LaserJet m1217nfw mfp - wireless printing keep failing / dropping off on Mac OS 10.7.5

[SC_W]

I have installed my LaserJet m1217nfw mfp at least 4 times in the past month using my Mac that's running on OS 10.7.5. The first time was with the CD that came with the printer, and the last 3 times was with the latest software downloaded from HP.

Each time, the wireless printing is set up and works without problem (using these official HP instructions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48mLZoRjJm0). But a few days later, when I try to do the wireless printing again from the same Mac, it can't find the printer on the network. And nothing about the network or router has changed. 

It's quite frustrating. I doubt installing it for the 5th time is going to solve the problem once and for all.

Any ideas much appreciated!

Thanks

[ShlomiL]

Hi,

How far from your router the printer is located?

Try placing the printer close to your router, but not closer than 2 meters away from it.

Please let me know if that may helps,

Shlomi

[SC_W]

It's 1 floor up in our house... it's not a big house. Certainly, I can get a full bar of wifi from my iPhone or Mac in the room where the printer is. I don't actually have the space to move the printer closer to the router, and the router has to unfortunately stay in the little room under the stairscase! 

If your concern is the distance from the router to the printer, why would it work during the set up process without any problem though?

[Double-U-Dee]

Hello SC_W,

          Since the Network Wireless signal does seem strong, as you pointed out with the iPhone, I would suggest to possibly setup the router to assign a static IP address to the printer.  Each router has different steps to access the DHCP reservations, so you may have to lookup the router manufacturers instructions.  We can try to help find specific settings with you, if you post the router brand and model.

          The reason I suggest to assign the IP address through the router, if the IP that the printer was connected to is re-assigned to another device, or the printer was in a standby energy save mode, that IP may no longer be available to assign from the router.

          Please post any of your results, or if you have further questions.

[SC_W]

Double-U-Dee

That's makes a lot of sense. I have a BT Home Hub 3.0 (in the UK)

I have no idea how to get a fixed IP address for my printer. Can you help?

Thanks so much

[ShlomiL]

Hello SC_W,

The IP address can be fixed by going to Setup > Network Config > TCP/IP Config from the printer front panel.

Then select Manual and set the IP as manual.. I would using an higher value to avoid IP conflicts (e.g. if the current IP is 10.0.0.1, change only the last part to 10.0.0.20 so the address will remain and won't be used by other devices when the printer is powered off.)

Although I personally doubt it will help assigning a fixed IP as Mac OS X uses Bonjour hostname to communicate with the printer (which is fixed) and not athe IP address as Windows uses.

Additionally, as Apple products uses Bonjour, I could see some discussions on this matter for the Home Hub 3.0.

Below is an example:

https://community.bt.com/t5/Other-BB-Queries/HomeHub-3-Apple-Bonjour-not-working-for-AirPlay-AirPrin...

If setting a fixed IP does not help, try the folowing to isolate the problem and ensure if Multicast packets transfer may cause the issue:

1. From your Mac go to System Preferences > Print & Scan, click the Plus sign and then click the IP tab.
2. Select the HP Jetdirect Socket protocol and type the IP as the address value.
3. Add the printer, you will see an additional print queue listed as the IP address.

Keep using this queue for printing and let me know if you may se any difference for this print queue..

Regards,

Shlomi

[SC_W]

Hi Shlomil

Thank you for the helpful advice. Sorry I've been away for a few days.

How do I find out the IP address to insert into the HP printer system configuration?

Interestingly, I deleted the printer from my Mac 'Print & Scan' preferences last week. I couldn't find another printer on the network thereafter. However, this evening, I placed my Mac in the same room as the printer (on the same wireless network), and it found the printer again.

After I added the Bonjour HP printer to Mac 'Print & Scan', I saw an IP address on the front panel of the HP. I have thus added that IP address using the HP Jetdirect Socket protocol as you've suggested. Now I see both the 'HP LaserJet bonjour', and the '192.xxx.xxx.xxx' IP address as a separate printer on the Mac System Preferences>Print&Scan.

I am able to print with the Hp LaserJet bonjour, but NOT the generic printer with the name as the IP address. 

I'm concerned my problem is likely to happen yet again, as all I've done today essentially, is adding the same HP LaserJet Bonjour printer to my Mac System Preferences>Print&Scan, seemingly because I can 'see' the printer whilst being in the same room as the printer.

Thanks

[Gemini02 · Accepted solution]

Hi SC_W

I understand you keep losing the wireless connection.

I have included a document for Printer Does Not Maintain Wireless Connection.

To setup the static IP go to Step six: Assign your HP product a static IP address.

If the printer drops off the wireless again follow Step four: Perform a power reset on the HP product and wireless router, and then restart the computer.

Hope that helps.

[SC_W]

Hi ShlomiL

Your suggestions worked for a few weeks. I used the HP Jetdirect Socket protocol.

It last worked about 2 days ago. Today, it can't find the printer again on the network, and I have to resort to USB printing.

Any further ideas? I'm really at a lost and it's quite frustrating that I'm having so many network/wifi printing issues with such a nice printer.

Thanks again for your any help anyone can offer.

[SC_W]

Hi Gemini02,

Since my post above (to SchomiL) a short while ago, I've been able to assign a fixed IP address once again using the steps you've suggested using a higher IP number, and it's working again. 

Fingers crossed it'll stay working.