A wireless printer’s convenience may reduce the amount of available bandwidth, which will make your computer seem slower. Wireless printing, though uncommon, can make your computer slower by installing extra software programmes and congealing the wireless network. The majority of wireless printers come equipped with the means of minimising any network or computer slowdowns.
Slowing the Network with RAW Data
Printers need the file in a special uncompressed format called RAW whether you’re printing a document, an image, or a magazine. It takes a lot of bandwidth to deliver these RAW files to the wireless printer because they are frequently many times bigger than the original file. These print jobs double the load on the Wi-Fi when they are sent from a wireless computer to a wireless printer. This is accomplished by first using wireless bandwidth to send the file from the printing computer to the access point, then using that same wireless bandwidth to forward the file to the wireless printer. Your wireless connection as well as the wireless connections of other computers to the Internet will significantly slowdown in the middle of a print job.
Slowing Down With Decreased Reliability
Wireless printing reduces the dependability of your print queue, though it is more of a nuisance than a serious problem. A wireless network is less dependable than a direct cable connection because it is susceptible to the ups and downs of interference-causing elements like microwave ovens and overactive clients. Your print job may become delayed by a corrupted print file, requiring you to restart the print process and interfering with other tasks.
Slowing Down With Software
Many wireless printers come with installation and configuration software. The majority of the time, this software has little effect on how quickly your computer runs. However, some software has extra features that increase its load on your computer, such as an ink level monitor that must communicate with the printer frequently. Some drivers actually make the operating system and their software incompatible, which slows down computers and causes system hang-ups.
What You Can Do
Wireless printing is useful, but it’s not always required. Your wireless devices can still print to that printer over the network if you connect your wireless printer to your network via an Ethernet connection, a functionality that is frequently offered to wireless printers. By doing this, the amount of wireless bandwidth used for printing is cut in half, lowering the possibility of a slowdown. Visit the website of the company that makes your printer to make sure your drivers are up to date. Install a driver-only version of the software if one is offered if you don’t use the extra features that the printer’s driver software offers.
