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General Category => Off the Record => Computer Affairs => Topic started by: viper37 on August 23, 2011, 01:49:24 PM

Title: Cloud printing or printing a distant network
Post by: viper37 on August 23, 2011, 01:49:24 PM
I was searching for a low cost (i.e. free ;) ) solution to print to a (future) distant printer.

One way for me to send documents (e-mail, notes, phone messages, PDF, Excel, Word) to a printer that would be connected to the router in my father's home office (the smoker area where non smokers and little children are not admitted ;) ).  A way for me to avoid printing documents here and getting them there (even tough it's only a few hundred meters, it gets annoying and it's bad for my health to enter his office while breathing).

I need something simple so that I can get him the documents, he doesn't use a computer, so I can't forward the e-mails to his girlfriend.

I was looking at Google Cloud, but despite what the documentation leads you to believe, it only works with Google Docs and Google Chrome.

I saw expensive (1000s of dollars) network printing solution, but I'll walk through rain&snow storms before shelling that much money ;)

There's got to be a way for me to connect a wireless printer to the router in his home and send documents directly over there.  Something free, web based, anything, really...  ?
Title: Re: Cloud printing or printing a distant network
Post by: ulmont on August 23, 2011, 03:35:00 PM
Quote from: viper37 on August 23, 2011, 01:49:24 PM
There's got to be a way for me to connect a wireless printer to the router in his home and send documents directly over there.  Something free, web based, anything, really...  ?

What's the problem - that his wireless printer that is a few hundred meters away is still far enough that it's a separate network?
Title: Re: Cloud printing or printing a distant network
Post by: viper37 on August 23, 2011, 08:34:59 PM
Quote from: ulmont on August 23, 2011, 03:35:00 PM
What's the problem - that his wireless printer that is a few hundred meters away is still far enough that it's a separate network?
His house is too far away to be on my own office network, even with an 802.11n network, his girlfriend's computer does not see my network.  I can barely get a connection from accross the house anyway.

So, he has his own internet connection in there.  He barely ever comes to the office because he's a smoker and I don't allow anyone to smoke inside since I bought the house.  So, he's got his own office where he can smoke.

Problem is, I need to send him messages, or documents from time to time.  I have to print them here and walk/drive over there to give him the documents, or phone him to give him his messages.
I find that annoying, I often happen to go at a time where he's dining or sleeping or smoking.  And I need my asthma medication everytime I walk into his office.  Yurk.

So, I'd like to buy an HP ink-jet wireless printer wich I will set in his office.  Everyday, I'll print the messages&documents I need to give him on his printer.

But to do this, I need some software that will let me print, from any application, to his own (future) wireless printer.
Google Cloud Printing only works with Chrome and Google Docs, so I need something else.

If I can't find something free, or nearly free, I'll simply keep on walking over there.  But I'd prefer another solution to avoid wasting time.
Title: Re: Cloud printing or printing a distant network
Post by: ulmont on August 23, 2011, 09:02:04 PM
Quote from: viper37 on August 23, 2011, 08:34:59 PM
If I can't find something free, or nearly free, I'll simply keep on walking over there.  But I'd prefer another solution to avoid wasting time.

Looks like $20 to remove ads or $0 with ads:
http://www.printershare.com/
Title: Re: Cloud printing or printing a distant network
Post by: viper37 on August 23, 2011, 09:50:12 PM
Looks great! Will try with the ads first, thanks :)
Title: Re: Cloud printing or printing a distant network
Post by: Arvoreen on August 25, 2011, 12:19:18 PM
If you each have your own internet connection and local LAN, why not just bridge them with a VPN tunnel?  Then you can add his printer and send them as if it was local.
Title: Re: Cloud printing or printing a distant network
Post by: viper37 on August 28, 2011, 10:44:35 AM
I don't know how to do that... are there softwares, free softwares, that makes this easy to do?
Title: Re: Cloud printing or printing a distant network
Post by: Arvoreen on August 29, 2011, 10:36:26 AM
LogMeIn by Hamachi should work great for this situation....
https://secure.logmein.com/products/hamachi/download.aspx
Title: Re: Cloud printing or printing a distant network
Post by: viper37 on August 30, 2011, 09:23:17 AM
I had that on my laptop... hmm... will try again.
Title: Re: Cloud printing or printing a distant network
Post by: Arvoreen on August 30, 2011, 11:55:15 AM
You would need to set it up on your dad's computer, and then create a network that both of you can be logged onto.  If you then allow sharing of the printer over that network, you should be all set.
Title: Re: Cloud printing or printing a distant network
Post by: viper37 on September 09, 2011, 12:07:40 PM
Yes, I know that part.  Only problem is the laptop won't be always on.
I'll figure a way, thanks :)