Can't get my USB Print Sharing to work

[AnimalMother]

Hi. I've searched but can't find the solution.

I have the following spec:

THG3000G router

Windows 10 64bit

Lexmark MS312dn printer (no WiFi capability)

I have plugged in the printer tothe router, the router USB sharing is switched ON and the router sees and recognises the printer.

I have installed the printer on the PC so the correct drivers are there and I've confirmed it to be working by connecting with USB directly to the PC.

When I connect the printer to the router the PC can no longer see the printer. It is still set as my default printer but shows as "offline", i.e. the PC can't see the printer. The printer is switched on and connected to the router at this stage.

Can someone please explain how to enable printing through the USB port on the router. If it's a case of configuring the port in the router I'll need a step by step guide.

Thank you.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

There is no guarantee that it'll ever work because Vodafone don't support using the USB ports on the router(s) for anything other than their own Mobile data dongles!

If it is going to work, you'll need to dive into the Printer Properties (Control Panel>Devices and Printers) and change the port in there that your computer thinks the printer is connected to.  You do this by right-clicking the icon for the printer and selecting "Printer Properties".  In all likelihood you'll have to set up a new TCP/IP port for the printer, using the local IP address of the router!

If it's going to work the above should do it, though to be honest, it's a few years since I last set up a printer that didn't have it's own WiFi or Wired network connection!

[Wellington]

Did you get this to work, AnimalMother? I've been trying most of today and I've finally just worked it out!

My printer (an Epson DX6000) doesn't have wireless and only has a single USB connection, which I plugged into my Vodafone Wi-Fi hub. The hub appeared to recognise it, but my computer couldn't find it. It turned out that the hub actually assigned my printer an internet address! Once I discovered that, it was relatively simple to get my computer to find it. 😁  

[AntonyM]

I know this post is 4 years old, but I have the same problem.

When you say "the hub actually assigned my printer an internet address", how do you find it? On the Sharing tab it just shows me the name of my printer, not the internet address it's been assigned.

[Cynric]

@AntonyM  Did you try using the IP address of the router, as it says in the accepted answer?

[AntonyM]

Yes, but it didn't "see" the printer.

[Cynric]

@AntonyM I don't use the THG3000 router, but if you have one with 2 USB ports did you try both of them?

[Wellington]

Hi @AntonyM.,

I haven't used my printer in ages (got fed up of replacing stupid inkjet cartridges) but it's still plugged into to the router so I fired it up to remind myself of how it connected.

For context, I'm using Windows 10, Vodafone THG3000 router, Epson DX6000 printer. The printer doesn't have wireless, and is connected from its USB socket to the USB socket on the back of the router.

I think the router 'recognises' that it has a printer connected automatically (no setup required). If I look at the 'Sharing' tab on my router interface, I can see the name of the printer. If you click on the little triangle next to the printer name, it then displays the network address of the printer in the format: 'http://vodafone.broadband:631/printers/<printer name>'. (I think this is the bit I got stuck on – I didn't realise the triangle was 'clickable'.)

I can't remember what I did on Windows to connect to it – I just remember it being surprisingly straightforward. I suspect it was "the printer I want isn't listed" and then "select a shared printer by name".

Hope this helps – if not, reply, and I'll post some images.
ATB.  

[AntonyM]

Thank you, your explanation is very clear.

However when I click on the little triangle it doesn't show anything extra, so I guess I'm stuck.

But thank you for your help.