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Linksys WPS11 Wireless-B Print Server

Linksys WPS11 Wireless-B Print Server

List Price: $220.99
Your Price: $121.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Junk
Review: Bought this from Amazon - what a piece of crap. Don't waste your money - go with netgear.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Woah! What a problem to install?!?
Review: Okay - now, unlike many of the people writing reviews - I am very "techno-savvy". I've designed nets. I've set up print servers before...

So... after 2 hours of "configuration" with this thing - multiple resets, multiple attemps at starting the wireless print server, etc. I called linksys. After waiting for 45 minutes, I gave up and had at it again.

Personally, those of you without good intituition or a really good buddy who is a "tech guy" - skip buying this product. I had to use all me "obi-wan superpowers" to navigate my way through this thing and get it finally working. Once you got it set up - you can leave it alone... but it is a "long hard slog" up that mountain.

I did finally get it working... with much effort. The thing that really bugs me about this is that I use many linksys products. This is the first linksys print server I bought and I doubt I'll buy one ever again. I was using a linksys WAP with a CMU from Linksys as well (so it shouldn't be an interoperating incompatability issue for those who are wondering.)

The key I think on the install is twofold...

a) Originally the thing is going to want to go DHCP. Make sure you have it plugged into your router before you boot it on. Otherwise, it won't DHCP to your network, it will self assign on another IP domain and subnet - and you'll never see the thing. Also, if you have WEP installed - shut it off. You can't initialize the print server with WEP running and you can't pass the key to the product with the WEP running. You'll have to be "naked" during installation. I even turned the SSID broadcast back on so it could see it. Once you get the thing DHCP'ed, then install the WEP key on the PRINT SERVER, then turn the WEP key back on your router/WAP.

b) Once you get the sucker "visible" on the network - you have to make sure 1) the SSID matches, 2) the WEP matches, 3) your signal strength is "good to excellent" (this is actually quite important. This little sucker is very tempermental with interference. They aren't kidding when they say max distance is 91M.. it's actually considerably less under normal circumstances (like say in a house). Basically - no more than 3 sheets of drywall between transceivers.

Also - don't think the Wireless works out of the box. I almost had a conniption and threw the print server out the window when I read I had to hook it to the router via a CAT-5 first (my transceivers are in the roof of my house flipped upside down for maximum broadcasting - I had to crawl up into the attic and run a 50 foot cable down to my WPS-11 and the printer... that was a fun exercise). Linksys should make one that works wireless right out of the box... that's crappy design on Cisco's part... figure it out guys...

If you are serious about wireless print servers (i.e., this is not a SOHO thing or you are planning on running more than 5K prints) - then I suggest you skip linksys as well. Go with an HP jet-direct system. I regret I didn't buy the JD for my printer at home... but I am happy because I got the linksys for 50 bucks via ebay... however, the two hours of dinking around with the print server makes me wonder if I really got a bargain...

...NEW INFO...

I have absolutely GIVEN UP on this product. While it is possible I got a lemon - I think not. This is one FLAKEY little unit. I had my print server all configed... and then it FLAKED OUT on me... now I can't get it to reset, respond, or do anything. Linksys has no idea what is wrong with it. So I'm pitching the 50 bucks down the drain and going with Hewlett Packard's wireless server...

Do NOT buy this product. I am hot on Linksys - but this product is really quite TERRIBLE.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Not appropriate for workgroup or corporate environment
Review: I have 2 of these in my K-12 school and they need to be reset on a regular basis, causing teachers and me much frustration. I have had better luck with HP wireless print servers, but they aren't flawless either.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Read the reviews here for installation info
Review: I REALLY liked the idea of this wireless print server. My kids have a PC running Win 2000, I have one, and there is a laptop floating around, all with Netgear PC cards and a Netgear DG824M ADSL modem/firewall/router.

I ordered the WPS11 AFTER reading the comments here. What struck me is that folks who got it through the installation problem were well pleased with the product. I am too, but installation for non network specialists is probably impossible without direct help from Linksys.

My thoughts are as follows: if you hate computers and dread the idea of being talked through the necessary steps from a help line advisor, avoid this product like the plague. But if you are really determined I suggest this:

1. Go through the installation procedure (with CAT-5 cable connected), but don't go beyond loading the PrintServer driver. As RUSS9999 says, this will give you access to the Bi-admin utility: just use a web browser (Internet Explorer, Netscape) to connect to the initialised IP address of the Linksys print server- http://169.254.41.79 in the product I bought, but use method described by other reviewers here for finding the exact IP address by printing it out (reset button etc).

2. In the Linksys menu select TCP/IP and change the IP address of the Printserver to a fixed (internal) IP address suitable for your network (similar but not identical to those of the other machines on your network). Also select 'Fixed IP address' on the same screen, then SAVE. Now open another browser window and try the new fixed IP address.

3. If successful, Linksys menu will appear as before. Click on the 'Wireless' tab and put in the ID of your network (that's the SSID). It's set 'Linksys' by default, so if you've got a Linksys network (I dont), just leave it as Linksys. Then select the channel number your network uses, then SAVE. As stated by others, switch off the Printserver for 30 seconds, remove the CAT-5 cable link and then switch power back on. If everything is OK the amber WLAN will blink intermittently. Also try the Printserver IP address in a new browser window. You should get the Linksys menu window.

4. Phone Linksys technical support & tell them how far you got, but need help with printer installation. They will talk you through various steps which are not very intuitive (like selecting 'local' rather than 'network' printing for starters, LPR printing etc !). They will also email you the steps required to repeat the process on other PC's connected to your network.

I found Linksys technical support was good, but I come from the UK where customer support of any description is usually abysmal, so I may not be best judge. They say their support is 24/7. I only waited two or three minutes before speaking to a technician on the two occasions I phoned.

***** Five stars for the product & its design engineers
----- No stars for the folks who developed/authored the installation
****- Four stars for the Linksys support team

Good luck y'all !

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Frustrating to install but once done is a good product
Review: I concur with many other reviews found here. Took me >2 weeks to get WPS11 working with BEFW11S4, WPC11, laptop (win95) and Epson C84 printer. Linksys manual/websites not helpful. Many suggestions found here got me part way along but I needed some of my own changes to get things working (plus a late miracle).

After trying linksys method removed everything (software) to start from clean:

1.Set up with Cat5e cable connections PC-router and router-WPS11. Printer connected and on.
2.Access WPS11 via web (192.168.1.100) set up like router (SSID, WEP settings). Set WPS11 fixed IP address (192.168.1.100).
3.Install BiAdmin/Printer Driver as in manual. Run printer driver setup as Linksys manual to connect to printer. This was important to get printer port changed to LPT1:SCXXXXXX (Printserver) - where SCXXXXXX is name of WPS11.

At this point all good. Printed test page from BiAdmin or anything from windows application.

Went wireless: Powered everything down, removed cables, powered up router, then DSL, then WPS11 then PC. Now my problem, wireless connections OK and could print test page from BiAdmin/WPS11 web page but nothing from windows applications (printer communication error mesage).

Tried lots of variations - including disable Epson status monitor, changed spooling to print directly to printer. No luck.

E-mailed Linksys. Received prompt reply suggesting check my network protocols (to have TCPIP, IPX/SPX and NetBEUI). But I already did have these so I didn't change anything other than looking. Now the miracle - while replying to Linksys tried printing again from Netscape messenger and it worked wirelessly!!!!! Tried other applications -OK! Bemused - what did I do? Sorry I have no suggestions if you get similar problem other than e-mail linksys and pray for similar miracle?

I'm waiting to see what Linksys make of my "miracle". Generally I'm very happy with Linksys products (router set up straightforward) but I've suggested they improve WPS11 documentation. In the meantime search the web and pages here and you will find stuff that works.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Very poor documentation
Review: Finally got it to work in all Linksys network, but don't try to get it to work with other vendors' wireless products!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Beware!
Review: BR>If I could give it less than one star I would. Tried two units. Three 2 hour+ sessions with the (very good) Linksys support line. Finally got the unit to recognise the wirless router, then found it willl not work with my Xerox XD100 printer. It will work with my HP printer, but that only has a USB connection. I asked if they have a list of approved printers and was told "not yet". If you could get it to work it's a brilliant idea, but it was NOT easy to even get to the stage where we could determine that my printer was incompatible. I agree with an earlier comment that it is probably too early in the lifecycle of this device to unleash it on an unsuspecting world. On the other hand, if it does work for you, as it obviously has for a number of people, then I am envious. Good luck.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great device - Very disappointing install documentation
Review: After being very satisfied with the Linksys Wireless AccessPoint/Router, I was amazed at how difficult it was to install the WPS11. I literally spent approximately 10 hours attempting to intall the printserver on my very simple network (running Windows XP on my desktop) including three separate telephone calls with the Linksys customer support people. The user's guide/ operating manual leaves alot to be desired. It doesn't even begin to address how one needs to configure a system to get the printserver to work. The Outcome: Over the course of an hour, Linksys customer service got me up and running and the product works great. Linksys should seriously re-think its installation guide / procedure.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Aarrgh!!!
Review: I bought this because I did not want to dedicate one of my lab machines to print services. This was one of the most challenging device setup I have ever experienced. All of my networking equipment is LinkSys (LinkSys 4 Port WAP, LinkSys PC Card, LinkSys PCI card etc.)
I eventually gave up an called tech support and was able to get one machine printing. After much trial and error I was able to get all my Windows XP and Linux machines to successfully use the device.
However, I find I must reset the device (unplug power cord, wait 10 seconds, plug back in) each day. For some reason, even with a static IP, the device hangs and I get print errors.
I gave up in disgust and bought a Netgear print server that was both easy to setup and works flawlessly.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Manual missing key piece of information...
Review: I had the same problem many others have reported. After following all instructions in the manual perfectly, my router could not connect wirelessly (only worked with Ethernet cable connected). A call to Linksys tech support revealed that I needed to set the SSID of my wireless print server to the same SSID as my wireless router. Once I did this, the WLAN light on my printserver started blinking and everything worked fine.

Technician was helpful, but ruined an otherwise perfect support call with a poor answer to my question "Why wasn't this key piece of information included in the manual?". His answer: "This should have been obvious.". :o


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