disconnects from network

[Andymac3]

IMac El Capitan & airport extreme router

Printer connects and stays connected while Mac is off.

Turn the Mac on and the wireless connection is lost

In some instances "unable to find network" in others wrong IP address.

Have tried hardwiring printer to router (ethernet to USB) same results

Also tried hard wiring to Mac

annd finally no wires...............basically all with the same reults.

Have tried all the suggestions reboot router,Mac, printer...............

Connects and then disconnects.....

Looking for help 

[sabretooth04]

Please provide the following relevant information so someone can help including:

Printer Model – done

Operating System of computer (including service pack revision) - done

Detailed Problem Description including all network devices (extenders, switches)-

Connection Method - USB, Hardwired LAN, Wireless, Wireless Direct? -

Make and model number of router and modem? -

Error messages - on printer screen and/or computer, any blinking light patterns? -

Do you think the printer is going to sleep and can’t wake up? -

If wireless, when the problem occurs, what is the status of Blue Wireless light on printer, on, off or blinking? –

Power off printer and router.  Power on router and wait 3 mins, power on printer.  Does it connect to the router now?  What is the printers IP address?

[Andymac3]

1) HP Officejet 5740

2) Router - Apple airport extreme (latest software 7.7.7)

3) Modem: Xfinity - Comcast

No its not a sleep problem, just came back from being out, Mac was sleeping - blue light on printer solid - connected.

Woke up the Mac and now the blue light is blinking.

"IP address not connected"

In my opinion (for what it's worth) the problem lies with the DHCP, it doesn't seem to be able to follow it ??

[sabretooth04]

These settings are for setting up your wireless printer to:

• Stay connected to your router
• Keep all wireless devices better connected
• Makes your router more secure and hack proof
• May speed up wireless printing

While DHCP is convenient, devices such as printers 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.

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.  Windows solution 4 assigns a static IP address. 
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 Printers 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!).
5. If needed and you assigned a static IP address, try using 8.8.8.8 for the Preferred DNS server and 8.8.4.4 as the Alternate DNS server in the printer.
6. Wireless printers only work on the 2.4Ghz wireless band not the 5.0Ghz band.
7. Verify the printer is on the latest firmware by checking with the HP Support site.
8. Check all wireless devices in your home for interference. Check microwaves, baby monitors, wireless phones and wireless alarm systems are a big culprit.  Any of these will knock out your wireless printer intermittently.
9. Make sure your printer and router are at least 5 feet apart from each other.

In the router: (Refer to your router manual for information) 

1. Use a fixed wireless channel like 1, 6 or 11, never 'auto', try channel 1 first then the rest. 
2. Set router to 20Mhz bandwidth only, or 145Mbps depending on router. 
3. Always use WPA2-AES (Personal-PSK) encryption, but you can try ‘mixed’ mode. 
4. Disable WPS and never use it and disable UPnP for the routers security. Nobody can hack your system now and helps with wireless connectivity (if you want to know why, search the web).
5. If you have a dual band router (2.4Ghz and 5.0Ghz bands), make sure the SSID’s are NOT the same, they must be different for all bands including all Guest networks.
6. SSID broadcast must be enabled.
7. Always make sure your router is on the latest firmware.
8. Save all settings. Power off both, wait 2 mins.  Power on router wait 2 mins. 
9. Power on printer and verify it reconnects to router. 

Microsoft announced a Windows update to address device discovery ...waking up devices from sleep mode. Update your Windows 10.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3147458

If you have Windows 7/8/8.1   Is Network Discovery on or off?

1. Control Panel/Network and Internet/Network and Sharing Center/Advanced sharing settings.
2. Under Home or Work (current profile) / Network Discovery.
3. Select "Turn on network discovery" and save changes.

Now the last thing to do once all the above has been tried and you still have the same issue, fully de-install and remove the printer and all its software. 

Use http://www.iobit.com/en/advanceduninstaller.php .  Use Powerful Scan at the end and delete all registry entries shown.

Now go back and reinstall the Full Featured Software and Drivers from the HP web site.

Last ditch effort - If your printer has an Ethernet connection, suggest you get some Power Line Adapters and convert your house wiring to Ethernet for your printer.

[Andymac3]

you are posting back to me stuff that I have already read.

1) for an Xfinity/Comcast modem the router has to be set as a DHCP.

2) Previously I had an Epsom Work Force and I experienced no connectivity problems at all.

3) I am using an Apple extreme router and I'm looking for the necessary set up parameters for that particular router, everything that refers to Lynx or Windows is not really relevant.

[sabretooth04]

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@Andymac3 wrote:

you are posting back to me stuff that I have already read.

1) for an Xfinity/Comcast modem the router has to be set as a DHCP.

Should be in full bridge mode since you are using your own router.  Don't want 2 DHCP servers.

2) Previously I had an Epsom Work Force and I experienced no connectivity problems at all.

3) I am using an Apple extreme router and I'm looking for the necessary set up parameters for that particular router, everything that refers to Lynx or Windows is not really relevant.

Just skip the windows stuff.

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[Andymac3]

Bridge mode disconnects me from the modem?

[sabretooth04]

Once in bridge mode you have to power cycle the modem...wait 3 mins until the lights show good. Now connect your router and power cycle the modem.

The modem must see a MAC address change on their port in order to connect the new device.

[Andymac3]

No internet connection in bridge mode - powered down both the modem and the router

[sabretooth04]

In bridge mode, power off computer. Connect LAN cable of computer to port 1 in the Comcast gateway. Power on computer. POwer cycle modem.  When in bridge mode only port 1 is active. Now test computer.

Should work just fine.     Now power off computer, connect router to port 1 of the modem.  Power cycle modem,  Power on router and connect computer to LAN port of router.  

Now test computer connectivity. 

You do know that bridge mode totally disables the wireless and router functions of the gateway unit, right???  Must use LAN cables.