With so many different types of gadgets and different types of connections now, it can be a bit confusing know how to connect something as simple as a basic printer or scanner.
For the most part it is not too hard, however there are always different variations and different ways depending no much anymore but the type of computer you have – after all people want to use their phone and tablets also, but it’s actually more about the type of computer network you have.
Fortunately most people have a wireless router now and most of the printer and scanner companies know that, with built WLANs (wireless local area networks) it is usually straight forward.
USB Cable
Gone are are the days of using a serial port to connect to your printer.
All computers have USB (Universal Serial Bus) connections and so do all printers. If in doubt and you can not connect to your printer or scanner over a LAN or WLAN connection you will be able to with a USB cable.
An important thing to remember is, a lot of printer manufacturers do not provide a USB cable in the box with their printers and scanners. Make sure you ask your sales person if it comes with a USB cable.
It can be a real pain when you get home and open the box and it doesn’t have one. They will be able to sell you one if it doesn’t come with in the box.
LAN Connection
Your LAN connection is the Ethernet cable which runs from your modem into the back of your computer.
Most people probably don’t use them anymore, who instead use wireless. But most modems still have LAN ports and the cables are relatively cheap, no more than $10 (usually blue or yellow and a bit thicker than a telephone cable).
The beauty of using a LAN cabled connection is you only need to plug the cable into the back of the modem or router and into the back of your printer, scanner, install the software and your right to go.
The draw back though is you are limited to the distance of you router to the printer. If thats on the other side of the room or house you are going to have cables on the floor and everywhere.
Wireless (WLAN) Connection
Using a wireless connection is without doubt the most convenient way to connect and use your printer or scanner in your home and business.
You don’t need to worry about messy cables and you can pretty much put the printer somewhere out the way if you don’t want to see it like in the garage or in a closet. The distance is usually limited to about 100 feet depending on your environment, other wireless devices and thickness of walls etc.
The only problem with wireless though really is it is a it harder to setup.
Printer Control Panel Display – A lot of printers come with a little panel where you can configure the settings to connect to your wireless – these ones a little easier to set up. It’s just a matter of going to your wireless settings on the printer, selecting the wifi option, selecting your existing wireless network SSID and entering your password.
Once thats done, all you need to do is pop in the cd, and following the instructions to setup your software.
WPS Function – For those printers which do not have a printer control panel display on their printers, there is another way to connect your printer to your wireless network and that is called WPS (Wifi Protected Setup).
WPS is a way to connect your devices to your printers and scanner without using a password.
How it works is you press a couple of key combinations on your device (different devices have different key combinations) and press the WPS key on your modem/router at the same time and they will connect to each other.
This is a handy little function, but it doesn’t always work, or it takes to long and one of the devices times out.
Also not all routers have this function.
Popular printer and scanner brands if you are thinking of buying one are, HP, Dell, Cannon, Brother, Epson, and Fujitsu.
Townsville Nerds can Help – As always if you are having any problems with your printer/scanner setup, please call Ross from Townsville Nerds on 0402 807 890 today. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
