how to: setup PC+printer+router to print with iPad - w/o internet!

[izzyusa]

Folks,

Can anyone help me with this problem?

I have a PC and a printer. The location does NOT have internet access.
What I want to do is to add a wireless router to the PC so that I can print from an iPad.

So the setup is: A PC+printer+router, creating a "local" wifi connection just so it can be viewed by the iPad so that the iPad can print using that PC, even through there's no internet connection

Is that possible? If so, how would I go about that setup?

Thanks so much in advance!

Izzy

 

[Tim SPRACKLEN]

Your setup looks fine. You need to make sure that either your printer is supported by the iPad (i.e. it's an AirPrint compatible printer) or that you have third-party software - such as PrintCentral - on your iPad, if the printer is not AirPrint compatible. Third party apps, such as the one I've mentioned, support most - but not all - printers but do support all printers if there's a PC there too with the printer connected (they print via the PC). Since you don't intend to have a PC there too, you might need to be careful that, if your printer is not directly AirPrint compatible (list of these printers is on the Apple Website) that the third-party app would support it.

Tim

 

[jpp]

Not sure if I have your setup right, but you might try to see if this PC solution will work for you.

 

[DontUnderstandMyIpad]

If you don't already have a wifi router, then you may want to buy one with USB printer sharing, such as the Airport Express. Those let you connect the printer via USB to the wifi route, so you can then print from the iPad directly, without the need for the PC. Of course you can also print from the PC to the printer. You just wouldn't be dependent on the PC as a middle-man.

So iPad->Wifi router->Printer is really all you need to print.

And of course an app, such as Print'n'Share, which can print to any printer on the wifi network.

 

[izzyusa]

Many thanks for all the great responses guys. This is exactly what I was looking for.

Best regards!

 

[jpp]

......
And of course an app, such as Print'n'Share, which can print to any printer on the wifi network.

So this will allow printing to any printer - not just the limited number of Airprint enabled printers?

 

[Tim SPRACKLEN]

......
And of course an app, such as Print'n'Share, which can print to any printer on the wifi network.

So this will allow printing to any printer - not just the limited number of Airprint enabled printers?

It will allow direct WiFi printing to almost any printer (i.e. even those not AirPrint compatible) and absolutely any printer connected to a WiFi-enabled laptop or PC running a small free downloaded app from the Developer's website.

However, it does not quite provide the in-app printing capability offered by a true AirPrint-compatible printer because you need to switch to PrintNShare to be able to print the document in question whereas, if you had an AirPrint compatible printer, you could print directly from within any app that supports in-app printing (and, be warned, not all apps do support in-app printing, including some of Apple's - such as Calendar and Notes).

Tim

 

[txteevee]

My next question was answered in this thread. Thanks!