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

[ecgberht]

gdollar,

When I have assigned static IP addresses, I have chosen to start high and work down.  Leave the lower addresses to be assigned automagically by your network for other devices.  The address for my HP printer, for example, is 192.167.1.250.

[dugantr]

I have the exact same problem with a USB connected printer.

[VisionAiry]

If you also have this problem with a USB-connected printer, go into your Wireless settings from the setup menu and turn your wireless off.  Hopefully that will help you considering it does seem related to the wireless card in general.  

[gdollar]

Hi, 

I have been working on this problem for days now. I have not set a static address because the WRT54g does not allow that on a wireless connection, only on a wired connection. That said, I noticed that certain computers on the network always seem to print. One laptop running Win 7 seems robust, iPad always prints and one laptop running XP seems to print most of the time, but two other laptops constantly have problems. I can always tell when the printer has "fallen off" my main computer because the HP scan icon with a red cross through it appears in the tray at the bottom right hand side of the computer (XP). At the time this happened I then went to the router staus and saw that the lease had just been renewed and was showing 23:55:22, almost 24 hours. This is when the printer dropped off the computer. 

I then went to print at all other devices and they all worked except one another device that was rebooted at the same time as the main computer. I believe something is preventing the ip renew at 24 hours getting to certain computers. Not sure if the firewall is the cause of this.

With this info it is clear that there is nothing wrong with the printer per se, and by that I mean it's always working for some of the devices, iPad for example, so it's not a case of keeping the printer awake. Yesterday the printer did an update and a new term was added "wireless direct" appeared, or at least I think it appeared as I don't remember seeing it before.

Can I use this feature instead of going through the router and can you use mixed mode, some through the router and some on wireless direct? Does the iPad always communicate via wireless direct? Running out of time as the weekend is my drop dead date for taking the printer back. Any help would be appreciated.

gdollar

[VisionAiry]

Hello gdollar,

Just to go in order of each of your queries, you will set a static IP in the printer's embedded web server (printer's IP address in the web browser), completely separate of the router's limitations.  I truly think this will help with the other devices connection issues because in all of my time here I have never seen a printer's EWS not allow someone to set a static IP in there. From hints you made earlier, unless you are in the router changing the IP address, I assume you have already done this in the printer anyway.  Even aside from it going to sleep, this will still help you tremendously if you have not done that.

I find it interesting that the router indicates the printer dropped off the network yet the other computers were still able to see it.  This is just a suggestion and possibly a solution, but you may need to update your router's firmware or tell me the name and model of your router so I can research it for you (I will look into consumer reviews, user manuals, age, etc) so I can give you better advice concerning that specific router (is it the Linksys WRT54g?).

Firewall is likely the culprit in this event.  Click on the link below to review all the information HP has on anti-virus software, symptoms, and advice regarding that.

--Security Information and Firewalls--

The reason I do feel so strongly about firewalls causing this (be it anti-virus software on the PC, router's firewalls, or Windows Firewall itself) is because the iPad does not have the same kind of blocked ports.  It communicates through AirPrint.  Airprint finds all Airprint printer's on the network so as long as the printer has a valid IP address and is on the same network as the iPad, it will find it.  ePrint works the same way, for the most part.  As long as the printer is on the network, you can send it an email and only firewalls on the router (ports 80, 443, 5222, and 5223) would keep it from printing.

Originally this printer did not have Wireless Direct within the printer's setup menu.  Wireless Direct allows direct communication with the printer (disconnecting the PC or device from the internet and knocking the printer off the network - similar to one-way communication). It is not very reliable as this is called an ad-hoc connection and is only viable for those who do not have a router. This connection times out and if you leave the approximate 100 meter area, it drops the wifi connection.  So I do not recommend it.  

--HP Wireless Direct--

Mixed Mode on the router is not recommended. WPA2/AES works the best with HP printers. 

Here is what I do recommend in your case:

1. Ensure a "manual IP" was selected within the printer's EWS (see my first post). 

2.  Contact your router company or internet service provider (ISP's are known to do this for free) and ask them to see if your router needs a firmware update or a replacement (some models do have defects and free replacements if you know where to find that information).

3. Install the HP ePrint Driver and setup your printer to receive emails (worse-case scenerio it is good to have a back-up plan).

4.  Lastly, if this is a network-connection problem a new printer may not help with your offline error messages if any other external component is causing this to happen (firewall, router, environment like distance and electronic interference).  You may even benefit from contacting HP technical support if this printer is less than a year old.  Personally, I enjoyed helping people over the phone and prefer to call in myself - only I usually call people like my phone company when I'm upset so I do understand).  If you live in the US, the number is 1-800-474-6836 or click here to find support in your region.

I am more than happy to help if you have any questions regarding the information I just posted.  I know it is a lot but I would rather be thorough than not.

P.S. - here is a little link about your model of router you mentioned in your previous post.

[gdollar]

Thanks for taking time to write your response. There are two things I have discovered. My Linksys WRT54g does not have the most recent software and several computers on the system do not get "locked out" of the printer. Also when those that do get locked out it is when the router refreshes the lease of the printer. I was lucky to get a refresh and a reboot at the same time yesterday and the computer and printer tracked the lease time exactly.

In your response you are still suggesting a manual IP address which I can do and your instructions are very clear. My question is if I do this do I need to set anything in my Router? Remember the WRT54g does not allow static addresses for wireless connections only wired. as soon as you answer this question I can change the settings. I would do it right away but I'm concerned about going down an alley and not getting back to where I am now.

Thanks so much for you patience. Maybe others are having problems because their router is the problem. Upgrading my router maybe a lot of work because I have Sonos, WEMO, on the system and it would mean re setting all of these. The computer that has printed since installation now has come up with an "IP Conflict". Does this lend itself to your manual IP solution?

Gdollar

[VisionAiry]

Here is a good example of what I had to do on phone support (to help you see the router and the printer's static IP instructions are different).  Let's say an older customer called in and not very technically comprehensive. I would tell them to type the printer's IP address into the web browser and so on but (this step is different than above) for the very last step before pressing "Apply" I would tell them to press the button on the manual IP address page that says "Suggest a Manual IP."  This allows the router to assign an IP address that is available (this will fix your IP conflict you're having right now), it leaves little room for error, and all the information is filled out with the push of a button.  **If you do choose to do it this way - WRITE DOWN the suggested IP address before clicking Apply.  This will save you some time because the current webpage will lose its connection as the IP address will change.

Now, let's say setting a static IP helped but the problem was with the router not being up-to-date - they were "referred to third" and scheduled a callback.  Only once did I ever go into the router to help and that was under the supervision of a specialist.  Moral of the story is, changes to the printer's IP address are done on the printer's webpage not the router.  Proceed using the "Suggest a Manual IP" button and you should have no problem.  Setting a preferred and alternate DNS will help you as well.  This allows the printer to connect to a server that rarely has problems (see image for an example).  Preferred is 8.8.8.8 and Alternate DNS is 8.8.4.4 and that information will not automatically fill in.

I have a good feeling this will help a lot. 🙂

[gdollar]

Hi VisionAiry

I decided to do what you said early this morning (EST) and I did ask for it to suggest a Static address and it did. I then restarted the printer and so far I have not had any problems. I also talked to a colleague that had a HP Laser Jet and had the same problem until he set the manual IP address. So, so far, there have been no drop off's of the printer in about 8 hours. Looks like it's sorted. Haven't taken a computer out of the house and brought it back yet but I'm sure there won't be a problem.

If I'd done what you told me at the start I would have saved some time. The good news, I learnt lots about Routers/IPAddresses etc.

One thing I would tell you to add to the suggestions above is after you set the manual IP address the HP software tells you that you do not have connection to the printer anymore and that's a little scary, especially for non technical folks. This is because you have changed the IP address of course. Once you press the on/off button the printer becomes "alive" again as it resets itself.

Thanks for being patient and Kudos to you.

Gdollar 

[VisionAiry]

I am happy to hear that!  Keep me posted if it does lose its connection again.  Thank you for your understanding and diligence. 

[gdollar]

Now it's almost 10 hours and no problems. I even went VPN on the problem laptop, which disconnects everything from my network, and everything came back on after disconnecting. I am still intrigued on why some computers were affected and some were fine but I'll look at that when I get some time.

Thanks again.

Gdollar