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We Just Got A Wireless Router


cherise

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and I can't figure out how to set it up, so that I can print from my laptop to the printer that is hooked up to the desktop. I should be able to, right? I have an internet connection now through the router, so I know that part is all working. But I can't figure out how to print . . . anyone? My desktop is a G4, running OS X. And my laptop is a MacBook Pro, also running Mac OS X.

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I am so jealous! I have a laptop but if I want internet I'm stuck to the kitchen counter (which means that's where you'll find me 90% of the time!). And I can't print anything unless I disconnect and move to the back of the house, which is hard to do when the kids are awake. I'd love to help you but I'm afraid I'm not too smart that way. Good luck ... and congrats on your new wire free lifestyle!!!

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I don't have a mac but I had the same problem...I wanted to print from my wireless laptop through the wireless internet to the desktop to the printer...I ended up downloaded network magic ...just the free version and it really helped. I had to make sure that the desktop was on and that the security settings allowed my laptop to access to the desktop computer and the printer. (The security settings with the virus protector is what messed me up for awhile: ie: msn security stuff.) KWIM? HTH!

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I am so jealous! I have a laptop but if I want internet I'm stuck to the kitchen counter (which means that's where you'll find me 90% of the time!). And I can't print anything unless I disconnect and move to the back of the house, which is hard to do when the kids are awake. I'd love to help you but I'm afraid I'm not too smart that way. Good luck ... and congrats on your new wire free lifestyle!!!

 

I didn't know this until just very recently, but did you know that if you currently have an internet connection, you just have to buy a wireless router (for like $40-50) and plug your internet modem into that and then you have wireless internet connection? I used to think that you had to pay for "wireless service", but you don't. You just buy the router (a one time cost) and then you connect to the internet, using the same internet service you had before. Just thought I'd post that in case you didn't know. Because the $45 this router cost is TOTALLY worth it to me to be able to have a reliable wireless connection. And I know I *should* be able to hook up the printer to the network . . . but that's the part I'm still trying to figure out! :-)

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We have ours hooked up. All of our computers are networked and we can print wirelessly to the main computers printer. My husband did it all, but he just googled it and found the instructions online...he figured it out fairly quickly. Just type in what windows you are operating and it should come up on google. It is awesome not to be stuck to a desk. Type in networking with windows vista and printer set up or someting like that.

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Make sure you have your wireless router set up with WPA security. Your computers need to login to your wireless network to use it. (They do this automatically when it is set up.) If you don't have a secure network set up, your neighbors - or anyone who is driving around your neighborhood with a laptop, for that matter - can log into your network, use your Internet connection and even possibly get into your computer.

 

But a WPA protected wireless network is awesome and protects you. Don't be lazy about it - it's worth the pain to set it up. (Your modem will allow you to have both a secure or an insecure network. Consult your users manual.)

 

Hopefully, this is old news for you, but I thought I'd mention it because it is SO important to know about.

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Yeah, we have several neighbors around us that don't have secure networks. And when Mike takes his laptop with him to Ben's baseball practice, there is someone in that area with and unsecured network, so he pops on and we IM each other! LOL

 

Our Verizon FIOS connection is secured. That may be the only way they set it up so we're good there. I love our wireless network. Our main desktop acts as our server...where I store all of my work files, photos, etc. (It gets backed up every evening.) We then access the printer thru that desktop, as well.

 

Good luck setting it up, Cherise! :)

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OK, let's see if I can make this not confusing... :)

 

The first thing you need to do is tell the computer that the printer is connected to that you want to share it. So you go to your Apple Menu and select System Preferences > Sharing > Printer Sharing. Select the printer you want to share and close the window.

 

Then go to the computer that you want to print from and open something like Text Edit. Go to File > Print. From your printer selection menu choose Add Printer. The printer that you shared on the other computer should be in that list now. Select it and click the Add button. It will be in your printer list now and all ready to go.

 

Just make sure that any time you want to print you have the computer that the printer is connected to turned on. That computer is acting as a print server so it must be on.

 

HTH! You should be up and running in no time. :D

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I think I'll be asking Santa for a laptop and a router. Being totally ignorant about all the connections, maybe someone can tell me if a PC laptop can co-exist on a wireless network with Mac? (Mac isn't wireless, but is connected to a cable modem.) I've got to stop reading these boards, I'm learning way too much!

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I have my MacBook Pro and my PCs on the same network. Works like a charm. I share files between them all the time. Your Mac will recognize your PC with no problem. It takes a little more work to get your PC to find your Mac. There is also a nifty little program out there called MacDrive that will allow PCs to recognize Mac formatted drives. Great for people with an iPod who want to be able to connect it to both types of machines. Format it for Mac but your PC running MacDrive will still recognize it.

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