Customer Reviews

Kensington K33920US Wireless USB Docking Station with Video

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1 star:		(4)

 

 

Received this docking station from my company for my Dell M1530 laptop. Dell sells this on their site.

Me along with my IT person assumed it was going to work right out of the box. Then we found out the horrible truth.

1. Found out we need to have an external USB wireless adapter in order for this device to communicate with my computer. Like mentioned on these other posts, these things (adapters) are hard to find and costly. Furthermore, very few computers come equipped with an internal adapter, so you have to buy a third party external adapter in order to make this thing get off the ground. Why didn't Kensington provide this adapter with this device? Why don't they MAKE an adapter to work with their own device in the first place? Got me.

2. If you're going to hook up an external 20" monitor or bigger, forget it. It doesn't support anything over 19". I found this out from online blogs before I set out to buy an adapter. It's not mentioned on their packaging nor their website. If it is, I couldn't find it. Their customer service department did verify this fact, though.

I agree with the other post, this thing is in the Beta stage of production. Shouldn't be available for sale yet. Kensington is definitely hiding information from the public on what this thing needs in order to work and its limitations.

UPDATE:
Kensington just called me back to inform me that their product does not work with webcams and since they never said in their text that it specifically supported them they are washing their hands of my issue. I guess I misconstrued "Simply connect all of your USB devices and external monitor into the Kensington Wireless USB Docking Station and gain quick access to them from your Wireless USB enabled notebook"

Kensington also said they are discontinuing this product.


I had a different experience than the previous reviewer. I got the Dock to worth with the IO Gear Wireless USB dongle just fine. I can stream audio through the hub and access thumb drives but I have not been able to get ANY webcams to work. I have tried both Microsoft and Logitech to no avail. When speaking to their support I was told they do not test their hubs with webcams. She really had no idea what she was talking about as later she asked me what brand and model was my video camera. I tried to explain the difference. She also mentioned cameras require constant links and that is not how the hub works. Also made up since the hub supports video and audio directly which requires constant contact. The webcams were not even recognized as devices when plugged into the hub.

BTW the Frame rate on the DVI is terrible if you plan on running any kind of video. Also their drivers ONLY support 32-Bit Vista which means MOST new computers will not work with it.

I escalated to a "supervisor" on the support line and am waiting to hear back from them regarding webcams. I will update this review when I do. If the webcams work I would upgrade the review to 3 stars as the video framerate and lack of 64-bit support are important features that are lacking

Don't order this. This company is awful and the product does not work. Have been trying to connect with correct adpator for three months now with so support or help from Kensington.

Dell should penalize this company because it is also very much so hurting their reputation for distributing this item with new pc's that will not work with them.

Kensington is obviously testing this new product on the public.

I purchased it, along with the IOGear USB Adapter that Kengington told me (over the phone before I ordered the docking station) would work well with it. The two did not work together at all.

I then asked Kensington which adapter would work with it. They told me to buy a DLink USB adapter. The adapter they said to buy is out of stock everywhere, including at DLink, with DLink saying they may not have any more made until after the first of the year.

Kensington then said to purchase a Belkin USB adapter but could not tell me the model number of the adapter that would work with their product.

It's obvious that Kensington doesn't know what works with their new product and is testing the waters with the public. I also find it very odd that a company that makes a wireless USB docking station doesn't also make a wireless USB adapter to mate it up with???

If you are lucky enough to have built in wireless USB connectivity there is a small chance this product might work for you in one capacity or another. You should however, be prepared to return it to the place of purchase for a refund (save all paperwork, original box, CD, etc., etc.), and check into restocking fees, etc. before ordering from a third party.

After all the hassles associated with my original order, I'm out quite a few bucks in return postage & insurance alone. With all the lies from Kensington I was told to follow, and the waiting period between trying to order different adapters and finding out the are not available, I was lucky to get the docking station returned within the 30 days the company I ordered it from allowed me for refunding merchandise.

I would suggest waiting at least six months for the product to mature before thinking of ordering.