PS B110a - Wireless setup fails if network has multiple access points

[Mark-B]

I am having the same problem. Where do I go to do all of these things you suggest? I am using a Mac and I don't see these setting in the AirPort Utility.

[PrintDoc]

Airport Utility is for Apple Airport routers.  Do you have an Airport router?  If not, what router do you have?

[realjax]

---

@nassauman wrote:

Although I have tried using the same channel as suggested above and was successful, as LKH1122 stated, this is only a workaround but not a solution.  I have since moved on to use USB connection instead just because of this problem and I wasn't going to settle with two AP's on the same channel.  When all other 802.11[bg] devices work just fine with multi-channel configuration, why shouldn't the HP printer not work in that setting? HP should fix their firmware.

+1 thissimply needs to be fixed.

---

[sijomi]

---

@realjax wrote:

---

@nassauman wrote:

Although I have tried using the same channel as suggested above and was successful, as LKH1122 stated, this is only a workaround but not a solution.  I have since moved on to use USB connection instead just because of this problem and I wasn't going to settle with two AP's on the same channel.  When all other 802.11[bg] devices work just fine with multi-channel configuration, why shouldn't the HP printer not work in that setting? HP should fix their firmware.

+1 thissimply needs to be fixed.

---

 +2 HP should fix this but they just don't seem to listen.

It also occurs with my HP6510 so possibly with other devices also. I'll try using the same channel but this is contrary to generally accepted practice and again is a workaround and not a solution. I wish HP would explain why their "NO FILTERING" diagnostic test fails, why this is a problem and what we, or preferably they, should do to resolve it.

---

[RJKinsman]

I'm having the same problem.  Both of my routers are Cisco Wireless-N.  One is a WRT160Nv2, and the other is WRT160N.  Very frustrating.  In my case, the only way to re-connect the printer is to unplug the second router, then run the wireless wizard.  The printer connects.  After I plug in the second router, the printer stays connected for a while, then loses connection.

[PrintDoc]

How are they configured?  Is one in bridge mode?  How are they connected?

[RJKinsman]

I think this should not be marked as a solution.  I have followed all six points, except for the last one.  

The last one, "different channels or same channel"  -- which is it?  It sounds like "try this or that and see if it works."  It's not a diagnosis and a solution, it's just a guess.  

My routers are necessarily set to "auto" for the channel.  If I do not set them to "auto" I get other problems.

I think it's simply a limitation of the printer's wireless connection and it needs to be corrected, if possible through a firmware update, or if it's a hardward limitation, then HP needs to document it up front, not just say something like, "try this or try that."

[RJKinsman]

PrintDoc, thanks for your questions.  

How are they configured?

The first router is cabled directly into the cable modem.  The second router is cabled to the first router.  The security mode on both is WPA2 Personal.

Is one in bridge mode?

- There is no "bridge mode" or "AP mode" setting, per se, on the Cisco router

- The second router has DHCP mode disabled

- It has a different IP address assigned

- The SSID, obviously, is the same on both

- SSID broadcast mode is enabled on both

- The encryption key is the same on both

- Channel mode is set to "Auto" on both.  Note, when I pick a channel, it causes one of my tablets to have trouble connecting.

If you can ask more specific questions, I can give more specific answers.

Just a comment, and this is somewhat of an echo of other posts in this thread.  I have three tablets, four phones, three computers, and an ipod regularly connecting to this wireless network, easily going transitioning between routers with no problems.  Therefore it is a mystery to me why there should be some kind of network configuration causing this particular device to have a problem.  The only conculsion I can come to is that the problem is with this device, not the network.  It seems to me that that there is a shortcoming in either the firmware or the hardware of this printer that prevents it from properly handling a situation where there are two routers with the same SSID.

[PrintDoc]

OK, thanks for that info.  It appears that you have them set up properly.  I was looking for DHCP being disabled on the most downstream unit, which it is (sometimes this is called bridge mode).

I would connect the Ethernet from one of the LAN ports on the main router to a LAN port on the bridge mode router, not the WAN port.

I really can't answer your question about why it does not work with HP printers.  I know we test it but for some reason in the field I see a lot of posts with people with multiple APs that cannot connect their HP printer.

[RJKinsman]

OK, thanks, PrintDoc.  Yes, that's how I have it -- main router connected to LAN port on second router.

The key, to me, seems to be in the error message in the Wireless Network Test Report, which was posted by the original poster --

"More than one access point... If this is not intended..."  

Well, it is intended, but there does not seem to be an option for what to do if it is intended.  

Very frustrating and disappointing.  I sure hope you can come up with a solution.  It's a real pain.  Whenever the printer becomes disconnected, I have to go downstairs, uplug the second router, then go to the printer and run the wireless setup wizard, which involves painstakingly entering the 15-character encryption key.  Then I go back downstairs, plug in the second router and it seems to be OK for a while.