OfficeJet 6970 problem with network printing

[JammyBear2]

I recently bought this printer about 6-7 weeks ago.  It is configured for wifi network access through my home router and I have allocated it a fixed IP address reserved in the router.

Printing has mostly worked OK but now and then needs switch off and on again.  That's not really acceptable but not the nub of my problem.

Mostly I work in my study close to the printer and generally (but not always) printing works from there over the wifi network.  On the occasions when I do some work from my living room (to be semi-sociable with family) network printing fails.  My laptop is connected to my home router and so is the printer.  I can even ping the printer and it responds.  But any attempt to print fails and brings up the HP support stuff and why don't I run Print and Scan Doctor.  I did that once and it asked me to re-install the software so I did.  And in my study it printed fine.  I walked through to the living room and end of printing.  What is going on?  Is the printer not actually connected through the router?  Is it actually communicating direct from the PC rather than via the router?  That could explain it but it seems very silly if so.

Please don't ask me to re-install the drivers yet again unless you can explain in copious detail why it is necessary.

Thanks

Al

[Dvortex]

Hello, @JammyBear2 – Hope you are well 🙂
 

Thanks for your continued participation on the HP Forums! I’d like to help!

Going through your post, I understand that you are facing an intermittent network printing issue with the Officejet printer. I’d suggest you disable the IPv6 on the printer to try and fix this issue. If unsure, here are the steps:
 

• Obtain the IP address of the printer – You can touch the “wireless” icon on the printer control panel to get the IP address.
• Type the IP address on your web browser to obtain the printer EWS page on your computer.
• Go to "Network" tab - General - Select "Network protocols" - Select "Enable IPv4 only" (or similar) - Apply the settings.
• Go to the “Network” tab – Click on “Wireless (802.11) – Then click on “Network address (IPv4)
• Click on the radio button which says, “Manual IP” and then click “Suggest a manual IP address” to give a manual IP address to your printer.
• Click on radio button which says, “Manual DNS Server” and under manual preferred type 8.8.8.8 and under manual alternate type 8.8.4.4 (This is Google DNS server address)
• Restart the printer and then router once done.

Those steps should do the trick, let me know the outcome!

Cheers 🙂
 

Please click "Accepted as Solution" on the post that solves your issue to help others find the solution. To show appreciation for my help, please click the "Thumbs Up Icon" below!

[JammyBear2]

Hi Dvortex,

Thanks for your suggestion which I have tried out.  Unfortunately so far I've failed but perhaps you might be able to cast a little light on why?

I followed your instructions and got to the part where I set Manual DNS Server to the Google Public DNS settings of 8.8.8.8 and manual alternate to 8.8.4.4   First time round it hung up on me so I rebooted everything and started again.  Second time it went through OK and I restarted the printer.

I didn't follow why it would be necessary to re-start the router but did it anyway.  However, it hasn't solved the problem.

Curiously, I can log in to the EWS page from my living room so there is connectivity to the printer.  It just seems to not want to accept a print from this not very large distance.  Yet it's OK in the study.  Very odd really.

One other observation might however be pertinent.  The layout of my home is such that it's unlikely that the WiFi signal sent from my computer in my living room would be receivable in my study.  There is good WiFi to both rooms from the router but my bet is that the direct path would not be viable - thick granite walls in the older part of the house, and foil backed dry-wall and Kingspan throughout.

I'll leave the IPv as IPv4 as my router is not IPv6 compatible.

Thanks again

Al

[Dvortex · Accepted solution]

Hello, @JammyBear2

Since you can access the printer EWS page from your living room, it could be an issue with the printer drivers. As you have tried many times to reinstall the drivers, try using the Windows built-in drivers.

First, open Windows Device Installation Settings and confirm that your computer is set to automatically download driver software.
 

• Search Windows for Change Device Installation, and then click the Change device installation settings Control Panel setting in the list of results.
• Device Installation Settings window displays.
• Select the Yes option, and then click Save Changes.

Now, follow the steps listed under step 3 here: http://hp.care/2oSqtTW

Please let me know if this resolves the issue, or if you require further assistance!

Good luck 🙂

Please click "Accepted as Solution" on the post that solves your issue to help others find the solution. To show appreciation for my help, please click the "Thumbs Up Icon" below!

[JammyBear2]

Thanks DVortex,

That seems to have fixed it.  I just printed from my living room and it printed quickly and accurately.

In order to scan I now need to initiate from the PC rather than the printer but that's no hardship and it works fine with all the scanning software provided which is good.

I'm not detailed enough to know how this might interact with ny InstantInk subscription but I hope it's going to be compatible.  InstantInk seems like a good idea to me so I signed up after a bit of careful analysis of historic printing costs on my old (and now defunct) C7280 versus probable future costs.  So far I'm happy though I'm still in the initial 3 month free trial.

Thanks again

Al

(an HP pensioner!)

[Dvortex]

Hello, @JammyBear2

Thanks for the update & Great stuff! Glad to know that you were able to fix the issue 🙂
 

Also, the HP instant ink will not be affected by this setup. You simply need to have the printer connected to the network to avail the Instant ink option. 

Visit us again if you have any concerns!

Thank you again and may you also have a great day and even better tomorrow 🙂