Unsolved
This post is more than 5 years old
2 Intern
•
7.9K Posts
0
6255
February 8th, 2006 03:00
It does get worse... PrintServer -- AKA Avoid Netgear
This is my rant of the night after talking to netgear re: a printserver. It doesn't relate to wireless but there is no general wired forum -- and well, the rant applies to their wireless products as well.
I have a printserver PS121 ($10AR). Worked great for 5 days. Now I can't ping it, log into it, or print! Reseting doesn't help. Called netgear to get an RMA. Feel like I've called dlink enough over the years to handle B rate outsourced tech support. I was wrong.
Before I could begin I had to register. Netgear support is only free for 90 days, and then only for very limited issues (a shock since linksys and dlink is free forever as far as I know). Registered, called back. Amazingly I still had a 20minute hold time for support that only lasts for 90days.
Talked to someone. They tried not to help me at all since my printer wasn't listed as supported (ML-1710 vs 1740 -- hint, it's virtually the same printer). I told tech it didn't matter what the printer was because I couldn't log into the server's webGUI. He said it had no webGUI and I was lying. He then said it was a 'firewall' problem (yeah, my firewall is suddenly blocking outbound webpage connections...). He then said it was a "browser" or "pop-up blocker" problem. With rising frustration I asked for an RMA. He told me I would first need to try returning it to the store and that I should call back in a couple of days.
This is insane. These people are cheap scum. Avoid netgear -- now and forever.
Message Edited by NemesisDB on 02-08-2006 12:00 AM
No Events found!
byker49
569 Posts
0
February 8th, 2006 03:00
Anyway, try a Linksys product next time. I guess they are no better but they at least have a nice website which I find useful.
I enjoyed your rant by the way.
NemesisDB
2 Intern
•
7.9K Posts
0
February 8th, 2006 04:00
thyde
2 Intern
•
280 Posts
0
February 24th, 2006 11:00
As a relative novice perhaps I can tell you what has worked for me. Several years ago ago I set up a simple LAN with two computers Dimension 4500 using XP and a Dimension 4100 using ME. The XP was connected to the cable modem and, hence, the internet. This system allowed internet connection for the other computer, file and printer sharing. For this system, the XP required two ethernet cards, one connected to the modem and the other to the ME.
At the moment my system is as shown below, that is, I use a Netgear wired router to connect my computers to the internet and to each other. The system is set up for file and printer sharing, both the printers are attached to separate computers and, of course, if I wish to use a particular printer then it's parent computer must be running. This set-up works satisfactorily. When I set up this system I was not even aware of printservers but I can understand their value in a system where there are several computers and only one printer.
Since you only have two computers, perhaps a set-up like my old LAN would be suitable.
T.Hyde
Dimension 4500, 2.53GHz processor, 512Mb DIMM, Windows XP, 20Gb hard disk, 80Gb hard disk, Roxio CD R/RW, Blueyonder Broadband & LAN, Dell Photo All-in One printer.
Dimension 4100, 1GHz processor, 256Mb SDRAM, Windows ME, 20Gb hard disk, Adaptec CD R/DW, HP Deskjet 840C, Scanjet 3300c, Blueyonder Broadband & Lan
Inspiron 8600, 1.4 Ghz processor, 512Mb SDRAM, Windows XP Home, 40Gb hard disk, Philips CDRW/DVD disk drive, Blueyonder Broadband & Lan
Netgear RP614 v2 router.