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USB Over Wi-Fi Solutions:
A Detailed Guide to Connecting USB Devices Wirelessly

Olga Weis Olga Weis
Apr 17, 2024

The use of USB devices in professional settings has increased significantly. If you want to unlock more flexibility and streamline your connections, use innovative solutions like USB over Wi-Fi. This advanced technology is capable of solving the challenges of wired connections. USB over Wi-Fi comes with modern solutions and methods for connecting USB devices wirelessly with compatible devices.

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As the name suggests, Wi-Fi USB connections leverage Wi-Fi networks, allowing you to remotely access USB peripherals and manage them. Using this solution, you will enjoy the same features as you did with wired USB connections.

In this detailed guide, you will explore different wireless USB solutions. It will help you learn:

  • What’s the best software for wireless USB connection: software or hardware?
  • How to share USB devices over Wi-Fi?
  • How to make a USB device wireless?
  • What are the best wireless USB solutions?

Read on to get valuable insights that will help you experience the benefits of using USB over Wi-Fi and explore how to declutter your workspace, improve collaboration, and remotely access devices.

Hardware-Based USB over WiFi Solutions

When turning your USB device to wireless, your first opinion could be going for a hardware solution. Let’s understand hardware-based USB over Wi-Fi solutions.

Wireless USB Hub

Wireless USB Hub allows you to connect multiple USB devices wirelessly to a single computer or device. It acts like a central hub or you may take it as your computer USB port’s wireless extension. This eliminates the need for additional cables to connect various devices.

Key features:

  • Support for multiple USB devices, such as storage drives, printers, scanners, etc.
  • A single computer can be used to connect many USB devices wirelessly.
  • Truly wireless experience and a cleaner workspace, without cable clutter.

icon pros Pros:

  • More versatile than single wireless adapters.
  • Ideal to establish simultaneous connections between multiple devices.
  • More cost-efficient than the scenario when you buy separate wireless adapters for individual devices.

icon cons Cons:

  • Data transfer speeds are slower than those of wired connections. It’s significant for large file transfers.
  • Wireless connections are susceptible to interference from crowded networks and multiple devices.
  • Limited range, requires the connected device to be placed at a closer proximity from the hub.

Usage: USB over Wi-Fi hardware solutions are ideal for users seeking to connect multiple USB systems (such as keyboards, scanners, printers, etc.) to a single computer while keeping the workspace clean without messy cables. In this system, the hub is wirelessly connected to the computer while your devices are plugged into this hub as done on a wired, traditional USB hub.

NOTE: A big limitation of using a Wi-Fi USB hub is you need to connect the devices to the central hub directly through a USB cable. So, this system is not completely wireless. Here, a “wireless” hub means that the hub is capable of connecting to a computer over Wi-Fi.

Wireless USB Extender

Can a USB be extended wirelessly? Yes! A Wireless USB Extender can extend an existing USB connection’s range with the help of a receiver and transmitter pair. It will help you wirelessly extend a single USB connection’s range.

This is useful when you want to connect a USB device placed at a distance from a computer that a standard USB cable can’t reach.

Key features:

  • Wireless range extension of USB connections.
  • Connects a USB device located at a distance from the hub computer.
  • Offers several connection options, including dedicated wireless protocols,
    Wi-Fi, etc.

icon pros Pros:

  • It’s an ideal option where setting a wired connection doesn’t seem feasible because of the high distance between devices.
  • You can use it with several USB devices such as a mouse, keyboards, printers, etc.
  • Faster data transfer than many wireless hubs.

icon cons Cons:

  • Best for extending one device, but not ideal to connect multiple peripherals.
  • It’s susceptible to certain interference (due to many devices) that can affect performance.
  • Needs extra configuration and setup compared to other options.

Usage: Wireless USB Extender is ideal for situations where you need to locate your USB device at a high distance (like a different building or room) from the hub. It leverages wireless technology to solve this challenge, enabling the device to easily communicate with the hub computer as if you are connecting it directly through a cable.

Wireless USB Adapter

A wireless USB adapter allows you to convert a wired USB device into a wireless device. This means even if a device doesn't support wireless consecutively natively, you can make it one using this solution.

Are you wondering - How to connect a printer to WiFi without a cable? Well, it’s possible. You can wirelessly connect a wired scanner or printer to your network using a wireless USB adapter.

Key features:

  • Makes a device wireless even if it was traditionally configured as a wired device.
  • Easy to convert a wired mouse, headset, or keyboard to wireless devices.
  • Uses protocols such as proprietary wireless connections or Bluetooth.

icon pros Pros:

  • It’s easier to connect USB to Wi-Fi adapters with minimal configuration.
  • You can make a wired device truly wireless with ease and cost-effectiveness.
  • Mobility is greater without involving cable clutter for devices.

icon cons Cons:

  • It’s confined to only one device, offering no extra ports for extension.
  • It’s susceptible to interference and depends upon what wireless protocol you’ve used.
  • Data transfer can be lower than wired connections, which can affect performance.

Usage: A wireless USB adapter is useful when adding the Bluetooth function or connecting to a wireless network. For USB over Wi-Fi, you can use a USB adapter to connect your computer to a given wireless network and share USB devices over Wi-Fi. You can also use it to add Wi-Fi connectivity to a USB device, allowing you to wirelessly access the device.

USB over Wi-Fi Hardware Drawbacks

Although hardware-based wireless USB solutions eliminate cable clutter and offer you convenience and ease of accessibility, they involve certain drawbacks:

Limited functions: Wireless USB solutions come with limited functionality. For example, you can connect only one device at a time using wireless extenders while adapters can convert only a single device at a time to wireless.

Limited range: Wireless USB solutions have a limited range, thus, you are restricted to positioning your device, like extenders and hubs, within a specific range in order to enable smooth functioning.

Slow data transfers: You may experience reduced data transfer speed in wireless connectivity, especially when sending or receiving larger files.

Interference: Wireless connections are highly susceptible to interference from crowded networks and other devices. This reduces the stability of your connections and impacts performance.

Software-Based Wireless USB Solutions

You will find many software-based wireless USB solutions in the market that will help you convert a wired USB device to a wireless device. So, if you want to know an easy way to use USB wirelessly minus additional hardware or cable clutter.

Wireless USB connection software is ideal when linking your USB devices via a second computer acting as an intermediary, instead of using wires. They also rely on USB over Wi-Fi software solutions. Here are some of the options.

Connect any device wirelessly via USB Network Gate

USB Over Wi-Fi Software

USB Network Gate allows you to make a USB device wireless through Wi-Fi connectivity. This innovative solution can effectively connect computers and USB devices over a network without requiring cables. It also doesn't require you to remotely access USB peripherals.

Let’s understand through a scenario how you can share a USB over Wi-Fi with the help of a USB Network Gate.

Scenario: You wish to wirelessly access a USB printer from your laptop.

All components:

  • Laptop: The laptop is the device that you use when wirelessly accessing a USB printer. You can refer to it as the client's computer.
  • USB Printer: This is the device that you wish to access directly, without involving any cables.
  • Host computer: This is the computer that the USB printer is connected to physically. The host computer acts as the server.
  • Wi-Fi Network: This is the network that both the client computer and host computer must be connected to.
  • USB Network Gate Software: This is the software solution that you will need to install on both the laptop or client computer as well as the host computer.

Step-by-Step Guide:

To wirelessly access a USB printer from the laptop, follow the below steps:

1
Download and Install USB Network Gate: First, download the USB Network Gate and install it on both computers - your laptop (or the client computer) and the host computer to switch the USB printer is connected physically.
Download and Install USB Over Wi-Fi Software
2
Share the USB Printer: Once installed, launch the USB Network Gate on the host computer. Here, you will find the list of all connected devices; look for the USB printer in this list. Once found, click on the button "Share". You can find this button next to the name of the printer. On clicking, the USB printer will become available to be accessed over the network.
Share USB devices over WiFi
3
Access the Printer: On your laptop (or the client computer), find the USB Network Gate and open it. Go to the tab "Remote USB devices" to find the list of shared printers. Next to the shared printers, locate the button "Connect" and click on it. This will allow you to access the USB printer over Wi-Fi.

Connect a USB device over WiFi
4
Print Wirelessly: Once you are able to access the USB printer, you can wirelessly print your documents directly from the laptop connected to the printer. So, just choose the printer and target documents with a few clicks and print them wirelessly.

NOTE: Ensure your laptop has printer drivers. If not, install them on the laptop in order to access USB wirelessly. You can access the printer the same way as if it’s directly connected to the laptop.

USB Network Gate’s Key Features:

In this scenario, some of the key features of USB Network Gate software include:

✅ Support for multi-user access: USB Network Gate software allows multiple users to easily access the USB devices shared among them. It will need all those users to be on the same network and have proper permissions.

✅ Platform independent: The software is compatible with a variety of platforms - Windows, Android, macOS, and Linux.

✅ Sharing the USB printer: The software makes the USB printer appear on the remote computer as a device connected locally over the network.

icon pros Pros:

  • Its interface is user-friendly, simplifying how you remotely share and access USB devices.
  • More efficient network utilization as it deduces the file size. This is especially useful for data transfers involving large file sizes.
  • It comes with powerful security features, such as password protection and encryption, to enable safe data transmission.
  • Compatible with a large number of USB devices and platforms, such as Windows, Android, macOS, Raspberry Pi, and Linux.

icon cons Cons:

  • Network quality directly affects performance and functionality, so low performance in unstable or low-bandwidth network conditions.
Related Articles

Use FlexiHub to Create a Wireless USB Hub

FlexiHub

FlexiHub helps you share USB over Wi-Fi, turning any USB device into a wireless system. This innovative software is designed in such a way that users can easily access USB peripherals and manage them from anywhere within the network. This eliminates the need for physical cables and gives you a flexible, clutter-free working station.

Want to know how to share a USB device over Wi-Fi using FlexiHub? This simple guide will walk you through it and tell you step by step the process of using it effectively.

How to Set and Use FlexiHub:


  1. Sign Up and Install: Create a new FlexiHub account and sign up. After successful registration, download the FlexiHub software and install it. Ensure to install it on both the computers - the host or server (to which the USB device is connected physically) and the client computer or your laptop that you want to access the USB device from.

  2. Log in: Once you've everything ready, use your account details to open FlexiHub software on both computers. This will link the two computers automatically via FlexiHub’s service.

  3. Connect to the Device: On your laptop or client computer, you can see all the available USB devices that are connected to the recent, thanks to FlexiHub. Locate the USB device to enable wireless accessibility and check the option “Connect”. It will allow you to access the USB wirelessly, effectively like it's connected to the client computer.

  4. Access the Device: When you're done with the above steps, you can remotely access your USB device over Wifi on the client computer if needed. In addition, FlexiHub enables seamless data transmission running in the background.

icon pros Pros:

  • Uses encryption to safeguard data, which helps boost security for critical device interactions and sensitive information.
  • Offers great access controls, allowing users to effortlessly control USB device access and even lock devices to avoid unauthorized usage.
  • Compatible with Windows, Android, macOS, and Linux, letting you connect different devices.

icon cons Cons:

  • FlexiHub has subscription-based pricing, which means you will need to make payments every month even if you don't use the service the entire month.
  • Its free version comes with limited features, which may not be sufficient for heavy usage. In that case, you might have to upgrade to a paid or higher plan to unlock advanced functionalities.

Use VirtualHere to Share USB over Wi-Fi


VirtualHere helps you share a USB over Wi-Fi from a server (the computer where the USB is connected physically) to a client (the computer using which you want to remotely access the device).

The software lets you use USB devices remotely while retaining the same performance as directed connected devices. This wireless technology is transformative for both office spaces and homes, looking for efficiency, ease, and flexibility of connectivity.

How to Use VirtualHere and Access Devices Wirelessly


  1. Install Server Software: To get started, install the VirtualHere server software on your computer connected to the USB device or a device compatible with NAS. The computer or the device will work as the server.

  2. Install Client Software: After installing the server software, you will need to install the VirtualHere Client software on your computer where you want to remotely access the USB device.

  3. Find and access USB devices: On the client computer, open the VirtualHere Client software. This software will discover all the available USB devices automatically that the server has shared over the network.

    Next, right-click on the USB device that you want to use and choose the option "Use." Upon doing this, the device connects with the client computer like you are physically connecting it.

  4. Manage USBs: Using the client interface, you can easily manage all the USB devices and connections. You can connect or disconnect devices anytime you need.

icon pros Pros:

  • You don't need to download or install the required drivers to run the USB devices on the client computer. Thus, it simplifies the overall setup and maintenance.
  • Helps enhance device performance over a distance by optimizing USB data for transmissions.
  • Compatible with a large number of devices and operating systems. Thus, it’s ideal for many use cases and industries.

icon cons Cons:

  • The network connection’s stability and quality directly impact the device performance, similar to any other network-based solution.
  • Can be challenging for non-technical users as it requires you to install and configure the software on both the client computer and the host computer.

DIY Wireless USB Hub

Interestingly, now it’s possible to create a compact wireless USB hub with Raspberry Pi. It implies that you can use any peripheral USB device connected to the hub’s USB ports for remote connections. This saves you time and resources on extra configurations.

So, if you want to configure a wireless USB all by yourself, follow the below steps:

Step 1: Download and install the USB Network Gate software for Raspberry Pi.

Step 2: Now, go to the Raspberry Pi’s terminal. Run the below-mentioned command:

dpkg -i [package]

apt-get install -f

rpm -i [package]

Or, you can use the command: yum install [package]

Step 3: Launch the application. Now, locate the option “Share”, which should be next to the target USB device. Select this option.

Following the above steps, you can easily configure a DIY wireless USB hub. This means you can remotely access a shared USB device from any given computer connected over the web.

Once the command is executed, it’s possible to access the shared device easily from a machine using the USB Network Gate software. Thus, you can quickly set up an active connection with the client device or computer.

Conclusion

If you want to remotely share a USB device, collaborate with your colleagues, or connect to multiple ports, you can use wireless USB solutions. These wireless USB solutions can be hardware-based or software-based but are highly versatile and convenient to use for everyone on your team or even at home.

While hardware options can offer you stability and performance, software-based USB solutions have become highly advanced. Currently, you will get more flexibility, and convenience, among many other benefits than their hardware counterparts.

So, if you go ahead with software-based wireless USB solutions, you can reap the following benefits:

Ease of use: Software-based wireless USB solutions are easy and quick to set up and get started with the help of on-screen instructions. Thus, you don’t have to encounter complexities and cluttered workspace as you do with wired connections.

Remote access: With remote and hybrid work setups, remote access has now become a necessity. It’s even useful for remote troubleshooting and comes in handy during travel as well. Remote access USB devices and wireless USB solutions are truly wireless and remotely accessible, so you can access your device from anywhere, anytime if you have an internet connection.

Flexibility and versatility: Wireless USB solutions are compatible with many platforms and devices. This includes computers, laptops, tablets, scanners, printers, etc. running on Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi, Android, and virtual machines (VMs).

Scalability: Modern software must be able to scale with growing demands and scenarios. Wireless USB solutions can easily adapt to unforeseen network changes and scale up or down without requiring additional hardware purchases.

Enhanced security: Cybersecurity risks are increasing, and if you are using any application, you need to ensure it’s safe. Wireless USB solutions come with security features like two-factor authentication (2FA) and strong encryptions to enable connection security.

Reduced maintenance: The age of automation requires you to use efficient solutions like wireless USB solutions that can save you plenty of time and resources. You can get automatic updates to keep your software running smoothly, always. This also eliminates expensive, time-consuming hardware updates.

Whether it’s a hardware-based or software-based USB solution, choose the one that suits you the best depending on your requirements. It will help you keep your workflow efficient and streamlined and improve productivity.

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