Senior Web Whiz

Setting Up Internet And Using Printers

Printers Explained

Printers are devices that copy words or pictures from your computer or phone and produce printed paper copies of the information. This can be wireless (through the internet) or with a cable connecting your computer to your printer. The fundamental functions of a printer include loading paper into a paper tray, installing ink or toner cartridges, and connecting the printer to your device. Understanding these basics will help you navigate the setup and operation of printer. Most typical home printers are an inkjet style printer which essentially means it has ink cartridges in the printer that need replacing every six months or so, depending on how often you use the printer. There are other, less common types of printers, such as laser printers that don’t use ink but inkjet printers are the most common for basic home/office printing. If you are unsure which type you have you can check the instruction manual or if you have lost or throw it away (like I usually do) then you can search online for the name and model of your printer, which you can find usually on the front or side of your printer. Printers can come as multiple function printers (print, scan and copy) or as single function printers (only print paper, no copying or scanning). To learn more about printers and how to use them try our how-to guide with pictures and videos.

Changing Printer Ink And Toner

Changing printer ink is a important task that helps maintain printing quality. When you notice the pages you’re printing becoming faint or inconsistent, it’s a sign that the ink cartridges need replacing. Ink printers use 4 different colors of ink cartridge (blue, red, yellow and black). There are some variations between printers in how you change the cartridges but if you can understand the fundamentals that are common across all ink printers then you will have the necessary skills to handle any printer ink obstacle. To learn more about printer ink changing try our how-to guide with pictures and videos.

Change printer ink

Scanning And Copying Documents

Copying and scanning are two useful functions of multifunction printers that beginners can easily use. Copying involves duplicating already printed pages of writing or pictures quickly. It’s as simple as placing the document or image face down within the printer, select the number of copies you want, and press the copy button on the printer. Scanning, on the other hand, is the process of converting a page of writing or a picture into a digital format that can be stored on your computer. Scanning is almost like the opposite of printing, were we take writing or an image from a page and send it to the computer (in printing, the writing/image goes from the computer to a printed page) To scan a document, place it on the scanner bed, select the scanning options on your printer or computer, and start the scan. Once scanned, you can save the file, edit it, or share it electronically. To learn more about scanning and copying with a printer, try our how-to guide with pictures and videos.

Printer Troubleshooting Basics

The Senior Web Whiz knows how frustrating and disruptive printing errors can be, especially when you don’t properly understand what the problem is and how to start fixing it! Print quality issues such as faded prints, streaks or uneven colors, paper jams, an unresponsive or frozen printer, error messages being displayed and slow printing are common issues everyone encounters with printers (the joys of technology!), but they can be a real roadblock for beginners. The Senior Web Whiz can help you through these problems with our how-to guides with pictures and videos

Printer Troubleshooting

Home Internet Overview And WiFi

Home internet typically involves having broadband/ethernet (internet) connected to your home, usually via underground cables (can sometimes be above ground cables or even through satellites) and WiFi, wireless access to that internet. When you think internet (broadband) think global, like a hue global highway of information; and when you think WiFi, think small/local, like a small  suburban street.

 

To have home internet, you need an Internet service provider (ISP), and internet plan, internet access at your home (internet cables running to your home), a router, modem and someone to connect this for you.

(*move to wifif section)Wi-Fi is not an abbreviation or acronym for anything, it is just a term/brand name for any wireless LAN product. It was invented by the the WIFI Alliance –  An organization made up of leading wireless equipment and software providers that formed in 1999 and trademarked the term WIFI. It is a misconception that WiFi stands for wireless fidelity

 

Think of WiFi as a wireless connection, much like a radio signal.In the same way your radio receives signals from radio towers and plays music, WiFi receives signals from a router and lets your phone and computer use the internet (so you don’t need cables to connect to the internet – imagine your tv being turned on without being plugged into the electricity socket) A router is a small device in your home that acts like a radio tower that sends the signals to your phone or computer (like a traffic cop directs traffic at a busy intersection).

Choosing The Right Internet Service Provider (ISP) And Plan

For beginners navigating the world of home internet, it’s crucial to choose a plan that meets your needs. Look at your internet habits or what you want the internet for and considering things like streaming, online gaming, or just basic browsing – different needs will require different internet plans. Some plans have limits of how much data you can use (how much you can use the internet within a month) so it’s important to know your data limits. Some internet service providers have installation fees or additional fees if you go over your monthly data limit, similar to a larger phone bill when  you’ve made a lot more calls than normal for that month. The Senior Web Whiz how-to guide will help you navigate these potential problems

ISP - Internet Service Provider

Internet Equipment Needed (router vs modem?)

For beginners setting up home internet, understanding the difference between a modem and a router is important. Think of the modem as the gateway that connects your home to the internet service provider (ISP) and the broader global network, much like a bridge allowing you to access the world wide web (internet). It translates the data from your ISP into a format your devices can understand. On the other hand, the router is like the traffic cop inside your home. It takes the data from the modem and directs it to the right devices, ensuring each piece of information reaches its intended destination. In simpler terms, the modem connects you to the internet, while the router manages the flow of data within your home, making sure everything runs smoothly and efficiently.

Internet Modem
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