It’s a well-known fact that most modern peripheral devices connect to computers via a USB port. What makes a USB connection possible is a USB cable providing a reliable, although not perfect, way to link devices with the computer's USB interfaces. Also, it’s no secret that USB cables are limited by the distance, so you may want to connect USB devices wirelessly.
Thankfully, there are dedicated software and hardware tools that provide remote access to USB devices over Wi-Fi. Read on, and you’ll learn how to make a device wireless and which solution may help you do it easily and securely.
What if I tell you that you can remotely connect to your computer’s USB ports and use the devices connected to them as if they were physically connected to your remote computer without using a cable. Interesting right? Now just take a moment and think about all the possibilities this will bring to your business, company, and personal projects if you can share USB over Wi-Fi.
The first solution we’ll have a closer look at is USB over WiFi software by Electronic Team, Inc. This app works as a wireless USB server and allows connecting to remote USB devices across the network: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or the Internet. The software gives you a way to securely access remote USB peripherals like they were attached to your local computer physically.
Simple right? That is how USB Network Gate works. USB to Wi-Fi, that is wherever your Wi-Fi network spreads to so does your ability to access remote USB devices.
Also, the software comes with a 14-day free trial, so you can evaluate its functionality and check whether the app meets your needs.
You can buy a copy of USB Network Gate for $159 (for one shared USB port). To find more information, you can refer to the official page of the app.
FlexiHub is another popular software application that can help you redirect USB devices, including printers, USB security tokens, 3D mice, external hard drives, etc. to any remote machine no matter the location.
There you are! Now your system will recognize the remote device like it was a locally-attached peripheral. The device will appear in the Device Manager of your computer.
The app offers a 30-day trial with the ability to share one local USB device.
The software is available by subscription. The price for a yearly plan starts with $159.99 per connection. Here’s the official website of the app if you want to know more: https://www.flexihub.com/
As for hardware solutions that are available today, it’s worth mentioning a wireless USB hub (also known as a wireless USB extender or Wi-Fi USB hub). This device lets you extend USB over Wi-Fi in such a way that a remote USB device becomes accessible without being directly connected to your computer.
Wireless USB 3.0 hubs come in different sizes and fit a different number of Wi-Fi USB ports. Most models have from 1 to 4 “wireless” USB ports, which means they can simultaneously share up to four devices over the network.
The mission of a wireless USB hub 3.0 is to transform data that is received from attached USB devices into Wi-Fi signals which are then redirected to other users of the Wi-Fi network. The peripherals that need to be used remotely should be directly plugged into the hub’s USB ports in order to be shared across the local network. By using a software that comes along with the hub, all attached peripherals can be accessed wirelessly from remote computers located in the same WI-Fi network.
These are some important factors you should consider when choosing between several Wi-Fi USB hubs:
✔ The number and generation of USB ports
When you’re choosing a USB hub, probably the most significant aspect to pay attention to is the number and generation of USB ports. As is known, ports of USB 2.0 type offer lower maximum data transfer speeds compared to those of USB 3.0 type.
✔ Power charging
Some models are provided with a power charging tool which gives them an additional advantage over other similar solutions.
✔ Compatibility
Another important thing you should remember is that not all wireless USB port extenders will be compatible with your devices. Therefore, it will be a good idea to read the small print and check whether the device you’re purchasing can work with your computer and peripherals you are going to share.
