1320c Printer with Wireless Network Card - how to configure SSID/WEP on network?

Usually you first connect to the router with an ethernet cable before setting up a wireless connection--but you must have a wireless capable printer. According to what I found here yours does not seem to be wireless. Place the router near the printer & use the more reliable ethernet connection instead of a wireless one. Manual for your printer HERE. 

True, this is not a wireless printer -- it has the add-on wireless adapter (see: http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=ama&sku=430-2503#Overview), and I cannot find any information and/or manual for this adapter.  I have the manual for the printer itself.

I did try to connect to it via ethernet cable, but the LAN adapter did not recognize it (under Windows Vista, remained "unplugged" status).

So, again... I just don't see how to configure the printer (using this wireless adapter) for the network (such as SSID of the network, WEP key, etc).  I feel like I'm missing something obvious.  Any other ideas?

Oh, also... clarification.  I also tried to plug the ethernet cable from printer directly into a LAN port on the router and was not able to connect to the IP address I set up for the printer that way either. :(  But I've tried so many different ways to access it... this one may be worth trying again once I am back in the office.

However, I will not be able to leave the printer plugged into the router since the router is in another location and the printer will need to access the router wirelessly as well as be accessed by other users in the network wirelessly.

Usually you first connect to the router with an ethernet cable before setting up a wireless connection

Okay; I connected the printer directly to the router via the ethernet port on the printer's wireless adapter (the adapter add-on for the printer is here.)  I was able to access the built-in web page to manage the printer settings.  "Great!  I thought...."  however, while I can configure the IP address of the printer (AutoIP, Manual, etc.), I cannot find where to tell the printer the SSID/WEP key of the network to join.

This printer will not be near the router of the network it serves, so I cannot leave it directly wired to the router. 

I have another non-Dell wireless printer.  For this printer I was able to connect to the built-in web page of the printer and configure the host network settings.  It then wirelessly connected to the network fine -- shows up as an accessible device.

I simply want to do the same with the Dell 1320c.  But the question is how?  The instructions that came with the network adapter are minimal (basically just tells you how to install it into the printer).  The ethernet port on the adapter is labeled "optional".  If this is truely optional, then I would think it can connect to the network wirelessly.

Are there other instructions for this adapter?  Is it even *possible* to configure it to wirelessly connect to an existing network?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 jastoneii,

Not quite sure about Dells Laser Printers. I usually help with the Dell Inkjet Printers. The one adapter they have that I use, the Dell 3300 wireless Print Adapter, I have working with Windows 7. I installed the software in the compatibility mode, it may just work for you, also.

Right click on the drivers file, left click properties, left click compatibility. Change the compatibility to Vista. Then right click on the drivers, left click run as administrator.

Rick

Thanks, I figured that was finally the case after not finding any SSID options in the configuration page. :(  I appreciate you writing to confirm this, though!  I agree that the adapter's description is misleading.  Looks like I'll have to start shopping for a wireless print server, too.  Sigh.

ZCS,

If you know the ip address of the print server, try adding the printer and manually add the ip address. It didn't list the printer, where I work, and I was able to add the printer using the ip address.

Rick

I don't have a wireless print server, but instead a wireless router (Netgear Rangemax WNDR3700 Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router).  I looked throughout all the various configuration options on the router to see if I could add a device manually (and thus add the IP address of the Dell printer), but did not see that this would be possible with the router (I think this is what you are referring to?)

But it sounds like you may have a Dell 1320c wirelessly communicating with a print server?  If so, what is the model of your print server?  It sounds like I may have to go that route.

ZCS,

Llynster has retired from the Dell Forums. If you read THIS THREAD, it will tell you how to do this.

Rick

ZCS, were you able to get the Dell 1320c wireless attached to your network?  I'm having the same problem with the 1320c, have the wireless accessory for it, and previously had it working on my home network.  However, my wireless router died, and I had to purchase a new router.  My wireless network is back up, but I can't figure out how to attach the 1320c to it...

HAYDUKE1, I am so sorry--I have been away.  Did you figure out how to connect to the 1320c yet?  I am not in the office with the 1320c, but I can give you a general idea of what I did.  The solution for me was to purchase a wireless print server.  The 1320c is not located near the router, so I could not plug directly into it (the easiest solution).  If your 1320c is near the router, then that would be the best way to go.  If you have the network adapter installed in the 1320c, then first plug the 1320c directly into a computer via the USB cable.  From here you can access the Dell Toolbox and set the 1320c's network configuration.  From what I recall, I think I set the 1320c to a static IP that was within the same subnet as the router, but would not be used by the DHCP services of the router.  Once configured, you can then unplug the 1320c from the computer and plug an ethernet cable from the 1320c network adapter to one of the open ports on your router.  At this point, other computers on the network should now be able to see the 1320c as an available printer device.  I'm doing this from memory since I can't double-check the actual setup, but I think this is correct.  Again, sorry for the late reply!

HAYDUKE1, I am so sorry--I have been away.  Did you figure out how to connect to the 1320c yet?  I am not in the office with the 1320c, but I can give you a general idea of what I did.  The solution for me was to purchase a wireless print server.  The 1320c is not located near the router, so I could not plug directly into it (the easiest solution).  If your 1320c is near the router, then that would be the best way to go.  If you have the network adapter installed in the 1320c, then first plug the 1320c directly into a computer via the USB cable.  From here you can access the Dell Tool box and set the 1320c's network configuration.  From what I recall, I think I set the 1320c to a static IP that was within the same subnet as the router, but would not be used by the DHCP services of the router.  Once configured, you can then unplug the 1320c from the computer and plug an ethernet cable from the 1320c network adapter to one of the open ports on your router.  At this point, other computers on the network should now be able to see the 1320c as an available printer device.  I'm doing this from memory since I can't double-check the actual setup, but I think this is correct.  Again, sorry for the late reply!