Wireless stops working constantly

[Dr_Jello]

I have a:

1. Officejet 4650

2. Asus Router RT-AC3100

My printer shows connected to the router at all times.  I have assigned a static IP to the printer. Anytime I press the status button it shows connected to the HP webserver.  I have tried printing from my laptop, Ipad, and Iphone.  All work fine.  then the printer goes to sleep, and once it goes to sleep it seems to disconnect, or is not seen despite the status showing connected when I wake it up. Then trying to find it on any of the devices can best be described as hit and miss.  I also then try logging into the printer from a web browser using the static ip and that does not work.  If I connect to the wifi network of the direct connect on the HP printer it does work fine. Hence, this tell me that the issue maybe opening ports, or??? Obviously it is not practical to have all devices in the house connect to the printer wifi. Any thought on if i need to open ports, or ???

Will I need to manually wake the printer everytime I want to print, and then hope it is recognized?

Help!

[sabretooth04]

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. 

2.  Wireless connection only, turn off the Wired LAN in the printer.

a).  Login to your printers EWS from a web browser using your Static IP in the address bar.

b).  Go to the menu item Network at the top.

c).  On the side menu expand WIRED network settings.

d).  Click on advanced.

e).  Set the Network Interface to off

 3.  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.

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

5.  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.

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

7.  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)…

[Dr_Jello]

Hello many thanks for your quick reply, unfortunetly I have already done these steps:

DHCP Pool is 192.168.0.100 to 192.168.168.0.254

Printer is set to 192.168.0.29

IP v6 is turned off

There is no way to turn off sleep on this printer

There is no hardwire lan to the printer, nor even a port so that is not a concern

I have confirmed connectivety of the printer to the internet, and the LAN

When it goes to sleep, it will not wake by sending a printer job, and if awake and rebooted will print fine until it goes to sleep via laptop

Even when working, will not show as an available Airprint printer

[sabretooth04]

Great.  Continue with 2-7.  Make sure you have set your TCP/IP port to your static IP.

[Dr_Jello]

Hi I am sorry I was not clear I did all steps including 2-7!

[sabretooth04]

Well crap.  Let's continue.

Verify again all of the above has been done correctly.

1. Wireless printers only work on the 2.4Ghz wireless band not the 5.0Ghz band.
2. Verify the printer is on the latest firmware by checking with the HP Support site.
3. Check all wireless devices in your home for interference. Check microwaves, baby monitors, wireless phones and wireless alarm systems are a big culprit.  Any of these will knock out your wireless printer intermittently.

In the router: (Refer to your router manual for information) 

* The following makes your router more secure and hack proof

* Keep all wireless devices better connected

1. Use a fixed wireless channel like 1, 6 or 11, never 'auto', try channel 1 first then the rest. 
2. Set router to 20Mhz bandwidth only, or 145Mbps depending on router. 
3. Always use WPA2-AES (Personal-PSK) encryption, but you can try ‘mixed’ mode. 
4. Disable WPS and never use it and disable UPnP for the routers security. Nobody can hack your system now and helps with wireless connectivity (if you want to know why, search the web).
5. If you have a dual band router (2.4Ghz and 5.0Ghz bands), make sure the SSID’s are NOT the same, they must be different for all bands including all Guest networks.
6. SSID broadcast must be enabled.
7. Always make sure your router is on the latest firmware.
8. Save all settings. Power off both, wait 2 mins.  Power on router wait 2 mins. 
9. Power on printer and verify it reconnects to router. 

If needed and you assigned a static IP address, try using 8.8.8.8 for the Preferred DNS server and 8.8.4.4 as the Alternate DNS server in the printer.  (Last thing to try in the printer)

If you have Windows 7/8/8.1 is Network Discovery on or off?

1. Control Panel/Network and Internet/Network and Sharing Center/Advanced sharing settings.
2. Under Home or Work (current profile) / Network Discovery.
3. Select "Turn on network discovery" and save changes.

Now the last thing to do once all the above has been tried and you still have the same issue.

Fully de-install and remove the printer and all its software.  Use this program here:

http://www.iobit.com/en/advanceduninstaller.php

When shown use Powerful Scan at the end and delete all registry entries shown for the printer.

Now go back and reinstall the Full Featured Software and Drivers from the HP web site.

Last ditch effort - If your printer has an Ethernet connection, suggest you get some Power Line Adapters and convert your house wiring to Ethernet for your printer.

[Dr_Jello]

Ok I tried all steps, and it worked......but then after waiting the 15 minutes at which point it goes to sleep, it does not work again.  The printer does not allow you to turn off sleep, or I woudl do that.  If i wake the printer it still does not work, but if I reboot it then it does.  Seems crazy I would have to reboot everytime I want to print.

[sabretooth04 · Accepted solution]

Well I've done all my magic that has worked for so many others.  I have about 99% success rate but there are those that it just does not work.  For those I have asked them to buy a new updated router and that has solved the problem.

But your router should be just fine, so not going there.

Unfortunate that you don't have an Ethernet port that you can try Powerline Ethernet adapters.  

Sorry I don't have any more rabbits.

[Dr_Jello]

Well I reset my router and cleared all settings, that did not do the trick either. So I had come to the same conclusion as you: new router. I realize the one I have is great, but I needed to add on to it as I want to pull signal into my basement. Went to BestBuy bought the Google 3 point mesh wifi system, and besides it working like a dream, the printing issues are gone. Hence, this is def a problem with the router/printer combo. Change out worked, thank you so much for all of your help, and trying to save me money having to buy a new router...:-) I am now happily printing!

[sabretooth04]

Great!  I don't keep up on which routers work or don't work.   Just that a newer one does resolve the issue. 

Just use the same setting in the Google router.  BTW is the subnet range something like 192.168.86.xx????