HP Officejet 6500A Plus will not maintain wireless connection reliably

[ElkHair14]

I haven't found a direct way to contact HP support. Is there anyone from HP monitoring this forum?

Thanks, Bill

[amhanas]

So this has been driving me nuts and I have tried everything that has been offered on this forum and others on the Internet. 

What appears to have finally fixed the problem is to disable the Energy Saving option on the printer.

On the printer, go to Setup -> Preferences -> Energy Save Mode and turn this feature off.

So far, the printer now is able to maintain its connection.

[ElkHair14]

Thanks... I'll give that a try.  However, that sounds to me like more of a 'work around' than a solution.

[ElkHair14]

HP, where are you? Please respond

[Cheetah12]

Hello ElkHair14,

I want to start off by apologizing for not seeing this forum, as you haven't got a response from HP. I am here to help and offer some suggestions.

What steps have you tried already to resolve the Officejet 6500A Plus not maintaining wireless connection? Looking into this thread, I noticed you had a similar issue to @BnJnPnS post. Have you followed this entire HP document on Printer Does Not Maintain Wireless Connection? This will allow you to setup a static IP Address.

You also stated that you think by turning off the "Energy Saving Mode" option on this printer is a 'Workaround". This isn't a workaround, I would recommend trying this step to see if this makes a difference on your printer: On the printer, go to Setup -> Preferences -> Energy Save Mode and turn this feature off. Please follow this HP document which as more information on What is Sleep Mode? Updating the firmware can help as well, make sure you having the latest firmware on this printer.

If you would like to contact HP technical support instead of the HP Forums, then I will provide the contact information here: HP Worldwide Contact. I will be looking forward to hearing from you. Have a great night!

[ElkHair14]

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@Cheetah12 wrote:

Hello ElkHair14,

I want to start off by apologizing for not seeing this forum, as you haven't got a response from HP. I am here to help and offer some suggestions.

What steps have you tried already to resolve the Officejet 6500A Plus not maintaining wireless connection? Looking into this thread, I noticed you had a similar issue to @BnJnPnS post. Have you followed this entire HP document on Printer Does Not Maintain Wireless Connection? This will allow you to setup a static IP Address.

You also stated that you think by turning off the "Energy Saving Mode" option on this printer is a 'Workaround". This isn't a workaround, I would recommend trying this step to see if this makes a difference on your printer: On the printer, go to Setup -> Preferences -> Energy Save Mode and turn this feature off. Please follow this HP document which as more information on What is Sleep Mode? Updating the firmware can help as well, make sure you having the latest firmware on this printer.

If you would like to contact HP technical support instead of the HP Forums, then I will provide the contact information here: HP Worldwide Contact. I will be looking forward to hearing from you. Have a great night!

---

Thank you for the reply! Not a problem! I was hoping to have the opportunity of working with HP on a resolution.  I won't be able to recall everything I have tried, but I have tried them all...at least once and probably more often.  However, I will try.  I will start by responding to your initial inquiries.  I am willing and able to work with you.  Thanks again.

I really have to say, honestly, the post by @BnJnPnS DOES explain EXACTLY what I am experiencing and says it much better than I ever can. Given that, the title says it all in a few words "will not maintain wireless connection reliably".

<<Have you followed this entire HP document on Printer Does Not Maintain Wireless Connection? This will allow you to setup a static IP Address.>>

My device, by definition, has a static IP address of 192.168.5.136. It has had that address for as long as I can recall.  What is frustrating is that going through the "setup wizard" puts me right back where I was to begin with, however when I try to connect via a test print the printer can't be found. Using "HP Printer Assistant/Update IP Address" it gives me "the previous IP address" (BTW, it is 192.168.5.136) and the opportunity to enter an IP address and search for it.  When it is not working, it doesn't find the address that I just confirmed on the printer itself.  Alias, of course it is working at the moment... wouldn't you know it!  (The issue IS reliably <g>... wish I knew what I did, but for now I'd just as soon have a working printer.  At the moment I appear to have one.)

<<You also stated that you think by turning off the "Energy Saving Mode" option on this printer is a 'Workaround".This isn't a workaround,>>

Well, I suppose that would depend on your point of view. From my perspective, disabling one feature in order to support other feature is not an acceptable solution.  It might allow the printer to maintain a connection but at the cost of not being energy efficient.  Also, the lights on the printer never go off and they are keeping me awake at night. (That was a joke... the lights DO stay on, but the printer is in another room.)  In the end I would like to have a fully functioning device.

<<Updating the firmware can help as well, make sure you having the latest firmware on this printer.>>

ALWAYS, the first thing I'd do... and keep checking.  I have been a programmer for longer than I should say and unless we are talking oranges and oranges then we might as well stop now, BUT DON't! <g>  Yes, all the software and firmware is up to date.  (It automatically updates  (the firmware) itself, does it not?)

<<If you would like to contact HP technical support instead of the HP Forums, then I will provide the contact information here: HP Worldwide Contact. I will be looking forward to hearing from you. Have a great night! >>

I was going to suggest that moving to a different format might be more appropriate at this point.  I will come back here with the resolution.  I've tried all the "contacts" and it always lead me back to here, but I will try again with the link you have given!  Pictures are worth a thousand words (as I've heard), so if that is possible then we can possibly make short work of this.

Many thanks for reaching out to me!  If you respond to this post, I should get an email notification (or, at least I asked for one!) If all else fails... I'll brb!

PS I took the link/Selected US English/HP Consumer Support/Installed and allowed HP Support Solutions Framework to find my device (replaced previous framework version and found my device)/It said my support coverage had expired...tell me something I don't already know <g>/Call for a fee...er, no. So, I guess here we are!

Just let me know how you would like to proceed from here.

Thanks, Bill

[ElkHair14]

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@amhanas wrote:

So this has been driving me nuts and I have tried everything that has been offered on this forum and others on the Internet. 

What appears to have finally fixed the problem is to disable the Energy Saving option on the printer.

On the printer, go to Setup -> Preferences -> Energy Save Mode and turn this feature off.

So far, the printer now is able to maintain its connection.

@amhanas ...the lights on the printer keep me awake at night.  Not an acceptable solution, but thanks just the same.

[Cheetah12]

Thank you for your response and providing such a detailed post! You have performed most of the troubleshooting steps for this type of issue, but I am going to provide some more suggestions:

Could you print a wireless test report, as I would like to know if everything passes or fails on this page.

1) Press the right arrow, then touch Setup (Wrench)

2) Touch the Network menu

3) Touch wireless, then wireless test report

4) Let me know on this post if anything fails and also what channel your router is broadcasting

5) Once this is complete, try moving your router closer to your printer to see if this makes a difference

Also, HP printers supports routers that are 2.4GH. I am going to provide a great HP document to reference by: Learning about Wireless Routers.

I could find a direct number for you if you keep referring back to the HP forums. I need to find out what Country you are from? I will be looking forward to hearing from you again.

[ElkHair14]

Hello Cheetah12,

This ElkHair14 <g>.

The forum has been unavailable the last several days.  I don't have the time right now to be as thorough as I'd like, but I did want to touch base.

I did have to reboot my routers, and had a devil of a time getting the printer back online.  (Power cycle seems to be the only sure fire way.)

I just checked and the display says it is online with a strong signal (it had better be, the closest router is within 3 feet of it!).

The printed configuration page is all good (signal is 5 out of 5). Printing a status report at the printer now. Uh oh... not responding?!?  Just a second ago the network connection looked great, but this is what I have been up against.  I'll press the "blue wireless icon" on the printer and eveything is good to go... but try to print something and can't communicate.  I used one of "the tools" to check the IP (ALWAYS 192.169.5.139 no matter how many attempted "wizard setups"... actually, I usually have to go "back to previous settings" to get it to work.  Even though I can it the connection and signal on the printer, the result in something like "can't be found").

It is just sitting there with a HP blue light spinning and "Now printing..." under that.  It's not telling the truth!!!

Sorry, but that's all the time I have right now.

I look forward to get back in communication with you to get this thing resolved.

Thanks, Bill

PS Canceled print at printer (red x). It printed a "blank page" then sounded like it was resetting.  I was able to get the wireless test report.  I has passing grades all around.  Disconnect cout total is 377! I was able to print a "test Word document".

Also, over the past week, after the reboots of routers and finally getting the printer printiing... each morning all the lights on the printer are blinking.  Touch the power button and they stop?!?  It seems to also want me in install software, but It has been up to date forever.  That is strange.  Good night!

[Cheetah12]

Hello ElkHair14 again!

No problem, I am happy to hear from you again 🙂

The fact that you're still having same issue after trying all my previous steps, then I would like you to try another suggestion. When you have time, you can try this out:

Could you go over to a friend or family member's house and connect this Officejet 6500A Plus on their network? You have to test this out for an hour or so. If you're able to successfully print on your friend or family member's network without any problems, then it's your router that is the problem.

If you're having the same problem, then it's the hardware within your printer and I will assist you further with this. I will be looking forward to hearing from you again. Have a great night!