How do I enable keep-alive on HP Officejet Pro 8600?

[gdollar]

Hi Visionary

I have a new problem. Comcast has made me use their new modem/router and while most of my network hardware moved over to it without an issue, the printer does not seem to be doing so. I can see the printer but it will not print. I should say that I did have an manual IP address on my old router (Linksys) set for it and it seems to be still there when I print the Network tests from the HP printer, which by the way says, "no problems found". I have not accessed my Comcast modem yet, as I don't know the password, so maybe it needs to have the same manual IP address as the old Linksys. Is that correct? 

I need printer for my work and so it is an urgent request and you were most helpfull on my last issue some many months ago.

Graham

[VisionAiry]

Hello Graham,

Thanks for asking for my help on the matter, always happy to help.  Here is an easy suggestion to try first: if you followed the HP way of setting a static IP, then you set the IP on the printer. First, turn DHCP on by accessing the printer's current IP address on the internet and turn off the manual IP setting. If that doesn't work, go into the printer settings/tools on the front panel of the printer and Restore Network Defaults. Then use the Wireless Setup Wizard to obtain a new address, and try accessing it with the new IP from the new router's settings. Then you can set a static IP again if you want and try printing.

If that doesn't work then let me just save you as much headache as possible by telling you that you should probably see about contacting Comcast first before proceeding with the million and one fruitless steps that could follow.  Reason being: I remember when people called in with this issue, I would spend up to 3 hours and end up telling them to call Comcast specifically and the next day or so I would call them back and everything would be working.  

I can't tell you firsthand what ever took place on those calls but what I can tell you is that particularly in my ePrint days, Comcast just seemed to be mentioned more often on those calls (not sure if it was an issue with them or just that everyone had Comcast). So I would leave them with a set of instructions: Tell them to open the printer and scanner ports (see link for list) and if they were willing, DMZ the static IP you set for the printer.

From my understanding, most of my customers reported that Comcast was very willing to help and even troubleshoot to make sure they were able to print.  Of course I can't speak for everyone but they all were somewhat frustrated by the end of that call when I suggested that. The reason I am suggesting it first is it could be worth a try. 

I have a good feeling the first suggestion will work but do keep me posted. I hope that works!

Cass

[gdollar]

Hi visionary: Got it to work. while it connected to the new wireless signal it did not update any other info. Comacast IP addresses are very different starting at 10.0.0.1. I connected to printer using USB cable and set the IP address and gateway manually. all seems to be working now. thanks graham

[Springbender]

FINALLY!! Days and days of working with  HP tech support in a completely different time zone. Reading pages and pages of fixes that dont work on forums...This was the easiest and so far the only one that works. Stupid that the thing cant sleep, but oh well, at least I can get some work done.

Thanks IslipHP

[Springbender]

Well Crap. Thought the fix worked. But it didnt.  Now instead of going to sleep and not waking up, its just frozen.

[terymo]

Good grief. This thread is never ending, but HP still hasn't offered a solution. Consumers just want to print on a piece of paper and the greatest majority are NOT techno geeks. Why should we have to try this and try that? That's HP's job. Shame on HP for looking the other way while their customers beg for help. Speaks volumes.

[Networked]

At the risk of keeping an already absurdly long support stream alive even longer, I wish to report that I have tried every fix posted in this support thread and several more posted elsewhere.  To avoid annoying responses by clueless HP reps, let me reiterate that I’ve already:

1)      Set a static IP address – on the router, on the printer, and on the computer, in every possible combination.  I’ve even tried “lucky numbers” for the IP address, just to be safe.  I did not, however, use holy water, swing a cat by the tail, or similar incantations.  Perhaps I’m not being vigorous enough?

2)      Disabled sleep mode, using the “Engineering menu” instructions posted in this forum.  This involved pressing the down arrow a mere 900 times (not an exaggeration).  Despite the ergonomic injury, this at least had the satisfying result of changing the printer behavior in a noticeable way: The screen now stays on 24x7.  While I may not be able to print, I can test the active lifespan of the backlight on the 8600’s screen.

3)      Assured that the wireless strength was sufficient for communication – the printer reports a “5” on a scale of 1-5.  Granted, the distance to the router is more than the absurd “3 meters” recommended by HP.  Yes, that’s right: HP recommends the printer be 1.5 to 3 METERS from the router.  Really? 3 meters?  Surely you jest.  Perhaps you mean “fantoms?” Furlongs?  Freethrows?  You can actually *expect* wireless service to be limited to 9 feet?

4)      Ran the “wireless doctor” software from HP about five times on two different computers.  The result of this time waster was, at best, grounds for a malpractice suit against the “doctor,” as the sole apparent function of this piece of opaque nonsense appears to be reassigning the printer to the “HP network re-discovery port” which neither discovers, nor re-discovers, anything of value.

After all of that, the result is … wait for it … THE PRINTER DOES NOT WORK.  It stays connected, at best, for a couple of hours, and the only way to restore the connection is to reboot the printer … AND the router.

After being a loyal HP customer for years, I can report with definition that I will not purchase another printer from these idiots again.  Not only have they put crap on the streets, they have made absolutely no effort to correct it.  After 50-odd PAGES of posts, not one fix.  Not one firmware upgrade.  Not even a competent advice stream.  What ever happened to HP quality?

[littleone22]

Ed, I don't understand your steps 4 and 5. I have a linksys and I don't know how to set a manual MAC. I am not getting anything changeable on step 5 either.

[Meeshka]

I found the easiest fix for me was to get rid of my Hp printer and replace it with a Canon. Much less stress in my life. 🙂

[IslipHP]

I have just tried to find a 'normal' contact for HP Support and all they do is point in the direction of the Forums. That would be fine if there was an input from HP, but there is not.

Seems to me that HP have given up and are just willing the printer market away. Incredible from where they were, but not unique. Nokia had the ubiquitous 6310i that was used throughout the business world, but they didn't/wouldn't develop it so now there are a number of smart phones, not Nokia?, that have taken a dominat position. Anyone know one that makes reliable phone calls? The iPhone certainly does not!