Raspberry Pi Forums

Hi guys & galls,

I'm looking for a budget network printer that works with the Pi (Raspian Buster), preferably wireless but not essential, I know I can purchase almost anything that'll work with my windows systems but I want to ensure it'll work with the Pi.

Workload isn't big (half a dozen or so pages a week) but finances (including running costs) are tight.

Any suggestions (with links to set up) would be appreciated.

Look for an IPP printer. It'll probably say AirPrint on the box. Something like a Brother MFC-L2750DW Compact Monochrome Laser Multifunction (I have one) works out of the box.

Setup? Try: It should be found automatically if on the same network.

More details: viewtopic.php?t=239561

Thanks Scruss but did I say budget, I'm not even going to check the exchange rate to UK sterling, I was looking for something around £100, hopefully cheaper.

Unfortunately the printer I bought a few years ago for £99 delivered (Dell c2660dn double-sided colour laser with wired network) is no longer available. It works perfectly with my Pis. The official replacement toner cartridges cost stupid amounts (£60 each - there are four of them - for the standard capacity and £100 each for the high capacity), but I get equivalent high capacity ones from an ebay seller for £7.50 each and they last me years. I bought the printer four years ago and I've just replaced the last two of the standard cartridges it came with.

A laser printer may use more power and takes a short while to warm up, but you don't have to worry about the ink drying up ever. Double sided print is a bonus

wildfire wrote: ↑

Fri May 08, 2020 3:12 pm

Hi guys & galls,

I'm looking for a budget network printer that works with the Pi (Raspian Buster), preferably wireless but not essential, I know I can purchase almost anything that'll work with my windows systems but I want to ensure it'll work with the Pi.

Workload isn't big (half a dozen or so pages a week) but finances (including running costs) are tight.

Any suggestions (with links to set up) would be appreciated.

HP Printers are well supported under Linux:

https://developers.hp.com/hp-linux-imag ... ices/index


I have a Envy 4500 series which is Wireless, so can print from almost any Operating System, this a more recent model:

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8882770

Thanks rpdom,

To be clear it doesn't have to be a laser, inkjet is fine it's only for personal correspondence. Scanner etc would be appreciated but not essential.

Thank you and scruss for your responses though, it's appreciated.

EDIT: just read FOTL's post, I'll look into all options. Take Care guys and be safe.

Until I got to the "budget" part, I was going to suggest what I use, an HP 2055dn. Still...I've seen used, reconditioned ones for as little as about $125 (list, new, appears to be around $650).

I start here so I don't have to worry about driver availability which can be an issue with some brands and models.

http://www.openprinting.org/printers/

Openprinting doesn't always mention ARM problems, so some companies list Linux compatibility that isn't there for Raspberry Pi.
HP support is great until it isn't.
If you're going for a wireless, just look for AirPrint compatibility. Almost all wifi printers - inkjet or laser - have it, as the iPad/iPhone market's too large to ignore. AirPrint is IPP, so will work with your Raspberry Pi with no driver setup.

wildfire wrote: ↑

Fri May 08, 2020 3:49 pm

To be clear it doesn't have to be a laser, inkjet is fine it's only for personal correspondence. Scanner etc would be appreciated but not essential.

I am not up on current inkjet technology but especially with the cheap ones the consumable prices are absurd and I always had issues with nozzles clogging/drying up, if they are not used often. If you don't need colour a cheap laser printer is the way to go. Price per page is better, and close to zero issues, even after extended idle time. Colour laser ups the purchase price and consumables but they are getting more reasonable.

For example I have a midpriced Samsung ML-3051-ND. Does double sided. It sits turned on, and sleeping, in my office. Is around 7-8 years old at this point. Some days it prints lots of stuff, some weeks it prints nothing. On my third toner cartridge. All cartridges have printed until the toner is completely exhausted. Only issue has been the odd paper jam.

Network printers do not depend on the architecture. If they work with Linux, they work with the Pi.

I use a Xerox Phaser 6510 (laser colour double sided) since a year. It prints very quickly and just works when I need it.
This is very different from the ink printers I used previously, where I always had troubles.

After a year, the toner level is still above 90% with the original cartridges, which makes it the cheapest printer I ever had.
I only print a few pages a week.

Another thing to note: you plug it on the network, you set its network config, and it is immediately recognized and works with Debian (I didn't try Raspbian, but it should be the same).

As said above in different words :

Refurbished network laser printers for c.£100 might be your best bet. Something like this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dell-2330dn- ... xybLpRgIyD

Not wireless, but I'm guessing you have a router with Ethernet sockets in the back?

Install Cups on the Pi, and download the PPD file from Dell to set it up. Then use this printer from all the devices on your home network. Consumables (toner carts) last for ages, and compatible carts are cheap/page (about £20 per toner cartridge).

All this assume monochrome (grey scale) printing is OK for you?

RamaSpaceShip wrote: ↑

Fri May 08, 2020 9:51 pm

Network printers do not depend on the architecture. If they work with Linux, they work with the Pi.

Ah, I wish this were true. Some networkable printers - ISTR from Lexmark and Samsung - only had Linux binary drivers for x86. No ARM drivers at all.

I'm still able to use my ancient HP LaserJet 1012 from any Linux box. It hasn't been sold in about 15 years but a low-end laser printer may be almost within your budget and the key is the running costs per page are usually *much* less than an inkjet. Most of the inkjets seem to have ink refills that are priced nearly the same as the cost of the printer itself. And the ink can dry out and clog the head.