OfficeJet Pro 8600 Wifi Connection via 5g possible?

[markp7310]

Am experiencing lapses in wif connection between printer and pc since changing to new isp (charter) and router (Sagemcom). Worked fine for years before this change.

Both PCs in network says cannot connect to printer. I cycle power on printer and it works for 5-10 mins then loses connection again.

Router is 5-6 feet from printer and cannot easily be moved further away.

Currently conncting thru 2g network.

Is OfficejetPRo capable of running on 5g network? I cannot find any reference to 2g or 5g in the manual. 

On the printer screen using wifi wizard setup only the 2g network appears.

Any advice on the 8600's 5g compatiblity, or if not, best way to improve stability of connection?

Thanks 

[sabretooth04]

No, the wireless printer only supports the 2.4Ghz band, not the 5.0. Make sure your 2.4 and 5.0 SSIDs are NOT the same. use a fixed wireless channel like 1,6 or 11 never 'auto'. The printer should have a static IP set outside the DHCP range of the router.

[markp7310]

Thanks Sabertooth,

Understood on #8600 being 2g only.

My ssids are as provided by Charter, similar but are they different enough?

myCharterwifixx-2G

myCharterwifixx-5G

I have no experience with setting wireless channels but Charter agent just remotely went into router and changed 2g channel to one he says should be more stable.

I see no difference yet, I cycled power, tried to print 10 mins later and get same message:

"Unable to communincate with Printer"...but display screen of printer still says Connected to myCharterwifixx-2G.

Any further ideas/suggestions?

Thanks

[sabretooth04]

Make and model of ISP router???

[markp7310]

Sagemcom Fast 5260

[sabretooth04]

Well I'm not going after your router yet.   But you did say this problem started when this new router was put in.   With that said...

 AHHHHHH.... wait.... Let's try this info first.

Replacing/changing your wireless router try here.

http://www.hp.com/global/au/en/wireless/reconfiguring-system-help3.html

Make sure your router is set to a fixed wireless channel like 1, 6 or 11, never ‘auto’. Try each channel one at a time.

However if you have a Gateway device, all Gateway devices (modem+router) are terrible for wireless performance and connectivity.   If this does not work, suggest you put that gateway device in full bridge mode and install your own high quality router that YOU have full control over. 

[sabretooth04]

My bad. I'm getting confused on the threads here. Perform the above first. If no joy, reset the printer back to Factory Defaults. Then reset the printer back to Network Defaults and try connection again.

If no joy I'll post the other guidelines again for the router.

[markp7310]

Ok, will do the below steps when I get back this evening.

1. Replacing/changing your wireless router try here.
2. http://www.hp.com/global/au/en/wireless/reconfiguring-system-help3.html
3. Make sure your router is set to a fixed wireless channel like 1, 6 or 11, never ‘auto’. Try each channel one at a time.

And yes it does have a separate Modem (gateway?) and then this Router.

Thanks Sabretooth04

[markp7310]

Sabretooth04,

So i changed the router channels to 1, then 6, then 11. Each time cycling power on printer and re-setting up the wireless connection using the Wireless Wizard on the display. Each time seeing "Connection successful!".

Each time I could print immediately thereafter, but then each time 5-10mins later I would try again and would still get the below message:

The printer is ALWAYS powered on, though not sure about Ready, as it seems to go into some sort of power-saving dormancy between print jobs.  But when I press the (((I))) wireless button on the display of printer it shows as full strength Connected.

Referring to the other part of error message, I don't know if we "installed this printer by IP address"...and have not found where the Update IP Address resides or if even if this is needed/advisable.

Any clues emerging from this growing pile of frustrated attempts?

Thanks

[sabretooth04]

These settings are for setting up your wireless printer to stay connected to your router, keep wireless devices better connected and makes your router secure and hack proof.

While DHCP is convenient, devices such as printers should always be assigned a static (fixed) IP address manually to avoid conflicts on your wireless network.

1. Set a static IP in the printer (click here) outside the DHCP range of the router (check your manual). This is for Linksys routers but can be used for all routers. Verify your DHCP range and change this first if needed. More Wireless Printing help is here (Windows solution 4, static IP).
2. Verify in the printer that 'Auto Off/Sleep/Energy saving mode' is disabled and/or the System Mode Time Out is set to zero (0). Use the Embedded Web Server (EWS) by going to the printers IP address in your browsers address bar, click Settings Tab/Auto Off. Or use the Printer Assistant, Printer Home Page (EWS). Also check your Printers Properties.
3. If the printer supports and has IPv6 enabled, turn off IPv6 in the printer.
4. If needed and you assigned a static IP address, try using 8.8.8.8 for the Preferred DNS server and 8.8.4.4 as the Alternate DNS server. 
5. Wireless printers only work on the 2.4Ghz wireless band not the 5.0Ghz band.
6. Verify the printer is on the latest firmware by checking with the HP Support site.
7. Check all wireless devices in your home for interference. Check microwaves, baby monitors, wireless phones and wireless alarm systems are a big culprit. Any of these will knock out your wireless printer intermittently.
8. Make sure your printer and router are at least 6 feet apart from each other.

In the router: (Refer to your router manual for information) 

1. Use a fixed wireless channel like 1, 6 or 11, never 'auto', try channel 1 first then the rest. 
2. Set router to 20Mhz only, or 145Mbps depending on router. 
3. Always use WPA2-AES (Personal) encryption, but you can try ‘mixed’ mode. 
4. Disable WPS and never use it and disable UPnP for the routers security. Nobody can hack your system now and helps with wireless connectivity (if you want to know why, search the web).
5. If you have a dual band router (2.4Ghz and 5.0Ghz bands), make sure the SSID’s are NOT the same, they must be different for all bands, even for any Guest networks.
6. SSID broadcast must be enabled.
7. Save all settings. Power off both, wait 2 mins.  Power on router wait 2 mins. 
8. Power on printer and verify it reconnects to router. 

Windows 7/8/8.1   Is Network Discovery on or off?

1. Control Panel/Network and Internet/Network and Sharing Center/Advanced sharing settings.
2. Under Home or Work (current profile) / Network Discovery.
3. Select "Turn on network discovery" and save changes.

Now last thing to do once all the above has been tried and you still have the same issue, fully de-install and remove the printer and all its software.

Use http://www.iobit.com/en/advanceduninstaller.php and use Powerful Scan at the end and delete all registry entries.

Now go back and reinstall the Full Featured Software and Drivers from the HP web site.

Last ditch effort - If your printer has an Ethernet connection, suggest you get some Power Line Adapters and convert your house wiring to Ethernet for your printer.