One rocking wireless router/print server combo!
Written: Dec 19 '03
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Pros: Very affordable solution as opposed to purchasing a separate print server from your router.
Cons: Dlink offers two other wireless router/print server models that are faster than this model.
The Bottom Line: A great affordable solution for printing from a wireless computer.
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| stlmom's Full Review: Dlink 3-Port and Wireless Router/Print Server (NWL... |
OVERVIEW
With more and more people setting up wireless networks in their homes, printing becomes a challenge. I walk around my house surfing on my wireless LAN, but when I needed to print, I usually needed to walk to my printer and plug the printer into the laptop, or I would need to boot up another computer that's connected to the printer and set up the laptop to print through the desktop. With the D-Link DI-713P printing becomes a snap. All my computers on the network can print to the printer. In addition, my wireless computers can also send print jobs to my printer without a physical connection. After a week of printing frustrations, I swapped my Microsoft Broadband Router in for this Dlink model and found the results to be outstanding.
If you're looking for a wirelss router/print server combo, look no further. Dlink provides one of the only low cost wireless router/print server combos out there. Linksys made an announcement that they stopped producing wireless router/print server combo units because they felt like they were not selling. Belkin and other manufacturers produce wireless router/print servers that are much more expensive. If you were to purchase a wireless print server separate from the wireless router, you're bound to pay more than the combination unit. In addition, the set up of this printer could not be easier.
A wireless router/print server combo saves space. The cable modem and router already takes a good amount of space. An additional print server hardware would just take up another spot on your desk. For the space conscious customer, this is a good solution.
This model only has one 25 pin parallel printer port. If your printer is only USB, this will not work for you. This model will only accommodate one 25-pin parallel port printer. Dlink offers another model that will accommodate one USB printer and one 25-pin parallel printer. Note that the cable/dsl modem will need to be physically connected to the router and the router physically connected to the printer. Thus, the location of your printer is restricted. If you would like your printers to not be located by your wireless router, then you may need to look into getting a wireless print server. Some printers send printer statuses and toner levels back to the computer. These features will not work through the print server.
PRODUCT SPECS
When you open the box, you’ll find the router itself, a users manual, an AC cord, a network cable, and one install CD. You will need to have a DSL or a Cable Modem box and a broadband high-speed connection. I found the setup to be very simple. I simply connected the network cable from my Cable Modem box to the Dlink router. Hooked up the Dlink router to the AC cord/plug. Then I hooked up another networking cable from the Dlink router to my computer. On the computer’s browser, I navigated to the IP address 192.168.0.1. Turns out that (unlike the Microsoft Broadband Router) there is no software to install on your computer to configure the Dlink router. The IP address 192.168.0.1 brings you to a set of web pages kept on the router that lets you configure its settings. The good thing about this is that you can configure your router from any one of your networked computers. After that I just walked through the users manual to setup passwords, wireless network encryption keys, and network names. I did not run into any difficulties. After configuration, I turned on my laptop installed with the Dlink Wireless DWL-650 card and entered my network name and wireless network encryption key. All very easy. The signal strength was good and I was surfing on my wireless network in less than 45 minutes.
Now onto setting up the print server. Having had no experience in setting up a print server, I thought it would be difficult. I was wrong. I connected my printer to the 25-pin parallel port on the back of the router. For each computer that will print to the “network” printer, you will first need to have the printer installed. What this means is that on the computer, if you navigate to the Control Panel, then to Printers, there should be an icon there already for the printer. If not, follow the instructions included from your printer to get it installed. Then, just insert the set up CD that came with the router. In two clicks and a few seconds, the driver for the print server was installed. Then you go to the properties on your printer icon and under the port tab, select the Dlink checkbox as opposed to the usual LPT1 checkbox. That’s it! Note that the print server only works for Windows OS.
CONCLUSION
If you’re frustrated at being unable to print from a wireless computer, this is the solution for you.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 89.95
Driver Availability: Windows only
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stlmom
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Location: St. Louis, MO
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