HP Photosmart Wireless Printer

[jakob]

I'm wondering if I require a router to use this printer from my Laptop.

Can you just print direct from the Laptop using WiFi?

Has anybody any experience with this?

Regards J.

[supernova1965 (Warren)]

Originally Posted by jakob

I'm wondering if I require a router to use this printer from my Laptop.

Can you just print direct from the Laptop using WiFi?

Has anybody any experience with this?

Regards J.

Hi

Yes I believe that you need to have a router the printer has to be issued an IP address so that your computer can find the printer that's how I have my Dell wireless printer setup if I am wrong please someone let me know I love to learn new stuff.

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by supernova1965

Hi

Yes I believe that you need to have a router the printer has to be issued an IP address so that your computer can find the printer that's how I have my Dell wireless printer setup if I am wrong please someone let me know I love to learn new stuff.

That's not strictly true, but it's much simpler for the average user.

You need something to act as an access point - the laptop wireless chipset might be capable of being set to act as an ad-hoc base station.

You need something to supply DHCP, or set both the laptop and printer to use RFC3927 zeroconf. Every router I've ever owned does DHCP.

Apart from the above, a router vastly simplifies setting up a home network, and provides isolation from the internet for your network. You should still run security software on all your computers. Don't forget that you must change all default passwords.