Cannot connect any laptops wirelessly to HP Photosmart 5520 Printer

[jason_h]

Hey Walter,

I see you have a few questions about how the Wireless Direct works with the HP Photosmart 5520.  The printer is able to broadcast a signal to connect to the device, like a network, for printing.  In your hypothetical situation posted you mention a person using a Mobile Broadband style network on the iPad (3G) and wanting to print to the Photosmart 5520.  This can be accomplished by connecting the iPad directly to the printer's broadcasted "network" to print, but can only be done while physically close enough to reach the signal.  One will also not be able to be connected to the broadband network and the printer at the same time thus limiting ability to print much from the internet in this capacity.  The Photosmart 5520 will also not be able to connect to the Web Services servers, thus ePrint will not function.  However, one can use the Printer Control app or the ePrint mobile app to control the printer while connected to the unit's Wireless Direct signal.

I hope this helps to clarify.  If you have any further questions do not hesitate to ask.

Jason

[Carru]

Hi Jason,

So it is clear that the HP 5520 will not work with my laptop on VPN. 

Is there a way to wirelessly connect the printer to my laptop directly without having to go through my home router? 

thanks, Carru

[jason_h]

Hey Carru,

I have an idea for you to try.  Does the 5520 connect to your home network (the one you use to connect to the VPN host)?

If so, then setup the Web Services for the Photosmart 5520.  For information on how to setup Web Services and generate a customized ePrint email address for the printer click here.

Once you have the Web Services setup for the printer it will have a custom email address.  You can email documents, pictures, etc to the printer it will print the emailed item out for you.  This can be done from any where in the world and on any network.  

You can try using the ePrint driver on the PC as well and connect it to the printer's email address.  However, this driver isn't listed on the product support page for the Photosmart 5520 and may not work.  To access this driver package please click here.

This could be used as a workaround, because you are using a VPN for work networking.

Jason

[JohannGutenberg]

Hi Jason,

Yes I understand.

My last question is then whether the printer can be sufficiently set up, after it has been unboxed    (ready for direct ePrint from an iDevice, )  without being able to be connected to the net ? It won't be able to obtain its own email address, but that is not needed for printing from iPhone or iPad . I guess firmware updates can never be done without a net connection ?

Thanks Jasan,

Walter 

[jason_h]

Hey Walter,

Good questions and I have the answers.  One will not be able to get product updates from the front panel without the unit being attached to a wireless network.  However, if you have a PC that can access the internet (desktop or notebook), then you can download the firmware updates from the HP website and push them across to the printer using a USB cable.  I will provide a link to the downloads page for the Photosmart 5520 below for convenience.  Select the PC operating system, click next, and scroll down to Firmware to download the firmware update utility.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareCategory?os=4063&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&sw_lang=&product=5157...

If you set the printer up immediately out of the box as a Wireless Direct connection, then the iDevice should be able to connect to this "network" and use AirPrint to print directly to the Photosmart 5520.  The ePrint option will not be necessary as the 5520 has bonjour support for AirPrint from apple devices.

Hope this helps,

Jason

[reaston21]

I am having a similar problem. I am running the mac 10.8 and the printer was connected wirelessly. Stopped working and has been intermittently working since. The problem I believe starts with the fact that I am connected on a SSID that is shared by a huge apartment complex. Each person has their own router with they connnect to but all of them have the same Wifi name and password. The internet is provided by comcast. I printed out the netword test results and at the top it says "attention more than one access point/wireless router has been found that matches your wirefless network name (SSID). If this is not intended, your HP printer may connect to the wrong wireless network. To avoid this change your wireless network name(SSID) to be unique."

My apartment has its own comcast router as well. I have tried many things. Changed the ip manually turned of IPv6. and nothing seems to be a solution. When I go to type in the ip address to safari it doesnt work. Anyway I can change the unique name for specifically my router. Or change the access point so the printer stop hopping around?

[jason_h]

If there are multiple access points that the printer can detect with the same SSID, then the device will get "confused" as to which network it is really connected to.  You will need to change the SSID of your network or use an Ethernet connection if your printer has this port.

This thread has been about the Photosmart 5520, is this the printer you have?  If so, this printer does not have an Ethernet port and will have to be connected USB  or Wireless.

Jason

[reaston21]

First off yes sorry it is the HP photosmart 5520. The problem is that I am not the administrator for the network. I am in a apartment complex. Everyone connects to the same SSID and has the same password. The apartment complex is in control of the network. So is there anyway for me to change the SSID name specifically for the router that is in my apartment, specifically from the Mac. Thanks for the help.

[jason_h]

Hey reaston21,

Thanks for the information.  It sounds like your complex is setup with a main router controlling the network with the individual routers setup as access points.  You may be able to log into the embedded web server of your router by typing your default gateway into a browser.  You can use the Network Utility on a Mac to discover your default gateway.

Once in the EWS you may be able to change the SSID of your personal access point in your complex.  Keep in mind that this may drop any other wireless devices connected to this access point off and will need to be reconnected.

Jason

[nan5259]

I have desktop and an ipad, which connect to my printer just fine.  I have a Macbook which does not connect.  Can you help me?  Thanks.