Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)First I tried the NetGear PS101 print server. I liked the spiffy form factor. I could talk to the print server admin web interface and get it to print a test page, but even after many, many hours could never get it to print a document. So I returned it.
After that debacle, I decided to splurge for the HP JetDirect. At first I could only get it to print the configuration page. A visit to the HP support forums turned up lots of references to the JetDirect not working with SP2 and the suggested solution was to uninstall SP2. Ugh. Finally I went to the D-Link web site and copied the D-Link installation guide for XP w/SP2. The main difference was that D-Link suggested installing the print server as a local TCP/IP printer instead of a networked printer and, bingo, I got the JetDirect to print. (NOTE: It still goes over the network, it just looks local to the PC.) However I was miffed that I paid double the price for a device which required a competitors documentation to get to work. In addition, DHCP didn't work and I could never get it to show up in my network neighborhood.
So ... in a possibly nonsensical move of principle and price, I bought the D-Link DP300U and set up it. It's not trivial to install, but after working with the other two devices, a couple hours of install time seems like nothing. Here are a couple tips ...
(1) Do NOT use DHCP. Use a fixed IP address. Unlike the JetDirect, DHCP works. However, it still didn't show up in my network neighborhood and now I didn't know the IP address. There is NO HARDWARE RESET on the device. The D-Link support guy was great. He told me that if I couldn't find the IP address, I would have to send it back to D-Link to be reset (Ugh!). The good news is that he told me how to find it. I went to the router and looked at the DHCP assignment list and got it, and then reset the thing to a nice, fixed IP address in my subnet.
(2) I first set it up as per the instructions as a local TCP/IP printer, which means it's still on the network but looks like a local printer to the PC. It worked OK, but did this weird, long pause ... about a minute ... right in the middle of long documents. Again D-Link support was good. They told me to try setting it up as a networked printer, which I did. Unfortunately, this doesn't have spooling and you're back to 1980's wait-for-printing. Then something weird happened that I can not explain ... after setting up the device as a networked printer, I went back to the local TCP/IP printer that I had set up and it worked perfectly. Don't know how it got fixed.
My PC is a Dell laptop w/ wireless connection to an access point, and then wired to a router and the print server. My printer is an HP Deskjet 5550.
So, in the end I'm sticking with the D-Link product and I am happy with it. I would have rated it 3 stars as an overall product, but bumped my rating to 4 stars because I still thought it was the best of the ones I had tried. The itty-bitty-print-server market could use some improvement.
Enjoy!
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D-Link DP-300U 10/100TX 1-USB Port 2-Parallel Port Print ServerD- Link the industry pioneer in networking continues to offer innovative products in Ethernet. The D- Link DP- 300U is a compact print server that connects to your Ethernet or Fast Ethernet network. With high-speed ports DP-300U allow users to print simultaneously from anywhere on the network. DP-300U is equipped with two IEEE1284 parallel ports and one USB version 1.1 port for seamless connection tomost printers available on the market today. DP-300U also supports all major network Operating Systems and protocols. With its compact size DP-300U can easily be placed anywhere! DP-300U is also easily configurable using web browser or window based configuration program. Using web browsers on a PC connected to the network configuration is simple and straightforward with the familiar D-Link interface. PS Admin a Windows based configuration program can also be used to configure DP-300U. The DP-300U print server is the ideal network printing solution for small offices home offices schools and other businesses that requires printer sharing. Primary InformationNetworking Type:Print serverForm Factor:ExternalNetworking Interface:USB; ParallelData Transfer Rate:100 MbpsData Link Protocol:Ethernet; EtherTalk; Fast EthernetConnectivity Technology:WiredRemote Management Protocol:SNMPCabling Type:Ethernet 10BASE-T; Ethernet 100Base-TXWidth:4.6 InchDepth:7.59 InchHeight:1.22 InchService & Support Type:1 year warrantyUNSPSC CodeUNSPSC Code:43201537Product IDUPC:790069251139Manufacturer Part:DP-300U
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