AARP Tax-Aide
Sonoma/Napa District
Bill Dornbush, TC

 Copy of presentation is on the web site: http://www.aarpca2.org/tcreferences
 Interactive – please
 Share your problems and solutions
 You may know 90% of this, but you may learn the 10% that makes this season easier
 Revised based on comments during the discussion

 PLUS
 Once configured, good for season as long as configuration doesn’t change
 MINUS
 Printer driver must be loaded on laptop for each printer type
 Right version for OS, bits (32/64)
 Those with personal laptops may have difficulty switching between default printers – and networks

 Printer switch or network
 Laptop server or printer server
 Wired or wireless
 There is as much that is the SAME between these methods as there is DIFFERENT

Parallel
Switch

 Obsolete: many laptops and printers don’t have parallel ports
 PLUS
 No software or hardware changes needed
 No network is required
 MINUS
 You must have parallel ports
 You may need to operate switch to change laptops
 Cables are required – setup, safety issue
 Limited to 4 laptops per printer

USB
Switch

 Obsolescent: There are better ways
 PLUS
 Simple: No software or hardware changes are needed
 MINUS
 You must operate switch to change laptops
 You must use the same USB port each time to avoid duplicate printers in Windows
 Cables required – setup, safety issue
 Use BLUE or GREEN MASKING tape to secure cables to floor
 Limited to 4 laptops per printer

Network
Switch
??

 Switch: Connects network devices together.
 Routes packet from one device to another based on the data packet destination.
 Cannot connect its LAN to another network
 Router: Switch and more:
 Has a gateway to the Internet or another LAN
 May provide DHCP server, firewall
 May provide wireless access point

 Laptop hosts printer, or
 Printer Server hosts printer
 Great choice for Client/Server TaxWise
 PLUS
 No network configuration needed
 Secure and stable
 Network manages print queue
(all network configurations)
 MINUS
 Requires (router or switch) and cables
 Potential safety hazard

??

 Laptop hosts printer, or
 Printer Server hosts printer
 PLUS
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No cables
Easier setup of site each session
 MINUS
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Requires router (dedicated or Quetec type)
Must configure each network device
Network may not be stable or may experience interference
 Try using other WiFi channels than the default 6 (set on router)
Security issues
 Best practice: Use best encryption available
 WPA2 -> WPA -> WEP

 WEP security has been cracked:
 For 50% of cases, in one minute
 For 95% of cases, in two minutes
 WPA security has been cracked, but it takes a lot longer
 WPA2 security has not yet been cracked
 To improve security:
 Turn off SSID broadcasting
 Use MAC security as well

Network
Crossover
Cable
USB
Cable

 Applies for both wired and wireless
 Laptop serving printer may be different from laptop serving TaxWise or network
 PLUS
 No additional hardware needed
 MINUS
 Laptop must be present at each session
 Setup may be tricky due to laptop:

 printer sharing security issues: Windows, firewall
Load right OS/bit version of driver from server laptop to client laptop

Server

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Printer server can be wired or wireless
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Network can be wireless and printer server can be wired
Some routers include printer server via USB port
Both USB and parallel port models are available
Printer server can be built-in to printer
Network can be wired or wireless
PLUS
 Not dependent on laptop, so setup is easier: no security issues because of laptop
MINUS
 Extra device (printer server) needed
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Configuration is a little different, uses “Standard TCP/IP Port”
Built-in may not be usable with future versions of Windows

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Insert and/or enable wireless adaptor
Connect to the wireless network
Check default printer for Windows is set to the site printer
Check default printer for TaxAide is set to the site printer
Print a test page
If you only use your laptop for TaxAide, your settings should not change from session to session. Otherwise, CHECK EVERY TIME.

 Is everything plugged in?
 Did you change any software on your laptop? A new version of your firewall or security software, for example.
 Try disabling your firewall and try again
 Try printing from another application to Windows
 If you can print from another application, check the
TaxWise setup

 Check the site router (box or laptop)
 Make sure that Status and WLAN lights are blinking (if this site has a router based network).
 If this site uses one laptop as the router, check its status (Quetec > Manager > Tools > Status)

 Check that your wireless security is set properly (how to do this varies by type of laptop and network adaptor, usually right-click on Wireless Network Icon in System Tray and select Status > Properties.)
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SSID: carol (NOT Tax…)
Network authentication: Open
Data encryption: WEP/WPA/WPA2
Network key: taxaidetaxaid (or similar 13 characters)

 Laptop hosting shared printer – Make sure it is on the network. When you position the mouse pointer over the
Wireless Network Connection icon in the system tray
(lower right of the computer screen), you will see a message like “Wireless Network Connection (carol), status
connected.”
If the laptop hosting the shared printer has Firewall software, confirm that the firewall allows access to the shared printer. To see the firewall settings, use:
Start > Settings > Control Panel > Security Center

 Shared printer – in the
Printers window, it must have the “shared hand” symbol at the bottom of the printer icon

 Turn off all devices
 Power up in sequence:
 Router
 Laptop/Server hosting printer
 Printer
 Your laptop

 Set up and configure printer sharing arrangement
BEFORE the first day of counseling
 Install printer drivers before distributing laptops
 If wireless network, install wireless adaptors before distributing laptops
 Prepare your sites for wireless problems – they will probably experience at least one during the season
 Train them on how to troubleshoot
 Use one person at each site as contact so that they will acquire experience troubleshooting with you