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Forum Discussion

billrenn's avatar
billrenn
Guide
Jan 10, 2022

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,...
plemans's avatar
plemans
Guru - Experienced User
Jan 10, 2022

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. 

  • billrenn's avatar
    billrenn
    Guide
    Jan 10, 2022

    Thanks for your reply, plemans. I do have a spare USB hub sitting around, now that I think of it. Will give that a try, and update with results.

     

    • plemans's avatar
      plemans
      Guru - Experienced User
      Jan 10, 2022

      Thanks!

      I look forward to seeing if it works with that device

  • billrenn's avatar
    billrenn
    Guide
    Jan 10, 2022

    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!

  • michaelkenward's avatar
    michaelkenward
    Guru - Experienced User
    Jan 11, 2022
    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.

     

     

    • billrenn's avatar
      billrenn
      Guide
      Jan 11, 2022

      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.

      • michaelkenward's avatar
        michaelkenward
        Guru - Experienced User
        Jan 11, 2022
        billrenn wrote:

        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.

        It doesn't help that Netgear keeps messing around witj features. Take the Orbi range, these have a USB port but it doesn't do anything.

         

        The cynic in me says that, unlike parental controls and security stuff, Netgear can't charge for these features as a service.

         

        And why not enable USB printing on all the RAX range? It is there on the RAX40 (one USB port). Also the RAX80 and RAX120 (both with 2 USB ports).

         

        You could trade in for one of those.