How to connect an Ethernet laser printer to a wireless network?

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How to connect an Ethernet laser printer to a wireless network?

hi, I have three computers on an Airport Xpress wireless network. I have an (non-USB) HP Laserjet 4100 that has a network card (10/100tx HP Jetdirect 600N). How do I connect this printer to my network? Can I wire it directly to one of my computers using a standard ethernet cable? or do I have to set up a hub? Any insight most appreciated!

G5 1.6ghz Tower, Mac OS X (10.4), Also G4 PowerBook 1GHz

Posted on Feb 5, 2007 1:43 PM

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Answer 1

Tesserax

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Feb 5, 2007 2:01 PM in response to vangirl

There are a few ways to approach this. Two of them, would be to either connect the printer directly, using an Ethernet cable, to one of the computers (as you suggested), and then share it...or acquire a wireless print server, like the Linksys WPS54G, and connect the printer to it so it can be accessed wirelessly.

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Answer 2

vangirl Author

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Feb 5, 2007 4:06 PM in response to Tesserax

hi, so I plugged the printer in using a patch-5 cable and can't seem to add the printer in the OS's printer list (using Printer Setup Utility). the printer isn't detected as being on the appletalk network or any network.

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Answer 3

Tesserax

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158,076 points

Feb 5, 2007 5:31 PM in response to vangirl

Did you try the "HP IP Printing" option?

System Preferences > Print & Fax > "+"
- Default Browser
- More Printers...
- HP IP Printing

If the printer does not automatically appear, click the tab to switch from the Auto to Manual mode; then manually enter the IP address of the printer.

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Answer 4

vangirl Author

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Feb 5, 2007 6:23 PM in response to Tesserax

hi, thanks for your input. I tried what you suggest. I entered the IP address manually which i obtained by printing a config report on the printer. no luck. I changed the IP address through the printer control panel with no luck either, though I'm not sure if I need to have done that. ideas? thanks again.

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Answer 5

Tesserax

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158,076 points

Feb 6, 2007 8:30 AM in response to vangirl

The only other idea is to use an Ethernet bridge device, like the Linksys WET54G, to connect your wired printer as a wireless client on your AirPort network.

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Answer 6

vangirl Author

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Feb 6, 2007 8:35 AM in response to Tesserax

hi, thanks for you input. I appreciate it. I will try the Linksys bridge.

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Answer 7

Feb 20, 2007 9:48 AM in response to vangirl

There's another way to do it...

I have a Linksys wireless router for my home network (and internet) and have my HP LaserJet 4000 hooked up to it, and all my computers can print to it. However, it does require a Windows computer for set-up, because HP makes the set-up utility for Windows only. (I set it up with my Intel Mac running Win)

Follow these instructions:
http://www.wikihow.com/Add-an-HP-Printer-to-a-Wireless-Network

Hope it helps.

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Answer 8

vangirl Author

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Feb 22, 2007 1:58 PM in response to Florian Staab

I picked up a Linksys WPS54G and now need to set it up. are you serious? I need a PC to set up the printer to my wireless network? there must be another option.

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