Connecting and Configuring a Tax-Aide Network Printer

Network printers can connect to a router either hard wired with an Ethernet cable, wirelessly, or either. USB only printers connect directly to a laptop or desktop computer.

1. Connect the Network printer to your router.

a. If you don’t know the prior configuration (DHCP mode or static IP address) of the network printer, reset it to factory defaults as described in Appendix A.

b. If the printer has an Ethernet port, connect it directly to one of the router’s LAN ports using an Ethernet cable and continue at step 2.

c. If the printer can only connect to the router wirelessly (HP 1102W), or if you prefer wireless mode, you can connect to the router using WPS. Press the WPS button on your router for a few seconds (or it may have a “virtual” WPS button in its menu). An LED on the router will usually will start blinking, or you may see an attempt to connect in the menu. Within 2 minutes, press the printer’s wireless button for a few seconds until the button or wireless LED starts blinking. If the printer’s wireless button or LED stays on, you have probably established a good wireless connection. Go to step 2.

i. Note. For the Brother 5370DW, the printer’s WPS button is in a small hole on the back of the printer just above the USB connector. It has a black arrow pointing to it. Using a paper clip or pen, press the button for less than 2 seconds. The toner light should begin blinking. Press the WPS button on your router. When a wireless connection is made, the toner light will go off and the status light should be green.

d. If the printer has an alphanumeric display, you can go through the printer’s display menus to the Network, WLAN setup section using the up/down buttons on the printer. You can enter the printer’s setup wizard and select the SSID of the router you wish to connect to. You then enter the SSID password using the printer’s buttons. A solid on wireless button or LED indicates a good wireless connection.

2. Find the Network printer’s IP address.

a. You can print a network configuration report as described in Appendix A. The printer’s IP address will be in the report. If your printer has an alphanumeric display you should be able to find the printer’s IP address in the “Network’ section of the printer’s display menus under “LAN” if hardwired, or “WLAN” if wireless.

3. Change the printer’s IP address to a static one outside the range of your router’s DHCP setting.

a. Open a browser and enter the printer’s IP address in the address box. The printer’s web page and menus should appear.

b. If the printer is hard wired to the router, go to the “Network” and/or “LAN” menu. Find the IP address and change it. If you’ve configured the router with a gateway IP address of 192.168.123.1 use 192.168.123.241 for the first printer, 192.168.123.242 for the second, etc. You might also need to disable DHCP. Go to step 4.

c. If the printer is connected wirelessly to the router, go to the “Network” and/or “WLAN” or “Wireless” menu. Find the wireless IP address and change it as in step 3b. Go to step 4.

d. If the printer has an alphanumeric display you can us the printer’s buttons to go through the display’s menu and go to “Network”, “LAN” if hard wired or “WLAN” if wirelessly connected. Find the IP address and change it.

4. Change other printer settings as appropriate.

a. Turn toner save to ON (in “ecology” for Brother printers). This results in lighter print, but saves toner. You may be able to do this in the printer’s web page, from the printer’s alphanumeric display, or from the printer’s Windows configuration under “Properties”.

b. Brother 2360DW printers have a toner stop mode which is usually enabled. This will stop printing when the printer thinks toner has run out. Sometimes, it’s still possible to print several hundred more pages, so disable this mode.

c. You can add a login username and password for the printer web page, but I don’t think it is necessary.

Appendix A

Setting a printer to factory defaults

Brother HL-L2360DW or HL-L6200DW:

  1. Press the Up or Down arrow key (+ or -) to choose the Network option, and then press OK.
  2. Press the UP or Down arrow key (+ or -) to choose the Network Reset option, and then press OK. Press the Up arrow key (+).
  3. Press the Up arrow (+) for Yes. The machine will restart.

Brother HL-2700DW or HL-5370DW:

  1. Turn off the printer.
  2. Make sure that the front cover is closed and the power cord is plugged in.
  3. Hold down Go as you turn on the power switch. Keep Go pressed down until all the LEDs light up, and then the Status LED turns off.
  4. Release Go. Make sure that all the LEDs have turned off.
  5. Press Go six times. Make sure that all the LEDs light up to indicate the print server has been reset to its default settings.The machine will restart.

HP 1102W:

Turn the printer off. Press and hold down the wireless button and the cancel button (x button) while turning the printer back on and don't release the two buttons until the printer stops making noise.

HP 1606dn:

  1. Turn the product off.
  2. Turn the product on, and while it is initializing press and hold both control-panel buttons at the same time until all the lights blink in unison.

How to print a network configuration report

Brother HL-L2360DW or HL-L6200DW:

  1. Press the Up or Down arrow key to choose Machine Info.. Press OK.
  2. Press the Up or Down arrow key to choose Print NetSetting. Press OK.

Brother HL-2700DW or HL-5370DW:

Print the Printer’s Network Configuration page by pressing the Blue GO button 3 times. If that doesn’t work, hold down the GO button until the printer starts printing, after approximately 15 seconds. Release the GO button when the printer prints a Network Configuration page.

HP 1102W:

Press and hold the cancel button (the button with the red X on it) for 5 seconds.

HP 1606dn:

  1. Make sure that the Ready light () is on and that the product is idle and silent.
  2. Press and hold the Go button (), and release it when the Ready light () begins blinking.

The Configuration page prints.