# Flatbed or photo scanner that can scan directly to Wifi network location without computer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Tags:** computer-hardware\ **Created:** [October 13, 2023, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flatbed-or-photo-scanner-that-can-scan-directly-to-wifi-network-location-without-computer/991529 "2023-10-13T18:47:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hostility](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hostility](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hostility)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flatbed-or-photo-scanner-that-can-scan-directly-to-wifi-network-location-without-computer/991529/1 "2023-10-13T18:47:31Z")
I have a USB scanner attached to a PC and it’s configured (using the PC) to save scans triggered by the button on the scanner to be saved to a NAS device on my local network. It works fine as long as the PC is on when I scan My question is: is there such a high-quality scanner that can be configured to save to the same NAS device on my network _without having to be connected to a computer_? Maybe it’s Wifi-capable and can see my NAS on its own, and can save scans directly to the NAS? ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flatbed-or-photo-scanner-that-can-scan-directly-to-wifi-network-location-without-computer/991529/2 "2023-10-13T19:00:37Z")
Yes. There is something called ScanSnap that allows you to save your scanned data directly to your designated network folder, all without the need for a PC. How good it is I can’t say because I’ve never used one. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flatbed-or-photo-scanner-that-can-scan-directly-to-wifi-network-location-without-computer/991529/3 "2023-10-13T19:26:26Z")
I’m pretty sure my Brother laser printer / scanner can do this. I think it can also email the scanned files. I have never actually set it up so I can’t say how well it works. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flatbed-or-photo-scanner-that-can-scan-directly-to-wifi-network-location-without-computer/991529/4 "2023-10-13T20:27:27Z")
The copiers at my office can email you a scan rather than printing out the copy so it’s clearly doable somehow. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flatbed-or-photo-scanner-that-can-scan-directly-to-wifi-network-location-without-computer/991529/5 "2023-10-13T20:56:55Z")
The flatbed scanner on my old color laser multifunction printer could save a scan to a network folder (a Windows CIFS share). Doesn’t work any more because all the computers on the network don’t work with the old version of the SMB protocol the printer uses, but a new scanner probably would do it just fine. I don’t have any concrete suggestions because I’m not in the market myself at this moment, so haven’t done any research. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flatbed-or-photo-scanner-that-can-scan-directly-to-wifi-network-location-without-computer/991529/6 "2023-10-13T21:03:07Z")
The (Kyocera) copiers in my office can also email scans, but that requires certain functionality to be configured on them. They can also scan to a network folder but need user credentials to do so. If the OP’s NAS device isn’t set up on a domain, it might be easier for them to do so. ---
**Author:** ![hostility](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hostility](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hostility)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flatbed-or-photo-scanner-that-can-scan-directly-to-wifi-network-location-without-computer/991529/7 "2023-10-13T23:37:08Z")
Thank you. The Ricoh (formerly Fujitsu) ScanSnap iX1600 looks like it would work well. I’ll check it out! ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flatbed-or-photo-scanner-that-can-scan-directly-to-wifi-network-location-without-computer/991529/8 "2023-10-13T23:44:51Z")
> [@hostility](#): > > The Ricoh (formerly Fujitsu) ScanSnap iX1600 looks like it would work well. I’ll check it out! I have a Ricoh copier (one of those big office copiers) with a scanner that will send the scanned images to your email or to network location, no computer necessary. Conveniently, I have a few Raspberry Pis on the network so I was able to have the scanner automatically send anything it scans to a folder on one of those Pis, and then I stuck a shortcut to that folder on the desktops of the people that need the scanner. I have to assume just about any network scanner with an ethernet port or wifi access will be able to do the same thing. It’s a pretty trivial task. ---
**Author:** ![hostility](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hostility](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hostility)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flatbed-or-photo-scanner-that-can-scan-directly-to-wifi-network-location-without-computer/991529/9 "2023-10-14T00:20:03Z")
> It’s a pretty trivial task. Finding an office scanner that can scan directly to the network may be trivial (and expensive), but the tricky part seems to be finding a network-capable scanner that will do _high-quality_ scans of photos. This slick Ricoh ScanSnap maxed out at 600 dpi resolution. My cheap Canon flatbed USB scanner scans at 2400 dpi. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flatbed-or-photo-scanner-that-can-scan-directly-to-wifi-network-location-without-computer/991529/10 "2023-10-14T01:24:47Z")
> [@hostility](#): > > Thank you. The Ricoh (formerly Fujitsu) ScanSnap iX1600 looks like it would work well. I’ll check it out! I’ve got the older ix1500 and you can program the scanner to upload docs to multiple cloud repositories based on the button you push. It’s great. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flatbed-or-photo-scanner-that-can-scan-directly-to-wifi-network-location-without-computer/991529/11 "2023-10-14T01:49:22Z")
> [@hostility](#): > > the tricky part seems to be finding a network-capable scanner that will do _high-quality_ scans of photos What dpi do you need? My Brother printer/scanner is 1200 dpi, which is “high quality” compared to a standard 300 to 600 dpi scanner, but it’s crap compared to your 2400 dpi scanner. I think you are going to be paying more for a higher dpi than you will pay for the ability to write directly to a network location. The network stuff seems to be fairly common these days, enough so that it shows up on reasonably priced scanners like mine. ---
**Author:** ![hostility](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hostility](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hostility)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flatbed-or-photo-scanner-that-can-scan-directly-to-wifi-network-location-without-computer/991529/12 "2023-10-14T02:39:49Z")
> I think you are going to be paying more for a higher dpi than you will pay for the ability to write directly to a network location. The network stuff seems to be fairly common these days, enough so that it shows up on reasonably priced scanners like mine. Actually, the network connectivity is clearly commanding a price premium. My Canon LIDE 300 2400x2400 flatbed USB scanner is about $60. That slick Ricoh ScanSnap 600x600 network-capable scanner is over $400. It _seems_ like a company like Canon could add network connectivity to their simple flatbed scanners and not increase the price exponentially. But I guess my requested feature (HQ photo scanning, Wifi connectivity) isn’t terribly popular, so they’re not likely inclined to do it. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flatbed-or-photo-scanner-that-can-scan-directly-to-wifi-network-location-without-computer/991529/13 "2023-10-14T02:54:55Z")
I think I paid about $250 for my printer/scanner. I assumed most of that cost was because it was a laser printer. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flatbed-or-photo-scanner-that-can-scan-directly-to-wifi-network-location-without-computer/991529/14 "2023-10-14T03:07:16Z")
I poked around on Amazon for a couple of minutes. I couldn’t find any wifi scanners with a dpi of at least 2400 with a price range below $400 (I didn’t look at higher priced ones). I did only look for a couple of minutes though. Hope you find something useful. ---
**Author:** ![hostility](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hostility](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hostility)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flatbed-or-photo-scanner-that-can-scan-directly-to-wifi-network-location-without-computer/991529/15 "2023-10-14T03:19:14Z")
Thanks. Apparently, I’m looking for a unicorn. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flatbed-or-photo-scanner-that-can-scan-directly-to-wifi-network-location-without-computer/991529/16 "2023-10-14T03:28:26Z")
I wouldn’t say that but rather that the feature you’re looking for is a premium one only available on more expensive models. ---
**Author:** ![hostility](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hostility](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hostility)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flatbed-or-photo-scanner-that-can-scan-directly-to-wifi-network-location-without-computer/991529/17 "2023-10-14T04:07:19Z")
Link to one of these “more expensive” models? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flatbed-or-photo-scanner-that-can-scan-directly-to-wifi-network-location-without-computer/991529/18 "2023-10-14T14:22:56Z")
I think the [Ricoh (formerly Fujitsu) fi-8270 flatbed scanner](https://www.pfu-us.ricoh.com/scanners/fi/fi-8270) will scan to a network folder, using the PaperStream software that comes with it. It costs about $1,500 but there are cheaper sheetfed models. We use one of the sheetfed models at work for specific functions, and they’re very fast, able to scan something like sixty double-sided pages per minute. ---
**Author:** ![hostility](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hostility](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hostility)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flatbed-or-photo-scanner-that-can-scan-directly-to-wifi-network-location-without-computer/991529/19 "2023-10-15T13:52:40Z")
I’ve decided it’s much more efficient (and much cheaper) to just flick on my PC when I want to scan photos from my cheap Canon flatbed scanner. Once the PC is up, I press the Scan button on the scanner, it scans and saves the image(s) directly to my Wifi-available NAS device. I was hoping there would be a tier of flatbed scanners (a bit more expensive than what I have, but not $1k more) that have a Wifi radio and the software to see/send data to the local Wifi network, allowing them to bypass a computer altogether. OK, lesson learned. Thanks for all the input.