Printer working and printing a blank page, on it's own with no input from any computer or device.

[PhilJones]

I use a 6520 Series Photosmart printer setup tied to a Comcast Cable modem /wifi Router.  I use WPA2 security with a long password. (I've also tried setting up using The WPS system - with changes in symptoms). With this Router, I share the wifi connection with

1. MacbookPro Computer
   
   
2. iPhone 6SPlus
   
   
3. 12.9 inch iPad Pro

Symptoms are:

At random times during the day or the night, you can hear computer working as though someone sent a Print Job.

1. You go to the printer, and the front panel display is on.
   
   
2. There is a Blank Sheet of paper ejected from the printer.

At night when in Bed and all devices are off except Router and of course the Printer, I can hear the Printer working, and then I awake the next morning, and there is a blank sheet of Paper, in the out tray.  I end putting the paper back in the Supply Tray.

I keep the printer on 24 hours a day, because as an inkjet printer inks tend to dry out exposed to natural air. And HP recommends to keep printer on to prevent ink from drying and clogging up in the head. I understand all power is suspended except this warming circuit (and it appeared to work that way until recently).

Though it made no difference, I just update the HP Driver to version 5 update sent out from Apple.  It turns out that it was wasted effort, and I lost my custom setups because the Driver for my printer hasn't been updated in at least two years. It still uses Driver version 4.2.5. (El Capitan is X.11.6 with very latest Security updates.) 

Printer works fine otherwise.  Suggestions? 

[Dvortex]

Hello @PhilJones, Greetings!

Thank you for reaching out to us on HP Support Forums. I came across your post and would like to help 🙂

I see that you are having a very unique issue here 🙂 I would suggest to assign a static IP address to the printer and check. Please follow the below steps to assign a static IP address.

• Obtain the IP address of the printer – You can touch the “wireless” icon on the printer control panel to obtain the IP address.
• Type the IP address on your web browser to obtain the printer EWS page on your computer.
• Go to the “Network” tab – Click on “Wireless (802.11) – Then click on “Network address (IPv4)
• Click on the radio button which says “Manual IP” and then click “Suggest a manual IP address” to give a manual IP address to your printer.
• Click on radio button which says “Manual DNS Server” and under manual preferred type 8.8.8.8 and under manual alternate type 8.8.4.4 (This is Google DNS server address)

Let me know how it goes!

Cheers 🙂

Please click "Accepted Solution" on the post that solves your issue to help others find the solution. To show appreciation for my help, please click the "Thumbs Up Icon" below!

[PhilJones]

Well I did what you said, though some of your instructions were way off and I had to find correct page.

Guess I will have to leave on overnight and hear what happens and try print a Document the only thing i changed was the preferred and alternate DNS server. 

[PhilJones]

Well, I slept through the night without Ghost operation (no printing Blank Page).

Now have one minor issue (I could overlook it, but it is wasting electricity)

Previous to changes made:

During the night or day, if it didn't go through motions of printing a page, after about 5-10 minutes of inactivity, the printer would shut down Front Panel and go into a standby or sleep mode. 

Now it appears to stay lit up, as long as power is applied. I see there is a setting that will automatically shut down printer completely. But, if set, then you must go to the printer and turn on when a print job is needed. What the printer was previously was in automatic standby. One Job completed front panel controls shut off and only the warning circuit to keep inks from drying in the non-replaceable heads. Wish there was Manual in PDF that explained all the features and how to adjust or control them.

If you can give a suggestion for that, we might consider bugs cured.

[sabretooth04]

All you have to do is go to the HP support site for your printer.

http://support.hp.com/us-en/product/HP-Photosmart-6520-e-All-in-One-Printer-series/5169038/model/516...

User Guide all here in pdf form.

[PhilJones]

Well I come back home from visiting my mother at the nursing home the front panel is off but ejected two sheets of paper.

So the change had no effect.

I downloaded the manuals.

[Dvortex]

Hello @PhilJones, Thank you for your reply.

Appreciate your efforts in performing the troubleshooting steps. You mentioned that the only things you changed were the “preferred DNS and the alternate DNS” address. While it is important to change them, it is also necessary to assign the manual IP address as well. Try assigning a manual IP address and check.

Also, regarding the issue where the printer control panel staying lit up, Please follow the below instructions to fix that issue.

• Put the IP address of your printer in your browser and access printer EWS page.
• In the home screen of your printer EWS page, you should see an option which says “Energy save”. Select any of 5, 10 or 15 mins and save the settings.

Let me know how it goes!

Cheers 🙂

Please click "Accepted Solution" on the post that solves your issue to help others find the solution. To show appreciation for my help, please click the "Thumbs Up Icon" below!

[PhilJones]

Don't see that Setting on Home page

However I saw that on the control panel and i was set for 5 minutes.

[Dvortex]

Hello @PhilJones, Thank you for your reply.

Appreciate your efforts. Did you try assigning a static IP address to your printer and check? Is it still behaving the same way or is there any improvement in the situation?

Looking forward to hearing from you. Have a nice day!

Cheers 🙂

Please click "Accepted Solution" on the post that solves your issue to help others find the solution. To show appreciation for my help, please click the "Thumbs Up Icon" below!

[PhilJones · Accepted solution]

Yes, It didn't make any difference. The Front panel finally went off but on ocassion it still eject a sheet or two of paper.  Guess it's unfixable. I can live with. Works great otherwise.  Just close case as unresolvable.