printer appears offline

[cs_ca]

The printer appears offline.  I have 3 computers, an HP desktop, 2 dell laptops.  After waking up from sleep mode or turning them back on, the computers cannot find the printer.  When you go to print something the computers report the printer as being offline.  When I use the HP assistant program, I can print off a test page from the computer, although the print queue still reports the printer as being offline.  

What I have to do now, is after I turn on a computer or wake it up, I have to physically go to the printer, turn it on,  go to settings | network settings and turn the wireless connection off and then turn it back on again.  After doing that, it will connect to the network, and the print queues from my awake computers will then print.  This is EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT and time consuming.  

I believe one laptop is running windows 10 32 bit, but the others are running windows 10 64 bit.  It appears that your product is not compatible with windows 10.

Let me know if you are able to fix this problem or if I bought a dud, otherwise I may just return the unit and buy a different brand.  Frankly, the only reason I bothered reporting this is because I like the ink subscription service you have and would rather keep it.  But first and foremost I need a reliable printer.

thanks.

[sabretooth04 · Accepted solution]

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 address range of the router. This is because printers are the only external devices that do not have the ability to automatically interrupt the router for a new DHCP address once the least time expires.  

After setting the static IP, the computer(s) 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(s) 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 for Windows.   Scroll down for MAC information.

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 or you can put in your Printer Model.
d.    Select Next and Finish the Wizard.

If you create a TCP/IP port without a static IP above, you may lose your TCP/IP connection and have the same issue. This is because your network has powered up differently giving you a different DHCP address to the printer that does not match the TCP/IP address above.  This could occur at anytime just like the video shows.

For MAC PCs perform the above Static IP setting in the router and then watch here on how to perform your IP setting for MAC computers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5tNFjEBDOw

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

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) if your printer supports this.  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. This feature is automatically disabled when the printer is connected to a computer or mobile device, a network, or a fax line (if supported).  You also may not find this setting.

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 may cause the printer to intermittently drop offline and disconnect.

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)…

[cs_ca]

thanks, that worked.  Setting a static ip for the printer worked.  To recap, what I did was go to my router advanced settings to find out the dhcp range of addresses it uses.  Then I set the printer IP to 192.168.1.2 in network settings on the printer. (first it suggested an ip, which I diregarded).  Then on each computer I went to the printer properties and added a tcpip port to 192.168.1.2.  I still get messages saying the printer is offline, but it prints anyways.

[sabretooth04]

What is the starting DHCP address in the router?

What is the ending DHCP address in the router?

[cs_ca]

the range was 150-253

[cs_ca]

oh, sorry, the range was actually 64-253.  my bad.