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Forum Discussion
Connect both USB storage drive AND printer to Nighthawk RAX42 (only 1 USB3 port)?
Just installed new Nighthawk RAX42 (AX4200 5-stream WiFi6) router, and successfully set up an external storage drive in the single USB 3.x port. Updated Windows 10 on most of the networked machines, and latest firmware (v1.0.5.106) installed on the router.
I have a non-network USB printer that I would also like to share via the router. Is there any way to do this? Would a USB 3.x hub be compatible with the router, or would a USB to Ethernet adapter work for this?
17 Replies
I've heard of people using a usb hub to connect more than 1 drive. Can't say if I've read of people connecting hard drives and a printer.
A usb hub is pretty cheap and if it didn't work, you could always return it.
Thanks!
I look forward to seeing if it works with that device
Hooked up my USB hub to the router and connected the existing drive along with the printer. The drive still shows up, as it did when connected directly; but I can't get the USB printer to appear. Guess maybe I'll have to figure out a print server to hook up to the old LaserJet. I'm disappointed that Netgear doesn't have a print server solution built in, or even a second USB port, in a router at this price point... my old ASUS that just died had those options, and I miss them already.
Thanks again for your ideas plemans. I'm still open to any other soluions!
Dont' think it'll work. I was looking through the manual/data sheet for that device and it doesn't support a print server that I could find.
plemans wrote:
I've heard of people using a usb hub to connect more than 1 drive. Can't say if I've read of people connecting hard drives and a printer.
A usb hub is pretty cheap and if it didn't work, you could always return it.
Yup. If you have a USB drive with secondary USB ports, you could try putting a printer on one of these.
I have just confirmed that you can do this with an 8TB Seagate Backup Plus Hub. That has two USB ports on the front.
But the RAX42 falls at the first hurdle. It does not say that it supports printers attached to the USB. So no amount of messing around with hubs and add-on devices is likely to fix that.
michaelkenward Thanks, it appears that that is the answer--there isn't a way. I'm going to try a wireless printer server adapter, and if that isn't successful, may have to look into a router that does support printing options like my ASUS did. That router failed a couple of days ago, and my only quick replacement option was an evening visit to Wal-Mart. The NightHawk looked to be a robust, feature-filled router, but I hadn't had the time to read up on it beforehand. Guess it's returnable if I need to.
billrenn wrote:
Just installed new Nighthawk RAX42 (AX4200 5-stream WiFi6) router, and successfully set up an external storage drive in the single USB 3.x port.
Did this router replace something else?
I ask because there is on possible solution that I haven't seen mentioned before.
Netgear sells wifi extenders that support a USB printer. EX6200 for example.
Probably not worth investing money to get this feature, but if you have an old router lying around that does support a USB printer, it might be worth putting that into AP mode and seeing if the printer works.
This isn't billed as one of the features that fall over when a router goes AP.
Yes, the NightHawk replaces an ASUS RT-AC68U that died a couple evenings ago. The NightHawk was a quick emergency replacement--I figured that it would offer a similar printer server option that the ASUS had, since it seems to be a fairly high end consumer router.
You're right, it's probably not worth investing in more equipment to try and accomplish sharing the printer wirelessly. Will have to think about whether to keep my new Netgear router.
