When configuring a printer, it’s critical to use the best printer port available, especially if you use your printer frequently. Each printer port has a different speed, and your computer may only support certain ports. Furthermore, some ports allow for faster printer setup and recognition. Ideally, you want your printer to be as fast as possible.
Software Ports
Software ports are computer ports that serve as a bridge between the computer and an external device. They function as keys that printers use to communicate with computers. A computer can use 65,535 different ports, with the most common printing ports being 9100 and 6001. Other ports, depending on the hardware, manufacturer, and whether or not ports are already in use, can also be used.
Hardware Printer Port Types
A parallel printing port, also known as an LPT1 port, is found on many computers. The parallel port is a 36-pin port used to connect older printers to computers, but the connection is quite slow at 2 megabits per second. Serial ports have nine pins and can be used with printers, but they operate at a much slower 115 kilobits per second. Modern printers typically connect to a PC via a USB port, which is typically located on the computer’s back panel. USB connections are the fastest connections for a computer and printer for small business users, with data transfer rates of up to 4.8 gigabits per second.
Considerations
Most computers come with one parallel or LPT1 port because that’s the maximum most motherboards can take. The same goes for serial connections. This limits the number of printers you can connect to one computer. Parallel and serial connections are usually not hot-swappable, meaning they won’t work unless you shut down the computer to plug them in, which could add downtime to your business. However, you can plug in a USB device while the computer is on and Windows will recognize it. There are usually six to eight USB ports on a computer, and with USB hubs, up to 128 different printers or other devices can be hooked up to one computer. While it may be impractical to hook up 128 printers, you can still use any USB device while your printer is connected.
Wireless Connections
Modern printers include a Wi-Fi capability that allows them to connect to computers via a wireless network. They must use the same software ports as if they were directly connected to a PC, but they can be placed almost anywhere within a wireless router’s range. If the printer is AirPrint compatible, you can also print from a laptop with Wi-Fi or an iPad. It should be noted that many Wi-Fi printers still require a physical connection to the computer while the drivers are installed.
