each of those subnetworks is independent and can be controlled independently of each other.  There are actually a surprising number of configurations compared to your normal home use routers.

[ChadTower]

That must be their router then, yes, since it has coax on it?

[2600]

That must be their router then, yes, since it has coax on it?

Yes, I forget the manufacturer offhand, but I can find it if you are interested.  Big SOB, but they have a newer model out that is much smaller.  I don't have the newer model, but the older model has much better wireless coverage then my WRT54G and I thought the WRT54G was pretty good.

[ChadTower]

Don't need the manuf, thanks, I'm just intrigued the topography. 

[patrickl]

I think Ark_Ader was talking about a powerline adapter combined with a "wired" printserver. That would be my first choice too. Would be nice if there was a powerline based USB printserver, but I doubt it.

It's my experience that wireless doesn't really work well through the whole house. At least it doesn't in dutch houses which tend to be built from concrete. Guess US houses are mostly made from wood though, so it might work fine for you. Still I've never been a big fan of wireless networks.

[ark_ader]

I think Ark_Ader was talking about a powerline adapter combined with a "wired" printserver. That would be my first choice too. Would be nice if there was a powerline based USB printserver, but I doubt it.

It's my experience that wireless doesn't really work well through the whole house. At least it doesn't in dutch houses which tend to be built from concrete. Guess US houses are mostly made from wood though, so it might work fine for you. Still I've never been a big fan of wireless networks.

Yes exactly my point about the wireless print servers today on the market.  Poor Chadtower is probably thinking what I'm thinking:  Old PC with Win98 or NT4 Server.  Heck I could have built one by now. 

Its a shame when a simple solution is not viable.  I used to bang on about Airlink 101 products (bought a NAS and it did a flip and lost 500gbs in 10 secs) being  but I just bought a Airlink101 AP client, and it works a treat.  Maybe you can go to your local Frys and try an Airlink print server out.

Their return policy is outstanding.    

[ChadTower]

No local Fry's here.  Our local computer supply chain was CompUSA.