6968 vs 6978 for both Ethernet and Wireless

[privatename]

Hello,

My HP Photosmart 7520's printhead failed, so I am looking for a similar, if not identical, inkjet AIO printer.  It has come down to 2 finalists... 6968 and 6978.  I have yet to purchase either one so I cannot get ahold of Tech Support.  I have a big question about how to connect my new, future printer.

I want to connect my new printer to my WI-FI router via Ethernet.  My desktop PC is connected to the WI-FI via Ethernet (we receive so much interference from our neighbors' WI-FIs, so I have found that Ethernet is a good way of staying online).  I have a laptop that is connected wirelessly to my WI-FI router.  There are also at least three smartphones connected wirelessly to the WI-FI router.  I never hooked up my Photosmart 7520 to the WI-FI router because I didn't trust the wireless connection to be stable enough.  I printed my laptop stuff through the Windows network between my laptop and PC with no problems with Photosmart 7520.

I read through the User Guides for 6968 and 6978, and found out that I could connect either printer to the WI-FI router via Ethernet (page 83 for both User Guides... both printers are mostly similar).  Yet, when I continued reading through the User Guide, I found a section on page 93 where it says that connecting an Ethernet cable turns off the wireless capability of the printer.  I contacted Live Chat (Sales) and they said, "Of course it does.  It's a power saving feature."  Huh?

So I am taking my question to the forum to see if anyone knows if it is possible for me to connect either printer to my WI-FI router via Ethernet and be able to do all the following:  scan to computer (mandatory for work), print from computer and print from iPhones.

Does anyone know the answer?

Thank you.

[banhien]

@privatename

For connectivity, the 6978 has

HP ePrint capability Yes Mobile printing capability HP ePrint
Apple AirPrint™
Mopria™-certified
Wireless Direct printing 4  Wireless capability

• Yes, built-in WiFi 802.11b/g/n

Connectivity, standard

• 1 USB 2.0
• 1 Host USB
• 1 Ethernet
• 1 Wireless 802.11b/g/n
• 1 RJ-11 fax

and the 6968 has

HP ePrint capability Yes Mobile printing capability HP ePrint
Apple AirPrint™
Mopria™-certified
Wireless Direct printing 4  Wireless capability

• Yes, built-in WiFi 802.11b/g/n

Connectivity, standard

• 1 USB 2.0
• 1 Ethernet
• 1 Wireless 802.11b/g/n
• 1 RJ-11 fax

Yes, any of them can be connected to a wireless router using Ethernet cable and you can access to printer wirelessly or wired.

Regards.

[sabretooth04 · Accepted solution]

Not exactly correct.    You can wired Ethernet or Wireless but not both at the same time.  Plugging in the LAN cable automatically disable the wireless.   Why?  Only allowed 1 IP per connection.

However you can have USB and wireless or USB and Ethernet. 

[banhien]

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@sabretooth04 wrote:

... Why?  Only allowed 1 IP per connection....

---

Hi,

My point is you can connect it by a LAN cable to a wireless router (one connection) and you can use BOTH wired and wireless or you can use the following way

   

Regards.

[sabretooth04]

I think the OP wanted to use the wireless and the LAN connection on the printer at the same time.  We know that won't work.

[privatename]

I can't accept two solutions, but this diagram explains quite clearly.  I did not realize that connections (not just devices) had their own IP settings.  Weird.  I thought it was just devices. 

[privatename]

Sabretooth04 wrote "However you can have USB and wireless or USB and Ethernet."

Clarify, please.  It looks like you're saying I can use A)USB and wireless or B) USB and Ethernet.  A)Connect my printer to the computer's CPU tower via USB and still use the printer wirelessly via apps.  Or B)Connect my printer to the computer's CPU tower via USB and connect the printer to the WI-FI router via Ethernet.

But that defeats banhien's diagram which shows that only one device and one connection can be used at a time.  I was under the impression that I could only use one of the following three connecting options:  USB, Ethernet or wireless.  Pick one and stick with it, forever, unless I want to switch but it can only be that one connection.  Or did I read that diagram wrong?

[banhien]

Hi,

I did test run the following connections:

1. USB and wireless: You can connect to one computer using USB and connect other computer(s), smartphones, tablets using wiresless. Normally USB connection has higher priority therefore when sending 2 jobs to printer at the same time the wireless connection has to wait and could fail.
2. Connect wired to wireless router or wireless router and wired from other computers: all devices can access to printer FIFS (first in first serve).

I don't have facilities to test all configurations.

Regards.

[privatename]

Hi,

Thank you so much for both of your help in solving this connection issue for me.  I finally understand how it works!  Now I am ready to set up my new printer when it arrives.

Thank you.

[sabretooth04]

---

@privatename wrote:

Sabretooth04 wrote "However you can have USB and wireless or USB and Ethernet."

Clarify, please.  It looks like you're saying I can use A)USB and wireless or B) USB and Ethernet.  A)Connect my printer to the computer's CPU tower via USB and still use the printer wirelessly via apps.  Or B)Connect my printer to the computer's CPU tower via USB and connect the printer to the WI-FI router via Ethernet.

But that defeats banhien's diagram which shows that only one device and one connection can be used at a time.  I was under the impression that I could only use one of the following three connecting options:  USB, Ethernet or wireless.  Pick one and stick with it, forever, unless I want to switch but it can only be that one connection.  Or did I read that diagram wrong?

---

That is correct.  You get an IP address for wireless OR you get an IP address for Ethernet.  Not both at the same time.    Router will not issue 2 IP's for the same connected device.   That is why the wireless is automatically TURNED OFF when the Ethernet cable is connected.   USB does not get an IP address so that is why USB is allowed.