Home > Consumer Reviews > HP Wireless Printing Upgrade Kit - Print server - USB - 802.11b, 802.11g

I bought this as I thought it would enable me to share a printer Wirelessly amongst a number of computers. It does work but with significant usability restrictions:

1. You need the USB dongle plugged into the computer you initially installed the upgrade kit on

2. The computer with the dongle has to be switched on before other computers can share the printer wirelessly.

3. Take the dongle out or turn the installed computer off and you cant print wirelessly from another computer.

What I was looking for was a unit which I could leave attached to my printer and just wirelessly print. Having to go switch (or leave on) another computer before my laptop can print wirelessly is restrictive and takes away the flexibility I was seeking.

I would recommend a more functional wirless unit like Netgears WGPS606UK
or PS121 which are priced similar (or even less). Was disappointed especially as normally HP have reliable products. I was disappointed.

Bought this from Avides Media (through Amazon), all arrived on time, no trouble with order (as per usual). Product easy to set up, but having a two-pin power lead was a bit of a pain; works ok with a shaving socket 2-3pin converter though. Software installed fine. Thing I'm most unhappy with is having to use a USB dongle in my wireless laptop to connect to the print server - I would have expected HP to have come up with a solution that worked better than this; using wireless capability of laptop instead of the USB device. That said it all works fine with my HP6100 all-in-one; I can scan, print etc without any problems.

HP Wireless Printing Upgrade Kit - Print server - USB - 802.11b, 802.11g

After hours of failure I contacted HP about connecting my HP All-in-One printer with a PC running Vista. Several e-mails later they responded by saying "I want to inform you that, there is no full future All-in-One software compatible with the Windows Vista Operating System to use wireless upgrade kit." This is despite their web site allowing you to download Vista installation software for the product and stating that the printer is compatible with the Wireless Printing Upgrade Kit. Back to the drawing board!

Be warned this is only compatible with selected HP Printers. I was mis-sold it by a well known home electrics store even though I told them I had a Brother printer!
I am glad in a way that it has to go back to the store as I wanted to set up two laptops to print wirelessly and this device only allows the second laptop to print if the first (the one you installed it on) is switched on.
Also in hindsight I did not want the USB dongle permanantly attached to my laptop, this kit requires you to have it attached at all times.
I have given three stars as I think it is a good product in theory as long as the buyer is happy with its limitations - plenty of people will be. I thought it was a good quality product, would be easy to install and priced fairly.

HP Wireless Printing Upgrade Kit - Print server - USB - 802.11b, 802.11g
The HP WIRELESS PRINTING UPGRADE KIT is value for money, once you have installed the HP WIRELESS PRINTING UPGRADE KIT to your computer or laptop, go into the control panel then device manager and then check for any question marks beside any device, if so right click on mouse and update drivers. Plus you may need to buy a travel plug as the plug that comes with the HP WIRELESS PRINTING UPGRADE KIT is only two pins. It does not matter where you are in the house you can print at any time.
Its easy to install, just connect two wires and away you go. No need in spending out for a new printer as this kit does it all: printing, scanning and copying. Best buy ever for me.
If you have Windows Vista to use the scanning on your computer or laptop go into all programs and look for windows photo gallery and then click on file and import from camera or scanner. Its that easy. Good Luck