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PHoynak · Feb 3, 2003, 07:48 PM

Would a USB print server work with my router and OS X's new Rendevous technology? I really want to get the new base station but if I can do it for $100 less I will (really my wife is livid).

I saw one by Hawklng Technology on Buy.com for $73. Has two usb ports and one parallel port. It says it is Mac compatible...what do you think?

PHoynak · Feb 4, 2003, 02:11 AM

I looked on Amazon for the Hawking USB print server and someone said that it would not work with any multifunction printers. I am assuming this is a windows only problem since my X83 is shared with my Macs over my network..? I just don't want to have to turn the iMac on to be able to print to it from the other Macs in the house....

ae86_16v · Feb 4, 2003, 02:16 AM

Just wondering, won't a AE base station do?

PHoynak · Feb 4, 2003, 02:22 AM

I know it would but I wondered if a USB print server would also work. If I could save about $100-$140 it would be worth it. I told my wife about the new AE and she kinda freaked..

ae86_16v · Feb 4, 2003, 05:16 AM

Originally posted by PHoynak:
I know it would but I wondered if a USB print server would also work. If I could save about $100-$140 it would be worth it. I told my wife about the new AE and she kinda freaked..

Oh ok, yeah I am some what in the same situation. I got a Powerbook, iBook (both airport) and a P3 PC. I was thinking about getting a AE base, but then my Samsung printer is still only parrallel port, so I got to figure out a way to make that work.

I guess a parrallel/usb print server would do. Seem kinda expensive though.

Keep us inform of what you find. And I'll keep on hitting up the deal sites.

PHoynak · Feb 4, 2003, 02:11 PM

I just got a reply from Hawking Tech....they said multi-function printers are not supported. My worry is that my printer (Lexmark X83) is not listed on Apple's list of compatible printers for use with the AE. But it does work with USB printer sharing so who knows....maybe I will take a chance. If anyone uses a multi-function printer with AE let me know.

PHoynak · Feb 7, 2003, 12:02 AM

So far I am out of luck...I have an Epson Stylus 777 and Lexmark X83 and everywhere I look I am told that the USB Print Server will not work with my printers...I checked Linksys and Hawking Tech. They do not "speak" the language. I guess I will have to fork the $$$ for the AE Base Station.

ghporter · Feb 7, 2003, 03:42 PM

Unfortunately most printservers don't work well with multifunction devices. In fact, I had a HP DeskJet 832C that didn't like the printserver-slow as molases! My new Samsung laser printer is fine with the server, though, and that's what tipped me off.

Lasers usually only report paper out (if anything), while inkjets tell the host all sorts of stuff, like paper out, black ink out, color ink out, which paper feed is in use, and so on. That two-way connection is what printservers mess up on.

For the forseeable future, I'm going to stick with connecting printers that want to do two-way communication to a host computer, even if that means eventually just building a server computer...hmmm. I think I've got a project now. Let's see, Linux server distribution, big hard drive, printer ports, yeah... Anyway, the little printservers, whether in a router or stand-alone, just don't have the brains or network protocols to handle the feedback from the printer, and I don't think they will hae what it takes for some time.

PHoynak · Feb 7, 2003, 03:47 PM

Does anyone know the range of the new AE Base Station? I hear 50 ft but the Apple Site says states 150 feet???? I just want to (for now) replace my older one with the new one and use it's print sharing so I do not have to boot the iMac the printer is connected to. If not can I use my older base station to "bridge" them together to extend the range??

aaanorton · Feb 7, 2003, 04:00 PM

Originally posted by PHoynak:
Does anyone know the range of the new AE Base Station? I hear 50 ft but the Apple Site says states 150 feet???? I just want to (for now) replace my older one with the new one and use it's print sharing so I do not have to boot the iMac the printer is connected to. If not can I use my older base station to "bridge" them together to extend the range??

It's 50' for 802.11g and 150 for .11b. This just means that if you are going to be transferring large files between computers and want the full speed of .11g, you'll need to stay closer than 50'. If this isn't an issue and you're just web surfing and printing occasionally, then .11b is fine and you can wander farther.