Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (
More info?)
On Fri, 25 Jun 2004 10:06:00 -0400, Roby <roby@no-address.net> wrote:
>hawk wrote:
>
>> Does anyone have any experience with print servers? I am thinking
>> about either a standalone or a router with a built in print server.
>> One parallel port would be enough.
>>
>> hawk
>
>Last week, I bought Hawking's print server (2 usb + 1 parallel ports). It
>worked, but the setup software and browser access are slow and clunky.
>
>I learned that my Epson C84's ink level monitor doesn't work when the
>printer is accessed through a print server. Judging from the long series
>of posts about Epson ink-jets I just read, this is no longer important.
>
>I returned the Hawking and bought a Gigafast. No browser access on this
>one. Never could get it working, so it is also going back.
>
>So far, my efforts have been a big waste of time. Maybe the higher-priced
>print servers are better.
I recently bought a Netgear PS121 (only supports USB printers),
connected it to a HP Color LasrJet 1500L. It worked well from my
laptop via wireless; however I had problems printing from one PC
(caused the attention light to come on after 1 page) and I couldn't
even install the software on another.
So I bought the proper HP JetDirect print server and I had exactly the
same problems. Turned out the attention light problem was due to the
PC requesting Letter size paper when I was using A4. The PC that the
software wouldn't install was just screwed; I reinstalled XP and it
was a little better but I could only get it working by manually
configuring TCP/IP printing.
The HP print server was about 3 times the price of the Neatgear one
and does have a couple of advantages; however it isn't massively
better then the cheaper one.