AP placement

is a

closet

I'd

consoles

I just have the WRT54G. I'd have to buy an AP, but Linksys indicates that it only works with two APs (WAP54Gs). I don't see a way of telling my WRT54G that it's a slave. I really don't want to buy an $80 WAP to try when Linksys says it's not designed to work.

Many of the older versions of the WRT54G and similar routers can be reflashed with open-source firmware (OpenWRT or DD-WRT) which has more capabilities. It looks to me as if OpenWRT may be able to put its wireless interface into client mode. It may even be able to act as a client on one network while operating as an access point for another network.

Let me get this straight. By "client" you mean that it should be able to log into another WRT and extend its network? There are no wired ports being used on my WRT54, so if I read you right I can replace it with a WAP, reprogram the WRT as a client, then use it to connect the printer?

My WRT54 is an "older" one. The firmware date is January 2006, but I updated it at least once since I bought it. Maybe it's worth trashing it to play.

linen

controlled

or

need

find

room is a

wiring closet

wirelessly? I'd

printers=20

one.

wired=20

consoles

talks

WRT45G. =20

But=20

WAP54G

the

I was really talking in general and the much older WRT54 in=20 specific. The odd requirement for two devices really puzzles me. It has been my enduring experience that as long as something does=20 not get in the way the network is usually transparent.

a linen

controlled

this!

access

dealing

panty, or

don't need

find

great room is a

wiring closet

wirelessly? I'd

printers=20

one.

the wired=20

game consoles

that talks

WRT45G. =20

fiddling. But=20

the WAP54G

of the

Linksys=20

LAN=20

=20

it=20

sends=20

that it

WRT54G

Linksys

The only way i can see that as necessary is; if you have two = discontiguous=20 wired lans with a wireless segment between them. Your described a = situation=20 of wanting to print from a wireless equipped computer to a wired lan = printer. Or do i misremember? If you know the IP address of the printer you = should=20 be able to find, ping, and use it from the wireless computer. Printer = driver=20 installation which may be needed to find the printer for printing is a = separate=20 issue.

is a

closet

I'd

printers

wired

consoles

talks

But

WAP54G

True, no wired LANs[*], but the existing WRT54G has the DSL router hanging off it. I don't really want to have to disconnect from the Internet WLAN and connect to the printer WLAN while the printer is running.

closet

consoles

I understand that (sorta) but it appears that I'd need two WAPs, one next to the WRT and the other next to the printer, to extend the network wirelessly. If the WRT would talk to the WAP only one would be needed.

...unless we're talking past each other.

I have a DLINK wireless bridge in my basement that attaches to two NAS devices and an old IBM Intellistation that's mainly a print server. From the network point of view, they work just as though they were all on the same subnet with the rest of the house.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

that it

WRT54G

Linksys

discontiguous=20

situation=20

printer.

should=20

driver=20

separate=20

hanging off

and

If i understand you correctly the DSL line comes in to the DSL router = which has=20 wireless. There is also a wired connection from the DSL router to the = WRT54G=20 which also has wireless. I guess that the printer is wire connected to the WRT54G.

Two questions:

Can you connect to the Internet through the WRT54G wireless port?

Can you connect to the printer through the DSL router wireless port?

The way i understand networking this should be normally: yes, yes.

Some settings may have to be examined.

next to

wirelessly.

It does sound like we are not quite connecting.

separate

The DSL line comes into the DSL MODEM, which is connected to the WRT54G. Everything else is wireless from there.

No, the printer is connected to my laptop via a wired LAN. I want to connect the other laptop to the printer.

Sure. That's the only way. ;-)

No. Again, it's on the wired LAN connected to my laptop. The object is to print from my wife's laptop, which is only connected via WLAN.

Just as I thought. We were talking past each other.

What I wanted to do was to connect the printer to the WLAN and have the WRT54G do all the routing through its wireless port.

indicates that it

WRT54G

when Linksys

discontiguous=20

situation=20

printer.

should=20

Printer driver=20

a separate=20

hanging off

and

which has=20

WRT54G=20

connect

to

WRT54G

Now that i have a correct view of your network, install the printer = driver=20 on her laptop and it *should* find the network printer connected to the=20 WRT54G. It really _is_ supposed to be that simple. It may be worthwhile= =20 to use the printer settings and WRT54 settings (yes both) to set up = "fixed"=20 IP address for the printer.

that it

Linksys

situation

printer.

driver

separate

off

has

It needs to be installed as a shared printer, and the computers will need to be configued for 'printer and file sharing'

it

Linksys

situation

printer.

driver

separate

off

has

I don't think so...

The printer is *not* connected to the WRT54G. That's the problem. It's connected to my laptop. Nothing is *wired* to the WRT54G, except the DSL modem (and wall).

that it

WRT54G

Linksys

situation

printer.

driver

separate

off

has

WRT54G

WRT54G

What does that do? If they're on the same net they're peers, as far as the printer goes. Of course the two computers might try to step on each other.

If the laptop doesn't allow the printer to be shared, the other computer can't access it. Without enabling file & printer sharing, all you can access is the shared documents folder. I have added enough computers to networks over the last seven years that I've had to configure to allow shared printers. In fact, some friends are moving their business right now, and I'll have to set up the new network.

How does the other printer know it's there? Which one gets to tell the other one it can't have it?

You said it was connected to your computer. It has priority, and should spool a print job from the other computer until your's is finished. I've had three computers, each with a different kind of printer on my network. A monochrome laser printer in my home office, a color inkjet in my bedroom, and a photo printer in the shop. I could print on any of them from any computer, as long as both computers and the printer was on.

You could consider a different router and get one with a USB printer port, like the US Robotics MAXg I am using right now.

Oh, I thought you were talking about JKK's assumption of my Wired-LAN topology (WRT54G at the center). Certainly if I route through my computer it would have to know to share it. That's not what I want to do though. I want SWMBO to be able to print without my laptop being powered on (or even at home).

The WRT54G is located in the center of the house, about 10' off the floor. I really want to use the WLAN.