Officejet Pro 9730e weak WiFi signal when few feet away

[Nerdmaster-Bri]

Can someone tell me where WiFi signal “antenna” is on 9730e printer? The printer is facing WiFi, yet refuses to print from Word due to “weak signal.” Is WiFi antenna at back of printer?

There’s nothing in between except air and some dude sitting on a mostly-plastic chair, and to be honest dude probably needs to eat more salads & veggies.

The HP desktop PC is in same room, with reliable external WiFi-3 antenna (TP-Link 802.11). House has no WiFi cameras or similar devices to speak of except a couple of firesticks and an LG combo washer-dryer unit. Three laptops are used at various times during the day.

WiFi router is under 1 year old for 1-Gbs WiFi service from Charter-Spectrum. Internet router is ~2 years old, and Spectrum insists it’s still a good unit. There’s a new-ish internet cable between house & utility pole.

Multiple restarts have been performed all around. Blue light is solid on printer. Ink cartridges have been in & out. Printer can make copies without issue. Haven’t tried scanning from PC as software setup is infuriating (need to walk away for a day). We’ve never had such issues with the previous printer located in the same spot (tired HP-OJ 8600 series).

One possibility, there’s a slight chance there may be low Voltage going to the printer. The printer’s power cable in plugged directly into the wall, but we had low-Voltage issues when house was new (2000), and NYSEG doubled size of roadside transformer, which eliminated issue with small CRT-TV that wouldn’t turn on reliably at back of house.

Optional reading… does HP get concept of “Beta testing” software before release? Old 8600 was sooo straightforward to use, and faster to use, like when facing a deadline. Shouldn’t HP software and printers increase in reliability and speed? Why do we always go backwards when upgrading equipment? When I buy a new car it’s usually faster, and handles better. When I buy a new HP printer, it’s like switching to Ford Model T designed by Rube Goldberg. Sorry for my frustration, but the hours wasted on this new HP printer is unforgivable. And it's still not functioning. And, finally, where's the HP telephone number for phone help? Shame on HP beanies for discontinuing that option for the print-disabled!

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Nerdmaster-Bri,

I can feel your frustration through the screen, wrestling with a printer that should work seamlessly but refuses to cooperate is beyond infuriating. Let’s get to the bottom of this and figure out the issue so you can finally print without a struggle.

I appreciate the detailed information you've provided,it’s really helpful in narrowing down the issue.

To address your main question: the WiFi antenna on the OfficeJet Pro 9730e is typically located internally, near the back or sides of the printer. However, the placement of the printer in relation to your router can impact signal strength. Here are a few steps to help improve connectivity:

Troubleshooting Steps:

Check WiFi Band & Channel:

• Ensure your printer is connected to the 2.4 GHz band rather than 5 GHz, as 2.4 GHz provides a stronger range.
• You can check this via your router settings.

Relocate the Printer (if possible):

• If it’s near walls or metal surfaces, try moving it slightly to see if the signal improves.
• Avoid placing it near other electronic devices that might interfere with the WiFi signal (such as microwaves or baby monitors).

Run a Wireless Network Test:

• On the printer’s control panel, go to Setup > Network Settings > Wireless Network Test Report to check signal strength and possible interference.

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Check Router Performance:

• Since your PC and other devices work fine, try temporarily connecting the printer via Ethernet or USB to confirm if the issue is WiFi-related.
• Restart the router and test with only the printer connected to see if performance improves.

Power Supply Consideration:

• While low voltage can cause performance issues, it’s less likely to affect WiFi specifically. However, plugging the printer into a different outlet might help rule this out.

I hope the steps provided help get your printer back in sync with your WiFi. If the issue lingers, don’t hesitate to reach out, we’ll keep at it until your printer is running like a well-oiled machine!

Regarding your experience with HP software and support, I hear you! We aim to make things more intuitive, and I truly appreciate your feedback. 

Let me know if these steps help or if you need further assistance!

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?"—your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

[Nerdmaster-Bri]

Thank you for your assistance. 

PLAN-A (PREFERRED) CONNECTION OPTION: What do I need to do to connect this new printer directly via USB cable using Windows Plug and Play.  Only the desktop PC needs to connect to the new printer… ever.  When I tried that USB cable connection, the PC thought it was a completely different printer model, and refused to allow me to change that setting.  Further, when printing or scanning was attempted using that incorrect printer-model connection, nothing happened at the printer, yet I wound up with a blank JPG scan file on my PC. 

PLAN-B CONNECTION OPTION: Please tell me how to connect my HP desktop PC wirelessly to the new printer.  That is, NO WiFi router connection.  For the record, my old HP 8600 printer connected to the same PC directly with NO issues whatsoever. 

Optional Reading… the WiFi router is in another part of the house.  So, while the 10 year old HP desktop PC can readily connect to the WiFi router (with 3 of 4 bars, all day, every day!), I’m afraid this printer’s antenna is not up to the job.  The printer refuses to work wirelessly with the PC even though it claims it’s connected via solid blue light.  I’m disappointed that an HP PC that’s nearly 10 years old can reliably connect to the WiFi router with a strong signal, yet a brand new HP printer cannot. 

This is what my PC thinks the printer is when a USB cable is used.

[Max3Aj]

Ah, the dreaded dance of the disconnected device! Your OfficeJet Pro 9730e🖨️seems to be playing hard to get. Fear not, for we shall tame this beast with a blend of logic and a touch of digital wizardry. 🪄

WiFi Signal & Antenna Location

• On HP printers like the 9730e, the WiFi antenna is usually located near the back of the printer, often on the right-hand side (if facing the printer from the front).
• If the printer is facing the router but still has a weak signal, consider rotating it 90 degrees to see if the signal improves.
• The printer's casing and internals can slightly interfere with WiFi signals, so repositioning might help.

PLAN A (Preferred) – USB Connection Setup

It sounds like Windows is misidentifying the printer when connected via USB. Here's how to fix it:

Uninstall Incorrect Printer Drivers

• Disconnect the USB cable.
• Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers and remove any existing instances of the printer.
• Open Device Manager (Win + X > Device Manager), look under Print queues and USB controllers, and uninstall any HP printer-related entries.

Manually Install Correct Driver

• Download the Full Feature Software for the OfficeJet Pro 9730e from HP's official site.
• Run the installation and select USB Mode when prompted.
• Only plug in the USB cable when the software asks you to.
• If Windows still assigns the wrong driver, go to Device Manager, find the printer, right-click it, choose Update Driver, and manually select the correct one.
• PLAN B – Wireless Direct (No Router Needed)

If you want the PC to connect directly to the printer wirelessly (without a router), use Wi-Fi Direct:

Enable Wi-Fi Direct on the Printer

• On the printer control panel, go to Network or Wireless settings.
• Look for Wi-Fi Direct and turn it ON.
• The printer will display a network name (SSID) and password.

Connect PC to Printer Wi-Fi

• On your PC, open Wi-Fi settings and connect to the printer’s Wi-Fi Direct network (e.g., HP-Print-XX-9730e).
• Enter the password displayed on the printer.

Install Printer on PC

• Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers > Add a Printer.
• Select The printer that I want isn't listed > Add a printer using a TCP/IP address.
• Enter the IP address of the printer (found in Wi-Fi Direct settings).
• Follow the prompts to install the correct driver.

Wi-Fi Issues & Troubleshooting

If you still want to use the printer over the router’s Wi-Fi, try these steps:

Check Printer’s Signal Strength

• Print a Network Configuration Page from the printer’s settings.
• Look for Signal Strength (RSSI)—anything below -60 dBm is weak.

Improve Wi-Fi Connection

• If signal strength is low, consider moving the router or using a Wi-Fi extender.
• Change the router’s Wi-Fi channel (e.g., switch from Auto to Channel 6 or 11).
• Ensure the printer is connecting to the 2.4 GHz band, not 5 GHz.

Printer’s Static IP

• In your router settings, assign a static IP to the printer to prevent connectivity drops. 

If my response helped resolve your issue, kindly click “Accepted Solution” — it will help others find their way to the solution as well. And if you’d like to show appreciation, clicking the “Kudos/Thumbs Up” at the bottom right will let me know!

Take care and have an amazing day ahead!

Warm regards,

Max3Aj

HP Support

[Nerdmaster-Bri]

Maybe some of the problems with this over-thunked printer software has to do with what's being forced onto my PC's drive.  These are just SOME of the files Boost By Reason removed from my PC because they're considered spy-files (not my term).

  It scares me that these spy-files were placed onto my PC.It scares me that these spy-files were placed onto my PC.

[Nerdmaster-Bri]

Spoiler

How am I supposed to try something in Setup when there is NO Setup button on the printer's display?  HOW???!!!

I'd love to be able to call someone to get help with this, but I guess that's no longer allowed at HP.  Great customer service!

Right now when I print I put the file on a memory stick,, and plug that into the printer.  How I'm going to scan is anyone's guess.  I'm so fed up with this POS printer my hands are shaking as I type this!

[Nerdmaster-Bri]

How am I supposed to try something in Setup when there is NO Setup button on the printer's display?  HOW???!!!

I'd love to be able to call someone to get help with this, but I guess that's no longer allowed at HP.  Great customer service!

Right now when I print I put the file on a memory stick,, and plug that into the printer.  How I'm going to scan is anyone's guess.  I'm so fed up with this POS printer my hands are shaking as I type this!