Wireless Print Server for USB Printer (NOT Plug&Play), 2 Port USB Print Server, Convert Wired Printer to Wireless WiFi Ethernet Networking - Windows Mac Linux Compliant - CR202

Not sure why people find this difficult to set up. It took me less than 10 minutes and worked fine with Windows10 + HP Laserjet 404dn printer.Plugged it in, connected laptop to LAN port and disabled laptop WiFiPlugged in USB printerTurned on the boxLogged into management interfaceSet up WiFi NetworkVerified WiFi set up tookChanged it to a static IPSet up printer on 3 Windows10 machines, all worked fineWill it remain reliable? I've no idea, but the setup was fine for me. I'm assuming most reviewers are mac/ipad generation because nothing in here is complicated.

This device isn't exactly a straightforward print server. The sellers know this device setup is confusing - they tell you constantly to read and follow the instructions or follow the videos on YouTube. Listen to them and do that. I've been in IT for quite a while and when you get the product, you think you'll know better --- you don't. This device is set up very specifically and you need to follow the instructions even when they seem weird or wrong. I assume the hardware was a firewall or something and was repurposed by Cheecent as a print server. Once you understand that the hardware is sort of universal, it's actually a lot easier. It's got functions, items, routing tables, DHCP server, I assume a firewall in there somewhere, etc that just aren't used for being a print server.Here are the cliff notes.The LAN port is used specifically for configuration. It does nothing else. I'm sure for some other applications that use this hardware LAN is used for a whole bunch of other stuff - in this print server device, it's used for nothing but initial configuration. It's default setting is 192.168.6.1. Connect your laptop using ethernet - I don't believe you need a crossover cable. You'll need to statically assign your computer a IP on the same subnet - 192.168.6.100, for example. This is only a method to configure the print server, once you're done with the configuration step, you'll never need the LAN port again, unless you need to reconfigure something.Configure your WAN port with an internal address on the same subnet as everything else on your network. You do this for the wireless or wired port, one or the other. If your internal gateway ip is 192.168.1.1, set it up to something static that's not used, they recommend 192.168.1.248, but you can do whatever as long as it's not currently in use on your network. Set up your subnet mask etc; DNS shouldn't be needed or the gateway in normal circumstances. Don't use DHCP, as you're going to use this IP as the printer's port, and you don't want it changing. You might want to visit the print server page at this step and turn off the bi-directional printing option on the USB ports. It's recommended in the instructions; I turned it off and never looked back.Hook up your printer to one of the usb ports, plug the power in. Hook up your network cable to WAN if you're using wired, or nothing if you're using wireless. Wait a couple of minutes for it to boot up. For printer installation on the computer, install as normal and use a jet direct port with your WAN IP colon corresponding port number. For example, 192.168.1.248:9100 for USB1 or 192.168.1.248:9101 for USB2.I'm sure you could hack this thing and do a bunch of stuff with it. I'm not sure why or what you would want to do, but it seems the hardware is general purpose. Maybe they could have made set up easier, blocked the lan port with a piece of tape and allowed management from the WAN port; I don't know nor does it matter. Once it's set up, I'm not planning on ever touching it again as long as I don't need to change my wireless name or internal IP address. As a print server, once it's set up it's been rock solid which is by far the most important thing.BTW I'm using this with a Zebra Eltron LP2844 CTP with an mfg date of 2004 and on an iMac. Works great - but wasn't on the compatibility list. If anything changes, I'll update the review, but I'm really happy with this device.

I got this and set it up with no issues. There was great support videos available online and the guide provided helps you to get this working out of the box. I was able to get my Brother Laser printer setup and it worked flawlessly for months. I was happy because it solves an issue I have had for a long time.HOWEVER, my ISP changed some of my settings on my router and I was forced to reconfigure it to get it to work again. I ran into some issues and in the process of trying to fix it, I was reading other reviews. One reviewer mentioned that this print server contacted Chinese servers once plugged into his network. and without any configurations done to it. This also was the case for me. Additionally, the print server started asking me for my router information such as my Serial Number and Password. It did not work the same way I set it up originally so I immediately unplugged it and threw it away.I hope Amazon removes this product from their store because it seems like it is allowing Chinese hackers a backdoor into peoples personal networks.

So far this printserver is working well. Easily mounted to the side of the printer with a couple of Command Strips and a 6 inch USB cable. This thing has WAY more functionality than most people need, including a firewall, switch, DHCP server, etc. I disabled the firewall since I only need this thing to share a USB printer on a local network. The web interface is very slow and not intuitive at all (-1 star). After changing the default admin password, you can expose the admin interface to the "WAN" port to allow access from the local network without having to set a static IP and physically connect to the "LAN" port every time you need to manage this device. Great little sturdy metal printserver allowing you to share 2 USB printers on your network.

Once you get past the installation configuration nightmare, it took me 2 hours to install due to several minor changes in the Windows 11 software windows vs the printed instructions, (hint use control panel) this print server allowed my HP 2430tn to print from its USB port wirelessly. The unit has good signal reception. The instructions included are fairly well organized, if you have a magnifying glass. The videos online go through the installation, albeit too quickly to follow the steps for newbie’s. I bought a second unit 3 days later to connect to my other 2430 printer that’s located in another building, and that setup still took me 2 hours via the instructions, even though I had already installed the first one, yes it’s complicated. The good? Both printers are wireless, print fast, and work flawlessly. You can use both printers at the same time in two different locations from any computer on my private network. Crap, with another 4 hours, I could add another 2 printers if I wanted to! I give it a 5 star rating for the control you have over it and that it does the job, the setup is what it is. Hey Bill, a little AI would be helpful here in this setup with Windows 11.