The reason why your printer loses its wireless connection (Bell Modem)

[chemicalkev]

Sharing for those in the same boat.  My new printer (M277dw) works fine for 2.5 minutes, but then loses its connection to the wireless network.  I have a Bell Home Hub 2000 router and the HP software doesn't play well with that.

The work around for now (as told from HP Support):

- Use a usb cable

- Call Bell and have them disable your Home PNA service.  This may affect connectivity with Smart TVs and Gaming Consoles. 

HP apparently is working on a solution.  Check for updates from HP.  Yes, you just have to keep following up and checking if they have solved their problem yet.

Rant below:

My experience with HP Support has been awful.  I was on chat support for two hours where the person asked random non-related questions every 5-8 minutes.  It was painful, slow, and the person seemed clueless.  I think the person just gave up and ordered a refurbished replacement for me.  My replacement came and had the same problem.  I called HP Support this time and the guy told me about the problem HP Printers have with the Bell modem.  I have two printers and neither of them do what I bought it for.  I have spent so many hours on this problem this printer just isn't worth it.  I don't know how they can stay in business giving away free printers and not solving issues.

[chemicalkev]

Well, I just talked with Bell to disable the HPNA service on my modem and apparently I don't have HPNA enabled because I don't have Fibe TV. 

So currently when you buy a HP Wireless printer and want to use it wirelessly is......use a USB cable.  What a joke.

[sabretooth04]

What is the make and model of your router?  As long as it is not a Gateway device which are terrible for wireless connectivity, you should be fine.

[chemicalkev]

It is a Bell Home Hub 2000.  My connectivity is perfect with all of my other computers and devices.  My wifi signal is very strong.  It has nothing to do with that.  My Brother printer connects just fine, but it old and wearing out.  The HP printer connects perfectly for 2.5 minutes only. 

I truly believe this is a problem with the HP printer.   I have tried all the settings I can.  Set a reserved IP.  Reset the router, computer and printer in order, etc. etc..  It just "sleeps" and loses connectivity after 2.5 minutes.  I timed it several times.

[sabretooth04]

Remember a reserved IP is not the same as a static IP as it still uses DHCP.  Try these settings.

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 5 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. 

Microsoft announced a Windows update to address device discovery ...waking up devices from sleep mode. Update your Windows 10.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3147458

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 the 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 .  Use Powerful Scan at the end to 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.

[RBHR]

The best thing to do to make the connection stable :

check all advice related to 2.4ghz, channel 1 6 or 11 then go to the EWS ( Printer IP Adress in the browser)

and go to the network wireless section and search an option about to make the router speak with the printer only in b/g wireless infrastructure,

the exact term used is: "In an infrastructure network use 802.11b/g behavior options", it's a case to check.

then you need to reconnect again the printer and trust me the printer will stay connected .