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Wireless Peripherals?

Posted by Cliff on from the we-have-the-technology dept.

Now that wireless technologies are more-or-less a household name, BSDevil wonders if it's possible to use such technologies (ie Bluetooth, 802.11, etc) as a replacement for those situations where long ungainly cables are usually called for: "My laptop and printer are placed such a way that running a cable from one to the other would just plain suck (too long if not direct, if direct then in the way, etc.) and because both are about a year old. I want (to make, if need be) a little box that I plug into my Parellel port on the laptop and one that I plug into the port on the back of my Printer, and have them talk and print and be merry. Power could either be directly off the port (best) or from a rechargable battery inside the thing that is used to power the system when transmitting, and recharges when not - like a big capacitor - off the power of the Port. Does it exist, and if not, any ideas on making one?" And if such can work for printers, why not other peripherals as well?

3 of 14 comments (clear)

  1. Have them already by gus+goose · · Score: 4, Informative
    I have had some of these for a while. Three remote "client" units, and one 'master' unit. They can all use batteries, and the clients have standard printer connectors... that is, you plug a printer cable in to your computer, and the other end in to this box ... you get the story. I retired them about 2 years ago as they were too slow, and opted for a print server over ethernet instead.

    The units themselves are buried in a box, and used a presumably proprietory RF system .. i.e. not 900MHz, etc.

    Doing a google on 'wireless printing' gave me this link to aerocomm which has a similar product, but which is faster .. 1mbps.

    Still, a little searching youeself would have been better.

    gus

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    .. if only.
  2. Wireless Peripherals by slandis · · Score: 2, Informative

    Check out the HP 995C here.
    It seems to support Bluetooth out of the box. A little pricey to me, but it seems like a good deal.

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    BAM!
  3. Broadband router with print server by nategasser · · Score: 2, Informative

    I connect my laptops wirelessly with my printer because my SMC Barricade router for my DSL circuit has a print server built in.

    I go DSL line -> SMC router -> Wireless AP.

    I only paid around $70 for the SMC, and I needed a router anyway so the print server part was a bonus, but now I can't live without it!