infrared printing

I have a HP 3055 printer
It's upstairs and I'm down stairs, I drag my laptop upstairs, connect the USB cord and print.
Is there a way to use infrared to send a signal to print? or a way to make printing easier, without moving the printer or laptop?
I do feel silly asking this

 

Infrared would be line of sight. So you'd need to drag your laptop upstairs anyways and the IR communications is rather weak compared to USB, even USB 1.1. I think what you'd want is a wireless print server if you don't have a desktop close enough to it to run a USB cable. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=93949&CatId=206

 

Agreed. Some of the D-Link NAS solutions also offer print server solutions for nit much more but you would need to have some SATA drives kicking round or you would need to buy one to get any additional functionality.

If you dont have any spare drives I would go with the solution below.

 

Do you have a wireless router? If so:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...44&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=20

If you have a desktop PC on your router, share the printer over your wireless network. No added expense or hardware needed.

 

That printer has a built in Ethernet port. Use that.

 

Infrared is line of sight just like your TV remote is, if it hasn't been said already.

 

Plus, with infrared, the printer would need an infrared receiver - which it doesn't. By far, the cheapest, most reliable, and most secure method is to use the Ethernet connection.

 

you need one of these
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00848362.pdf
although there badged for hp printers they work with more or less any make of usb printer
staples was selling them off very cheaply a while back it might be worth checking out