Wireless Printer Connectivity

[TBirdFrank]

Upgraded from Belkin router to EE Fibre Broadband "BrightBox2" router with dual output at 5.0Ghz and 2.4Ghz and a Netgear N300 Extender to get through the thick stone walls of TBF towers


Now our HP LaserJet100 wireless printer has ceased to connect.


Not compatible with 5.0Ghz


Compatible with 2.4Ghz


But not Extenders at 2.4?Ghz


Can't couple it to EE 2.4GHz for love nor money nor many hours on the phone to HP technicians


Any ideas out there in PPRuNe land????

[BEagle]

Were you supplied with the (36 page) user manual for the N300? My experience of Netgear is that you often only get a small quick set up guide with their products.

The user manual may be downloaded here: http://www.downloads.netgear.com/fil...2April2014.pdf

Are you connecting using WPS?

Steps seem to be:

1. Look for the router in your wireless networks list. You should see both a 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz presence.
2. Connect computer to router having decided whether you wish to use the 5 GHz or the 2.4 GHz network.
3. Connect extender to router by WPS.
4. Look for the extender in your wireless networks list, then change the computer connection to the new extender network. The password for which should be the same as for the router.
5. Connect printer to extender by WPS.

Note that data transfer through the extender will be slower than direct connection.

[Capetonian]

The last time I tried to get a wireless printer to connect to our three computers was such a frustrating experience I decided never to even try again.

I admit, with pride, to being a Luddite of note.

[marlowe]

TBF. I know this sounds obvious but you are putting the new routers security password into the printers set up? like i said sounds obvious but i once spent an hour with a new router before i slapped palm against forehead and realised how stupid i was !

[TBirdFrank]

Thanks guys - I have now learnt the names of various technical guys at EE, HP and PC World. All, so far, have been about as much use as a chocolate fireguard despite some calls lasting almost four hours, and my learning about the vicissitudes of electronics far beyond my meagre grasp.


We have identified the fact that HP printers won't connect to extenders, that the EE router has a two band output - 2.4Ghz and 5.0Ghz - but that despite changing IP addresses, passwords, making strange incantations and threatening the machine with a fate worse than death - nothing happens.


So I have found the name of the EE CEO and emailed him personally, seeing as how everything worked fine until his brand new piece of kit ruined it all!

[Mr Optimistic]

Tried with security switched off? I needed more range too but used a wireless Client coupled with a cable router from netgear. The netgear did all the set up for me and created a subnet. Connects fine to printer. Given the cost of printers, maybe an alternative printer would be easier.

[Obba]

With extenders, always make sure you have the same SSID.


Your router should have two MAC addresses (one for itself and the extender).


Can't see why the HP won't work with extenders. Maybe you have to enable PF as well?


I'd remove all Security (just to get it working or at least the basic), and have DHCP set to Auto (always a problem when people force IP address's).


Problem with different manufacters is that they have their own terminology for basically the same thing.
Like Billion - calling it Virtual Server, when good old Port Forwarding is known to everyone arrrgh!!!

[vulcanised]

Is HP's own software in the mix?

It always used to be a source of problems.

[FullOppositeRudder]

Agree with what everyone else has offered.... Puzzling indeed, and frustrating.

I presume that the printer worked in wireless mode with the previous modem router - whatever it was. (My understanding here is that there are two new bits of kit in the equation - EE Fibre Broadband "BrightBox2" router with dual output at 5.0Ghz and 2.4Ghz and a Netgear N300 Extender.)

Is it practical for the present to see if the printer will work wirelessly with the new modem / router - forgetting about the Extender for the duration of the experiment? (shift printer if possible to close proximity to the new router)

If this works, explore possibilities of using printer communicating with the router directly ignoring the Extender box option for the printer.

One way might be to use the old Belkin router as a wireless access point for the printer only, with the router in WAP mode placed in a favourable position for the printer and fed with cat 5 or 6 cable 'tween router and the rejigged 'WAP'.

This is a cumbersome option but it's one which I have used on a couple of situations to extend the range of a wireless network to a specific remote wireless network device. Of course it may not be practical in your situation. It also means tying up another wireless network channel and a whole lot of other potential complications, but it can usually be made to work.

The frustrating bit which I understand and share is that this should all work as anticipated and as implied in the nice advertising spiel.

I hope that you can work through to a satisfactory solution.

FOR

[Saab Dastard]

have DHCP set to Auto (always a problem when people force IP address's).

Nonsense - DHCP adds a layer of complexity that is completely absent with fixed addresses. What you don't want to do is mix them, unless you are very clear about what parts of the IP range are fixed and what can be assigned via DHCP.

SD

[TBirdFrank]

All options tried - almost ten hours on the phone with HP technicians - nothing works.


We can't even revert to the Belkin now, presumably due to changes in IP addresses now.


The printer chucks out a lovely clear print with a USB connection and my mobile phone can see the printer so its not a matter of connectivity - it's setting up the connectivity that has beaten everyone


Now for English consumer law and PC World who were the retailer unfortunate enough to sell this piece of crap!

[Keef]

Does the printer have an ethernet connection? Can you plug it directly into the new router? My printer works very well that way: it has its own IP address on the network (all my stuff is fixed IP, with DHCP for visitors).

The router I use (Draytek) also has a USB port for a printer, but I've not used that because the ethernet works.

[Mr Optimistic]

Tried with no extenders, no firewall, printer reset to factory, no security? Oh, and right wireless mode?