How to Set Up a Wireless Printer Server

With modern broadband routers, enabling a wireless network and connecting to it -- with one, two or a dozen computers -- is relatively simple. Modern wireless routers are easy-to-configure, relatively inexpensive and as fast as wired routers in most cases. Add the fact that freeing yourself from cables makes computing more mobile and enjoyable, and you can see why wired networks are quickly becoming outdated. However, one drawback to most wireless networks is printers -- or the high-price tag of wireless capable printers. With a relatively inexpensive print server device, though, you can quickly add a standard wired printer to your network and print from any wireless computer connected to the router.

Things You'll Need

• Wireless print server
• Wireless router
• Wireless enabled computers
• RJ-45 Ethernet network cable

Instructions

Install Wireless Print Server

1. Power off the printer you want to connect to the wireless print server. Unplug the USB cable from the local PC connected to the printer.

2. Plug the printer USB end you disconnected from the computer into the USB port on the wireless print server. Connect the RJ-45 cable to the wireless print server and a free port on the broadband router. If the wireless print server has an AC adapter, connect it as well.

3. Power on the printer first, then turn on the wireless print server -- if it does not do so automatically.

4. Insert the installation disc for the print server device into the CD/DVD drive of one of the computers connected to the wireless router network. Click the "Install" or "Setup" link when the installation or setup wizard menu appears. Wait a few seconds for the wizard to detect and identify the wireless print server on the network, then click "Next" or "Continue."

5. Enter a descriptive network name for the wireless print server that is different from all other computers or devices connected to the network. Click "Next" or "Continue."

6. Click the "Configure Printer," Configure Driver" or other similarly named menu option. Wait for the setup wizard to install and configure a virtual printer port in Windows, then click "Continue," "Next" or "OK."

7. Click and select the new virtual "Printer Port" or "Wireless Printer Port," then click "OK." Select the device name of the connected printer from the list of "Connected Printers" or "Detected Printers," then click "Connect" or "OK." The setup wizard saves the setting preferences and configures the printer connected to the print server as the default printer on the wireless network.

Connect to Printer From Network Computers

1. Click the "Start" button. On the "Start" menu, click the "Devices and Printers" link. After the "Devices and Printers" window opens, click the "Add a Printer" link near the top of the window.

2. Click "Add a Network, Wireless or Bluetooth Printer," then select the printer attached to the wireless print server adapter in the list of available network printers. Click the "Next" button two times.

3. Click the "Print a test page" button when prompted, then click "Finish." The test page prints from the printer connected to the wireless print server.

4. Configure other computers on the network to use the wireless printer connection.

Tips & Warnings

• You need only install the wireless print server driver or software on one network computer. However, you must add the printer attached to the wireless print server to each PC on the wireless network.

References

• Linksys Support: Wireless-G Print Server Quick Installation Guide
• Digital Inspiration; How to Make Your Wired Printer Wireless; Amit Agarwal; Jan. 2010
• LaptopMag; How to Make Your Printer Wireless; Dana Wollman; May 2009
• Microsoft Windows: Setting Up a Wireless Network
• Linksys: Wireless-G Print Server
• Belkin: Wireless G All-In-One Print Server