Vodafone Powerhub USB Printer - windows

PanchoVilla

PanchoVilla

PanchoVilla

Associate
Joined
11 Mar 2004
Posts
635
Recently switched to Vodafone fibre with the Powerhub.
Connected usb laser printer to the usb port and it shows as 'shared' in the settings.
Cannot find or configure this on windows devices on the network.

Anyone done this? (I cannot find applicable help googling - especially when vodafone has closed down and made inaccessible their forums).
 
I think the USB port is for attaching storage devices?

Happy to be proved wrong, but I do not think you can use the printer this way.
 
Last edited:
@GregI - it wasn't an easy swap and I had no broadband or phone for over 2 weeks due to some activation issue. Spent many hours on the phone to get that sorted.

I do have a Flint 2 that I could use to get the printer working, but I'd rather not have an extra 20w running 24/7 just for the printer. The printer does show up in the USB sharing section of the Vodafone Powerhub. The Powerhub also shows the CUPS url for the printer.
 
Last edited:
Flint 2 is approx 9w idle: https://www.tpcdb.com/product.php?id=7698

I do get your point though. It's so annoying because I'm pretty sure your answer is all on the Vodafone forums. I see so many threads about printer sharing but none are archived on waybackmachine.

ChatGPT was a complete mess first it told me it didn't support it only the older Vodafone wifi hub but then said it did and gave some vagueish instructions. Copy/pasting just incase.

"The new Vodafone Power Hub, launched in 2024, doesn't support USB printer sharing, unlike the older Intelligent WiFi Hub, which worked for some printers. The USB 2.0 port is meant for 4G backups or future accessories, not printing. Most users report that while the printer shows up when connected, it won't install drivers, and there's no SMB/IPP share. The workaround is to use network Wi-Fi printing, attach the printer to a PC, or get a separate print server."

The Vodafone Power Hub (Wi-Fi 6) supports connecting a printer via USB with firmware version 23.15 or later. To set it up, log in to the router's Web UI, navigate to Settings > USB > Sharing, and the printer should appear as "Shared." For Windows, add the network printer by using the router’s IP and port 9100 or via SMB. For macOS/Linux, use CUPS with the specified IP. However, if your firmware doesn't have the 'Print Server' toggle, printing won't work, and only storage will be supported."

Here’s a summarized step-by-step for setting up a printer via USB on the Vodafone router:

Enable the print server in the router
Browse to http://vodafone.connect or 192.168.1.1.

Log in (default user root; the password is on the underside of the router).

Go to Advanced → USB → Sharing.

Enable Print Server → Save.

Confirm that your printer appears as, for example, usb0 or EPSON_Stylus with status Shared.

Then more stuff:

Login to the router’s interface (using http://vodafone.connect or 192.168.1.1 with admin credentials).

Plug the printer into the USB port.

Navigate to ‘Sharing’ or ‘Devices > USB device’.

Enable the Print Server and select either 'LPR' or 'IPP'.

On Windows: Add network printer by using \vodafone.connect\usb1 or the IPP link.

On Mac: Add via System Settings > Printers > Add > IP > IPP.

For Linux: Use LPR or CUPS."
 
Thanks for the above, but tried all combinations and could not get it to work. After reviewing the router logs and not finding any clues, I'm stuck again. I will also call vodafone helpline.

Cannot believe setting up a printer in 2025 can still be a pain smh.
 
I know you probably want to use the power hub since it's in the contract but not better to just take it out of the equation and have the Flint 2 as the main router after getting your PPPoE credentials from Vodafone live chat?
 
Have you tried adding it in Windows using that URL?

0wtT6ip.png
 
Also, just come off helpline with vodafone who think that the USB printer function is not supported on the router (even though it appears on the router settings as configured).
 
Last edited:
Does it give you a queue name? Maybe just rename it to "printer" and see if that makes the URL more sensible.
 
Last edited:
Last edited:
Thats not going to help for a 403 error. CUPS is running & the URL is right, it just needs the right username.

Try:
Code: 
http://USER:PASSWORD@http://vodafone.powerhub:631/printers/Kyocera-FS-1030D_XMF6806149

Replace the username and password with the router login.

If there's a setting on the printer page to add a username + password, enable that and use those instead.
 
It's pretty crazy that the extent of Vodafone support for broadband is either a button to click on if the connection is broken, or a speed test. No evidence to be seen anywhere of a user guide for their hardware.
 
I don't know what SMB version the Powerhub is using but Windows 11 now disables SMB 1 which a lot of these kind of devices use to share files and devices and will just prevent access to them even if the service itself doesn't need SMB 1 if not enabled specifically in Windows.
 
Last edited:
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom