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Hi all,
Happy Holiday.
I have been using a few different brands/models of WiFi printers. They aren't reliable in that they occasionally fail to connect to the WiFi network. It happens often enough to be frustrating.
So for my next printer, I am going to buy a Ethernet printer instead. My question is this: With a Ethernet printer connected to my LAN, can WiFi devices (e.g., cell phone and WiFi connected laptops) see, access and print with this printer?
Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Not unless the printer has WiFi capability. Ethernet is a wire, but wireless devices can't see a printer connected via wire only.
You might want to consider a printer that has both wired and wireless networking capability. Brother has some models that have both, although you may not be able to use both wired and wireless connections simultaneously.
Another option that may work is to use a wired network connection for the printer and access it through a wireless router from your mobile devices.
Links:
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/use-r...ter-56526.html
https://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/s...ter-12359.html
Every device including the WIRED printer gets an internal IP address from the router.
The wireless computers look for the printer and when found - print.
My printer is wired, everything accesses it through the router.
Happy Holiday.
Thank you for all the replies.
Yes, my WiFi router have 4 LAN ports also. So, I am connecting the printer's Ethernet port to the LAN port in the router. If I understand it correctly, my WiFi devices should be able to use the printer too, right?
Yes they will. Just be sure to set a fixed IP address for the printer.
Happy Holiday.
Thank you for the fixed IP tip (haven't thought of it). Going to shop for printer now.