Cisco-Linksys Wireless-G Print Server with Multifunction Printer Support
by Linksys
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Our Price: $119.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $49.00 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Cisco-Linksys Wireless-G Print Server with Multifunction Printer Support
Customer Review: Linksys WPSM54G: GARBAGE!!
Summary: 1 Stars
UPDATE: March 7, 2010. An IT guru suggested that some of problem may have come from the print server being physically defective. So I purchased a new one & installed. Same problems with new unit (although I've gotten my install times down to Olympic record!) So the new unit goes back today. It's still garbage.
I'm not a novice, but not an IT tech guru either. I had bought this print server at the recommendation of a friend (yes, I'll still talk to him, but ....). By this time I have read all the reviews, threads, helpful suggestions on Amazon and Linksys, as well as a few stray ones desperate Googling uncovered. Briefly, (1) everything said about the difficulty/impossibility of installation is true (I tracked at least 3-days of actual trying-to-install time, in addition to internet search time, phone time with Linksys, and calls with the original friend (who BTW is a computer guru) and other workarounds; (2) everything said about the "helpfulness" of Linksys support is also true--they are NOT--plus you get to wait a longish time on the phone to discover that; (3) there is apparently a combination of the different helpful suggestions people have posted at either Amazon or Linksys that makes for a successful installation--I have to admit that I have managed to successfully "install" (so that the printer prints wirelessly) twice. The first time was a weird combination of two different individuals suggestions (which I had printed off) which weren't exactly the same so I mixed sequences and the thing worked. Unfortunately the magic and functionability mysteriously went away 5 days later so I was priviledged to start over. The weird combination didn't occur that time, and I free-lanced. After only 8 hours of trying, the server decided to accept instructions (I still don't know why) and the printer (sort-of) works again. Sort-of because it turns itself completely off (stops receiving or apparently sending anything wirelessly) after each individual print job and requires essentially rebooting the printer (turn off/turn on) for each printing...yes, even if there are multiple print jobs in the que. (4) The sheer volume of user suggestions/solutions is daunting and many contradict each other...why hasn't Linksys at least looked at those suggestions and posted some updated instructions or cautions? Some of the solutions are suggestive, but almost all leave out some important step.
To be fair, I am running Windows 7 on 2 computers and XP Professional on the carry-around laptop. The printer is the Dell MFP 3115cn (oh, yeah, I talked to Dell too). And all computers are networked under a Belkin router (yes, mixing products = trouble). I found the print server much easier to install under XP (only 3.5 hours), but problems with actual printing/etc. were just as bad with that OS as for W7. Scanner and fax functions don't. I'm hoping that the print function will last until I can research a functional print server to replace Linksys. I should have read some of the earlier reviews and not listened to my friend in the store (my fault).
But: the product doesn't perform as it is advertised even with XP; W7 has been out a while which is apparently still news to Linksys; Linksys obviously doesn't care because not only is there no movement to "fix" their issues with W7, they actively blame their customers for not staying with antiquated software and hardware. They seem determined to make it more, not less, difficult to get information on potential solutions and seem too cowardly to admit any responsibility. More power to those individuals who have a functioning Linksys print server. One day soon I hope to be taking a hammer to mine. And there will never be another Linksys product in my house, shop, business, vehicles. Linksys by Cisco Wireless-G Print Server with Multifunction Printer SupportLinksys WPSM54G Wireless-G USB Print ServerLinksys by Cisco Refurbished Wireless-G Print ServerLinksys by Cisco Wireless-G Print Server with Multifunction Printer SupportLinksys by Cisco Refurbished Wireless-G Print Server
Customer Review: Setup is tricky but once it works, it works well
Summary: 4 Stars
Once you get this gizmo going, it works nicely. You can connect multiple computers on your home network to a printer that's within WiFi range. But setting it up is a challenge, because you have to do exactly the right things in exactly the right sequence, and some of the things you have to do right aren't mentioned in the setup wizard that runs when you insert the Linksys setup CD into your computer, or they're mentioned so late in the process that you may have to start all over again!
The process takes about 90 minutes if you do everything right the first time around and don't have to double back. Most of the time you're watching software load - it's as exciting as watching paint dry. Here's what you have to do, as far as I'm able to recount from having just done it for a friend's home network. If you think the following is written in Greek or maybe in Geek, get someone else to do this for you. If you're up to the challenge, this review may save you time and frustration and prevent more 1-star reviews.
(1) Before you set the print server up, it's a good idea to go to the web site of the company that makes your router (Linksys, D-Link, Netgear, etc.) and download and install the latest "firmware" for your router. That takes maybe 15 minutes.
(2) Move the printer close to the PC that's connected to your wireless router. It has to be close enough to the router for you to connect it via a standard Ethernet ("patch" or "Internet") cable. It's not a big deal, but it means you may have to set the printer up in one place and then move it back to where you want it to be. (Linksys supplies the necessary cables in the box, which is to their credit. Most printer manufacturers make you buy your own cable.)
(3) The printer needs to be set up on the computer using a wired (USB) connection *before* you try to set up the wireless connection. If you're just going wireless with a printer you've already installed on the PC that's connected to your WiFi router, you're all set. But if you're installing a new printer, or trying to go wireless with a printer you've moved from some other computer, be sure to install it as a USB printer first. (3-a) Once you have the printer set up as a wireless "network" computer, you may want to uninstall the USB version of the same printer, because when you boot up, some versions of Windows will give you endless warnings that the local printer isn't connected. (3-b) This also means that if you ever buy a new printer and you want to connect it wirelessly via the Linksys print server, you have to install it first as a (wired) USB printer, and then re-run the "Set Up Computer" wizard from the CD that comes with the Linksys. Don't lose that CD!
(4) The setup wizard asks for a password for the print server. You can use any password you like, BUT then it asks for a passphrase, and the wizard fails to point out that you need the exact WEP passphrase or WEP key you've (already) used to set up your wireless router. (You are using WEP or stronger security on your wireless router, right? If not, go find out how to set up WEP security and do it immediately.) (4-a) The setup wizard asks for a passphrase, but if you've used a passcode on your router, there's a way to enter it you look carefully at the screen.
(5) Once you complete setting up the wireless print server, the wizard leads you through setting up your computer. Again, you must have already installed the printer onto the computer via a USB cable before you get to this point! Follow the instructions and by gosh - it works! Then at the very end there's a small note saying that if you want to set up other computers, you have to install the printer drivers first. Nice of Linksys to point that out at the very end; it would have saved me an hour of messing around if they'd said that at the beginning!
(6) Once the printer is set up, it's the default printer, and it wasn't possible (at least for me, with Windows XP) to set a different printer up as the default printer on one of the computers on my home friend's network. A minor irritation, in most cases, and there may be a workaround. If I find it I'll add it to this review.
So: 5 stars for convenience once it's set up; 3 stars for the glitch with the default; 2 stars for poor setup instructions... how do you rate this thing? 4 stars, I guess.
Customer Review: Great Wireless Print Server, but some problems with setup
Summary: 5 Stars
I installed this unit on 3 laptop computers, one with XP and two with Vista Home Basic. It took me two days to do it because I didn't completely understand the installation instructions. Once I got the technuque down, it took less than 45 minutes total and about 20 minutes for each additional computer. The instruction manual is actually on the provided CD so the only written documentation is the "Quick Installation" guide. These are things to remember before and during installation. 1. The desired printer must be setup and able to run from the computer via the USB cable before installation is starated. Test the printer first before you start. 2. You can use the provided CD to install or you can download from Linksys the "setup wizard" and run it from your hard drive. If you download from Linksys, it is a ZIP file that must be expanded and the start up is "Wizard.exe" Running it from your hard drive is faster. (There are probably two different set up programs in one, for XP it is ver 1 and for Vista it is ver 1.1) 3. There are two separate procedures that must be performed. The first sets up the print server. I used the "Manual" step up as I think it was easier to enter the SSID of the router as well as the pass phrase and other information. There was a problem with determining the actual encription method of the router, WEP, WPA, WPA2, (TKIP and AES) so before you start this setup make sure you know what exact encription method the router is set for, it must be exactly correct for the print server to work. 4. When the "quick installation" guide says to connect the power supply to the printer and/or the print server, it means to not only connect the power supply, but to power them up. Also, when you power up the printer and/or the print server, let them complete boot up before you click on "NEXT". 5. The second step to the process is to set up the computer. While the print server must be only set up once, each computer must be set up separately. 6. When the written instructions and on screen wording says to close down all other running programs, LEAVE YOUR INTERNET SECURITY PROGRAM RUNNING. I turned Zone Alarm off and it then blocked all of the access when I tried to print after installation. On a Vista machine with Norton IS, this was not a problem as long as you leave the program running. 7. Play close attention to the screen as you will have to accept the "unapproved" program to install several times as well as allow the installation with VISTA. Now that the print server is installed, it works like a champ with a HP Color LaserJet 1600. My firmware version on the print server is 1017 from the factory which is the latest. If you do not have this version, other reviews have suggested that you update to the latest firmware version if you are running Vista. I hope this not only encourages you to purchase the Linksys WPSM54G wireless print server, but help you install it.Customer Review: Avoid at all costs. Driving to Kinkos is preferable.
Summary: 4 Stars
Originally, I thought the product was okay, just frustrating to install. Now, I think the product stinks, mainly due to poor installation programming and connectivity issues.
Initially, I got the print server to work using the directions in my original post (below). These directions came from an internet forum, not from LinkSys and certainly not from anything included in with my product.
After I finally got the device to work, I turned my computer off. The next morning, when I started things up, I could not connect to the wiereless print server long enough to print any documents. Spent a few more hours trying to get it to work, and could only print one or two pages before it timed out. Thankfully, I had ordered a Belkin F3U133-16 USB 2.0 A/B Cable (16 Feet) with the LinkSys product.
I guess the best thing about this product is that I got it from Amazon, and so the process of returning it was totally painless. Don't buy unless you are a masochist.
[BELOW WAS MY REVIEW AT THE END OF THE FIRST DAY. I HAVE SINCE RETURNED THE PRODUCT (TWO DAYS LATER) AND ADDED THE FOREGOING PARAGRAPHS. I AM LEAVING IT UP ON THE OFF CHANCE THAT IT MIGHT HELP SOME POOR SOUL UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BUY THIS DOG.]
I spent several hours (and raised my blood pressure by fifteen points) trying to install this product. I found the following instructions useful:
1) Download the setup utility for the wireless print server
2) Run the utility and record the IP address it lists is for your printer (it is better to use a static IP address)
3) Add your printer (by using windows add printer utility)
A) For your install type it is a Wireless/Bluetooth/Network Printer
B) Select my printer is not displayed text (you might not see this)
C) Select TCP/IP under the connection type and make sure the device type is set to TCP/IP. (Also, uncheck the option to automaticaly determine your printer driver)
D) Fill in the IP address you used and make the port name IP_(your IP address)
E) When it asks about the device type select custom and set the printer type to LPR with a que name of P1 or possibly L1.
F) After the printer is installed, right-click on it in the printers folder and goto properties.
G) From the properties page goto Ports and disable bi-directional printing.
F) Still in the properties page goto advanced and select print directly to Printer. 4) Run a test print and ensure that everything works as it should.
4) Run a test print and ensure that everything works as it should.
5) Restart print server, printer and laptop
Good luck. For the record, I was installing into a LinkSys network, so I didn't have hardware incompatibility.ware incompatibility.
Customer Review: Works great
Summary: 5 Stars
In my home, I had a very old PC that we used as a print server. It also had a large disk drive that we used for backups. This old computer was never used as a PC. It was big, ugly, and in the way. I bought a new Linksys router (WRT-600) with a USB disk connection, and connected the backup disk to the router. If I could find a wireless print server, I could ditch the old computer.
After reading all the reviews, I was skeptical that a good unit was even available. But after several months of successful use, I must say this unit works flawlessly with my HP Laserjet 1022 and the 3 laptop PCs in my house. Unlike many home wireless products, the Wireless-G Print Server runs very cool.
As several reviewers have pointed out, you must make the printer work on your PC before installing the Print Server. Since all the PCs in the house are laptops, bringing the PCs to the printer to install the driver was quite easy.
I have worked with several Linksys and Netgear wireless products. This was the first product for which the "Easy Install" program actually worked. The program found my router and connected the Print Server. Then it installed a server program to my PCs. The server program sits in my task bar. I really don't know very much about it, because it's always green. Installation was flawless for one Vista PC and two XP PCs. Linksys includes every cable you need, even the Ethernet cable that you use just once for a few minutes while configuring the Print Server to the router. That's a nice touch.
Here's my caveats.
* I don't have a scanner or fax, so I don't use those features. I can't say how they work.
* The USB driver for the LaserJet 1022 is very simple. It doesn't, for example, try to tell me how much ink I have left.
* I didn't have any problems with the Easy Install. I have no idea how well the manual installation would work or how good tech support would be. I can say, though, that I had a good experience with tech support for my Linksys WRT-600 when the auto-install progam didn't work.
* Finally, I am in a semi-rural location. I don't use WEP, or WPA, or MAC filtering; and I do broadcast my SSID. So I can't say from personal experience how using these security features would affect operation or installation. I did change the router's IP address from the default value. That did not create any problems at all.
I can't address all the issues others have raised in these reviews. But I can say that the unit works well for me. The printer is always available from all my PCs.