Summary

Chapter 7: Fundamental Printers and Scanners 7Ethernet ConnectionsPrinters can be shared over a network. Connecting a printer to the network requires cabling(such as Ethernet) that is compatible with both the existing network and the network portinstalled in the printer. Most network printers use an RJ-45 interface to connect to a network.Wireless ConnectionsWireless printing technology is available in infrared, Bluetooth, and wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) technology.For infrared communication to take place between a printer and a computer, transmittersand receivers are required on both devices. There must be a clear line of sight between thetransmitter and receiver on both devices, with a maximum distance of 12 feet (3.7 m).Infrared uses a type of light that is invisible to the human eye.Bluetooth technology uses an unlicensed radio frequency for short-range communicationand is popular for wireless headsets and synching PDAs to laptops and desktop computers.A Bluetooth adapter allows a Bluetooth device to connect to a printer, usually by using aUSB port.Wi-Fi is the popular name for a relatively new technology that lets you connect computersto a network without using cables. Wi-Fi technology has four common standards, all ofwhich begin with the number of the IEEE standard, 802.11:■■802.11a transfers data at a rate of up to 54 Mbps at 5 GHz.802.11b transfers data at a rate of 11 Mbps at 2.4 GHz.■■802.11g transfers data at a rate of 54 Mbps at 2.4 GHz. 802.11g products are backward-compatiblewith 802.11b.802.11n is currently in the standardization process and is expected to be approved witha maximum data transfer rate of up to 248 Mbps.Describe Laser PrintersA laser printer, such as the one shown in Figure 7-2, is a high-quality, fast printer that usesa laser beam to create an image. The central part of the laser printer is its electrophotographicdrum. The drum is a metal cylinder that is coated with a light-sensitive insulatingmaterial. When a beam of laser light strikes the drum, it becomes a conductor at the pointwhere the light hits it. As the drum rotates, the laser beam draws an electrostatic image onthe drum, called the image. The undeveloped or latent image is passed by a supply of dryink or toner that is attracted to it. The drum turns and brings this image into contact withthe paper, which attracts the toner from the drum. The paper is passed through a fuser thatis made up of hot rollers, which melts the toner into the paper.