Wireless printer for the motorhome? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Lightfin · RV-Dreams Family Member

Wireless printer for the motorhome?

The Restless Youngs · RV-Dreams Family Member

We bought a Canon Pixma ip100 portable printer with the bluetooth adapter. Small, compact and prints very nicely. Don't need to run through the router--laptop needs bluetooth. So far we are very happy with it and really like the size (small).

The Junkman · RV-Dreams Family Member

We run a full sized wireless brother laser / fax / scanners... cause I hate paying for ink.. Still kinda small..

Aurora Borealis · RV-Dreams Family Member

If I have my Hotspot turned on in my iPhone, then it seems to be working as a router to my HP OfficeJet 7610, either from my iPad or my iPhone. It does not seem to print directly from my iPhone if the Hotspot is turned off Even with the Bluetooth turned on. (I only have cellular data.)

My guess is it varies depending on what you are using.

i also guess if you want a real answer it is probably in Technomadia's book, which I have but have not read.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bluetooth would work, but for photos and such it might take a long time to print since Bluetooth is slower than WiFi.

Printers that hook to WiFi normally can only talk to one WiFi network, so you have to be consistent. Computers, tablets, etc., can remember many WiFi network name (SSID), passcode combinations, but a printer is set up for one and has to be completely redone to change WiFi networks. You can set them up with the WiFi hotspot on a smartphone, or a mobile hotspot (MiFi/Jetpack), or a wireless router. But once set up, you have to switch your computer to that WiFi network name (SSID/passcode pair) to print. Smartphones and tablets normally print only to WiFi or they print via a cloud, like Google Print. Don't set them up on campground WiFi, since then anyone on the campground can print to your printer.

My experience is HP wireless printers were the hardest to setup and to keep setup, but newer ones might be better. We have a Canon all-in-one and it was a bit of a pain to put the passcode in via the limited keypad on the printer, but it has worked for a year with no changes.

-- Edited by bjoyce on Saturday 22nd of November 2014 08:58:04 PM

The Junkman · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hmm.. Sounds complicated.. I turn it on..... hit print.. and it works.. on any of the 3 computers..

Had to set it up in the computer like a year ago.. the driver..i guess. And thats it..

Kinda plug and play..no networks.. no router..

Lightfin · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks much for all the feedback and information.

WilliamDucharme · RV-Dreams Community Member

I have used the Epson printers since the very beginning for motorhome and it’s running amazing. I think you should only replace the head and if you’re looking best free fax app for mac then Cocofax offer the best service which you can browse at https://cocofax.com/ .The printer is renewed by changing the head. I have tried it. It works.

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

The Junkman wrote:
Hmm.. Sounds complicated.. I turn it on..... hit print.. and it works.. on any of the 3 computers..

Had to set it up in the computer like a year ago.. the driver..i guess. And thats it..

Kinda plug and play..no networks.. no router..

You've got some type of network going.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

This is a 6-year-old thread, and some of the respondents to it haven't been on the forums in almost as many years.

Keep in mind that Howard prefers that we NOT revive old posts. When preparing to post a comment, look at the date below the username and avatar, and if the thread is over one year old, please don't post to it.

Terry

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Wow that is an old thread. Junkman hasn't been on in years, I think he got out of RVing and into flipping houses. I remember meeting up with him and his wife at Five Guys in Fort Myers.

Anyway most printers now come with wifi and no cables. Setups have gotten easier, but I have not encountered one that works with multiple wifi networks yet, so my old post about using only one wifi network for the printer still stands.

ideshine · RV-Dreams Family Member

What printer did you end up buying? I am looking for a wireless printer too.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

ideshine wrote:
What printer did you end up buying? I am looking for a wireless printer too.

The original poster hasn't been on since September of 2020. They don't get on often, so don't expect a quick answer.

As to your question, the wife and I have an Epson in our RV (a number of years old), and when we go out on the road for our Summer work gig, she has a Canon that is pretty small and portable for us to carry in a small plastic tub. For the most part, a LOT of printers now are wireless, and maybe even all of them. I've not looked at desktop printers in ages.

Terry