Home networking between desktop and 1 laptop
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: southern england
Apologies if I missed the vital bit of information earlier in this thread but, supposing I wished also to "share" a printer, which is USB connected to my desk-top, with a lap-top, could that be done as an extension of the above solution for sharing broadband?
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Deepest Europe...
If I understand what you mean correctly - that is, two computers, one printer and you wish the two computers to share that one printer - then you have two options:
1) Leave it connected via USB to one computer as you have at the moment. You can print to it from the other computer via your network - wired or wireless - but the host computer, the one with the printer attached to it, would need to be switched on when printing. Regardless of your setup, if your printer is connected to a specific computer, then that computer MUST be on to for it to print.
2) Get one of these for your network. (Sorry mods, not promoting that particular retailer, just the best example I can find.) It works for your printer exactly like a broadband modem shares a broadband connection - any computer can use it and you don't need to have any particular one switched on for it to work.
1) Leave it connected via USB to one computer as you have at the moment. You can print to it from the other computer via your network - wired or wireless - but the host computer, the one with the printer attached to it, would need to be switched on when printing. Regardless of your setup, if your printer is connected to a specific computer, then that computer MUST be on to for it to print.
2) Get one of these for your network. (Sorry mods, not promoting that particular retailer, just the best example I can find.) It works for your printer exactly like a broadband modem shares a broadband connection - any computer can use it and you don't need to have any particular one switched on for it to work.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 508
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From: Under the sea
A free download called Hamachi allows printer sharing, file sharing, and access to the desktop while on the road as long as the desired folders are shared. Takes less than five minutes to set up and works perfectly.
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: southern england
Thanks guys, so it looks as though I need two wireless routers and appropriate networking cards, if I want to "share" my broadband and printer, without having to leave desk-top switched on all the time.
Will look at Hamachi over weekend.
Will look at Hamachi over weekend.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Twickenham, home of rugby
Thanks guys, so it looks as though I need two wireless routers and appropriate networking cards, if I want to "share" my broadband and printer, without having to leave desk-top switched on all the time.
Yes, you will need a network card in each computer. These will be wireless or copper depending on your circumstances.
Your choices for the printer are either to get a dedicated network print server that can be wired or wireless, or get a single unit that is a combined: broadand router, wireless access point, 10/100 switch, firewall and print server (parallel or USB) - delete as appropriate.
SD
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,650
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From: southern england
Saab Dastard, I think I may have missed the point. I thought that if I have one wireless router, for the broadband access, then I would need another to share the printer. I was not sure if it was possible to get a composite device into which I can plug my broadband and printer.
You say it is, so I will investigate.
Anyone got a preference for this device?
You say it is, so I will investigate.
Anyone got a preference for this device?
Joined: Dec 1998
Posts: 3,038
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From: .
THREAD HIJACK - sorry
My brother has a laptop and has just brought a wireless router, he does not have a pc just the laptop. Router is linksys I believe.
Can he just plug the router in to the phone line switch it on and access the wireless part of the router? Man at pc world told him it's easy to set up! Not looking that way though.
I always thought (stands to be corrected) that you needed the router connected to a pc (or laptop) with a cable.
My brother has a laptop and has just brought a wireless router, he does not have a pc just the laptop. Router is linksys I believe.
Can he just plug the router in to the phone line switch it on and access the wireless part of the router? Man at pc world told him it's easy to set up! Not looking that way though.
I always thought (stands to be corrected) that you needed the router connected to a pc (or laptop) with a cable.
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Deepest Europe...
No, the wireless router will not need to be connected to a PC.
What connection do you have, and what model is your Linksys router?
If you have an ADSL (phone line) connection and your router has a built-in modem like most do these days, then yes you can plug it straight into the phone line and switch it on, and your laptop (assuming you have a wireless adaptor in it) should detect it. Judging from what you said about it coming from a shop, this seems most likely.
If you have a Cable (NTL, Telewest, etc) connection and your setup is similar to what I had in my university house last year, you'll need to plug the router via an ethernet cable into the back of the cable modem, which will have already been installed and connected to the network by your provider - and not into a phone line.
But the short answer to your question, "does it have to be connected to a PC" is no.
What connection do you have, and what model is your Linksys router?
If you have an ADSL (phone line) connection and your router has a built-in modem like most do these days, then yes you can plug it straight into the phone line and switch it on, and your laptop (assuming you have a wireless adaptor in it) should detect it. Judging from what you said about it coming from a shop, this seems most likely.
If you have a Cable (NTL, Telewest, etc) connection and your setup is similar to what I had in my university house last year, you'll need to plug the router via an ethernet cable into the back of the cable modem, which will have already been installed and connected to the network by your provider - and not into a phone line.
But the short answer to your question, "does it have to be connected to a PC" is no.
Joined: Dec 1998
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From: .
Thanks, just spent an hour on the phone with him, got the router set up, so have that working, the problem now seems to be accesing tiscali, give that a go tomorrow.
Don't think I could ever work on phone support though, mind you it would help if I knew what I was talking about in the first place.
Don't think I could ever work on phone support though, mind you it would help if I knew what I was talking about in the first place.
