access points

Now that the DP311-P is configured to work with my Linksys AP my entire family thinks wireless printing is almost better than wireless access. The product is working with an old NEC 860 laser and two laptops - one XP Home and one Windows 2000. One has Linksys card the other Orinoco. The real issue is that the documentation to work with a non D-Link Access Point is terrible. I have to believe that if D-Link did decent documentation their support costs would fall dramatically.

Played with this for 2 hours, got it to print in config mode but never in normal mode. Used both laptops. Linksys card makes set-up virtually impossible as provides no info on what network you are on. Finally called D-Link; on hold for 2 minutes, technician solved network issue in about 4 minutes - was not on Linksys AP's IP address. Worked with XP perfectly. Tried to print with w2000. Kept printing same document over and over. Called D-Link after numerous permutations of setting up printer config. No help. Kept at it. Turns out W2k wants you to use the D-LINK printer settings that do not exist in XP for printer set-up. Seems logical but nowhere is this mentioned in D-Link documentation. In fact they have no W2k documentation.

Summary - product A+, tech support B, Documentation F

After installing the antenna and connecting the power I was thrown into the abyss known as "tech support." After the first call waiting time of 15 minutes, and a support tech that ignored the printed directions that came with the product, it seemed that I was out of the woods. It appeared that both the printer and PC were talking. Unfortunately the tech was not permitted to stay on the line while I tested the printer and after rebooting my system I was plummetted back into the abyss. This time it was a 30 minute wait to speak to a "trained" professional. This time all of my current network settings were reset and I was left unable to either print or connect to the internet on my current wireless network. Next stop - "Level 2" support! This call included a 1 hour wait and even less help than the Level 1 tech support was able to provide. It seems that the 2nd tech's solution left the DP311P permanently disabled and requiring reconfiguration at the factory. The supervisor that I spoke to wouldn't even provide a mailing address so I could write a letter to customer service! What did I get for my 4 hours of time? A trip back to Best-Buy and a refund receipt!

If you ignore the instructions for seting up the print server, setup is a snap. just turn off your printer, hook up the device in normal mode, power the device, power the printer. then follow the quick setup guide for your individual computer settings and it works in 10 min. flat.