Officejet Pro 8720 Goes Offline

[Mikefromtoronto]

I just replaced my HP 8500 with the 8720. Been looking forward to using it but even though setup seemd to go smooth it will not stay connected to network for more than 2-3 minutes after which it appears to go offline to all devices ( ipads,desktops, Laptops). So i can print a page and then ....nothing.

I have latest Windows version 64 bit rlse 1601 with all patches/ fixes applied..... and router is current (less than 6 months old) and works fine with everything else as well as old HP 8500. signal strength is almost 100% .

I've re-installed the software I dont know how many times and still no luck. It continues to go offline without apparent reason.

What more can I do?

[sabretooth04]

A – Printer Help

Make and model number of router? 

These settings are for setting up your wireless (or wired) printer to:

• Stay connected to your router
• Fix printer ‘offline’ status
• Wake from sleep mode
• Keep all wireless devices better connected
• May 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.  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. 

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 and here   and even more here.  Video here explains the problem and how to fix the problem. <-- So watch this!
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, turn off 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!).

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

[mjudi]

Thank you sabretooth04 for your tips about keeping my printer connection alive. I have followed all your suggested steps except the following two:

1.  "must be outside the DHCP range of the router". My router doesn't allow me to assign an IP outside of the DHCP range. Any idea how to force such setting?
2. 'Auto Off/Sleep/Energy Saving Mode' is disabled and/or the System Mode Time Out is set to zero (0). Well, the OfficeJet 8720 doesn't allow you to disable auto off completely. The maximum time it will give you is 15mins.

Except for the above two recommendations, I have done all the other steps and my printer is still going offline after few minutes from turning it on. It only stays 5 minutes.

This my second unit as I returned the first one thinking it was probably defected but it seems this model has a problem with Wi-Fi connection.

Any other recommendations?

Thanks,

MJ

[sabretooth04]

---

@mjudi wrote:

Thank you sabretooth04 for your tips about keeping my printer connection alive. I have followed all your suggested steps except the following two:

1.  "must be outside the DHCP range of the router". My router doesn't allow me to assign an IP outside of the DHCP range. Any idea how to force such setting?
2. 'Auto Off/Sleep/Energy Saving Mode' is disabled and/or the System Mode Time Out is set to zero (0). Well, the OfficeJet 8720 doesn't allow you to disable auto off completely. The maximum time it will give you is 15mins.

Except for the above two recommendations, I have done all the other steps and my printer is still going offline after few minutes from turning it on. It only stays 5 minutes.

This my second unit as I returned the first one thinking it was probably defected but it seems this model has a problem with Wi-Fi connection.

Any other recommendations?

Thanks,

MJ

---

1.  Yes all routers will allow this.   Read your router manual.

2.  You may not have this setting at all.

[mattbrun]

Hey MJ, I'm having the exact same issue and haven't yet found a solution.  To answer your question about assigning an IP outside the range in your router, all you do is assign the IP address you've selected using the control panel of the printer (not in the router).  After you do this, remove the printer from Control Panel/Devices and Printers, then add the printer again.  

[sabretooth04]

---

@mattbrun wrote:

Hey MJ, I'm having the exact same issue and haven't yet found a solution.  To answer your question about assigning an IP outside the range in your router, all you do is assign the IP address you've selected using the control panel of the printer (not in the router).  After you do this, remove the printer from Control Panel/Devices and Printers, then add the printer again.  

---

Sorry no.  This does not guarantee the static IP address is outside the DHCP range of the router.  You always have to check your router to make sure, always.

[mjudi]

Thank you everyone for your replies. After trying couple of units, I decided it was too much time wasted and I had to stop trying with HP. I went and purchased a Brother MFC-L8850CDW with extra couple hundred dollars and it worked like a charm from the first plug. I didn't have to do anything. It showed up on every machine at home and I was productive after 5 mins!

Sorry HP but you have to do something about the Wifi issue.

Thanks,

MJ

[mjeffreson]

It's interesting to see that maintaining wireless printer connectivity is not a problem isolated to HP, virtually all the major makes (Epson, Canon, Brother etc) have postings from frustrated owners attempting to deal with drop outs and other connection problems.

Working through HPs document 'HP Printers - Printer Does Not Maintain Wireless Connection' (https://support.hp.com/au-en/document/c02790693) provides 12 steps and in the case of the 8720 it does work- but typically only when you get to the last steps.

1.  Make sure your wireless network setup is conventional: WPA2.

2. On a dual band router, make sure your 2.4 and 5.0GHz are clearly differentiated by giving them distinct names:  you need to connect to the same network that your computer is connected to.  Sounds obvious but a surprising number or routers are setup with the two bands given the same name.

3. Make sure the channel your router broadcasts on is not crowded.  By default, routers tend to be set to auto which then results in them using channel 1 or 6 automatically.  If you have an Android phone download and install Wifi Analyzer.  This will enable you to manually choose the least crowded channel in your router setup dialogue and also analyse signal strength at the location of the printer, which can also be an issue.

4. Set the IP address to static.

Having made the changes, you may need to uninstall and reinstall the printer.  If you have initially installed using the downloaded HP installer, you will find the printer in the standard Windows Printer 'add a printer' install dialogue and it will be relatively straightforward to reinstall.

With a static IP, clear channel and sound signal strength you shouldn't have problems with disconnecting.  Also, sometimes during shutdown or after updates to your computer the printer may be set to 'offline' (greyed out in the printers dialogue), check by right clicking the printer in the dialogue, go to 'see what's printing', under 'printer'  make sure 'use printer offline' is not checked.

[jAKEboy]

Go to Settings Wifi- and change connection metod to manual. that has worked for me.