AP placement

[JosephKK]

This house is like that, but the built in bookshelves in the great room is a
better location for the router. Unfortunately, the UTP from the wiring closet
to the bookshelf is open. :-(

Is there a way to hook a LAN capable printer (HP2015dn) in wirelessly? I'd
like to share it between computers.

There are wireless printer servers that connect to Ethernet wired printers
as well as USB printers. Also a wireless to wired bridge will allow a normal
network printer to function on the wireless segment just like on the wired
segment.

 

[[email protected]]

There are wireless printer servers that connect to Ethernet wired printers
as well as USB printers.

I've found the USB printer servers but was looking for an Ethernet one.

Also a wireless to wired bridge will allow a normal
network printer to function on the wireless segment just like on the wired
segment.

The wireless to wired bridges I've found are intended to connect game consoles
to a wireless network. I see nothing on the manufacturer's sites that talks
about printers. If you have more information I'd appreciate it.

 

[[email protected]]

My HP2015dn has network, USB, and parallel port capability. I'd guess
you could add a WAP if you're so inclined. Mine is on the (CAT5
wired) network, accessible from 4 different PC's plus the laptop, when
it's in its docking station.

How do WAPs talk to each other so they act as one network? None of my systems
are co-located with the modem or router. The printer is currently attached to
the wired network on my laptop but I'd like to be able to get to it from
systems elsewhere in the house.

 

[Joerg]

How do WAPs talk to each other so they act as one network? None of my systems
are co-located with the modem or router. The printer is currently attached to
the wired network on my laptop but I'd like to be able to get to it from
systems elsewhere in the house.

Then the WLAN-USB solution I suggested might be your best bet. I've
heard people having issues with WLAN-LAN converters but WLAN-USB
typically worked right out of the box. And it ain't expensive. Probably
your local consumer electronics big box store has at least one flavor of
such a converter. Meaning you could easily return it if it doesn't work.

 

[JosephKK]

I've found the USB printer servers but was looking for an Ethernet one.


The wireless to wired bridges I've found are intended to connect game consoles
to a wireless network. I see nothing on the manufacturer's sites that talks
about printers. If you have more information I'd appreciate it.

I think the place to look is in wired - WAP routers. e.g. Linksys WRT45G.
It may take some reading up on the configuration settings and fiddling. But
networked printers should show up over the wireless segment as well.

 

[[email protected]]

Then the WLAN-USB solution I suggested might be your best bet. I've
heard people having issues with WLAN-LAN converters but WLAN-USB
typically worked right out of the box. And it ain't expensive. Probably
your local consumer electronics big box store has at least one flavor of
such a converter. Meaning you could easily return it if it doesn't work.

I guess that's what I'll do. I'd prefer to extend the Ethernet link, as a
more general solution, but that looks risky. I'm sure no one around here
sells WLAN-LAN converters.

 

[[email protected]]

I think the place to look is in wired - WAP routers. e.g. Linksys WRT45G.
It may take some reading up on the configuration settings and fiddling. But
networked printers should show up over the wireless segment as well.

Do you mean WAP54G (don't see anything with a Wxx45x)? I see from the WAP54G
manual that it'll do what I want, but requires a WAP54G at each end of the
link. It doesn't seem to work with a WRT54G.

The modes supported by the WAP54G (from the manual):

Access Point: The AP Mode is set to Access Point by
default. This connects your wireless PCs to a wired network.

I want the opposite.

AP (Access Point): Client When set to AP Client mode, the
AP Client is able to talk to one remote access point within
its range. This feature only works with another Wireless-G
Access Point (model number: WAP54G).

This mode allows the AP Client to act as a client of a remote
access point. The AP Client cannot communicate directly
with any wireless clients. A separate network attached to
the AP Client can then be wirelessly bridged to the remote
access point.

WAP54G only.

Wireless Repeater: When set to Wireless Repeater mode,
the Wireless Repeater is able to talk to up a remote access
point within its range and retransmit its signal. This feature
only works with the Linksys Wireless-G Router (model
number: WRT54G) or another Wireless-G Access Point
(model number: WAP54G).

Not what I want.

Wireless Bridge: This mode connects two physically
separated wired networks using two access points (use
additional access points to connect more wired networks).
This feature only works with another Wireless-G Access
Point (model number: WAP54G).

WAP54Gs required at both ends.

 

[Joerg]

I guess that's what I'll do. I'd prefer to extend the Ethernet link, as a
more general solution, but that looks risky. I'm sure no one around here
sells WLAN-LAN converters.

I've seen WLAN-LAN converters being sold but more as a boutique product.
Yeah, it might look like the more elegant solution but that can easily
ruin a whole Saturday trying to cram a print handler routine into a
device that isn't meant to do that. If you get a WLAN-USB box that is
specifically sold to be used with printers it's almost guaranteed to
work within a few minutes.

Of course the manly way would be to buy a WLAN chips set, a PHY chip, a
fast ARM or similar uC, do a layout, machine a cherry-wood box in the
garage ...

 

[Joerg]

Do you mean WAP54G (don't see anything with a Wxx45x)? I see from the WAP54G
manual that it'll do what I want, but requires a WAP54G at each end of the
link. It doesn't seem to work with a WRT54G.

The modes supported by the WAP54G (from the manual):

Access Point: The AP Mode is set to Access Point by
default. This connects your wireless PCs to a wired network.

I want the opposite.

AP (Access Point): Client When set to AP Client mode, the
AP Client is able to talk to one remote access point within
its range. This feature only works with another Wireless-G
Access Point (model number: WAP54G).

This mode allows the AP Client to act as a client of a remote
access point. The AP Client cannot communicate directly
with any wireless clients. A separate network attached to
the AP Client can then be wirelessly bridged to the remote
access point.

WAP54G only.

Wireless Repeater: When set to Wireless Repeater mode,
the Wireless Repeater is able to talk to up a remote access
point within its range and retransmit its signal. This feature
only works with the Linksys Wireless-G Router (model
number: WRT54G) or another Wireless-G Access Point
(model number: WAP54G).

Not what I want.

Wireless Bridge: This mode connects two physically
separated wired networks using two access points (use
additional access points to connect more wired networks).
This feature only works with another Wireless-G Access
Point (model number: WAP54G).

WAP54Gs required at both ends.

Come to think of it, Joseph's idea might actually work. I have a Linksys
wireless router. It's a BEFW-11S4, just an ordinary one. It has four LAN
ports and one WAN port, plus diplexed antennas.

One LAN port connects to my LAN, the WAN port and all other LAN ports
are open and the whole thing is set to "dumbed-down mode", meaning it's
only an AP and no Internet routing etc. My printers are both on the
wired LAN side, one of them through a parallel port on my firewall
thingie. Both printers can be accessed wirelessly from the PCs in the
other office and the lab bench. Those connect via WLAN but can access
anything on the LAN there is (of course only as far as permissions are
set). It doesn't matter whether any of the other PCs are on or not,
printing happens autonomously.

The big office printer requires a special driver to be installed on
every PC so it can be found, it doesn't rely on any intelligent
mechanism in a router or anything. But there is no difference whether it
goes via the AP or not and during paper scans the printer actually sends
stuff abck to the requesting PC, meaning it works both ways.

So if you happen to have an AP somewhere you could just try it out.

 

[[email protected]]

I've seen WLAN-LAN converters being sold but more as a boutique product.
Yeah, it might look like the more elegant solution but that can easily
ruin a whole Saturday trying to cram a print handler routine into a
device that isn't meant to do that. If you get a WLAN-USB box that is
specifically sold to be used with printers it's almost guaranteed to
work within a few minutes.

No one stocks either sort of widget, here. One did try to convince me to buy
one of their wireless printers, though. I'll have to order something and that
probably won't work. :-(

Of course the manly way would be to buy a WLAN chips set, a PHY chip, a
fast ARM or similar uC, do a layout, machine a cherry-wood box in the
garage ...

I suppose I could bridge in a PC, too, but I'm not up for that either.

 

[[email protected]]

Come to think of it, Joseph's idea might actually work. I have a Linksys
wireless router. It's a BEFW-11S4, just an ordinary one. It has four LAN
ports and one WAN port, plus diplexed antennas.

One LAN port connects to my LAN, the WAN port and all other LAN ports
are open and the whole thing is set to "dumbed-down mode", meaning it's
only an AP and no Internet routing etc. My printers are both on the
wired LAN side, one of them through a parallel port on my firewall
thingie. Both printers can be accessed wirelessly from the PCs in the
other office and the lab bench. Those connect via WLAN but can access
anything on the LAN there is (of course only as far as permissions are
set). It doesn't matter whether any of the other PCs are on or not,
printing happens autonomously.

The big office printer requires a special driver to be installed on
every PC so it can be found, it doesn't rely on any intelligent
mechanism in a router or anything. But there is no difference whether it
goes via the AP or not and during paper scans the printer actually sends
stuff abck to the requesting PC, meaning it works both ways.

So if you happen to have an AP somewhere you could just try it out.

I just have the WRT54G. I'd have to buy an AP, but Linksys indicates that it
only works with two APs (WAP54Gs). I don't see a way of telling my WRT54G
that it's a slave. I really don't want to buy an $80 WAP to try when Linksys
says it's not designed to work.

 

[[email protected]]

Many of the older versions of the WRT54G and similar routers can be
reflashed with open-source firmware (OpenWRT or DD-WRT) which has more
capabilities. It looks to me as if OpenWRT may be able to put its
wireless interface into client mode. It may even be able to act as a
client on one network while operating as an access point for another
network.

Let me get this straight. By "client" you mean that it should be able to log
into another WRT and extend its network? There are no wired ports being used
on my WRT54, so if I read you right I can replace it with a WAP, reprogram the
WRT as a client, then use it to connect the printer?

My WRT54 is an "older" one. The firmware date is January 2006, but I updated
it at least once since I bought it. Maybe it's worth trashing it to play.

 

[JosephKK]

Do you mean WAP54G (don't see anything with a Wxx45x)? I see from the WAP54G
manual that it'll do what I want, but requires a WAP54G at each end of the
link. It doesn't seem to work with a WRT54G.

The modes supported by the WAP54G (from the manual):

Access Point: The AP Mode is set to Access Point by
default. This connects your wireless PCs to a wired network.

I want the opposite.

AP (Access Point): Client When set to AP Client mode, the
AP Client is able to talk to one remote access point within
its range. This feature only works with another Wireless-G
Access Point (model number: WAP54G).

This mode allows the AP Client to act as a client of a remote
access point. The AP Client cannot communicate directly
with any wireless clients. A separate network attached to
the AP Client can then be wirelessly bridged to the remote
access point.

WAP54G only.

Wireless Repeater: When set to Wireless Repeater mode,
the Wireless Repeater is able to talk to up a remote access
point within its range and retransmit its signal. This feature
only works with the Linksys Wireless-G Router (model
number: WRT54G) or another Wireless-G Access Point
(model number: WAP54G).

Not what I want.

Wireless Bridge: This mode connects two physically
separated wired networks using two access points (use
additional access points to connect more wired networks).
This feature only works with another Wireless-G Access
Point (model number: WAP54G).

WAP54Gs required at both ends.

I was really talking in general and the much older WRT54 in
specific. The odd requirement for two devices really puzzles me.
It has been my enduring experience that as long as something does
not get in the way the network is usually transparent.

 

[JosephKK]

I just have the WRT54G. I'd have to buy an AP, but Linksys indicates that it
only works with two APs (WAP54Gs). I don't see a way of telling my WRT54G
that it's a slave. I really don't want to buy an $80 WAP to try when Linksys
says it's not designed to work.

The only way i can see that as necessary is; if you have two discontiguous
wired lans with a wireless segment between them. Your described a situation
of wanting to print from a wireless equipped computer to a wired lan printer.
Or do i misremember? If you know the IP address of the printer you should
be able to find, ping, and use it from the wireless computer. Printer driver
installation which may be needed to find the printer for printing is a separate
issue.

 

[[email protected]]

The only way i can see that as necessary is; if you have two discontiguous
wired lans with a wireless segment between them. Your described a situation
of wanting to print from a wireless equipped computer to a wired lan printer.
Or do i misremember? If you know the IP address of the printer you should
be able to find, ping, and use it from the wireless computer. Printer driver
installation which may be needed to find the printer for printing is a separate
issue.

True, no wired LANs[*], but the existing WRT54G has the DSL router hanging off
it. I don't really want to have to disconnect from the Internet WLAN and
connect to the printer WLAN while the printer is running.

[*] There is now but just from one computer to the printer

 

[JosephKK]

The only way i can see that as necessary is; if you have two discontiguous
wired lans with a wireless segment between them. Your described a situation
of wanting to print from a wireless equipped computer to a wired lan printer.
Or do i misremember? If you know the IP address of the printer you should
be able to find, ping, and use it from the wireless computer. Printer driver
installation which may be needed to find the printer for printing is a separate
issue.

True, no wired LANs[*], but the existing WRT54G has the DSL router hanging off
it. I don't really want to have to disconnect from the Internet WLAN and
connect to the printer WLAN while the printer is running.

[*] There is now but just from one computer to the printer

If i understand you correctly the DSL line comes in to the DSL router which has
wireless. There is also a wired connection from the DSL router to the WRT54G
which also has wireless.
I guess that the printer is wire connected to the WRT54G.

Two questions:

Can you connect to the Internet through the WRT54G wireless port?

Can you connect to the printer through the DSL router wireless port?

The way i understand networking this should be normally: yes, yes.

Some settings may have to be examined.

 

[JosephKK]

I understand that (sorta) but it appears that I'd need two WAPs, one next to
the WRT and the other next to the printer, to extend the network wirelessly.
If the WRT would talk to the WAP only one would be needed.

...unless we're talking past each other.

It does sound like we are not quite connecting.

 

[[email protected]]

I just have the WRT54G. I'd have to buy an AP, but Linksys indicates that it
only works with two APs (WAP54Gs). I don't see a way of telling my WRT54G
that it's a slave. I really don't want to buy an $80 WAP to try when Linksys
says it's not designed to work.

The only way i can see that as necessary is; if you have two discontiguous
wired lans with a wireless segment between them. Your described a situation
of wanting to print from a wireless equipped computer to a wired lan printer.
Or do i misremember? If you know the IP address of the printer you should
be able to find, ping, and use it from the wireless computer. Printer driver
installation which may be needed to find the printer for printing is a separate
issue.

True, no wired LANs[*], but the existing WRT54G has the DSL router hanging off
it. I don't really want to have to disconnect from the Internet WLAN and
connect to the printer WLAN while the printer is running.

[*] There is now but just from one computer to the printer

If i understand you correctly the DSL line comes in to the DSL router which has
wireless. There is also a wired connection from the DSL router to the WRT54G
which also has wireless.

The DSL line comes into the DSL MODEM, which is connected to the WRT54G.
Everything else is wireless from there.

I guess that the printer is wire connected to the WRT54G.

No, the printer is connected to my laptop via a wired LAN. I want to connect
the other laptop to the printer.

Two questions:

Can you connect to the Internet through the WRT54G wireless port?

Sure. That's the only way. ;-)

Can you connect to the printer through the DSL router wireless port?

No. Again, it's on the wired LAN connected to my laptop. The object is to
print from my wife's laptop, which is only connected via WLAN.

The way i understand networking this should be normally: yes, yes.

Some settings may have to be examined.

Just as I thought. We were talking past each other.


What I wanted to do was to connect the printer to the WLAN and have the WRT54G
do all the routing through its wireless port.

 

[JosephKK]

I just have the WRT54G. I'd have to buy an AP, but Linksys indicates that it
only works with two APs (WAP54Gs). I don't see a way of telling my WRT54G
that it's a slave. I really don't want to buy an $80 WAP to try when Linksys
says it's not designed to work.

The only way i can see that as necessary is; if you have two discontiguous
wired lans with a wireless segment between them. Your described a situation
of wanting to print from a wireless equipped computer to a wired lan printer.
Or do i misremember? If you know the IP address of the printer you should
be able to find, ping, and use it from the wireless computer. Printer driver
installation which may be needed to find the printer for printing is a separate
issue.

True, no wired LANs[*], but the existing WRT54G has the DSL router hanging off
it. I don't really want to have to disconnect from the Internet WLAN and
connect to the printer WLAN while the printer is running.

[*] There is now but just from one computer to the printer

If i understand you correctly the DSL line comes in to the DSL router which has
wireless. There is also a wired connection from the DSL router to the WRT54G
which also has wireless.

The DSL line comes into the DSL MODEM, which is connected to the WRT54G.
Everything else is wireless from there.

I guess that the printer is wire connected to the WRT54G.

No, the printer is connected to my laptop via a wired LAN. I want to connect
the other laptop to the printer.

Two questions:

Can you connect to the Internet through the WRT54G wireless port?

Sure. That's the only way. ;-)

Can you connect to the printer through the DSL router wireless port?

No. Again, it's on the wired LAN connected to my laptop. The object isto
print from my wife's laptop, which is only connected via WLAN.

The way i understand networking this should be normally: yes, yes.

Some settings may have to be examined.

Just as I thought. We were talking past each other.


What I wanted to do was to connect the printer to the WLAN and have the WRT54G
do all the routing through its wireless port.

Now that i have a correct view of your network, install the printer driver
on her laptop and it *should* find the network printer connected to the
WRT54G. It really _is_ supposed to be that simple. It may be worthwhile
to use the printer settings and WRT54 settings (yes both) to set up "fixed"
IP address for the printer.

 

[[email protected]]

<snip>

I just have the WRT54G. I'd have to buy an AP, but Linksys indicates that it
only works with two APs (WAP54Gs). I don't see a way of telling my WRT54G
that it's a slave. I really don't want to buy an $80 WAP to try when Linksys
says it's not designed to work.

The only way i can see that as necessary is; if you have two discontiguous
wired lans with a wireless segment between them. Your described a situation
of wanting to print from a wireless equipped computer to a wired lan printer.
Or do i misremember? If you know the IP address of the printer you should
be able to find, ping, and use it from the wireless computer. Printer driver
installation which may be needed to find the printer for printing is a separate
issue.

True, no wired LANs[*], but the existing WRT54G has the DSL router hanging off
it. I don't really want to have to disconnect from the Internet WLAN and
connect to the printer WLAN while the printer is running.

[*] There is now but just from one computer to the printer

If i understand you correctly the DSL line comes in to the DSL router which has
wireless. There is also a wired connection from the DSL router to the WRT54G
which also has wireless.

The DSL line comes into the DSL MODEM, which is connected to the WRT54G.
Everything else is wireless from there.

I guess that the printer is wire connected to the WRT54G.

No, the printer is connected to my laptop via a wired LAN. I want to connect
the other laptop to the printer.

Two questions:

Can you connect to the Internet through the WRT54G wireless port?

Sure. That's the only way. ;-)

Can you connect to the printer through the DSL router wireless port?

No. Again, it's on the wired LAN connected to my laptop. The object is to
print from my wife's laptop, which is only connected via WLAN.

The way i understand networking this should be normally: yes, yes.

Some settings may have to be examined.

Just as I thought. We were talking past each other.


What I wanted to do was to connect the printer to the WLAN and have the WRT54G
do all the routing through its wireless port.

Now that i have a correct view of your network,

I don't think so...

install the printer driver
on her laptop and it *should* find the network printer connected to the
WRT54G. It really _is_ supposed to be that simple. It may be worthwhile
to use the printer settings and WRT54 settings (yes both) to set up "fixed"
IP address for the printer.

The printer is *not* connected to the WRT54G. That's the problem. It's
connected to my laptop. Nothing is *wired* to the WRT54G, except the DSL
modem (and wall).