Best way to connect 948 printer to a network?

If the location of the printer is near the wireless router, then I would get the wireless router with the print server in it. If the printer doesn't sit near the location of the wireless router, then I would recomment using a wireless print server, like he 3300 wireless print adapter.

I thought the 948 was a printer that is wireless. Do you have the wireless adapter installed? If you don't and want to purchase one, I couldn't find it. So I would call Dell, 1-800-449-3355, and see if there is one available and wht the price is.

Before you go too far, please try looking at this setup and follow the insrtuctions through and determine is you need anything or not.

How Do I Connect a Dell™ Wireless Printer to a Wireless Network

Choose your printer. Beneath your printer, select your operating system. You'll be redirected to another page. Then click on show all steps. It will walk you through the installation process.

Thank You for your reply. The printer will be right next to the router. The 948 has an optional wireless adaptor that can be bought for it as part of the accessory list.

I have just read so many problems with routers with a USB printer port that they only work with some straight printers and never with multifunction printers like the 948. Was hoping someone had got it to work with a particular router. Otherwise I will have to buy a router and the wireless adaptor I guess.

Maybe making it wireless is the only way to make it work?

I usually recommend these settings in your wireless router and you can get almost anything to connect.

Update the firmware in your wireless router. Manufacturer's website, make & Model needed.

Broadcast SSID(You may want to change this to make it easier to connect)

Use WPA-PSK(TKIP) Security. Most wireless devices work best with this type of security.

Mixed b and g mode(n if available)

Use channels 1, 6 or 11. Most devices work better on these channels.

Save and exit. Power everything off for 30 seconds. Power everything back on, wait 30 seconds, now try to connect.

I have a Linksys wireless router. I used to have a Netgear until it failed. I used these settings in both and haven't had any problems with my 3300 wireless print adapter with my Dell Photo AIO Printer 964 connected. It's a great feeling not having a host computer on when you want to print wirelessly. We have 3 laptops, 1 Compaq XP Media Center, 1 HP XP Media Center and my Dell Inspiron B130 XP Home SP3. We even had my daughter's friend with Vista print from the printer on our network. We all can print from anywhere we're at. I go in the backyard often and print from there. Network is secured so there is no freeloaders. Biggest part is setting up the wireless router correctly.

I have not bought the router yet as was hoping to find out if it was worth trying one with a built in USB printer port or not like this D-Link one. http://www.ozcableguy.com/review.asp?router=DI-524UP&model=D-Link-DI-524UP

I run Linksys non wireless myself and never had any problems with it. But the wireless I am setting up for my father. These router units above never work if the printer is a host based printer according to that site. Is the 948 a host based printer?

With any print server, that has a USB connection, you shouldn't have any problems.

Just remember fix your wireless router to the specifications above, then setup the print server. Connect the printer to the print server.

The get the latest drivers from Dell's website for your printer. Install the latest drivers, choose network, choose using a wireless print server and follow the instructions.