Netgear DG834N - can I network a printer with it?

[TUS 373]

A numpty question I know, but we all have to learn somehow!

I have a Netgear DG834N Rangemax Next ADSL2+ Wireless Modem Router jobby that has 4 ethernet ports on it. At the moment, my laser printer is attached to and shared from my desk PC (so it is acting as a print server). Problem is, I cannot print to that shared local printer wirelessly from a notebook unless the desk PC is switched on.

My laser printer has a network connection on it, SO...the big question is.....is it possible to connect the printer to the Netgear in such a way that the printer becomes a true network printer and documents can be sent to it for print without the desk PC being also switched on?

Help please!

Ta,
TUS

[Jubal]

Dig out your printer's original CD or have a browse around the manufacturer's website for a setup application. If you can work out how to give it a static IP address on your network then you will be in business. Good luck!

[PJ S]

The router will automatically assign the printer an IP address.
Have you ran the search feature in Network for the printer?
It should be picked up.
Might be worth making sure the drivers for the printer are up to date and checking the manufacturer's support or general product section to see if you can get any additional info/tips.

[sneakyneil]

Yes.

In short, and possibly missing a few steps:

Connect to netgear

turn on, wait 2 minutes

find out what IP it's got, either by printing a config page from the printer or by checking the netgear 'attached devices' page. You should then either browse to your printers IP in internet explorer and set the IP to static, or create a reservation on the netgear. So the IP doesnt change in the future and randomly stop everything working.

Add the printer to the machines you want to print from - add printer, local printer, new port, tcp/ip port - enter ip info, follow rest of wizzard.

I

[TUS 373]

Thanks chaps, will give it a go then,

[tinman0]

PJ S said:

The router will automatically assign the printer an IP address.
Have you ran the search feature in Network for the printer?
It should be picked up.
Might be worth making sure the drivers for the printer are up to date and checking the manufacturer's support or general product section to see if you can get any additional info/tips.

I find that our printers aren't picked up automagically by the PCs, so I use the Netgear router to assign them a static ip over DHCP. That way the PCs can be configured with a static ip for the printer, and the printer always gets that ip without having to mess around with the printer.

[Plotloss]

You need a network print server to connect into the hub, unless the printer itself has an RJ45 connection on the back of it.

[TUS 373]

Plotloss said:

You need a network print server to connect into the hub, unless the printer itself has an RJ45 connection on the back of it.

Yup. Well, one printer has an RJ45, for the other one, I have my eye on a network card that installs into the printer that adds the RJ45. I may be able to get a good deal on this card if I act quickly, hence the original post. I did not want to purchase this card though if it was not going to be feasible. Many thanks.

[sneakyneil]

Jetdirect card? Can be pricey!