Printers connected by Bluetooth

[LizzieW]

My laptop is connected to my husband's printer via the wireless router.  The problem is that if his machine is turned off, or even in sleep mode (which it is more often than not as he has it set to turn off after about 15 minutes non use) I can't print anything.  So he had a bright idea that I could connect to his printer via a bluetooth device which he has just bought - having asked Canon which device they recommended.  I use bluetooth quite successfully on my laptop to download photos from my 'phone which I did today just to check it was working OK, however, we cannot seem to connect the printer via bluetooth to my laptop.  My husband bought a small plug in device and his PC is now connected to the printer both by router and bluetooth.  I downloaded a printer driver, in case that was the problem but I can't seem to download the printer connected by bluetooth.  I installed the Toshiba Bluetooth Driver and Softward (via a disc), but still no luck.

Any ideas please?  Otherwise, I will get very fit running up and downstairs to turn on OH's PC every time I want to print something.

Oh to be more computer literate.

Lizzie

[stevieuk]

As you are now using Bluetooth have you paired the devices?

Can you see the Bluetooth gadget/printer?

It could be that it is too far away from where you are and cannot get a signal?

As you use a laptop try setting it up nearer the printer gadget and this should eliminate any signal problem.

I`ve only used bluetooth with a phone so not to sure if there is more involved with your issues.

[LizzieW]

We haven't managed to pair the devices. We did try putting the laptop next to the printer and PC to see if I could pair the devices which is the only way I could get my son's and grandson's mobile 'phones paired with my laptop.  Once done though, I can download photos from my son's 'phone to my PC via bluetooth when his mobile is not near to my laptop.

If I right click on the printer icon on my laptop, under sharing it states the printer will not be available when the computer is sleeping or turned off, which is why we were hoping to add the same printer via bluetooth, so that OH's PC will not have to be turned on when I want to print.

Of course, if the only way Bluetooth will work is if I sit by his PC and printer, then I may as well just run upstairs where the PC is and turn on OH's PC and then use my laptop to send things to print in the usual way.

I'm sure there must be some way to set up a printer using Bluetooth.  When I go to Control Panel, Printers, add a printer there is an option for Bluetooth when I click on that it states "select the printer you wish to install from the list".  The only problem there is no list and unlike when trying to add a shared printer by name, there is no such option for Bluetooth.

[Nick29]

Bluetooth isn't really designed to travel very far at all.  It's a very puny signal compared to wi-fi.  Also, if there are two wi-fi signals present (or one wi-fi 'n' signal), Bluetooth may not work at all, because Bluetooth uses the same frequency band as wi-fi, and wi-fi will hog the bandwidth.

[LizzieW]

Thank you Nick and Stevie.  My OH will have to get back to the printer manufacturers for more help.  When he asked them about Bluetooth connection originally, he probably didn't think to tell them that my laptop is downstairs at the back of the house (not a big house) and the printer is upstairs at the front of the house

Lizzie

[Nick29]

I think you would be lucky to get 20 feet out of a Bluetooth connection.  Bluetooth is really designed for short distances, like phone earpieces, hands-free kits, etc.

[LizzieW]

OK, thanks Nick.  The "bumpf" that came with the Bluetooth dongle seems to imply that it can be used in an office so that many people can use the printer.  I suppose in an office most people would be fairly close to the printer. 

Lizzie

[stevieuk]

I think you would be lucky to get 20 feet out of a Bluetooth connection.  Bluetooth is really designed for short distances, like phone earpieces, hands-free kits, etc.

Some bluetooth gadgets can work over more than 20 feet, I have a Bluetooth handsfree in my car (not a custom fitted job) and that works easily up to 80 feet, thats the gadget in the car and me indoors.

Allegedly, a class 1 device can communicate up to 100 metres. Which I take with a pinch of salt.

[Nick29]

A friend of mine in the UK spoke to a New York taxi driver on CB radio using 4 watts of power, but that doesn't make it 'the norm', Stevie 

Bluetooth was designed with a very limited range, but of course the range that indviduals get will be affected by many outside factors.  I too have Bluetooth hands-free in my car, but when I first got it I was plagued by the Bluetooth randomly dropping out.  After several Google searches, I discovered that lots of other people had the same problem, and it occurred when people had forgotten to switch off the phone's wi-fi, as I had.