OfficeJet 4650 goes offline on all wireless computers between print jobs

[athanasiusrc]

We have a new 4650 printer that we have connected to three wireless laptops. Two run Win10 64bit and one runs Windows XP.

After almost every print job on every computer the printer gives an offline error message. 

Running the repair ultility sometimes fixes it for another print job but sometimes I have to reinstall the software. 

[sabretooth04]

These settings are for setting up your wireless or wired printers to:

* Stay connected to your router
* Fix printer ‘offline’ status
* Wake from sleep mode
* Speed up wireless printing

While DHCP is convenient, devices such as printers (wired and wireless) should always be assigned a static (fixed) IP address manually to avoid conflicts on your wireless network and must be outside the DHCP range of the router. This is because printers are the only external devices that do not have the power to automatically interrupt the router for a new DHCP address once the least time expires.  

After setting the static IP, the computer must be updated under Printer Properties/Ports to show a Standard TCP/IP port with the printers’ new static IP address.

1. Set a static IP in the printer outside the DHCP range of the router (check your manual).  This static IP is important as DHCP IP addresses will change upon different power up sequences of your devices.  You always want your printer to come up with the same IP address all the time.  See how to do this here:

http://www.watchingthenet.com/linksys-tip-assign-static-ip-address-to-printer-while-using-dhcp-on-yo...

This is for Linksys routers but can be used for all routers. Verify your DHCP range and change this first if needed.  After setting the static IP, the computer must be updated under Printer Properties/Ports to show a Standard TCP/IP port with the printers IP address.  
To see why this problem exists and how to fix it, watch this video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEqvUKxWmq4

How to set a Standard TCP/IP port.  This is important.

a.    Click Start/Devices and Printers.  Right click on your HP Printer.  Select Printer Properties.  Select the Ports tab at the top.
b.    Select Add Port.  Select Standard TCP/IP Port.  Select New Port.
c.    Follow the Add Port Wizard.  Under Printer Name or IP Address, input the Static IP address you just set from the above information.  Example:  192.168.1.15.  The IP address will be copied under Port Name.  This is OK to leave this alone.
d.    Select Next and Finish the Wizard.

By performing the above, the printers Embedded Web Server (EWS) will now work all the time by going to your Static IP address in your browser also.  

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 Printer Properties.

3. If the printer supports and has IPv6 enabled, disable IPv6 in the printer.

4. Make sure printer is plugged directly into a wall outlet and not into a UPS, power strip or surge protector. This will cause the printer to drop offline and disconnect (yes verified!).

5.  Make sure your printer and router are at least 5 feet apart from each other.

Additional steps to be taken if you continue to have the problem (if they are posted)…

[Kasjes]

Are you kidding me?  I have to go through all of this to simply get my printer to print? 

I am not a computer wizz, just a normal human being who wants to use your product.  I'm frustrated.  Your help is more of a hassle than removing the printer and reinstalling every single time I want to print.  Yes, that's a faulty product.

[sabretooth04]

Only takes about 20 mins to do the above.

[Honey777]

I'm with Kasjes.  This is a lot of steps, especially considering that this is a HP printer.  But even so, your comment about taking only 20 minutes is invalid.   It may take YOU only 20 minutes.  I've been at it for over an hour but so many issues came up.  Sometimes I had to guess and then something went wrong and I had to start over again.

I'll let you know how it goes and give you specifics.

[Honey777]

11:00 pm  I began the adventure of changing my printer to use a static IP address.  The steps are simple enough. But it took me over an hour because I first read about it and went through the steps before beginning.

Could not disable sleep mode or set it to 0, because the the lowest selection was 5 min.  

No idea how to use the EWS, so I skipped that part.  

Check my printer properties.  For what?

Disable IPv6.  No idea what or where that is.

Spent half an hour playing with the printer menus to do the above.

Spent another half an hour on the internet on the above.

1:00am

Try to print a document.   Nothing

Ran the trouble Shooter.  Response was that there was a problem, but could not fix it. 

Try to print a test page.  Result was that due to error, Test page could not be printed.

Do I dare start over?  Yes I do.  Try to delete port I created.

Won't let me.  "That port is in use", it says.

Can I even print using USB?  Yes.  

So all is not lost.  But I still want to wireless printing, so I get desparate again.

Removed printer and reinstall printer.  Easy to do, but took me almost an hour.

Try to setup wireless.  

Forgot how I did it before (4 years ago), so I go through the steps frome my laptop

It asks for WSP number.  What's that?

Oh, the  printer password number.  The printer says it's 12345678.

Ha!  Can't be that easy, but I tried, and it didn't work.

Did more research and they say its on the router.

Tried that number and it didn't work.

It's 3am.  I'm tired and frustrated.  I'm going to bed.

[Honey777]

After much trial and tribulation I finally was able to setup wirless printing from my laptop to my HP4650.

Depending on your level of expertise, it can be easy or confusing, so I'm only to choose the middle ground and hit the main ideas.

Open up a window that will allow you to add printers.

Click on Add printer and your printer should show up.

click on it.

In a few seconds, it will ask you for a WPS PIN.

This is a 8 digit number that will show up on the display of your HP4650 printer.

It will only be displayed for about 15 seconds and you have that long to type it into your laptop.

Otherwise it will time out and you have to repeat the process.

Sometimes the printer cannot be located.

In this cse, you have to click on "printer that I want isn't listed"

a window opens up and you need to select  "add a printer using a TCP/IP"

the IP address can be found on the display of your HP4650

This should do it.

[Lmiebach]

I just spent an hour on this and was unsuccessful. I will be working on this tomorrow and really appreciate your summary. Thank you.

[Pomp101]

Thank you so much Honey777!!

My HP Officejet 4650 also keeps constantly "going offline" and its been driving me mad.

I work in IT although my skills have lapsed but now i manage a team of printer field engineers and i had no idea what the expert was going on about above - all i wanted and needed was your easy solution, so thank you again

[JVTuga]

My solution is easier: turn it off (shutdown) and back on again.