Ethernet plotters

Network plotters (LAN)

— devices that can connect to a computer network via a standard wired LAN interface. With this connection, the plotter is usually connected either to a router or to one of the computers on the network acting as a router.

In modern plotters, this type of connection is even more popular than the traditional USB interface (see the relevant paragraph). This is primarily due to the more extensive LAN capabilities. Firstly, such a connection allows you to access the plotter from any PC from the network, and with appropriate settings — even via the Internet. Secondly, it makes it possible to use specific network functions — for example, direct sending of materials from a scanner (see “Features”) to e-mail or file storage.

Note that a wireless Wi-Fi module can also be used to connect to the network (see the relevant paragraph). However, LAN is cheaper and provides a more stable and reliable connection — the benefits generally outweigh the inconvenience of wiring. Therefore, nowadays, LAN is the standard connection method for network plotters, and Wi-Fi can be provided in addition to this interface.