Company: x-micro.com
Product: Bluetooth Print Adapter
I'd like to thank Mariano of X micro for providing us with the Combo Bluetooth Print Adapter for review.
One of the cool new features available now for some printers is the ability to connect to your wireless network. On top of freeing yourself from wires, sharing the printer with all the computers on your network, you also can place your printer where it's most convenient.
What if you already got a printer and don't want to buy a new wireless model? Well you're still in luck if you get yourself a wireless print adapter. To day we take a look at a new model from X-Micro called the Combo Bluetooth Print Adapter. Not only does it work with bluetooth, it also is capable of connecting to a printer port or a USB port if you got a USB Printer.
The Combo Bluetooth Print Adapter comes equipped with power adapter, driver CD, and instruction manual. As was mentioned earlier this printer adapter uses bluetooth for its wireless connectivity. The unit is compliant with Bluetooth standard version 1.1, which will allow it to connect to any computer within 100 Meters! That should be plenty of range for the average household or office.
To use the printer adapter your computer or computers should have some form of bluetooth adapter installed like a bluetooth dongle. If you want to use the full extent of the 100 meter range you should use a Bluetooth adapter that's compliant with bluetooth version 1.1.
Specifications:
-Model Name: XBT-PACX
-Chipset: CSR Bluecore 02
-Standard: Bluetooth Version 1,1
-Bluetooth Profile: HCRP Version 1,0
-Radio Output: Class 1
-Range: 100 Meters Above (Open Space)
-Frequency Band: 2,4 - 2,4835GHz ISM Band
-Data Rate: 500Kbps maximum
-Printer Interface: 1284(parallel port) and USB Port
-Power Supply: 5V DC
-LED Status: Power / Bluetooth Status / Printer Status
-Reset Button: Available (factory default)
-Configuration: Remote configuration via Bluetooth
-Dimension / Weight: 81(L) x 54(W) x 21 (H) mm / 58g
Above we see a better shot of the printer adapter with its green see through housing. The two holes on the side are the Mode Button, and the DC Power Jack. The Mode button is used by the advanced user to configure the printer
adapter for some special purposes, it is normally left unused. You also
can refer to the Utility Manual in CD for how to use it.
The Combo Bluetooth Print Adapter supports two interfaces which can be used to connect with your printer. You have your standard IEEE-1284 36-pin male connector/printer port on the front and a USB plug on the side for use with USB printers.
When the unit is in use it has three different LEDs that indicate the status of the adapter. One indicates the power is on, next is the bluetooth LED that shows if it's blinking, that Bluetooth link is established but no
data is transmitted on the line, and lastly the printer LED that shows that a printer is connected to the X-Micro Combo Bluetooth Printer Adapter. The printer LED is OFF when no printer is connected.
Installation is easy and the instruction manual takes you through step by step. Then it's just a matter of syncing the bluetooth enabled computer to the printer with the print adapter. We had no difficulty in connecting and printing to the printer even at ranges of up to 60 feet away.
The X-Micro Combo Bluetooth Print Adapter is the way to go to add wireless connectivity to your non-wireless printer.
Pros:
-Easy to use
-Good range (100 meters)
-USB or printer port capable
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