Setting Static IP Address?

[jimspy]

I keep losing my network connections to my printers, and I'm pretty sure it's because they are on DHCP, and getting assigned new IP addresses every few weeks. 

Do I solve this by manually assigning them static IP addresses?  Or is there a more "elegant" fix for this? 

[banhien]

Hi,

I strongly recommend to give your printer a static IP address. I normally set my printers at higher end (above xxx.xxx.xxx. 100) and give each one an IP address.

Regards.

[jimspy]

OK, so do I do this on the printer itself, and then delete and re-add the printer on each computer?  Or is there a module for doing this in the printer's maintenance software?  

[sabretooth04]

Along with the above it is most important to make sure your static IP is outside the DHCP window of your router. 

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).

You have to do nothing for your other devices. 

[jimspy]

I set my first printer up as 192.168.1.51  (I'm going to use 51-99, which is outside the DHCP range).  

I printed a test page, but it was unable to print. It gets stuck in the queue and finally says "Error - Printing".   I know I have to do something in the "Ports" configuration, but I never seem to get it right, except after much trial and error.  Please advise.  

[sabretooth04 · Accepted solution]

Well here is my whole post...

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' 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 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.

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.

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.

[jimspy]

The actual problem was that I am always presented with two choices of printers to install.  The first one has a port name that is a URL, http://192.168.1.xx.  The second one has a regular IP address, without the HTTP.  The first one had a complicated-looking host name, which made no sense to me, so I chose the second one for simplicity.  Apparently that is not a good choice.  I deleted the printer I had thus installed, and started over, and chose the one with the HTTP:  port address.  I do not understand this, but all I know is that it is working now, and thanks for your suggestions.