Photosmart 5510 [7708A4] wireless dropout.

[ChrisPratt]

We are runningtwo iMacs (intel) on OSX 10.7.3.  We bought the printer from the Apple shop as a package with the Macs and have had nothing but trouble with it.  Our Macs are ethernet hardwired to our BT home hub but the printer is wireless.  HP support recommended that we define our printer address. We've done that but its keeps dropping the connection and we are reduced to turning the machine off andf counting to ten before turning it on- when,sometimes, it works.  It also keeps sending our computers spurious and incorrect ink status alerts which are not easily erasable from the desk top. We are on the point of taking the thing back to the Apple Shop as unfit for purpose unless someone can help sort the problem out . We'll then purchase a USB printer and forget "wireless".

[PrintDoc]

Actually, its your BT router.  These forums are filled with issues with HP wireless printers and BT routers.  Most of them are unresolved.

Setting a Static IP address helps, but only if you set the IP address outside the router's DHCP pool of addresses.

Need help?  Let me know the exact model of BT you have.

[ChrisPratt]

Thanks very much for your advice although knowing what the problem is may not, in this case, lead to a solution unless I change the router. BT Homehub 69BC. I get this as part of my broadband package at no extra cost and don't really want to change providers. Has HP contacted BT about the problem and if so what was the response?
Regards,
CP.

[PrintDoc · Accepted solution]

Yes, we have been in contact with BT.  Like many ISPs they do not percieve their router is the problem.  HP printers are tested with industry wireless standard routers (complying with the Wifi Alliance protocols).  Many ISP routers do not comply with this (probably because it costs extra money).

So, if you want to give this a go, 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.
- On this screen you want to set a Manual IP. You need to set an IP address outside the range that the router automatically sets (called the DHCP range). If you do not know the range, change the last set of numbers in the printer's current IP address (those after the last '.') to 250
- Use 255.255.255.0 for the subnet (unless you know it is different, if so, use that)
- Enter your router's IP (on the Network Config Page) for the gateway.
- Enter 8.8.8.8 for the first DNS and 8.8.4.4 for the second DNS.
- 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.

[ChrisPratt]

I'll give this a go. Although I like to pretend I know a little about computers, when it gets very technical like this I'm "dead meat". Can I ask more questions if it goes pear shaped? I don't want to start changing things fundamentally and then find that "I'm up a creek without a paddle"
Regards,
C.

[ChrisPratt]

I don't get very far through your instructions before I fail-sorry.  IPv4 tab does not seem to appear, instead I get Set Up Wizard.  Here's a screen shot.

file://localhost/Users/ChristopherPratt/Desktop/Screen%20Shot%202012-05-01%20at%2014.57.27.png

I hope you can open it.

[ChrisPratt]

I realise what I was doing wrong. I needed to choose "status"and further "further details" in order to get the info. that you mention.  At the moment the printer seems to be behaving and my wife panicked when I told her I was going to change all the settings.  I'm saving all your instructions however and if it goes down again I shall override "her indoors".

Many thanks for your help.

C.

[ChrisPratt]

Dean,

The other thing that I mentioned in my original email was that I keep getting screen pop-ups from the printer about ink levels and cartridge alignment. When I sat at my desk yesterday the whole screen was covered in them.  There seems to be no way of clicking OK and turning them off apart from following the "align" instruction at which point they disappear one at a time and I waste ink printing alignment documents.  The only way to get rid of them was by turning the computer off.  Any thoughts?

C.

[PrintDoc]

After you restart the Mac, do the ink level messages continue?

If so, I'd re-install the software from here: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?softwareitem=mp-96135-2&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&...