My daughter has a Canon IMAGE Class MF236 USB only laser printer which is connected to her desktop Windows 10 PC. She has a Widows laptop (I think it's Windows 10) that she wants to print to her Canon printer.
Is there a way to do this?
Yes, you can share it from the desktop computer to which it is connected. Here is a tutorial that provides details:
Share a Printer in Windows 10
That may not work, as I was just informed that her desktop died.
I wonder if there is some hardware device that will connect her printer via USB and WiFi/
I just had a brain fart.
How about a WiFi USB Hub?
I have never heard of a WiFi USB hub, so I cannot comment on that. However, a lot of routers have USB that can be used to share a printer so that might be one possibility.
Is your printer the MF236n (note that I added an "n" to the model number you posted)? If so, that printer has Ethernet connectivity which presents two more possibilities:
1) Simply connect to your router via Ethernet.
2) If you can't run Ethernet to where the printer is located you can use an Ethernet to WiFi adapter. Here is an example of one:
Amazon.com
As an aside, that is the solution that I am using. I have a printer with an Ethernet connection but it is nowhere near a location where I can plug it in. I used that little IOGEAR WiFi adapter and can now access the printer from any computer on my network, both wired and WiFi. I've been using that solution for a little over 2.5 years and have NEVER had a single hiccup with it. Rock solid and every bit as reliable as a wired connection.
I thought of one other possible solution. This assumes again that your printer has an Ethernet connection:
Power line adapters. With a power line adapter, you would connect to adapter to your printer via Ethernet, and then plug in the adapter into a wall outlet. A second power line adapter gets plugged into a wall outlet near your router or an Ethernet hub / switch and this unit is also plugged into a wall outlet. Your house electrical wiring between the two adapters is then used as it it was an Ethernet connection.
Here is an article that better describes how these adapters work:
What Is a Powerline Adapter?
I just ordered the IOGEAR WiFi adapter. Will have it toorow. If I run into any snage setting it up, I will reply to this thread.
Thanks for the info.
Sounds good. I'd be happy to help if you have any difficulties since I have one myself.
Is the adapter USB or ethernet based? I've seen ethernet based adapters that add WiFi capability, but not USB based ones. (The WiFi USB adapters I've seen probably do not function in anything but a PC, with drivers.)
I see that the printer also has an ethernet port.
I have my printers connected to my wireless router using ethernet. My WiFi connected PCs (laptop, secondary desktop) work that way, just fine. If you could do the same, you'd need no additional adapters.
Please let us know how things work out for you.
This adapter is Ethernet based. More specifically, it is an Ethernet to WiFi bridge. It has a micro USB port on it but the only purpose of that port is to provide power.
The whole purpose of this device is to allow any device with Ethernet to become accessible wirelessly.
Hi folks
Simpler solution (and a lot cheaper) -- "El Cheapo" USB->LAN (ethernet) adapter -- then just run piece of ethernet cable to printer
depends on distance, cabling lengths etc etc - but might be a real easy solution if you don't need printer attached all the time to laptop.
Cheers
jimbo
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