Printing from iPad with no wi-fi?

Question

I've been researching this for a while and have found some ideas, but nothing satisfactory. My grandmother lives in the country where only dial-up or satellite internet access is available. Dial-up greatly limits her, and satellite is too expensive. I got her an iPad for her birthday and I think the 3G connection will be a happy medium, and less expensive for what she does. However, she prints things sometimes, but her printer is several years old and does not have wi-fi capability, nor does she have a wi-fi network set up in her house. Here's what I've come across so far, and I'd like some suggestions on the best route to take.
1. Use her existing eMac (running either Panther or Tiger) and create a wi-fi network, and use printer sharing. I'm not sure if the older versions of OSX allow you to do this, or even how to set that up in the Network or Sharing Preferences. Also, if she needs to print, she'd have to switch from 3G to wi-fi, which is a hassle and a burden for a 79 year-old.
2. Get an Airport Express and set up a local wi-fi network, plug the USB printer into it, thereby making the printer wireless. Again there's the problem of having to switch between 3G and wi-fi.
3. Find an HP printer that supports airprint and can create it's own network without wi-fi, such as the Envy (which is too expensive for me). I don't know if HP makes less expensive printers that create their own network. Also, I don't know if she has to switch between 3G and wi-fi to do this, or if the iPad will pick up the printer without leaving 3G.
Lastly, this needs to be a permanent connection that doesn't have to be set up everytime she prints. I live 2 hours away, so whatever is easier for her is better. Thanks so much!

Answer 1

With the AirPrint application/utility, mentioned earlier, you should be able to keep your existing printer attached to your eMac (running Tiger 10.4). The mLabs website mentions configuring your existing printers, and the existing printer will be advertised over AirPrint (WiFi).  This should help you save from having to buy a new printer.  If the printer still works, I say use it!  Try to keep the total advertised AirPrint Printer combined network path and printer name to less than 63 characters total.
With regard to the Airport Express, I suspect that you may need to get one.  They serve as a central point, i.e. communications hub.  I'm new to this and not real sure about following. I suspect that the computer and iOS device, with respect to WiFi, will use the same frequency to transmit and receive. Since they are both clients to a router/switch/hub I suspect both (iPad & eMac) would use the same WiFi frequency for transmit and receive.  If both use the same frequency to transmit then there will be a communication problem when trying to talk directly to one another.  Same for the receiving.  I suspect the Airport Express may service as a transition point and the computer must advertise the AirPrint printer over the network (in your home) via the Airport Express.
Your eMac, when purchased, could have been installed with an airport card providing WiFi with 803.11b protocol.  If no airport card then your looking at connecting your eMac by way of 10/100Base-T Ethernet to the AirPort Express via wire cable.  Lets assume you'll be using a ethernet cable for your computer connection.  This would make your connection look like an eMac with a direct connected printer, AirPrint software application, and the preferences set to allow the printer to be a network shared printer.
On your #1 line item, you probably won't have to switch from 3G to WiFi.  You will just supplement the 3G with the addition of WiFi to allow printing from the iPad.  The iPad will normally operate on the 3G, but when it comes to printing, the iPad will kick-in the WiFi.  The iPad has the ability to use both WiFi & 3G.  To the user it will appear as if both are working at the same time (seamless).  Remember the iPad does not and will not contain specific printer drivers, it only has a printer address to sent a job (image) to. The print job will be received by the AirPrint application on your eMac (computer required to be on, up, and running), the AirPrint application will then, using the appropriate printer driver within your eMac, convert the printer job (image) to the printer binary and send it to the printer directly.
On your #2 line item, unless the printer you connect to the USB port is AirPrint ready (or "ePrint-enabled" for HP printers), it will not properly serve as a printer for your iPad. Remember the printer drivers, or lack thereof, is the issue here; the iPad doesn't and won't have any.  With your existing printer the AirPort Express will only serve as the hub to your home network. Print jobs will go from your iPad via Wifi and then to the computer via 10/100Base-T Ethernet... Don't get me wrong here, if you did get a non-AirPrint (non-e-Print enabled) printer connected via USB to the AirPort Express, it could serve as a network printer for other computers; other computers that utilized their own printer drivers. But it would not serve as a solution for your Grandmother's iPad.  If your going to connect a printer to the AirPort Express it has to be Airprint or ePrint-enabled.
If the printer you connect to the Airport Express USB port is ePrint-enabled, then you would not need your eMac to do the translating of the print job image to the printer binary.  When checking HP website titled:
    HP AirPrint Compatible Wireless Products - How to Use Apple's AirPrint Over a Wireless Network
    Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about AirPrint
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&task Id=115&prodSeriesId=4073853&prodTypeId=18972&objectID=c02623193
This is where you have to decide. If you want to use your existing printer, then you will have to have the eMac on,up, and running whenever your Grandmother wants to print.  Otherwise, for the convenience, you will have to purchase an AirPrint or e-Print ready printer.  If you do decide to get an HP e-Print ready printer, HP recommends updating its firmware-Indicated in above HP web site.
On your #3 line item:  I see 3 options:
1. Use existing eMac, existing printer, and purchase AirPort Express. This is probably the cheapest alternative (in materials) but requires the eMac to be on, up, and running to print.
2. Purchase an e-Print ready printer, and purchase AirPort Express. Cost is a bit more.
3. Purchase AirPort ready printer. Cost?
For now, option 1 looks good.  If your Grandmother is unhappy with keeping the computer on, then add an e-Print enabled printer via USB or Ethernet cable. But you decide on what your needs are and stay within your budgets.
Please let us know your actions and results so that others can learn from the experience.
2003 iMac G4, PPC, Mac OS X (10.4.11)