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| Thread ID: 53712 | 2005-01-25 06:49:00 | Printer question | Poppa John (284) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 317828 | 2005-01-25 06:49:00 | We have two XP Home computers, networked. Lets call them M & S. M is the main & S is the slave. M has a Canon printer plugged into it. S has an Epson plugged into it. Each computer has to be "On" so that any comp can access the 'other'printer, accessing it's own printer is no problem. So, if comp M is off then the Canon cannot be used by comp S. Is there an intermediate step/gadget that can be fitted, like a "T" shape, where ,say, the canon printer can be connected to the long leg of the "T" & each computer to each side of the top of the "T" Other than a server computer!!!. I hope this makes sense, at least I know what it means!!!!! :confused: :D PJ |
Poppa John (284) | ||
| 317829 | 2005-01-25 06:59:00 | Youd need network capable printers to do that, AFAIK, PJ. But, you might be able to rig something with a KVM switch if the printer cable length limitation doesn't prevent it or maybe a wee print server. | Murray P (44) | ||
| 317830 | 2005-01-25 07:13:00 | have a look on trademe or ebay for an old jetdirect box. it a box about the size of a video tape and connect to the network and a printer. basicly its a very small print server. an old one might set you back as much as $30. |
robsonde (120) | ||
| 317831 | 2005-01-25 07:14:00 | www.trademe.co.nz | robsonde (120) | ||
| 317832 | 2005-01-25 07:18:00 | Hi PJ If both printers have USB and parallel ports then you could connect each PC to it's own printer via the USB cable and connect the parallel cables to a data switch (i.e. an A/B box much like the one in this photo (www.trademe.co.nz)). These switches normally work by having two printers connected to one PC, but there is no reason why you can't have two PC's connected to one printer by reversing the connections. Plus my guess is that one of the printers is better than the other such that you might find S prints to Canon more than M prints to Epson. Actually, if you are on TradeMe then there is one for sale here (www.trademe.co.nz), for an investment of $1 it might be worth taking the punt. [Late Edit] I've just seen the seller wants to charge $8 freight (cost should be $3.95 unless NZ Post have jacked up their rates in the past 2 months) so you might want to do a search on TradeMe. HTH, Andrew. :) |
andrew93 (249) | ||
| 317833 | 2005-01-25 07:22:00 | have a look on trademe or ebay for an old jetdirect box. it a box about the size of a video tape and connect to the network and a printer. basicly its a very small print server. an old one might set you back as much as $30. Hi Derek I thought these boxes converted a parallel port on the back of the printer to an RJ45 port - so PJ would still need a hub. Someone please correct me if am wrong. Andrew |
andrew93 (249) | ||
| 317834 | 2005-01-25 07:31:00 | I thought these boxes converted a parallel port on the back of the printer to an RJ45 port - so PJ would still need a hub . this is true a hub will be needed, i assumed that the network had a hub . my fault, core dumped . |
robsonde (120) | ||
| 317835 | 2005-01-25 07:43:00 | Dick Smith on line.. Shows two cheap printer switches. Auto Printer Switch & DB25 Switch Box. Any comments. Are you there Metla? The Canon would be used the most, for casual printing. The Epson is a Photo RX 510 & is more expensive to run but is more sophisticated than the Canon. A more modern, just, Canon same type could be bought for about NZ$90 at W/house Stationary. I refill the cartridges for the canon & still have heaps of ink. So it gets used most. PJ |
Poppa John (284) | ||
| 317836 | 2005-01-25 08:13:00 | er.....Seems i am always here.... :D But not much use in this case, which is why i suggested you ask here..... I'll sit back and see how much info is collected by the time the thread wanes,Then I'll mull it over, Then give you my opinion. Still a couple of others here i think that may add their 2 cents worth. |
Metla (12) | ||
| 317837 | 2005-01-25 08:48:00 | This is only worth half of :2cents: Yes, you need a print server. I didn't know this until lately, so I'd advise people that if you're going to get a new router, try find one with an inbuilt print server. They aren't much more and would be good in the long run. PJ, try TradeMe as others have suggested, if not, local newspapers.. Trade and Exchange (do you have that there?)... etc. |
~sy~ (95) | ||
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