Print server is back, albeit in its capacity as a switch.

I got fed up of the net connection dropping to barely any signal every time something like the microwave was turned on, so now the router is in the living room in a corner, and the print server is where the router used to be. All works fine and flawlessly thankfully without any configuration beyond setting the wireless key. Signal has also improved from about 50% to 78%

The wireless switch is mines primary function as of last night, as I put an Axis Printserver in place.

I can now quickly print, see my printer lie to me about its ink levels, and even scan over the network.

do big files print ok ?  like a full page photo ?


I triend a couple of different print servers a few years back, but couldnt find out whcih didnt crap out as soon as i printed something big ?

Thats why I stopped using it for that use. Ironically though the print server is fine if the print data comes through from the router...

So:

My pc -> print server->printer = fail

But

My pc -> router -> print server -> parents computer -> printer = win

Am guessing it works because maybe the data from the pc to pc is compressed or something, whilst when acting as a print server its processor struggles to process the larger data?

The problems I had basically had large PDFs printing text in random colours all over the page, was bizarre!

PC to PC always worked for me too....

but its a pain needing to either turn an extra pc on, or leave one running just for the printer.... right now Ive just got a gouple or 5m usb extenders hooked up going round the edge of the rom to the other side of the room where the printer is... works ok....ish... the cables are a bit short tho

Axis one works fine for this, but its pretty specific to Canon printers.
Theres a 1650 on ebay at the moment going cheaply.  They were nearly £200 new.

Swapped out my old Wg311t pci wireless card and the router for some linksys wireless n dual band gubbins and the homegroup issue is a thing of the past.

Now I wish I had done it in stages to see whether it was the card or the router causing problems. My money is on the card as it must have been 6 years old I think, wasnt supported by vista either!