Wireless and network printing transcript for Meet the Experts

Question

On March 16th, HP hosted its first online chat event on wireless and network printing. Below is a transcript of that session.
I am in the process of planning the next chat event. I would love to hear what topics would interest you, what day of the week and time is best for you, and if you think an hour is too long.
So, if you get a minute, please let me know.
Here's the transcript:
SiobhanF-HP: Welcome! Cameron, Craig, David, and Jim are ready to tackle your questions.
SiobhanF-HP: Just to remind you if you want to ask a question, you must be a member of the HP Support Forums. If you want to join, go here https://passport2.hp.com/hppcf/createuser.do
nc256: Do I need a wireless router to hook up my wireless printer?
CameronL-HP: No, but most people will want to do it this way. You can use a feature called an ad hoc connection to avoid using a router, but it is only covered under an older standard that is slower and less secure. Also, without something to route traffic between the local network and the internet, you cannot get an internet connection. Using a wireless router makes setting up a wireless network easier, and it will generally make the network work better too.
jest1: I've seen some hardware in stores for a "print server" hardware device that attaches to a network. Is this something that I need in order to run a printer over a network?
CraigB--HP: Not if you have a printer that has a network connection built in. Many models of HP computers are ready to be connected directly to your wired or wireless network.
katiepage: How can I print when I am using a VPN?
DavidH-HP: VPN connections generally hide the rest of your home network to increase the security of the VPN connection. A printer on the network isn’t a security threat but the VPN doesn’t know that. It just hides everything just to be sure. That means that when a VPN is active you need some way to connect to the printer other than your home network. Bluetooth, USB, and even printing to a thumb drive and plugging that into the printer are all ways of getting your print job to the printer that don’t go through your home network.
SiobhanF-HP: If you have specific product questions, the more information you give us the better we will be able to help you. Getting your exact model number; any error messages; a description of your wireless network including what kind of security you have, what wireless-devices are connected to your network, and your IP address will go a long way to helping us answer your question.
MelissaP: Why would I want a wireless printer?
CraigB--HP: The main advantage of a wireless printer is the ability to place the printer somewhere in your home or office even if this is not near your router or computer.
Deltan: What is the maximum distance I can have between my router and my printer?
CameronL-HP: It does depend on your environment. Without interference about 25 feet. Walls and floors and other objects can reduce this. The types of walls are important. For example, mirrors and outdoor walls will greatly reduce the indoor range.
 jest1: Is there a preferred wireless router type or brand for wireless printing compatibility? We are using a Linksys 802.11g router in my home.
 JimB-HP: In general, any wireless-router from a name brand manufacturer that has been Wi-Fi certified is compatible with our printers (look for the Wi-Fi logo). We use Linksys in our lab with great success.
 nc256: Are there any digital cameras that can send directly to an HP wireless printer for photo printing?
 DavidH-HP: Many printers support a feature called Pictbridge. If the camera and printer both supports this feature, the camera can be plugged directly into the printer to print photos. Or are you asking about printing over a network connection?
 KevinW: I keep hearing that you shouldn’t use default settings for a network. Why?
 CraigB--HP: There are three reasons not use default settings: First, wireless-routers do not have any wireless security enabled by default. Second, you will be using a common network name in which case you may connect accidentally to your neighbor’s network. Third, your wireless-router is accessible by inadvertent guests who may change the configuration of your wireless-router without your knowledge or use your internet connection without your permission.
Bodie08: I have an HP Lan attached printer and Windows XP on my home network. Is there a known setting (Firewall/port/other) or patch to address the issue of hpqtra08.exe hanging on Windows XP Shutdown? A number of us in the forum have identified this issue. Thanks!
DavidH-HP: This problem has been seen in the past but there were attempts to address it. Have you checked to see if there is a later release of software available on the web? (hp.com)
ZhuLee3: How old is wireless printing technology? I noticed all the experts have around 20 years of experience with it, was there wireless 20 years ago?
JimB-HP: Wireless printing first appeared with the introduction of the 802.11 standard in late 1990's. HP has been making wireless printers since 2003.
lpeterson123: What makes wireless so flaky at times?
CameronL-HP: There are lots of reasons. Wireless signals are affected by distance, walls, metal objects, and other wireless devices like cordless phones. However, most of the problems seem to be from how the network or how security software is configured, and these can also cause things to fail only occasionally or in certain situations. Having a good wireless connection between a PC and printer involves several hardware devices and lots of software made by different companies that all have to work together; if something is not quite right in any of these things then the whole solution looks flaky.
Bowman16: I use a Mac, are there any features that would not work if I was to set it up for wireless use
DavidH-HP: All the features will work on a Mac if you install the full HP software solution.
jest1: Thanks for the answer on the router question. The next question, then, is to ask what would be a recommended consumer-grade wireless-enabled printer (or series) just so I can start my research.
JimB-HP: Any of our Photosmart or Officejet wireless printers will work with Wi-Fi certified wireless-routers. Our price points really have more to do with how much printing you do. In general, our more expensive printers cost less per page than our less expensive models.
Bodie08: Why would I choose "spooling" on my PC over "direct connect”?
CraigB--HP: In general, spooling allows you to use your program sooner than printing directly.
ZhuLee3: Jim: What is it like to be an "HP Printing Expert"? What kind of stuff do you get to work on, on a day to day basis?
JimB-HP: I really like my job -- I've always been a radio enthusiast so working on 802.11 technology is really a dream job for me. I'm also fortunate to work with a great team here in Vancouver, WA. More importantly, I like designing equipment that people use in their everyday lives.
TEACHER1: Recently I changed routers, now I am unable to print wirelessly, even though the SES and wireless network light are steady on my Deskjet 6980 printer. What is the solution? Thanks.
DavidH-HP: The wireless light indicates that the radio is on but does not indicate that the printer is connected to the network. First check that the printer is connected to the network by printing a network configuration page from the printer.
AgentRed: I get my internet with a Verizon wireless broadband card. Someone told me that wouldn't work with a wireless printer. Is that true?
CameronL-HP: Our wireless printers use the 802.11 b, g or n standard which is not compatible with the wireless cellular standard. It would be like trying to connect to a wireless network using Bluetooth. They are different wireless technologies.
DavidH-HP: Regarding the Verizon card, it is true that you cannot connect the printer over the Verizon connection, but as long as your laptop has Wife you can print to the printer over WiFi at the same time that the Verizon connection is active. This should not be a problem.
jest1: Is there a "minimum" internet connection that is recommended for wireless printing? We live a bit far from the DSL CO so our connection is sometimes flaky. I would guess that incoming speed shouldn't affect my local wireless LAN but I want to ask it anyway
CameronL-HP: There are 2 parts to your home network. 1 is your wireless router which manages your local network equipment, then your network connection to the world wide web which your DSL provider gives you. The connection speed of your local network is not affected by your internet connection speed.
Bowman16: Are any HP printers 802.11n? I do not want to add an 802.11b,g to my network and cause it to slow down.
JimB-HP: Currently, our printers comply with the 802.11g standard. We are investigation the emerging 802.11n standard.
ZhuLee3: Will there be a transcript of all the questions and answers from this chat available for viewing after the session? I think I missed some questions at the start.
SiobhanF-HP: The chat event begins when you joined. Sorry that you can't see what was said before you joined. I hope to have transcript posted tomorrow or on Wednesday at the latest.
nc256: Where is the future of printers headed? Does HP have any interesting plans with printing technology? And what’s your opinion on whether or not color laser printing will ever approachthe photo realism of ink jet color?
JimB-HP: The future of HP printing will be characterized by wireless connectivity to not only computers but to mobile internet devices. In fact, as mobile devices become smaller (think phone or netbooks), the need to print from your mobile device might become more relevant.
jest1: Am I able to print from my iphone to a wireless printer?
CraigB--HP: You can print photos from your iPhone to HP wireless printers and it works great in my experience. Go to http://www.hp.com/go/iprintphoto to get the details.
TEACHER1: Thank you. I printed a page. It shows that wireless is disconnected.
DavidH-HP: Then you just need to input the wireless settings from your new router into the printer. If your printer does not let you input the settings from the front panel, you can use the CD that came with the printer or downloaded from hp.com to configure the printer again ( look for the option to "add a device" ).
ZhuLee3: Question about security... if I get a wireless printer, what’s to prevent other people within range of my printer, from adding it and printing documents? How is this configured on the actual printer?
JimB-HP: The simplest way to secure your printer is to enable WPA-PSK security for your wireless network and to use a security pass-phrase that is at least 12 characters long. This configuration is very safe from intruders for the foreseeable future.
CameronL-HP: It' is also a good idea to use a unique network name, also called an SSID.
carolj: I have a photosmart C7180 and I have it hooked up to my laptop (windows vista) when the setup completed the printer was put in networking instead of printers and I cannot access it or move it out of there. What do you suggest?
CraigB--HP: You might need to uninstall and reinstall. Before doing this, make sure your get the latest driver from the HP support at: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareCategory?product=1153754&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&lang=en&cc=us This is also where you can get a copy of the instruction book.
wizll: Hi, I haven't done much research in wireless printing, but I'm interested as I currently have my printer set up the old fashioned way where it's connected to a networked PC, but if the PC is off I can no longer print, which is obviously inconvenient. Do hp wireless printers have a web gui you can connect to once it's on the home network, or is it simply all done from the printer's interface. I've seen some old wired network printers that only use the printer's ui and that seems like a clunky use.
DavidH-HP: Yes, the HP printers which have networking built-in have what we call an "embedded" web server which allow you to configure settings, check status, and have many other features; on some models you can even scan using the embedded web server.
nc256: Jim: Will color laser printing ever reach ink jet quality for photos?
JimB-HP: While never is a long time, inkjet printers will, for the near future, output higher quality photos.
katiepage: If I'm at home, connected to my office network via VPN, can I access my office networked printers?
CraigB--HP: Yes, when you are connected to the office VPN, you can print to your office printers. However, you will not be able to print to your home networked printers while you are connected to the VPN.
jest1: If a friend comes over to my house with their laptop and needs to print something, are they able to do this just by authenticating with my wireless LAN (assuming I have a wireless printer set up)?
CraigB--HP: In addition to authenticating to your network, you friend will also need to install the printer driver for your printer.
jpszambelan: Is there a wireless USB device of some kind I can connect to my printer if there is no network connection already built in?
JimB-HP: HP sells an accessory that adds Wi-Fi capability to your USB printer (see http://www.shopping.hp.com/product/printer/inkjet/wireless/4/accessories/Q6236A%2523A2L) Also, many higher-end wireless-routers allows USB printers to be connected to them to allow sharing of the printer from the network. Note that this solution often limits you to just printing and not scanning from the network.
rockwoodchev: It seems that my computer can find my printer, but my printer can't find the computer, so that "Scan to computer" won't work. What do I need to do in order to fix that?
DavidH-HP: This can be blocked by security software running on the PC (such as a personal firewall). Make sure that your firewall is configured to allow communication on your local network. You can also unblock specific ports, but the easiest way is often just to allow communication on the local home network. The specific setting varies from firewall to firewall.
SiobhanF-HP: We are nearing the end of our chat session. We only have time for 3 more questions. If we did not get to your question, please post it on the Networking and Wireless board in the Printers and All-in-Ones forum. http://h30434.www3.hp.com/psg/board?board.id=Networking
SSPatrick: Is it possible to print wirelessly to the same HP printer using both a PC and a Mac?
JimB-HP: Yes -- I do this in my home. I have both Macs and PCs on my network without any trouble.
Bowman16: Any plans to do this again?
SiobhanF-HP: Yes we are.
ZhuLee3: Do all of the experts hang out on the HP community? Will we see you posting there after this?
DavidH-HP: Oh yes, whenever time permits. In addition to trying to help people, I learn things too.
JimB-HP: I'm known as Wi-Fi-Guy on the support forums. I hang out there often helping where I can. It helps me be a better designer.
CraigB--HP: I monitor the forums looking for problems to take back to the development lab for investigation. To date, I have only posted one reply.
CameronL-HP: I haven't been involved in the past but expect to be more involved in the future.
SiobhanF-HP: We only have time for one more question. If we did not get to your question, please post it on the Networking and Wireless board in the Printers and All-in-Ones forum. http://h30434.www3.hp.com/psg/board?board.id=Networking
ZhuLee3: Thanks for setting this up!
SiobhanF-HP: The transcript will be posted on http://h30434.www3.hp.com/psg/board?board.id=Networking
TEACHER1: Thank you all for conducting this session !!!!
jest1: Is there an OS limitation to print wirelessly?
JimB-HP: All the OS versions supported by the printer as supported wirelessly. In general, we are compatible with Macs, Windows and Linux.
SiobhanF-HP: We are ending the chat event. Thank you for coming. We hope you found it worthwhile. I will be posting a transcript of the event in the Networking and Wireless board in the Printers and All-in-Ones forum. We will be hosting future Meet the Experts chat sessions on a variety of topics, so please tell us what you thought of the event and how it could be improved. http://h30434.www3.hp.com/psg/board/message?board.id=Feedback&thread.id=525
Live Forum Closed
Message Edited by timhsu on 03-18-2009 05:39 PM
Message Edited by timhsu on 03-18-2009 05:43 PM
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