HPLJ P1102W Connection to Router via USB with Print Server Capability

[CapsFanBen85]

I currently have an HPLJ P1102w hooked up to my network via WiFi. However, I have started installing mesh extenders in my house, and this is making the printing unreliable. I have two different ideas for which I am wondering if they are possible solutions.

1. My router provider explained that my router is capable of being a print server, and it has USB ports, so could I connect the printer to the router via USB and then configure the router to communicate with the printer? I spoke with one HP agent and she said this would not work, but I was not satisfied with her explanation of why not.

2. If #1 isn't possible, is there some way to help the printer pick the correct wireless network? With a router and two mesh extenders, I have 3 networks that all have the same name. The printer is closest to the router, so I would like it to choose the wireless signal coming from the router. Currently, the printer is unreliable because it gets confused about the three networks (I guess? That's what I have been told).

[Kumar0307]

@CapsFanBen85, Welcome to the HP Support Community!

The previous HP technician was correct, you cannot connect the printer to the router using a USB cable to print. It will not work because the USB cable is a direct connection that has to be between the printer and the computer.

You will have to rename the 3 networks, give unique names and connect the printer and the computer to the router while printing. Yes, mesh networks confuse the printers.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.

Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Have a great day! 

[CapsFanBen85]

Thanks!

[Kumar0307]

@CapsFanBen85

You are welcome. Keep us posted for any other assistance. Happy to help!

[CapsFanBen85]

How about the following as a solution:

First, here is my situation. I am in a 4 story home: basement, main floor, second floor, and top floor.

The modem/router is on the main floor with a printer nearby. There is another printer on the top floor with an Ethernet port I'd like to have a mesh extender in the basement and on the top floor.

What if I (1) connect the top-floor printer via Ethernet cable to the mesh extender on the top floor, (2) have the two mesh extenders only put out a 5GHz signal, and (3) have the main-floor printer (that has no Ethernet port) connect wirelessly to the router but only via the 2.4GHz signal coming from the router.

Would this eliminate the confusion for the printers with there being 2 mesh extenders? 

[Kumar0307]

@CapsFanBen85

Yes, you may use this network configuration and the printers should work fine.

Keep me posted for any other assistance.

[CapsFanBen85]

Can this printer (P1102w) connect to a 5GHz signal?

[Kumar0307 · Accepted solution]

@CapsFanBen85

• This printer supports only 2.4GHz network. So, the PC should be on the 2.4GHz network.
• If you have a Dual-band router and both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks share the same name/SSID, the printer will not be able to connect to the network. In this case, contact your Internet service provider to assign different names to both the networks.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.

Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Have a great day!