Wireless printer woes...

[timmcat]

I've spent hours trying to sort this. I like to think I know a) pretty much what I'm doing in these matters, or, b) if stuck, how to find the answer. Not this time...

Printer - HP3050a connected to home wireless network. Router - O2 Wireless Box V. The network connection to the printer (and the printers internet connection) are rock solid (I've assigned a static IP address via the printer - the ip address chosen is outside of the range used by the DHCP to assign to LAN devices, which it does dynamically).

The issue is that the computers on the network regularly lose connection to the printer. The ip address cannot be pinged successfully. The only way of curing this is rebooting the router but the connection sometimes only holds for maybe a few hours before being lost again.

I'm using mixed WPA - WPA2 security on the network, and there is no significant interference from neighbours on the wireless channel I'm using. I've tried disabling the firewall (Kaspersky 2012 / 2013) on the machines but this doesn't solve the issue.

Just to reiterate - the printer's network connection is solid, as are any devices joining the network. It's communication between the machines and printer thats the issue.

[What_does_this_button_do?]

enable UPNP on the router.

[timmcat]

Already enabled!

[Saab Dastard]

The issue is that the computers on the network regularly lose connection to the printer. The ip address cannot be pinged successfully.

the printer's network connection is solid, as are any devices joining the network.

These statements are mutually exclusive.

If you periodically cannot ping a given device on the network then at least one device's network connection is not solid.

Is it a wireless printer? Is there an option to connect the printer to the switch / router using physical RJ45 connection - at least for a test period?

Why does the printer have an internet connection?

SD

[What_does_this_button_do?]

actually SD you're not quite right.

Two devices may have a solid connection but the router maybe failing to route.

WDTBD, CCIE.

[timmcat]

What I'm meaning is that the printer does not lose connection to the router (this is confirmed by the indicator lights on the printer). In addition, laptops can connect to the network without problem. The communication issue is between the laptops and the printer.

The internet connection is used by the printer so remote printing can be achieved. Email an attached doc directly to the printers unique email address and it prints. This function works OK (also proving that it's direct network connection is present).

No, no ethernet connectivity, just wireless or USB.

[timmcat]

1) Most machines are on Windows 7 but one laptop is using XP and suffers the same issue.

2) I used the HP setup program on them all.

It's been suggested to me that disabling uPNP on this router might help. I've done that, rebooted and now it's just a case of waiting to see if it's stable now or drops again.

[Keef]

Not sure I've grasped what you're doing. If the printer's in the same room as the router, why not keep it simple and use ethernet?

My printer is connected via Cat 5 cable to a port on the router. It's got a fixed IP address on the network (it happens to be 192.168.8.160).

I can connect to it with no problems from the desktop (on another Cat 5 to the same router), from the laptop out in the workshop (via WiFi to the network), and from the iPad (also WiFi).

The printer itself doesn't have WiFi in it - it doesn't need it.

Visitors who want to print just have to be told that 192.168.8.160 is a printer. Their laptops talk to the printer and agree what drivers are needed, and away they go. iPads are slightly tricker because my printer happens not to be one with the Apple sign on it, but there's a way round that).

[timmcat]

Hi Keef.

As I mentioned earlier there is no ethernet connection available on the printer (and it's not in the same room anyway).

Wireless is pretty much essential - there are a good number of PC's use it, not just to print but for scanning too (it's an 'all in one').

[Saab Dastard]

but the router maybe failing to route.

What routing is required? As far as we've been told they are on the same subnet.

SD

[timmcat]

@Milo

It's the freebie router that I get from the ISP. To be fair it's performed better and more reliably than my trusty old Netgear DG834N - I've still got that one in the garage but there was a reason I started using the newer one, unfortunately that reason escapes me now...

Anyway...

1) I've only got the choice of mixed mode or WPA2 (or WEP).

2) Good point - I remember that can be an issue, I'll try that if the current 'fix' fails.

3) Always use that - I regularly check inSSIDer to make sure my channel is clean.

[Avtrician]

Main problem is primter... HP:sad:

[timmcat]

24 hours on - Disabling uPNP didn't work - I've now taken up Milo's suggestion and changed the security to WPA2 only. Regained connection from laptop to printer immediately without a restart so, cautiously optimistic for now...

[timmcat]

Well that's fixed it, many thanks to all, especially Milo. My joy in the issue being sorted is somewhat tempered by the fact that I had to solicit help...

[slowjet]

Sorry chaps, same problem & I HATE computers. Wife is the expert & whenever this happens, she has a disc, runs & tells her what to do resulting in re-connection. However, the disc thingy has stopped working & I am wondering if this will be an expensive repair ?

[Milo Minderbinder]

Slowjet

tell us more about your setup, what printers / routers / computers you have, the versions of windows, how they are connected and whats actually going wrong and then maybe we can offer advice

[slowjet]

Milo, thanks. Will get back to you.