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D-Link DP-G310 Wireless Print Server, USB 2.0 802.11g, 54Mbps
D-Link DP-G310 Wireless Print Server, USB 2.0 802.11g, 54Mbps
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Model: DP-G310
Brand: D-Link
Manufacturer: D-Link Systems, Inc.
Average Rating:    (submit your review here)
Total Reviews: 31
Form factor: External
Hardware platform: PC
Data link protocol: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
 
Features:
Built-in 802.11g functionality with transfer rates up to 54Mbps
Configure through Standard Web Browser application from anywhere on your network
Front display panel features an array of diagnostic LED's
Windows-based administrative program making set-up quick
 
Description:
The DP-G310 Wireless Print Server makes connecting to a printer easier for anyone on your home or small business network. This 802.11g compliant Wireless Print Server is equipped with a USB 2.0 port for seamless connection to most printers. Supporting both Infrastructure or Ad-Hoc wireless modes, it offers the convenience of sharing a printer beyond the wired network. Access and share a printer wirelessly, for more convenient printing.
 
User Reviews (31 total):
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    Useless, September 1, 2004
By C. L. Hoffman (Washington DC)
This print server does not work well with my Canon i860 printer. I barely got it to send print jobs (text only) from my Windows XP machine - it *won't* work from OS X. Note to OS X users - buried in the documentation (not in the marketing stuff - they claim 100% compatibility with OS X), they mention that when printing from Macintosh, this printer only supports PostScript printers. I wish I had known that to begin with, I wouldn't have bought it.

Pain to setup. Poor documentation. Uselesss product.


    Rating >>>>> 0 stars, August 19, 2004
By dumbfoudned (Fort Worth)
As some else said "Step away from D-Link DPG310 Wireless Print Server."

None of the printers on their "compatible printer" list are on the market anymore. I have a three year old HP 940C and a 2 day old Canon i860 and neither one is compatible. Don't ask them which printers are compatible because they don't know and don't care to find out.

Does anyone know of a decent wireless print server?????


    Please Step Away From the D-Link!, August 8, 2004
By LondonLover (London, UK)
Hey, looks great on paper. The advertisements (and reviews for that matter) fail to mention that this product only works with those USB printers on D-Link's "Approved Printers" list. That list is short but distinguished. So buyer beware, make sure you have one of the few "approved" printers before you plop down your $100.00.

    DP-G310 okay but lacks best wireless security features, July 7, 2004
By unknown
I followed the instructions for setting up the DP-G310 and it worked without a hitch on my DI-624 four computer (Wi and Et) home network. All computers (Win ME and Win XP) are able to print to the HP-5650 connected to the DP-G310 via Wi or Et connection. However, there is one thing I do not like about the DP-G310 - it does not support the WPA PSK Wi security protocol. I find it disappoint that DLink's DI-624 supports WPA-PSK but their only 802.11G print server, the DP-G310 does not support it. The DP-G310 only supports WEP so if that is selected than the entire network (DI-624 and any wireless devices on the network) security must also be set to the less secure WEP setting. DLink tech support said that they didn't know if a firmware upgrade to WPA PSK would be offered or not. I would not have purchased the DP-G310 if I had know it lacked the more secure wireless feature and was not going to be firmware upgraded to WPA PSK.

    Was it just me?, June 24, 2004
By unknown
Maybe it was just me, but when I set this up I could either (1)print or (2) access the internet. I guess I wasn't as computer saavy as I needed to be, but I didn't have the time to figure it out. The Belkin wireless print server worked fine, printing from one wireless notebook within minutes after opening the box.

    A Second Unit Works LIke A Charm, June 6, 2004
By rlin83 (Fairfax, VA)
I would like to share my experience with this print server - it took me only 15 minutes to get it setup and print the first page.

First unit I got is defective - it refused to talk to my router reliably. Exchanged for the second unit and this one works like a charm. I am able to print from my notebook and desktop to my Samsung Multifunction Laser printer - the print speed is FAST and feels similar to direct USB connection!

Here's my advice on setting this unit up under Windows XP
1) First connect the DP-G310 via regular ethernet cable (NOT cross-over cable) to your Router / Hub / Switch. From Internet Explorer (or Netscape) type http://192.168.0.10 to enter the DP-G310 setup. If it doesn't come up then you need to follow the instruction on setting your computer's IP address to within the range. Fortunately, I have a D-Link 802.11B router which automatically talk to the DP-G310 so I don't have to go through the trouble of manually set IP address on my computer.

(However, if you don't have a Router / Hub and you just want to connect the DP-G310 DIRECTLY to your computer's ethernet port then you will most likely need a cross-over cable and need to set IP address of your computer maunally as instructed in the manual.)

2) Once you enter the DP-G310 setup page you need to enter your router's name, any encryption (64 vs. 128 bit, etc). This part is explained in the installation instruction.

3) Carefully write down the name of the print port as directed in the instruction manual. You will need this name later.

4) Now, save the settings, and make sure your firmware is up to date (v. 1.10 as of 6/05/04). Unplug the power of the DP-G310. Disconnect the ethernet cable from the DP-G310 and the router. Now power up the DP-G310 again and look carefully at the WLAN light and MAKE SURE IT'S LIT!! It takes about 30 seconds to establish connection with your router. Once the WLAN lights up go back to your web browser again and trying to enter the DP-G310 setup again. IF YOU CAN'T BRING THE SETUP PAGE UP DO NOT PROCEED - your print server is NOT talking wirelessly to your router so you need to go back to hard-wire connection and make sure all your wireless settings are indeed correct.

5) If you can bring up the DP-G310 setup page "wirelessly" then you are ready to proceed to the next step - setup the printer. Now, this is where the instruction becomes a bit confusing. The installation instruction tells you to manually create a TCP/IP printer port first then select the printer driver; however, this assumes that the printer driver for your particular printer is ALREADY provided by Windows XP. In reality, this is not the case for majority of the newer printers out on the market. If Windows XP does not already have built-in driver for your printer I recommend you do the following first:

For example, if you want to print from your notebook wirelessly to a USB Laser printer, THE FIRST THING TO DO IS INSTALL THE USB DRIVER OF THAT LASER PRINTER ONTO YOUR NOTEBOOK using a regular USB cable and make sure your notebook can print through the USB cable first.

After the printer is setup to print through USB cable, disconnect the USB cable, open the "Printer Folder" window, right click your printer, and goto "properties". Now click the "port" tab. Click "add port", click "Standard TCP/IP Port", and click "create new port". Now just follow the direction in the instruction manual - it's straight forward from this point on.

Although it may seem complicated but for me it's a smooth process and only took me about 15 minutes - now my desktop and my notebook both print wireless to my Samsung Laser Multifunction which connect through USB cable to DP-G310.

I hope the above information may be helpful.

    BUYER BEWARE!!!!, May 30, 2004
By audio book listener (Santa Fe, NM USA)
I spent over 3 hours trying to get this printer server to work with no luck. A call to tech support was promptly answered (the only reason there is even one star) and I was informed that my printer was not supported (an HP OfficeJet G85xi)! Well, normally that might be understandable, but there was no indication on the box, web site or printed quick installation guide that only some printers are supported. The full 88-page user manual, on the enclosed CD-ROM, has two pages at the back that list supported printers (not many). To access that same manual from their web site requires that you download it and unzip it.

Even if your printer is supported, be prepared for an involved installation process (the box claims "Easy Installation"). Anything that requires manually setting a computer's IP address is not something for a casual user to undertake. I've programmed computers for years, and installed a few networks at work and home, and it was still a slow installation.

Finally, if you connect directly to the server with your computer, you need to use a cross-over Ethernet cable. That was something else not clear from the supplied installation instructions.

This was my first experience with a D-Link product, and it may be my last.

    BUYER BEWARE!!!, May 30, 2004
By audio book listener (Santa Fe, NM USA)
I spent over 3 hours trying to get this printer server to work with no luck. A call to tech support was promptly answered (the only reason there is even one star) and I was informed that my printer was not supported (an HP OfficeJet G85xi)! Well, normally that might be understandable, but there was no indication on the box, web site or printed quick installation guide that only some printers are supported. The full 88-page user manual, on the enclosed CD-ROM, has two pages at the back that list supported printers (not many). To access that same manual from their web site requires that you download it and unzip it.

Even if your printer is supported, be prepared for an involved installation process (the box claims "Easy Installation"). Anything that requires manually setting a computer's IP address is not something for a casual user to undertake. I've programmed computers for years, and installed a few networks at work and home, and it was still a slow installation.

Finally, if you connect directly to the server with your computer, you need to use a cross-over Ethernet cable. That was something else not clear from the supplied installation instructions.

This was my first experience with a D-Link product, and it may be my last.

    Solid, but falls short on USB 2.0 promise!, April 8, 2004
By rd122868 (Brookline, MA USA)
This print server promised 802.11g and USB 2.0 compatibility. Configuration and setup was easy. I first tried a Laserjet 3200 (USB 1.1) and then an HP Photosmart 7660 as well as a Canon i80 (USB 2.0).
All of these printed ok from different laptops and workstations in the network.
However, the status page of the printer reported "Full Speed - 12 MBps" connection between print server and printer. That however is far from USB 2.0 speed (480 MBps). Even though you never get the nominal speeds, there is clearly a problem with USB 2.0 support in this box. D-Link tech support escalated the matter and definitely confirmed that this is the current maximum speed of this unit.

I am torn whether or not to return this unit and try the Linksys equivalent instead - after all the it performs ok with this one (albeit major) exception.

I recently switched from a Linksys to D-Link router/access point. I am hesitant to give Linksys another try for anything, because after 3 years of experiences with LinkSys wireless routers I am convinced those lack in reach and speed. I have used 3 different models and generations in various office and home environments. My new D-Link DI-624 router beat them all in signal quality and speed.

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