# Wireless Printers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 5, 2012, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-printers/611867 "2012-02-05T15:15:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ethelbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ethelbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethelbert)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-printers/611867/1 "2012-02-05T15:15:25Z")
My understanding (perhaps incorrect) of wireless printers is that they need to be tethered to the router, usually by usb. I would like to place the printer in a different place than the router (but not tethered to a computer). Is this possible? ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-printers/611867/2 "2012-02-05T15:20:07Z")
I have a Canon Pixma wireless printer that only has to be placed within wireless range of my router. It’s just sitting in a room without a computer and works fine. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-printers/611867/3 "2012-02-05T15:25:07Z")
In what way is a printer “wireless” if it requires a USB connection? Wireless printers are just that - they connect to you network via WiFi (or Bluetooth). ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-printers/611867/4 "2012-02-05T15:51:11Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > I have a Canon Pixma wireless printer that only has to be placed within wireless range of my router. It’s just sitting in a room without a computer and works fine. This. Mine is actually in the same room as my laptop, but being wireless it saves me the trouble of drilling holes in my new desk. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-printers/611867/5 "2012-02-05T16:05:54Z")
a wireless router could act as a print server to a cabled (to the router) usb printer. a wireless router could act as a print server to a wireless printer. both are wireless in relation to the computer, both use routers that are equipped as print servers. one case involves no wires to the printer. if you have a wireless printer, not a print serving router, wifi computer(s) then you can connect the printer from those computer(s). ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-printers/611867/6 "2012-02-05T16:09:58Z")
The wireless printers of which I have experience require being wired to configure them but thereafter require no wired connection. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-printers/611867/7 "2012-02-05T16:30:50Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > The wireless printers of which I have experience require being wired to configure them but thereafter require no wired connection. Not mine. It was configured with no USB cable. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-printers/611867/8 "2012-02-05T19:22:36Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Not mine. It was configured with no USB cable. Same here. My router is in my bedroom, my printer is in my office, and I can print from my laptop in my living room. I haven’t done it, but many wireless printers can also be set up with “ad hoc” networking to a wireless-enabled computer, without involving a router at all. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-printers/611867/9 "2012-02-05T19:33:56Z")
How many routers even have a USB connector? ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-printers/611867/10 "2012-02-05T19:48:51Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > How many routers even have a USB connector? Every one I have ever owned has had 3 or 4 USB connections on the back. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-printers/611867/11 "2012-02-05T20:28:33Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Every one I have ever owned has had 3 or 4 USB connections on the back. Really? Most only have Ethernet. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-printers/611867/12 "2012-02-05T20:34:34Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Every one I have ever owned has had 3 or 4 USB connections on the back. You sure you’re not thinking of Ethernet connections? What make and model do you have? ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-printers/611867/13 "2012-02-05T21:33:15Z")
My bad. Yes I was thinking Ethernet. ::: hangs head in shame::: ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-printers/611867/14 "2012-02-05T22:47:19Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Not mine. It was configured with no USB cable. Yep. The instructions for ours said it had to be - but I was able to do the initial setup without actually connecting it. I may have had to input the SSID and password from the printer’s onboard menu, I don’t recall. We do still have a wired printer, which as it turns out I can access from my laptop by setting up the desktop (next to the wired printer) to allow print sharing. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-printers/611867/15 "2012-02-06T01:24:13Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > How many routers even have a USB connector? if it is a print or file server it would. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-printers/611867/16 "2012-02-06T07:25:56Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > In what way is a printer “wireless” if it requires a USB connection? > Wireless printers are just that - they connect to you network via WiFi (or Bluetooth). Even most of those aren’t really wireless – they need wires connecting them to electrical power to function. ---
**Author:** ![ethelbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ethelbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethelbert)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-printers/611867/17 "2012-03-05T16:43:21Z")
I just wanted to follow up with my experience. As my initial post implied, I was under the misunderstanding that “wireless” needed to be tethered to the router. There are some that require this, but they are really “network” printers. I purchased an Brother HL-5370DW laser printer. In installing the printer you basically need to tell the printer about your network. There are two ways to do this; 1. Tether the printer to the access point using an ethernet cable and running the software provided with the printer. (This connection can go away when you are through). It may also be possible to tether it to a computer using usb. 2. There are a variety of wireless protocols that can be used to tell your printer about the network, but they depend on both your printer and your access point (usually your router) supporting the same protocol. They appear to be proprietary. Since I had an ethernet cable (not provided with the printer), I elected to use the first method. I did run into one problem using this method. If you enter wrong information about the network, obviously it will not work. Not so obvious is that when you want to correct the information, you must reset the printer to its factory defaults. My printer now works fine and is, indeed, wireless (although yes, it does require electricity). ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-printers/611867/18 "2012-03-05T16:49:50Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Even most of those aren’t really wireless – they need wires connecting them to electrical power to function. I’ll bet battery-powered printers have wires _inside_ of them! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-printers/611867/19 "2012-03-05T17:00:18Z")
Cool - glad you got one, and got it working. We just ordered a Brother all-in-one, the MFC 8890-DW (which has duplexing, as well as the fax/copy/scan function). Our HP all-in-one inkjet is, at present, useful for pretty much nothing, so I’m eagerly awaiting the new one. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-printers/611867/20 "2012-03-05T20:03:53Z")
I just bought a Brother 5270DW (IIRC) printer following advice from IMHO. It did require a connection to a USB port to configure (they don’t tell you that when you buy it) and a USB cable (not supplied) that has the usual USB connector on one side and a square one on the other. Fortunately, rummaging around my boxes of cables I found one of that sort still in a sealed plastic bag. Who knows whence it came? Once I configured on one computer, I was able to configure it on a second without attaching it. Logically, the only way to avoid that first connection hassle would be to have some way of telling the printer your router name and password. Every router I have ever seen has 4 RJ-45 outlets for hooking a wired device to. Our router is by my wife’s \> 12 yo computer (it was a Y2K purchase) and has no wireless connection. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-printers/611867.md?page=2)