Belkin F1UP0001 Wireless USB Print Server by Belkin Inc.
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List Price: Category: CE See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Belkin F1UP0001 Wireless USB Print Server
Digital camera Review: Easy installation
Summary: 5 Stars
I tried Linksys wireless print server first and found after several hours with their customer service reps that it is not compatible with my Belkin wireless setup. The Belkin print server works very well, however, my experience leads me to caution that I do not know how it would perform with networks from other manufacturer's.Digital camera Review: Easy to set up, but no firmware available yet.
Summary: 4 Stars
I wasn't sure if this print server would work since my HP Officejet 5510 was not listed as "working" or "unsupported". I followed the Quick Setup instuctions and it worked right away on my Linksys 54g WLAN. It may help that I broadcast the SSID and don't even use WEP (I have no neighbors in range of the signal). It disabled DHCP by default which is odd (and gave itself the lowest non-active IP on my LAN), but it printed a config page after installation, so I went into the browser page and set it to an IP above my DHCP scope. Next I adjusted the IP of the Belkin printer port in W2K and I was done!
I was impressed that I did the whole setup via the wireless card, but they include a CAT5 cable in the box.
Checking the Belkin website, I couldn't find a firmware update (not that I needed it). Maybe someday there will be a WPA update for people who lock down their WLAN.
This is a good wireless USB print server, I recommend it.
Digital camera Review: Fine for home, but not for small business.
Summary: 2 Stars
I had a Hawking print server die at the office and bought this (Belkin makes quality stuff) to replace it. When I got it, the instructions tell you that you must first install the printers on the machines first and then remap their connections to the print server using their special software (just one more piece of bloatware to slow things down) so it acts like the USB port is directly on the PC. This is not feasible in an office with more than a dozen machines. To make matters worse, the "store" I bought it from had a major restocking fee (won't be doing business with them ever again), so I bought it off the company and am using it at home (all wireless laptops except the media server, so easy to move them and connect them to the printer first).
I wish Amazon had been more clear or provided a link to the install instructions so I would have avoided this one to begin with. Of course, if Belkin would have just made a wireless device that could have the two ports get assigned IP addresses like the Hawking product, it would have been fine. It's stupid to make you physically install the printer on the USB port then use their bloatware to assign that printer to one on the print server. Totally stupid.
Digital camera Review: Good Value
Summary: 5 Stars
Server was extremely easy to set up and use. Perfect for the multiple printer environment.Digital camera Review: Great PRINT server.
Summary: 5 Stars
I have at home 1 wireless laptop, 2 Windows desktops, and 1 Linux box. I always had problem trying to share my printer (connected to a WinXP) with the Linux... so I decided to go with a Wireless Print Server, since I wanted to leave the printer far away from my boxes. Well... after a lot of research, I found this model the best one. Some people complain about not being able to use the scanner, or fax... well... This is a PRINT server, so I wouldn't try to plug a MULTI FUNCTION printer on it.
The Epson R300 - my printer - has some special features, such as a great quality photo printing, and CD printing... everything is working just like it was before when connected to the PC.
INSTALATION:
If you follow the FAST GUIDE, there is no chance to do anything wrong. It's easy, and I printed the first page within 2 minutes or so.
TIP:
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When installed, the Print Server will connect to your router using the DHCP. I suggest you change the IP to a static one, this way you will never have to reconf the PCs.
LINUX:
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When doing my research I didn't find anything saying that this Print Server could be used with Linux... but as far it's a NETWORK server, I decided to take my chances.
It was easier than I though. I use Mandriva Linux, and I just asked it to look for a Network printer... It found the print server imediatelly. It didn't recognize the model of my printer, but I just selected from a List (Epson R300) and it worked right on the spot. (didn't take more than 1 minute to do that).
THINGS THAT NOBODY TOLD ME:
After installed, I decided to access the Print Server through a browser by typing http://192.xxx.xxx.xxx on my browser (where 192.xxx.xxx.xxx is the IP of the print server) - It worked!!! Belkin put together a really cool WEB BASED interface where you can check the status of the printers, IPs, etc... Even better, you can setup a FTP printing system... for those who don't know, it's a FTP service that whatever you PUT in is printed immediately... very useful when you want to print from outside of the Network. Just create the FTP service, forward the a port of your router to the Print Server, and you can FTP any document from anywhere in the world and get it printed on your Printer.
PROBLEM:
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The only thing I noticed is not working anymore is the level of the INK on the printer, that I used to be informed through a graphic interface on my Windows XP... now, it does not show anything anymore... but since I use a BULK anyway, I can always just take a look on the level so for me that's not a big deal.
GREAT PRODUCT.
I hope you like my review! :)