Also ad hoc networking is a topology. Ad hoc networking can be done in a number of ways. It's not dependent on specific hardware per se. And it doesn't need a wireless capability to make it work. You could do an ad hoc network with a crossover cable and two NICs. Or with multiple PCs, cables, and a dumb network hub or switch - no router required. That's how it used to be done before wifi came out.

which was the point I was trying to make

Using a wifi connection just makes it much more convenient.

except it apparently doesn't

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Quote

Using a wifi connection just makes it much more convenient.

except it apparently doesn't

Well...it's certainly more convenient than finding a crossover cable. Or cables and a network hub (or switch) to plug things into.

Of course if you went through the trouble of getting a switch you could have just gotten yourself a router (which is actually a router with a built-in 4-port switch in most consumer-level units)...and since you've put that much money in, why not just get a wifi router (which is actually a wireless access point + a router + a network switch all in one convenient appliance) for not many dollars more and...be done with it?


That way, all you need to do is set your NIC to use DHCP and know the passkey for your wireless router. Bingo! You're in. And not just when you're at home. It works virtually everywhere else too. Because that's the way it's done. And it "just works." Most times at least. (The huge number of totally clueless people who routinely access networks and the Internet without firing up a single brain synapse are proof enough.)

Contrast that with setting static IP addresses...making sure there's no duplicate addresses in use...hoping Windows sorts out which member PC is going to be elected as the master browser for the P2P...and on and on. Then, you get to undo all of that and reconfigure your NIC back to DHCP when you want to use just about any other network out there.

So no...I really do think it's both easier and more convenient to use a router than an ad hoc network. Once a router is properly configured (not a difficult task even for a techno-weenie) you need to know nada to use it going forward. With an ad hoc, you actually do need to know something - and redo it any time you want to "net in" to something else.

The lowly 'router' is a lovely thing indeed.

It probably depends on the model and make. Good designs default to the fastest connection available. So if you cable in, it uses that connection instead of wifi.

My Brother multifunction now has a cable plugged into it. It seems fine with that. The original wifi setup is still in place too. If I pull the cable, wireless takes over seamlessly. And direct wireless printing works fine too.

I like having that separate direct print capability for when I have clients or friends over who need to print something from their phone or laptop. That way I don't have to give them access to my home or office network to do it.

YMMV

My experience with low end Samsung printers is very discouraging, whereas I have had nothing but good results with Brother.

I have set up several technologically challenged elder relatives with inexpensive Brother wireless printers  (e.g., 22780DW) and had no problems at all, unlike with the Samsungs that they replaced in some cases.

@xtabber - That's good news to hear. This was my first Brother multifunction appliance purchase (for myself) and I was a little leery of dropping about $250 on this type of device.

However, one of my clients, who is an attorney (and probably one of the most tech savvy 'civilians' I know), swears by Brother printers. His blessing off on the model I eventually decided on (he owns two of them) was the tipping point for me to haul out some plastic and get one.

So far so good. I'm now on my second toner cartridge and it's working like a champ. Being monochrome laser, it's fairly economical too.

Quote from: 40hz on January 22, 2015, 01:46 PM

Well...it's certainly more convenient than finding a crossover cable.

While true, it's amazing how many things are auto crossing these days.

Yeah...Sometimes even intentionally!

In our school, we have mostly Samsung lasers.  Not the real expensive ones we use are about $300.  They work well and we don't have to repair them  Unlike a couple of HP printers that need feed rollers in them all the time.

I'll show my ignorance here and ask what's probably a stupid question.

If I can create an adhoc wired 'network' so easily, then why is a wireless solution so much different.  The comm's should be the same, so we're only talking about the means of transmission (is landline v mobile telephony is an appropriate analogy?)

Since others have already covered the basic technical aspects, I'll just add this. While it would be possible to overcome the technical hurdles, it would require an R&D investment which doesn't make sense financially because there isn't enough of a market for it.

Most people who would buy a wireless printer already have some sort of Wi-Fi enabled router or switch installed. Adding the dumb Wi-Fi interfaces used today costs very little because the technology is already commoditized so the cost per unit is minimal but it will sell a lot more printers. They're only going to improve those interfaces if they expect to recoup those costs in revenue growth.

Keep in mind, I'm not saying the results couldn't justify the cost, but I guarantee the manufacturers are.

My experience with HP is to stick to the real business class products and you'll be fine. T'was a time when that was all they sold, so it was a no-brainer going with HP. The old Laserjets (II/3/4/5/81xx/85xx, etc.) were built like tanks and un-killable. And they were repairable (often even field repairable) if anything did go wrong.

Then HP (of necessity) got into home/consumer-grade products...and the results are what we live with today.

But I don't completely blame HP's engineers. It's hard to take engineering teams, who were used to designing and building what was often the Rolls-Royce of office and computer equipment, and suddenly expect them to start making "good enough" inexpensive pieces of plastic crap for the masses - most of whom were utterly "price motivated" when out shopping.

"Fast, cheap, reliable - pick any two," as the saying goes.

Since HP got serious in the low end business market in the early 2000s, they've done a pretty good job of addressing the cheap part too. If nothing else, you can buy some fantastic HP computers (from server to laptop), and sometimes printers too, for dirt cheap from a lot of electronics recyclers. When it comes to desktops, laptops, and, to a certain extent, printers, you can save a lot of money just because they don't have all the bells and whistles used to justify the price of most consumer hardware.

My experience with HP is to stick to the real business class products and you'll be fine. T'was a time when that was all they sold, so it was a no-brainer going with HP. The old Laserjets (II/3/4/5/81xx/85xx, etc.) were built like tanks and un-killable.

I've currently got an HP LaserJet 4050dn here in IT, and a standing threat to shoot anybody that tries to wander off with it.

And they were repairable (often even field repairable) if anything did go wrong.

We have a crew of 5 service techs that do HP (and other brands) field repairs, all day, every day. So they are still possible.

Then HP (of necessity) got into home/consumer-grade products...and the results are what we live with today.

I get where you're coming from here ... And yes, many of the really low end devices are ship to factory for disposal repair only. But I think that's only in the InkJet stuff...I honestly don't recall it ever happening with any of the LaserJets.

But I don't completely blame HP's engineers...

While I frequently spend much time swearing at them because of some of the designs...or the fact that they keep moving things. Over all I really like their products. Especially from the networking side where scan to Email/Folder/etc. services have to be tied into customer networks. I've dealt with the UI's from all of the major brands, and many of the fringe/copier brands. HP definitely has the best Embedded Web Server for administrative access going. Yes they tend to be slow as hell (since they went SSL). But they are laid out so that everything needed for a given task is in the section for that task.

I know you are not in the US but I would consider shipping it to you if you can use it, rather than throwing it in the trash.

Thanks for the offer but mine uses a #78 tri-colour. 

In the interest of getting the thread back on Target

@Target:

Yours if you want it:



Brand new in box, (for the last 2 years), got it cheap as a spare for 'justin' but it's highly unlikely I'd ever go back to a 100Mb switch.

Let me know what the ethernet MAC of the printer is and what IP you'd like it to have and I'll set up the static DHCP as well as WLAN+WPA2.

It'll give you a WiFI AP with a printer hanging off that phones/laptops/PCs/PVR/dogs*/etc should be able to access.


* Sony Aibo only.

Yours if you want it:

HA that's funny, I was looking at exactly the same one on a throw out table at officeworks only a couple of days ago ($19...)

Happy to help you out with this (reducing clutter is clearly one of your new years revolutions) - I'll PM you

and to wander off in search of wherever this thread was going, I understood this was a cheap printer, but compared to the inkjet my wifes been using it will have paid for itself a few times over even if I throw it out when the toner runs out.  I'm under no illusions about it's servicability, but so long as its reliable I don't have a problem