Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)The device supports a good range of network and printing protocols: TCP/IP, Appletalk, Netware, Unix LPR, Windows print client, Internet Printing Protocol (which means you can print to a URL from your network or even the Internet). I have XP and Win 98 clients on wireless-G network with Linksys transcievers on the PC's and a Linksys wireless gateway/router. So far, I can't complain about the device, but there are a few reasons I can only give it 3 stars.
The installation booklet omits some critical information most import of which is the fact that you *MUST* have a wired TCP/IP connection to the device to configure it. If you don't have wired TCP/IP, you cannot configure or use this device. The stupidity of requiring a wired network to configure a wireless network device should be apparent. Much better it would have been to run setup through a USB or serial port. I was able to configure the device with a TCP/IP crossover cable from the one PC I have with a TCP/IP interface.
The installation booklet is essentially trash. On the included CD is a fairly large pdf document which, if you care to read through it, gives a more complete (and correct) discription of the installation and requirements. However, it still ASSUMES you have a reasonable amount of familiarity with TCP/IP networking and routing requirements. It also assumes you know a few things about wireless networking AND your particular wireless network. Some things get some explanation; some things don't. If you don't have a pretty good working knowledge of these networking things, this might not be the device for you. I would say success at correctly setting things up will demand a fairly high computer geek factor.
One thing to remember: In order to reset the device back to factory defaults (so you can start over and try again), you must press and HOLD the reset button for about 5 seconds until the power light flashes rapidly. The docs don't tell you this.
The installation docs contain no help or trouble shooting info. None. Zip. Nada. Also note that the Hawking web site is completely barren of any of this info too. A morning email to the Hawking tech support received a very brief reply of limited usefulness that afternoon.
In summary: The device is certainly a capable printer server. The docs and technical support need to be much better. I am at a loss to explain why a wired network must be present to configure a device for a wireless network.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Hawking HWPS12UG Wireless G Print Server - 2 USB/1 Parallel Ports, 802.11g
The Hawking, HWPS12UG, 2 USB + 1 Parallel port 10/100 Wireless Print Server, is a powerful and convenient tool to connect your USB and parallel printers to your existing wireless 802.11b or 802.11g network. Through its enhanced functionality, the HWPS12UG can support up to three printers at one time (2 USB + 1 Parallel). The Hawking HWPS12UG combined with the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) lets you easily connect to any printer and print documents by specifying the print server's IP address. With IPP technology, printing over a WAN or the Internet becomes much easier. You can send a print job to a printer in another country just as easily as sending a print job to your home or office printer. IPP eliminates the need for fax communications between offices. Simply print an original document through the HWPS12UG's IPP capabilities and send it from one office to another. The print quality from IPP printing is equal to that of a document printed from your local office. With the HWPS12UG, your printers become a fully functional networked print station.
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