HP 8600 Constantly going offline

[JK58]

My HP8600 keeps going offline multiple times a day. The HP Print and Scan Doctor fixes it every time but there just aren;t enough hours in a day to run that every time. What is the PERMANENT fix???

[sabretooth04 · Accepted solution]

These settings are for setting up your wireless or wired printers to:

* Stay connected to your router
* Fix printer ‘offline’ status
* Wake from sleep mode
* Speed up wireless printing

While DHCP is convenient, devices such as printers (wired and wireless) should always be assigned a static (fixed) IP address manually to avoid conflicts on your wireless network and MUST be outside the DHCP address range of the router. This is because printers are the only external devices that do not have the ability to automatically interrupt the router for a new DHCP address once the least time expires.  Again, do not have the printers static IP within the DHCP range of the router as this is against Networking 101 rules and will confuse the router.  Make things simple – In the router, set starting DHCP address range 192.168.1.100 (or 192.168.0.100). Ending DHCP address range 192.168.1.150 (or 192.168.0.150).  Set Printer Static IP to 192.168.1.10 (or 192.168.0.10). 

After setting the static IP, the computer(s) must be updated under Printer Properties/Ports to show a Standard TCP/IP port with the printers’ new static IP address.

1. Set a static IP in the printer outside the DHCP range of the router (check your manual).  This Static IP is important as DHCP IP addresses will change upon different power up sequences of your devices.  You always want your printer to come up with the same IP address all the time.  See how to do this here:

http://www.watchingthenet.com/linksys-tip-assign-static-ip-address-to-printer-while-using-dhcp-on-yo...

This is for Linksys routers but can be used for all routers. Verify your DHCP range and change this first if needed.  Then after setting the static IP in the printer, the computer(s) must be updated under Printer Properties/Ports to show a Standard TCP/IP port with the printers IP address. 

To see why this problem exists and how to fix it, watch this video here for Windows.   Scroll down for MAC information.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEqvUKxWmq4

How to set a Standard TCP/IP port.  This is important.

a).  Click Start/Devices and Printers. Right click on your HP Printer.  Select Printer Properties.  Select the Ports tab at the top.

b).  Select Add Port. Select Standard TCP/IP Port.  Select New Port.

c).  Follow the Add Port Wizard. Under Printer Name or IP Address, input the Static IP address you just set from the above information.  Example:  168.1.15.  The IP address will be copied under Port Name.  This is OK to leave this alone or you can put in your Printer Model.

d).  Select Next and Finish the Wizard.

If you create a TCP/IP port without a static IP above, you may lose your TCP/IP connection and have the same issue. This is because your network has powered up differently giving you a different DHCP address to the printer that does not match the TCP/IP address above.  This could occur at anytime just like the video shows.

For MAC PCs perform the above Static IP setting in the router and then watch here on how to perform your IP setting for MAC computers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5tNFjEBDOw

By performing the above, the printers Embedded Web Server (EWS) will now work all the time by going to your Printers Static IP address in your browser. 

1. Verify in the printer that 'Auto Off/Sleep/Energy Saving Mode' is disabled and/or the System Mode Time Out is set to zero (0) if your printer supports this. Use the Embedded Web Server (EWS) by going to the printers IP address in your browsers address bar, click Settings Tab/Auto Off, or use the Printer Assistant, Printer Home Page (EWS). Also check your Printer Properties. This feature is automatically disabled when the printer is connected to a computer or mobile device, a network, or a fax line (if supported).  However, you may not find this setting.

1.  If the printer supports and has IPv6 enabled, disable IPv6 in the printer.

1. Make sure printer is plugged directly into a wall outlet and not into a UPS, power strip or surge protector. This may cause the printer to intermittently drop offline and disconnect.

1. Make sure your printer and router are at least 5 feet apart from each other.

1. Check the HP web site for your printer to see if there is a Firmware Upgrade that affects the wireless operation. If yes, update the firmware via USB cable only.  Never wireless.

Additional steps to be taken if you continue to have the problem (if they are posted)…

[JK58]

Thank you! The search terms I was using in Google did not turn up what you have shared here. I very much appreciate the thorough explanation in your response and the links you shared. With that information, it took about 5 minutes to set the DHCP range on the router and then set the printer to a fixed IP address outside that range. Then I just cycled the power on the printer so that it would come back into the network with the new IP address. I hope that other people find your answer and can make use of it. Again, many thanks and best regards!

[Jbrewman]

Wow. Its a good thing every person in the world who uses an HP product is a computer engineer and can work through this easily.

This is useless to the average person. If HP is aware that there is a problem why don't they design the printers to either a) start with a fixed address, b) reaquire an address, c) include onsite tech support visits to set these overly complicated devices up?

[sabretooth04]

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@Jbrewmanwrote:

Wow. Its a good thing every person in the world who uses an HP product is a computer engineer and can work through this easily.

This is useless to the average person. If HP is aware that there is a problem why don't they design the printers to either a) start with a fixed address, b) reaquire an address, c) include onsite tech support visits to set these overly complicated devices up?

---

I'll try to answer these as easy as I can.

a.  Which IP address would you like?   Since there are quit a few IP available (millions), which one does the router use?  Is the router set up to accept a static (fixed) IP?  Most are not.

b.  DCHP does this.   That why routers default to DHCP so you can at least connect the first time.  95% of the time, DHCP works just fine.

c.  At a cost of at least $60+/hour plus travel, not to many will take advantage of this for a sub $100 printer. 

As you can see the person above had his up and running in less than 30 mins.  That why I include videos and straight forward text.

Networking... it's not rocket surgery.   😉

[JonWood65]

Well aren't you a superior being and quite a edited. The question asked about HP designing the software better is a valid one. No average user should 1) have to put up with someone putting them down in an answer and 2) go into the settings of their router to manually configure anything for a home/small business computer. This is NOT a normal workaround for a printer and there is something OBVIOUSLY WRONG with the software. For all of you that feel dumber because of this solution and the subsequent re-answer, as a former IT guy i apologize. This idiot is correct, it's not rocket SCIENCE, but many IT semi-professionals like to make others feel like it is. 

[Arthur-c]

Thank you for visiting the HP Support Community. I would like to remind you again to please be respectful to those who offer suggestions, or need help in this Community.  As a reminder the Rules Of Participation state:

Be respectful. Respect your fellow users by keeping your tone positive and your comments constructive. Good or bad, your experiences are always welcome as long as they are offered in a courteous way. Respect people's time and attention by providing complete information about your question or problem, including product name and model number. People like helping those who ask good questions.

Regards,

[JacAbu]

Many thanks Sabretooth04 - clear and very easy to understand, even for those of us who are not as technical.  Well done.

[JoJoRabbit]

JonWood65: Couldn’t agree more with your response. Experts and HP employees answering poster questions need to remember that they may be advising a person with little to no experience with computers, printers, etc—and tailor their verbiage and instructions accordingly. That way, EVERYone can understand and complete the instructions provided! Doing this would save them a WHOLE lot of time and effort!