Best Way to Set up a Network Printer on The Cheap?

Jackson on 16/03/2022 - 14:16

Haven't had to bother with this in ages since printers come with wifi these days, but I have an old laser printer I want to start using and was wondering what people are doing these days to set one up as a network printer? Unfortunately the last 2 modems I got from Belong and Exetel both don't seem to have their USB ports enabled. So failing that, I guess there's a number of solutions, use an old PC, a raspberry pi, and old router with a usb port and dd-wrt, or maybe a dedicated usb print server-although can't find one for under $50, and the money might be better spent on a new printer. Thought I'd put it out there and see if I'd forgotten anything.

Feel free to add links to your favourte product or how to. TIA

Computing Printer

Comments

  • scrimshaw on 16/03/2022 - 14:19
    +1

    Attach an Rpi and share the printer with it?

    https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeNetworking/comments/o6b02e/when…

    Due to the chip shortage though, Raspberry Pi's can sometimes be more expensive than fully fledged Windows Pcs. If you've got an unused machine lying around, that can also be configured as a print server.

  • boomramada on 16/03/2022 - 14:27
    +1

    Put your current printer to bin, stop wasting time and get something like this Brother HL-L2350DW Wireless Mono Laser Printer, you can't go wrong with these.
    OZb most trusted printer brand.

    • Jackson on 16/03/2022 - 14:30

      that's just wasteful, when the current printer works fine outside of this single limitation

      • boomramada on 16/03/2022 - 14:34

        that's just wasteful

        most expensive components of the printer is the ink cartridge or toner.
        keeping old tech printer will be money wasting.

        • Jackson on 16/03/2022 - 14:35
          +1

          with laser printers the only reason toners are expensive is if they incorporate the imaging unit/drum. Mine doesn't, so 1000p toner is only about 10 bucks

          • BewareOfThe Dog on 16/03/2022 - 17:32
            +1

            @Jackson: I was about to ask what Printer etc it was. I had a Xerox, that had a tiny round drum, and the Toners were @ $75 to $120, depending on capacity. I bought a few 3rd Party ones off Ebay, then started buying Refills (plus new chips). Great when you own a small business, and are giving away info sheets.

            • Jackson on 16/03/2022 - 17:44

              @BewareOfThe Dog: This is a Fuji Xerox Docuprint m295b MFC, willing to bet it's the same toner you used, it also has a tiny round drum. The quality of the prints is faultless, and yes I get my toners off either ebay or ali, I actually think I paid 7.50 for the current one. The only issue with it is occasionally it has a paper jam and it's a nightmare to get the paper out, it seems to want to hold on to it and it rips, and it's quite inaccessible so it's something you need to set aside time for when it happens, if you are in a rush you can forget about it

              • Qazxswec on 16/03/2022 - 20:24

                @Jackson: does it have an ethernet port, my fuji xerox docuprint is just hooked up to the modem through ethernet

    • spackbace on 16/03/2022 - 14:31
      +1

      How do you know the old one isn't a Brother printer? I have an older Brother laser printer, only USB as well, and as shown below it's only $37 and some tinkering to make it wireless

      • boomramada on 16/03/2022 - 14:36

        I had one too, then its time to upgrade - for me, my laptop didn't even came with USB port for it :(

    • Warehouse on 16/03/2022 - 14:45

      I have a A1 plotter that I want to make wireless.. can't just put that to bin lol

      • boomramada on 16/03/2022 - 14:51

        Wireless A1 plotter, I probably need to sell my car for that LOL

      • BewareOfThe Dog on 16/03/2022 - 17:32

        Parallel, serial or USB?

  • spackbace on 16/03/2022 - 14:30
    +1

    Might need some tinkering, just came across this for $36.90:
    https://www.amazon.com.au/GL-iNet-GL-MT300N-V2-Repeater-Perf…

    (has been posted as a deal on here before)

    And this forum topic:
    https://forum.gl-inet.com/t/gl-ar750s-usb-printer/9182/10
    (Check the last comment, lays it out in detail)

    • Jackson on 16/03/2022 - 14:32

      It's interesting how this product is cheaper than any dedicated print server, I was expecting to find dedicated ones for under 20 bucks on ebay but there's nothing even close, cheapest I could find was $50

      • spackbace on 16/03/2022 - 14:35
        +1

        Maybe even hit up the rep and ask for a deal

      • scrimshaw on 16/03/2022 - 14:38

        Many routers nowadays have print server as an additional feature. That Mango pocket router runs a Linux distro called Openwrt, which is a very common opensource OS that has tonnes of useful features, including BitTorrent client, VPN, run HTTP / FTP servers etc.

        If you decide to upgrade your crappy ISP-provided router modem, chances are you will eventually pickup a router that has print server features.

      • boomramada on 16/03/2022 - 14:38

        Before you buy that, check if your modem / router supports it, some can act as print server by plugging your usb printer to the router.

        • Jackson on 16/03/2022 - 14:41

          my current and previous modem would normally have supported that, but they were hamstrung models from the ISP

    • pjetson on 16/03/2022 - 16:17

      I have one of these (somewhere), it's a great device. Cost me $28.83 back in 2019.

      I also have the similar TP-Link WR703N connected to the ethernet port on a non-wireless PC to give it WiFi temporarily. I wish I could remember where I "safely stored" the Mango, though…

  • iDroid on 16/03/2022 - 14:38
    +2

    Perhaps find the cheapest second hand router that has USB. Attach old printer to USB and enable sharing. Bridge or route the two networks together via the ethernet (or even wifi)

    Likely find someone you know has one sitting around at home that'd donate for free - I know I have at least 3 that'd work…

  • endotherm on 16/03/2022 - 14:38
    +2

    Have you got an old router with an enabled USB port? Plug it in via ethernet and the USB port should be able to be shared on your current network. No need to worry about how fast the old router is or whether it has WiFi, that is handled by the ISP router. Just turn off DHCP so there is no conflict with the main router handing out addresses. Maybe a couple of bucks on ebay or maybe free at your local recycling centre.

    Do you have any other always-on device like a NAS on the network?

    • Jackson on 16/03/2022 - 14:44

      I have a NAS but it doesn't have printer support, it's pretty basic (WD MyCloud Home, which doesn't even do cloud support now that support is EOL)

      • Jackson on 16/03/2022 - 23:56

        I will have to dog through my old routers to see if one of them has Usb support, but I don't remember any of them having it

  • JTTheMan on 16/03/2022 - 21:07
    +1

    I've got an old USB printer plugged in to an old Apple Airport Express and it works seamlessly.
    If you can grab a second hand Airport Express it will do the job

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