[SOLVED] Can i use a USB to Eithernet adapter to connect a printer to a router?

[dmiller61603]

The question is in the title. Can I use something like this to connect my usb printer to my router. >Dell.com
Or, do I just have to buy a print server?

 

[kanewolf]

Probably not. The printer won't have any drivers for that device. You will either have to buy a print server or connect the USB printer directly to the router. Most routers support printers on the USB ports of the router.

 

[dmiller61603]

Probably not. The printer won't have any drivers for that device. You will either have to buy a print server or connect the USB printer directly to the router. Most routers support printers on the USB ports of the router.

My router doesn't have a use port on it. So I can't use this to give it one?

 

[kanewolf]

You can't use that to provide a USB either.

A router upgrade may be the best answer. For $20 you can get an Asus RT-N56U on E-Bay. If you don't have dual band WIFI, this would give you print server capabilities and dual band WIFI.

 

[kanewolf]

Since you chose my router upgrade as best answer, if you do buy an RT-N56U, there is second source firmware available

See this forum -- https://www.snbforums.com/threads/padavans-custom-firmware.7857/

Download -- https://bitbucket.org/padavan/rt-n56u/downloads/

 

[dmiller61603]

Since you chose my router upgrade as best answer, if you do buy an RT-N56U, there is second source firmware available

See this forum -- https://www.snbforums.com/threads/padavans-custom-firmware.7857/

Download -- https://bitbucket.org/padavan/rt-n56u/downloads/

Thanks for the help!

 

[kanewolf]

I used N56U routers as WIFI access points for several years. Look at the review over on SmallNetBuilder website. It is a pretty good router, and there are lots of them for sale used.

 

[hang-the-9]

You can also get a print server like this https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833139009 or a wireless one. They are often very cheap used on eBay or Craigslist. I have used a few routers with USB printer support and they were all very very slow, to the point that I thought the print jobs failed. It was minutes before they printer, and was a long delay between each page. I would much rather have a print server, at least from all of the routers I tried.

 

[dmiller61603]

You can also get a print server like this https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833139009 or a wireless one. They are often very cheap used on eBay or Craigslist.

Ok, thanks for the info!

 

[popatim]

You can also get a print server like this https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833139009 or a wireless one. ...

Thats the one I used for a few years and still have it somewhere in my basement storage area. It works well!