On Sat, May 9, 2009 at 11:11 AM, Rik Boland <rik_bol...@btinternet.com> wrote: > Hi > > I got a router free when I got my broadband but shops sell routers. > > Why and what the difference - r they better? > > Also is there a way to make my wired printer wireless? > > Shalom > > -- > Rik Boland > 15 Stanley Place, Lancaster, LA1 5NP > 07866439588 > > > -- > ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk > https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/ > . The router that ASDL companies give you are often very basic, with little control of more advanced functions. They can also be a bit flaky(Depends on who the router was made by), so purchasing a new one can give you more features such as advanced firewall rules and VOIP functions. If you are happy with the stability and don't use the advanced features then the one you have should be fine.
If the printer has an ethernet port, just plug it in to the router(Which I assume is wireless?) and you can print over the network wirelessly- Depending on the printer it may take a bit of fiddling around with, but Ubuntu is usually good at picking up printers- far better than the windows printer setup. If the printer only has a USB/Parallel port then you have two options. The cheapest in the short term is to plug the printer into a desktop machine, and share it across the network. Printing does require the machine to be switched on when you need to print though. The second option is to get a print server, which is basically a box with a USB/parallel port at one end and an ethernet at the other. Plug the printer in one end and the router in the other. You can get wireless versions, but they are pretty expensive. Some routers are also starting to have a built in printer server, so one of these may be an option. Some printers can be a bit fussy about this, so it's probably best to have a google before buying anything to check that it will work. HTH, Matt. -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/