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IrDA (infrared) |
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IrDA devices transmit and receive data via infrared light pulses -the same technology that operates a television set's remote control. Most laptops and PDAs have an infrared port built in for this type of data communications. Typical data rates for IrDA communications are around 4 Mbps- not blindingly fast by today's standards, but not too bad for quick and easy communication. However, as convenient as this may be, the range for infrared communications is right around three feet. This is effective when transmitting data from a notebook to a PDA, or from a PDA to a personal printer, but is limiting in a larger network that includes shared printers.
IrDA technology is by far the simplest way to connect PDAs and laptops with an IrDA-enabled printer ,such as the LaserJet 4100 mfp printer. This approach to PDA wireless printing is an affordable way to provide quick and easy printing for consultants who won't necessarily have network access, or in a public-access space such as a lobby. However, for an IrDA solution to work, the computer or PDA must have a clear line of sight to the printer, which can make up for a crowded three-foot space around a shared printer. |
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Bluetooth |
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Bluetooth, a radio-based technology, has garnered a great deal of interest and support from various manufacturers; it appears in a wide variety of devices, such as cell phones, PDAs, laptops, and printers. Two Bluetooth devices can automatically communicate when they come within range of each other, making this technology convenient and easy to use. However, the transmission rate for Bluetooth is a maximum of 1 Mbps and the range is somewhat limited at 30 feet.
Many printers, like the HP DeskJet 995c, have built-in Bluetooth technology, which allows you to extend wireless printing to all members of a workgroup who have Bluetooth-enabled PDAs or notebooks and are within 30 feet of the printer. This approach to wireless printing is perfect for training rooms, ad hoc project rooms, small task centers, and other small and medium-sized areas that you regularly need to reconfigure or adapt to different uses.
Note: Many newer notebooks and PDAs come with Bluetooth support built in, and you can easily enable older systems with a Bluetooth card. |
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Wi-Fi (802.11b) |
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The Wi-Fi wireless standard, also known as 802.11b, has become a very popular medium as more manufacturers release higher-quality products at reasonable prices. Typical implementations for 802.11b wireless networking include connecting laptops to corporate networks, and allowing home networking users to connect PCs together without introducing new wiring. With a transmission distance of around 300 feet and a throughput rate that tops out at 11 Mbps, Wi-Fi provides amble throughput for most wireless applications.
A wireless print server like those in the HP Jetdirect family can make just about any wired printer into a wireless printer. Once you've freed your printer from its cables, you can offer users a flexible printing service that lets you reconfigure your network printing infrastructure in a matter of minutes. If different groups in your office share a color laser printer for big projects, put it on a cart and wheel it from area to area to match demand. As you redesign your office space you can plan to place printers where they are most convenient for users, instead of where a network drop happens to be. Does a printer best serve a workgroup on a stand in the middle of common area (a location most unfriendly to cables)? Put it there. The possibilities and permutations are endless when your printers are unfettered.
Tip: Wireless Jetdirect print servers are available in both internal and external versions. Learn more about which one to choose in the next section of the guide.
When you extend Wi-Fi capabilities to your printer with a Jetdirect wireless print server, you don't just lose the wires -you gain print management tools-. Installation utilities like the Wireless Setup Wizard make configuration straightforward and fast, and all HP Jetdirect print servers come with embedded Web servers and HP Web Jetadmin software that make all of the tools you need to administer the printer available from the closest Web browser.
Protocols and products aside, there's some planning involved if you want to make the most of your wireless printing solutions. In the next section, you'll learn how to design the blueprint for your wireless printing environment. |
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Using wireless printing |
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Printable version
