Belkin’s Wireless Print Server

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As our home networks grow, we start running out of space -- and simultaneously need more from the hardware we have. What do you do when your printers don't have networking capability, but you need to put them on the network? Belkin offers a wireless print server that helps to fix both the space and capability issues.

Wireless networks have been one of the hottest technologies in recent years. We have reviewed Belkin’s wireless “g” router and now we will take a look at Belkin’s wireless print server. What exactly is a print server, you may ask? A print server lets you connect non-network printers to a network without sharing the printer via a computer. If your printer(s) can't function on a network, and you want that networking capability, this may be just what you are looking for.

Once I popped open the box, this is what I found inside:

• Wireless Print Server
• Power Adapter
• Instruction manual
• Installation CD
• Network cable

The design follows their wireless router. In fact, you can even buy the print server integrated into the wireless router.

The front displays the LED indicators. On the left is the power, followed by the LAN for wired networks, and WLAN for wireless. Rounding it off are the status and error LEDS. The error LED turns on whenever there is a printing error, or when no printer is on.

The back features the power port, two USB ports, a RJ-45 port, a reset/test button, and an antenna. The USB ports are version 1.1, not 2.0, but with the small amount of data involved, little time should be lost. The antenna is for the 802.11g wireless connection.

Sadly, there is no parallel port, and multifunction machines won’t work, either. Additionally, if your printer supports flash card media, it will no longer be supported by the computers. It's worth noting that it can be used as a wireless print server, or a wired print server, but not both at the same time. Finally, it would have been great if it could have also been used as an access point.

Next: Installation >>
 

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