Price : Too low to display
This USB 10/100 Mbps Print Server lets you share one printer between many networked users, instead of having to purchase separate printers for each individual workstation. The Print server (PM1115U) does not require a dedicated print server PC, so you can position the printer anywhere on your network, while avoiding the performance bottleneck you would experience with an always-on PC acting as the print server. PM1115U features straightforward installation wizards and remote web-based management, simplifying the print server's installation and use. The palm-sized, lightweight print server plugs directly into your printer’s USB port and needs only an RJ-45 networking cable to connect it to the rest of your network. Compatible with most major operating systems, the 1 Port USB 10/100 Mbps Print Server is the perfect USB printer solution for home or small office networks.
This review is from : StarTech.com 10/100 Mbps USB Print Server (PM1115U)
Good Inexpensive Well Documented Unit that Works . Comparing StarTech to Buffalo:
I recently purchased and returned a Buffalo print server, so I'll begin this review with a short comparison. The Buffalo had only a small documentation insert, maybe 10 palm sized pages. The StarTech server includes a quick start guide of the same length, but also on their install CD is a 146 page document with detailed user instructions. The Buffalo instructions are either consistently wrong and/or misleading while the StarTech instructions are clear and accurate. The StarTech user manual was written by a non-native American English speaker, but the occasional inelegant phrasing is a small price to pay for the information. The StarTech install CD works and all links to documentation and software work--the Buffalo CD does not work as documented and links to the documentation are broken. The most important difference for me is that on the Buffalo print server a 16 page 11MB file caused the server to fail and print only the first 2 pages with either blanks or garbage filed pages following. The same document prints perfectly through the StarTech unit.
Both units have web-base administration options, but the StarTech is more cleanly designed and offers many more features. The StarTech manual includes instructions on firmware upgrades, which I have not yet tried. The Buffalo print server instructions and web site offer nothing in the way of firmware upgrades.
I have owned the StarTech unit for only 24 hours, so there may be updates to this review should anything important develop in the future.
Hardware Setup:
My hardware setup is a Dell Desktop Dimension XPS Gen3 with 3TB of storage and dual LCD monitors, an HP LaserJet P2015d printer, a Dell Laptop and a Linksys Wireless WRT54G-TM router which was supplied by T-Mobile. The laptop is connected wirelessly to the router, the Desktop is wired directly via an Ethernet cable. Both computers run Windows XP SP3.
Installation of the Print Server:
The package description does not mention the need for an Ethernet cable to connect the server and the router, but you will need to purchase one if you don't have a spare lying around as I was lucky enough to have.
I performed the initial installation on the desktop and used the default settings with two exceptions. I used an IP address of 192.168.0.115 and I changed the default server name to "P1." On my router, under Basic Setup screen, the DHCP server is enabled using a starting address of 192.168.0.100. I limited the Max users to 10 and assigned a Static DNS 1 as 192.168.0.115. The desktop installation process and testing of the 16 page document took approximately 10 minutes from unpacking to printing.
Installation of Local Printer:
The installation structuctions are a bit uncleat on the actual setting up of the local printer so I'll relate what worked for me:
Click on Control Panel, Select Printers and Faxes. Select Add printer option. Select "Local printer attached to this computer" and click next. On Select a Printer Port screen select Creat a new port.Use the pull down to select "Standard TCP/IP Port. A new wizard will open up. On the Add Port page I typed in my static IP address 192.168.0.115. The port name is automatically filled in so go to the next page. On the Additional Port Information Required page, keep the default Generic Network card and click Next. Now you are finished with the hard part. Just select your printer, install the drivers if needed, and print your test page. The same procedure can be followed on any other computer, including laptops that you wish to access the server.
One note of warning. If you cannot ping the IP address of the server from the computer you are using, installation will fail. It's beyond the scope of this review to resolve that issue, it personally took me several hours of trial and error. One useful tool is a free program called AngryIP. It will automatically test for live reachable IPs and for any open ports associated with them. McAfee warns prior to installing this program, but I have suffered no ill effects from using it.
Internet Printing:
The print server also supports IPP (Printing over the internet) and you can find detailed instructions in their user manual. Again using the Add Printer in Windows XP, just select "A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer and on the Specify a Printer page click Connect to a printer on the Internet or a home or office network. I then typed in :"http://192.168.0.115:613/lpt1" (without the quotes). Now if I happen to have my laptop in an internet cafe and feel the urge to print, Ill have it waiting when I get home. It did feel a bit strange using the lpt1 for the install, however it worked on the first try so who am I to get upset? Just follow the instructions in the manual, substituting your own IP address, and if needed your forwarding port if you use something other than the standard.
One additional installation note for internet printing to work. You'll need to go to your router and setup Port Forwarding. On my Linksys I went to the Applications and Gaming area, typed in IPP for the application name, 631 for the starting and ending port range, selected TCP as the protocol, typed in 115 as the ending part of the preselect IPAddress and checked Enable. Then saved the settings. You may need to make firewall changes and possibly on the router uncheck the Block Anonymous Internet Requests on the Security tab area. Internet printing is dead easy once installed.
Conclusion:
If the need for an Ethernet cable had been mentioned and if the documentation for adding printers had been just a little more clear it would have rated 5 stars.
Overall, the StarTech device seems to be a good bargain for $45.00. I'd purchase another one and would recommend it to anyone in the market for a good, cheap, well-documented unit that works.
Good Inexpensive Well Documented Unit that Works . Comparing StarTech to Buffalo:
I recently purchased and returned a Buffalo print server, so I'll begin this review with a short comparison. The Buffalo had only a small documentation insert, maybe 10 palm sized pages. The StarTech server includes a quick start guide of the same length, but also on their install CD is a 146 page document with detailed user instructions. The Buffalo instructions are either consistently wrong and/or misleading while the StarTech instructions are clear and accurate. The StarTech user manual was written by a non-native American English speaker, but the occasional inelegant phrasing is a small price to pay for the information. The StarTech install CD works and all links to documentation and software work--the Buffalo CD does not work as documented and links to the documentation are broken. The most important difference for me is that on the Buffalo print server a 16 page 11MB file caused the server to fail and print only the first 2 pages with either blanks or garbage filed pages following. The same document prints perfectly through the StarTech unit.
Both units have web-base administration options, but the StarTech is more cleanly designed and offers many more features. The StarTech manual includes instructions on firmware upgrades, which I have not yet tried. The Buffalo print server instructions and web site offer nothing in the way of firmware upgrades.
I have owned the StarTech unit for only 24 hours, so there may be updates to this review should anything important develop in the future.
Hardware Setup:
My hardware setup is a Dell Desktop Dimension XPS Gen3 with 3TB of storage and dual LCD monitors, an HP LaserJet P2015d printer, a Dell Laptop and a Linksys Wireless WRT54G-TM router which was supplied by T-Mobile. The laptop is connected wirelessly to the router, the Desktop is wired directly via an Ethernet cable. Both computers run Windows XP SP3.
Installation of the Print Server:
The package description does not mention the need for an Ethernet cable to connect the server and the router, but you will need to purchase one if you don't have a spare lying around as I was lucky enough to have.
I performed the initial installation on the desktop and used the default settings with two exceptions. I used an IP address of 192.168.0.115 and I changed the default server name to "P1." On my router, under Basic Setup screen, the DHCP server is enabled using a starting address of 192.168.0.100. I limited the Max users to 10 and assigned a Static DNS 1 as 192.168.0.115. The desktop installation process and testing of the 16 page document took approximately 10 minutes from unpacking to printing.
Installation of Local Printer:
The installation structuctions are a bit uncleat on the actual setting up of the local printer so I'll relate what worked for me:
Click on Control Panel, Select Printers and Faxes. Select Add printer option. Select "Local printer attached to this computer" and click next. On Select a Printer Port screen select Creat a new port.Use the pull down to select "Standard TCP/IP Port. A new wizard will open up. On the Add Port page I typed in my static IP address 192.168.0.115. The port name is automatically filled in so go to the next page. On the Additional Port Information Required page, keep the default Generic Network card and click Next. Now you are finished with the hard part. Just select your printer, install the drivers if needed, and print your test page. The same procedure can be followed on any other computer, including laptops that you wish to access the server.
One note of warning. If you cannot ping the IP address of the server from the computer you are using, installation will fail. It's beyond the scope of this review to resolve that issue, it personally took me several hours of trial and error. One useful tool is a free program called AngryIP. It will automatically test for live reachable IPs and for any open ports associated with them. McAfee warns prior to installing this program, but I have suffered no ill effects from using it.
Internet Printing:
The print server also supports IPP (Printing over the internet) and you can find detailed instructions in their user manual. Again using the Add Printer in Windows XP, just select "A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer and on the Specify a Printer page click Connect to a printer on the Internet or a home or office network. I then typed in :"http://192.168.0.115:613/lpt1" (without the quotes). Now if I happen to have my laptop in an internet cafe and feel the urge to print, Ill have it waiting when I get home. It did feel a bit strange using the lpt1 for the install, however it worked on the first try so who am I to get upset? Just follow the instructions in the manual, substituting your own IP address, and if needed your forwarding port if you use something other than the standard.
One additional installation note for internet printing to work. You'll need to go to your router and setup Port Forwarding. On my Linksys I went to the Applications and Gaming area, typed in IPP for the application name, 631 for the starting and ending port range, selected TCP as the protocol, typed in 115 as the ending part of the preselect IPAddress and checked Enable. Then saved the settings. You may need to make firewall changes and possibly on the router uncheck the Block Anonymous Internet Requests on the Security tab area. Internet printing is dead easy once installed.
Conclusion:
If the need for an Ethernet cable had been mentioned and if the documentation for adding printers had been just a little more clear it would have rated 5 stars.
Overall, the StarTech device seems to be a good bargain for $45.00. I'd purchase another one and would recommend it to anyone in the market for a good, cheap, well-documented unit that works.
StarTech.com 10/100 Mbps USB Print Server (PM1115U) Reviews
works great on my home network . shipment of the print server arrived quickly. the instructions for setting up the printserver were not very clear however i found myself around that very quickly. just be familair with your home network and know to assign an unused ip address within your subnet.
works great on my home network . shipment of the print server arrived quickly. the instructions for setting up the printserver were not very clear however i found myself around that very quickly. just be familair with your home network and know to assign an unused ip address within your subnet.
Cons Review
No support - Did not work . Amazon purchase was easy as usual. Delivery was prompt as usual. Plugged in the print server and all three computers (XP laptop, XP desktop and Mac Powerbook) found the printer. None of the computers could print to the printer! There was no phone support for the print server so I emailed support. I received an answer three days later that said to download and install the latest drivers. It was obvious they had not bothered to read my email, as I had already done that. By this time the XP desktop was starting to act up, so I uninstalled everything and sent the server back.
Feature StarTech.com 10/100 Mbps USB Print Server (PM1115U)
- Easily let?s you share 1 USB printer with computers connected to a home or small office network
- Easy setup and configuration
- Eliminates the need to purchase additional printers for individual workstations
- PM1115U is a compact USB Print Server that connects to your Ethernet or Fast Ethernet network
- Compact and light weight USB print server only weighs 1. 6 ounces
- Compliant with USB 2. 0
- Configurable using a web based browser or a windows based configuration
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Product Details
EAN : 0065030817691UPC : 065030817691
MPN : PM1115U
Brand : StarTech
Color : Beige
Weight : 2 pounds
Height : 4 inches
Length : 10 inches
Width : 7 inches
Binding : Personal Computers
Manufacturer : STARTECH.COM
Model : PM1115U
Publisher : STARTECH.COM
SKU : 065030817691
Studio : STARTECH.COM
Where To Buy
You can buy StarTech.com 10/100 Mbps USB Print Server (PM1115U) on Amazon . Click here to Read More
