Wirelessly Print With What I Have?

[appleguy123]

Hi All,
I just bought a new 17" Unibody MacBook Pro and would like to wirelessly print from it without spending a lot of money. I own a cannon Pixma MP480 and a Netgear router w/o a USB Port ( I can give you the model number if it matters but I am not near it now). I have seen the Cannon BU-30 but it is pretty expensive and I was wondering if any class one Bluetooth dongle would work. WiFi printing would be fine also.
So with the criteria I have given you, what would you recommend? I would like to spend under $30 on this because it is not a necessity and really just for convenience. I do not want to buy a new router or printer as they are brand new and don't need replacing.
Thanks for your help.

 

[appleguy123]

Does anyone know?

 

[captain-rossco]

any other pc's in the house?

Regards
CR

 

[Kronie]

does your printer have a ethernet port?
does your router have data ports?

 

[galstaph]

The bluetooth dongle would be the ideal solution, but it is expensive, and I belive it has to be canon (hp's are like that). The cheapest you can do is go build your own print server like described here or purchase a small print server box like the netgear wireless usb print server (79.99 new @ best buy) or find an airport express base station as they also have a print server built in (could likely find an older used one (g) or something to save some cash, the new n spec is 99$)

 

[m85476585]

If you have a PC or another mac, you can connect the printer to that and share it, then point your MBP to the shared printer.

 

[appleguy123]

does your printer have a ethernet port?
does your router have data ports?

No on thhe printer... but my router identifies this as a usb but usb ports dont fit in it... can someone explain that?

 

[m85476585]

That looks like a Netgear. What model is it (should say on the bottom)?

Also, rectangular USB connectors will physically fit in most ethernet jacks!

 

[appleguy123]

That looks like a Netgear. What model is it (should say on the bottom)?

Also, rectangular USB connectors will physically fit in most ethernet jacks!

The far right

 

[appleguy123]

That looks like a Netgear. What model is it (should say on the bottom)?

Also, rectangular USB connectors will physically fit in most ethernet jacks!

model is CG814GCMR

 

[m85476585]

I see the USB port, but it might not be designed to connect to a printer. If that is a coax cable on the right, the router is probably also your modem, and a lot of modems have USB ports to connect them to the computer if you have a computer without ethernet/wireless. If that is the case, you probably can't use that USB port to connect a printer since the router is not expecting one.

 

[m85476585]

model is CG814GCMR

There is nothing in the specifications about printer support. I think the USB cable is only meant to connect it to connect it to a computer (but ethernet is almost ALWAYS better if possible).

http://www.netgear.com/Products/RoutersandGateways/WirelessGRouters/CG814GCMR.aspx

 

[appleguy123]

There is nothing in the specifications about printer support. I think the USB cable is only meant to connect it to connect it to a computer (but ethernet is almost ALWAYS better if possible).

http://www.netgear.com/Products/RoutersandGateways/WirelessGRouters/CG814GCMR.aspx

I see... What are some non apple routers w/ usb?

 

[OldGuyDave]

No on thhe printer... but my router identifies this as a usb but usb ports dont fit in it... can someone explain that?

My D-Link has a USB port like that and it's only to connect the PC to set up the router before it connects to the network. But like galstaph said, I'D go with a lttle print server that connects to the printers USB port. Cheaper than a new printer.