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Linksys WPS54GU2 Wireless-G Print Server for USB 2.0 | List Price: $99.99
Discount Price: $68.50
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Brand: Linksys
Binding: Electronics
Release Date: 2003-10-15
Warranty: 3 years warranty
Features: - Share up to two printers with everyone on your network -- works with most parallel and USB (1.1 or 2.0) printers
- Connects your printers directly to the network by 10/100 wired Ethernet or 54Mbps Wireless-G (802.11g)
- No need to dedicate a PC to print server chores
- Remotely administered through your web browser, SNMP, or the included utility
- Easy installation with Setup Wizard
It will work, eventually... [Posted on 2007-04-29]
I won't go into detail about my credentials, but I am a seasoned IT professional who has set up over 100 network printer interfaces and print servers, internal and external, from nearly every hardware vendor out there. I was able to get this unit to work as per the directions with an Epson Stylus C82 (USB interface) without issue.
Imagine my surprise, then, when I could not get it to work with a trusty, corporate standard (last millennium at least) Hewlett Packard LaserJet 5! Simple parallel interface, high quality Belkin 6' IEEE-1284 compliant cable, stock Windows XP drivers -- This should have been a no-brainer!
Test pages from the web interface worked fine, and the printer was recognized (On-line) but actual print jobs via the Windows driver produced unpredictable, but never functional results. Only once did the output look at all like the Windows test page, and then only roughly.
I was about to give up, when I reread the entire manual and saw information about the "Bi-Admin" utility, which is used (among other things) for configuring the bidirectional parallel and other parameters. This, it turns out, was crucial to getting this printer to work with the device. Long story short, after I enabled "ACK & Busy" for P1 (parallel port) on the "Configuration -> Physical Port" menu item, everything worked perfectly. I tried to enable ECP mode, but it would not save that setting.
If you are an experienced user or tech, you should probably read up on how to configure this without their kludgey software driver. Set it up in Windows 2000 or later as a standard TCP/IP interface using LPR. Parallel port gets queue name of P1, USB is P2. Clean, simple, and reliable.
I have not even tested the wireless capability yet, but everyone seems to say it works for basic configurations. Don't expect a lot in terms of wireless security (WEP only) but it does the job.
One more thing: as many others have mentioned, you should make SURE this device is configured with a static IP address. If this confuses you, get help from someone who knows what they are doing. Sadly, this probably does NOT mean Linksys "Tech Support" who will likely tell you that they cannot help you determine the settings for your home/business network.
Worked great for a week, then stoped working [Posted on 2007-05-17]
Installation was streightforward, and the print server worked great - for a week or two. Then it started acting up. It would print a few pages, then time out. Or it would not print at all. Cycling power would make it print the next few pages, and than it stalls again.
Sniffing IP packets through Ethereal showed that that connection attempt SYN was immediately RESetted. We used this WPS54GU2 on two printers, a Brother and a Xerox WorkCentre via USB. On the other end of the connection is a Linksys access point.
I wish this device did not work from start, so I would not have wasted so much time.
DO NOT BUY THIS PRINT SERVER [Posted on 2008-05-26]
I have had nothing but trouble with this print server since I purchased it. After looking up the model number via google, I realize the hours of troubleshooting have been a huge waste of time since everyone else has the same problem. Linksys should be ashamed for not doing a better job of supporting this turd, but I will search out another of better quality and buy that instead of losing more valuable time here. Garbage - stay away.
Makes Your Printer Wirelss! [Posted on 2008-06-01]
This server makes your printer wireless. If you have a laptop, and you want to be able to print from anywhere in your home, this will do it for you.
Your worst wireless printing nightmare... [Posted on 2008-07-02]
I admin several networks for an emergency service, and we use a wireless printing solution in one of the workrooms to avoid having to plug and unplug printers into the USB port (the Toughbooks get so much action on the USB port that they break within 6 months...they weren't designed for so many cycles). Over the past two weeks, I have had daily problems with the WPS54GU2 which require resets of either the laptops (reassociation with the PS) or of the PS itself. The PS will load up its internal spooler faster (requiring a power cycle to reset) using the parallel port as opposed to the USB port, but it will still "break" totally randomly using the USB port. This is a very unstable piece of equipment and I highly do *NOT* recommend it...it has been a maintenance headache from hell for me, trying to get it to maintain associations with 20 different Toughbooks even though every laptop has been set up consistently. Don't take my word for it though, take a look around, Google the name of the printserver and see how many people have had problems with this item! Do *NOT* buy this item, if you value your sanity.
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