Need help to hook up wireless-ready print server

Question

Here's my problem, I have a Linksys EtherFast Wireless-ready USB PrintServer Model PPS1UW and a Linksys wireless PC Card wpc11. I tried a round with linksys tech support, and they wanted me to lug the A960 upstairs to the Linksys wireless router and connect the printserver to it and the printer. But that requires a lot of work, I was wondering if anyone knows a way to do this wirelessly? I not concerned with the other computers sharing this printer, I just would like to print on it wirelessly with this laptop. My Bluetooth adapter doesn't work with the Dell printer.

jwatt · Answer

Odius,

There are several possibilities.

1. Did you get a WPC11 Version 3.0 or earlier wireless card for the print server? Linksys says that's neccesary in their product description.

2. Is the WPC11 receiving an IP address from your router? If it isn't, there may be SSID settings as NemesisDB mentioned that need to be entered into the WPC11, or MAC access settings that need to be entered into the router.

3. Is the print server too far away from the router for it to work/work reliably wirelessly?

3. Once communication is established, will the A960 work with the PPS1UW?

It would be easier to bring the router to the printer/PPS1UW than to haul the printer around. Even though you may not be able to get to the Internet, you should be able to get to the PPS1UW via a cable and set things up.

Once the networking portion of the setup's working, you'll finally be able to test the printer itself!

Jim

NemesisDB · Answer

I'm not familiar with that model, but generally speaking, 'stand-alone' wireless devices link print servers or bridges need to be initially plugged into a computer, switch, or hub via ethernet in order to set them up.  Once the correct SSID and other wireless settings have been entered, they can usually function fine wirelessly and on their own.

Oditius · Answer

jimw wrote:Odius,There are several possibilities.1. Did you get a WPC11 Version 3.0 or earlier wireless card for the print server? Linksys says that's neccesary in their product description. Version 3 is the one I have.2. Is the WPC11 receiving an IP address from your router? If it isn't, there may be SSID settings as NemesisDB mentioned that need to be entered into the WPC11, or MAC access settings that need to be entered into the router. Not sure about this, maybe plug it in my PCMIA port on my 8600 config the WEP and stuff?3. Is the print server too far away from the router for it to work/work reliably wirelessly? The printServer would be about 20 feet away. But it is on the first floor and router on second.3. Once communication is established, will the A960 work with the PPS1UW? According to Dell it should work. But calling tech support for either company is a real pain.It would be easier to bring the router to the printer/PPS1UW than to haul the printer around. Even though you may not be able to get to the Internet, you should be able to get to the PPS1UW via a cable and set things up. I didn't think of that. I might try it, not in any real hurry, laptop easier to carry to printer than visa-versa. Once the networking portion of the setup's working, you'll finally be able to test the printer itself!Jim Thanks for the responce, I will keep it in mind when I get to try to install it again. It's just I got so frustrated, I gave up. Just now thinking about trying to do it again.

jwatt · Answer

Regarding (2), if you move the router downstairs, you should be able to run an Ethernet cable between the router and the print server, and set up the WEP/SSID settings in the print server that way. If you have WEP set up, the wireless adapter in the print server won't be able to obtain an IP address from the router until the WEP keys are set up in the print server. But the Ethernet interface in the print server should be able to get an IP address from the router when it's connected. You'll probably have to power cycle the print server after connecting an Ethernet cable between it and the router before that will happen.

And yep, move the lightest possible object around!

Jim

garyginpa · Answer

I have an A960 printer that I have connected to my wireless network via a Linksys WPS54G print server.  I can print a document but then the document doesn't delete from the queue.  The status is something like Deleting-Printed.  I can't print any other documents until I go into the queue and cancel the document AND also restart my PC.  I did see the Dell knowledge bas document about uninstalling multiple copies of the A960 software, but this did not correct my problem.  Just wondering if you're experiencing this problem also?

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Need help to hook up wireless-ready print server

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