OfficeJet 200 Portable Printer

[c_o_l]

Hello,

I have recently bought an HP Officejet 200 portable printer to bring while travelling around Australia and am disappointed.

Of course, when travelling I won't normally have internet access, or wi-fi. Space is tight in a caravan, so it would be nice to put the printer somewhere away from my laptop, and not require a USB cable. Just common sense, but not apparently for HP. With no internet or wi-fi, can I print without using a usb cable? If so, then how?

I have not as yet managed to print even using a usb cable, I might add. I went to the 123HP or whatever it is website and spent a ridiculous amount of time attempting to set things up, wasting time with all sorts of crap like identifying which squares in a picture had traffic lights or buses, again and again and again, but I am still not able to print anything, with or without the usb cable. Definitely the hardest-to-use printer I have ever bought. 

Any help is appreciated.

Colin

[Valsimot]

You can use Wi-Fi Direct.

Wi-Fi Direct will allow you to print wirelessly without an internet connection, the Wi-Fi Direct will manage your printer and your computer ( or smart device) to communicate wirelessly between themselves.  

https://support.hp.com/rs-en/document/c04577030

[c_o_l]

Thanks for your reply and help. Am I right in saying that the printer needs to be set up either for wireless/wifi operaton OR for usb operation, but not both? That was certainly my impression during the setup process. I would certainly not want the printer set up in any way that would PRECLUDE usb cable operation, which at least always works!

I don't understand how the direct-wifi would work. The only wifi I have ever used is where one device creates the wifi network by being a radio transmitter, and other devices receive that wifi signal. For example, a wifi modem is a transmitter, or a mobile phone can be set up as a transmitter, though it drains the battery fast.

Re the printer, presumably it is my laptop that would need to be the wifi transmitter, so that the printer can receive that information. But that would not work, because you need the printer to be able to send information back to the laptop. So please explain how direct-wifi provides the required 2-way communication. 

Colin