offline printer (photosmart plus all-in-one b209)

[ndoermann]

Hi, I have a HP photosmart all-in-one B209 series printer, and I have been having issues with it going offline.  Though on the printer itself it says that it is connected to my wireless router (the same one my laptop is connected to), it will go offline for no obvious reason.  This has happened before, sometimes it fixed itself, and a couple times uninstalling then reinstalling the printer software and/or the drivers worked.  Yet, this time none of those solutions are working.  Please help!

[PrintDoc]

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

[gvindigni]

I have a similar problem with my Photosmart all-in-one C410 series printer on my local area network. I have two computers on the wireless network, my Mac (no problem with the printer) and my wife's Dell PC laptop. Every once-in-awhile, the printer goes offline for the PC. I'm using an Apple router, Time Warner Cable connection and don't know what encryption (if any, not WEP). Had the same problem with my previous HP C309 HP printer, but it cleared-up after a few months (either I fixed it [can't remember how] or it resolved itself somehow.) Anyway, my wife can't print from her PC intermittently, and I have to go into the control panel on the PC and switch the printer from offline to online and then it will print. How can I get the printer to stay online all the time for the PC?

Thanks for any help and suggestions.

[PrintDoc]

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 know what that is, set an IP outside that range but no higher than 254 (the last number in the address). If you do not know this, enter the current IP address.
- Use 255.255.255.0 for the subnet (unless you know it is different, if so, use that)
- 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.

[CherylG]

Setting a staic IP address fixed the issue for me_but I had to set the Gateway to the IP of my router.

[gvindigni]

I'm not quite sure if your answer to the photosmart plus all-in-one b209 also applies to my printer (Photosmart Prem C410 series)? However, using your information my HP Network Configuration Page lists the following information for the printer:

IPvIP Address 10.1.1.2

Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway 10.0.1.1

Configuration Source DHCP

My router list the following information:

Under TCP/IP

Configure iPv4 address: Using DHCP

iPv4 Address 10.0.1.4

Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0

Router 10.0.1.1

What IP address should I set?

Thanks for any help.

[PrintDoc]

Set the IPv4 address (for the printer).  Currently it is 10.0.1.4.  If this an Apple Airport router (which I suspect), set it to 10.0.1.220 (this will be outside the DHCP range of a default Airport router).

[gvindigni]

O.K., I'll do that for the Dell PC on my network via the browser. However, will this change interfere with my printing via my iMac to the same printer, which has not had any problem with the printer going off line?

Thanks again.

[PrintDoc]

No, it should have no affect.  If it does, simply remove it (with the '-' button) and re-add it (with the '+' button) in System Preferences > Print & Fax.

[gvindigni]

OK., I finally got everything working well last night at 1:30 am. I added an IP address outside the range that the router set as you suggested. However, I had to configure a new port on the properties tab. The "Add a Printer" option did not work because my HP disk would just spin and wanted to restart time after time after time. Everything is now working well.

How come it was such a big problem adding the printer to my wife's P.C. but not problem at all adding the same printer this morning to my Macbook Air. It took less than 30 seconds to add the printer to the Macbook Air and all yesterday to add it to my wife's Dell laptop. There has to be an easier way for the PC's!

Thanks again for your help.