My officejet pro 8500 goes offline frequently

[magnoliafamily]

I am working in an office where we have an officejet pro 8500. It'll go offline all the time (at least a couple times an hour). When it does, all we have to do is open the printers and faxes control panel and choose "work online" from the right-click menu. That is fine when we're printing, even if it's annoying. It's no okay for faxes. We don't always get them if the printer's offline a lot!

We're running XP. I do not know if the printer has a static IP. (When I look at the printer properties, it lists the location as "IP=192.168.0.105,Host=HPFE6C76" I will update whether this changes in a few minutes.)

Thank you in advance for any help!

[PrintDoc]

Tell me about your network - router brand/model, encryption type (WEP, WPA, etc) and ISP type (DSL, Cable, etc).

[magnoliafamily]

Here is what I know about the network:

we use a Dl-624 wireless router

We have cable internet.

I believe it is WPA.

[PrintDoc]

OK, great.  Let's set a static IP address for the printer:

- Print a Network Config Page from the front of the printer. Note the printer's IP address.
- Type that IP address into a browser to reveal the printer's internal settings.
- Choose the Networking tab, then Wireless along the left side, then the IPv4 tab.
- Click the Manual IP button and enter:
192.168.0.50 for the IP address
255.255.255.0 for the subnet
Leave the gateway and DNS blank
- Click 'Apply'

Now, shut down the router and printer, start the router, wait, then start the printer.

After this you may need to redo 'Add a Printer' using the new IP address

[wjgillies]

Magnolia,

I had the same problem with my photosmart c-309a for the last 2-3 months.  After a power outage yesteday, the printer has stayed online.  My guess is to unplug your printer, router, modem, them plug them back in, probably modem, router, then printer in that order.  Or plug them all in one power strip then plug that in to simulate what happened to me. 

Just a suggestion!

[magnoliafamily]

Printdoc: I followed your instructions. I guess I'll see over the next couple hours if that fixed the problem. Thank you!

wjgillies: If the solution Printdoc gave me doesn't work, I'll try yours Thank you, too!

[magnoliafamily]

That actually didn't fix the problem.  The printer already had an IP of 192.168.0.105 and when I changed it to the other I couldn't print from my computer but the doctor still could print from her office. The printer still went offline several times.

So I changed it back.

Is there any other solution you can think of?

[PrintDoc]

Reboot your router and then check to see if there is a firmware update for it.  You can get to it by typing 192.168.0.1 into a browser.  The login is "admin" and the password is left blank.

[magnoliafamily]

Unfortunately, that didn't solve the problem either. Could it just be a faulty printer?

[PrintDoc]

It could be faulty.  Reset it by holding # and 6 keys while turning it on.

Next, run a Wireless Network Test to engage a self-test.