MFP m277dw June 1 2020 driver does not install scan options

[wannarock]

Using Mac OS 10.15.3  Catalina. Been having the "offline all the freaking time" issue since Sierra. 

For years now I have been unsuccessful trying to resolve the issue with the MFP m277dw and the fact that every time I reinstall the thing, it works for a while and then starts appearing to be offline unless I restart it (or disable and re-enable WiFi on it) between every stinking print job.   So when the new driver came out, I was having the issue again. So I downloaded and installed the latest driver - version 2.9.3.01 (dated June 1, 2020).

Now, when I go into System Settings, and open the printers & scanners, select my HP MFP m277dw, I only get the option to open printer. I no longer have a button to open scanner and scan.

-- I have reinstalled the software multiple times.
-- I have verified that Bonjour is enabled. 

As for issues that may overlap with the printer's inability to tell the world it is online and available -
--  I have a static IP address for this printer. 

-- I have disabled IPv6
-- When the printer shows as "offline" the LED display on the printer says it's connected, AND I CAN PING ITS IP ADDRESS AND IT RESPONDS!!!
-- I have it plugged directly into the wall and not a surge protector.
-- It has a strong network signal ( I am a former network engineer and current software engineer ).   
-- It doesn't really matter if it's me printing on my OSX laptop, or my family with their windows 8 - 10 laptops, everyone has this problem of the printer appearing offline.
-- This issue has spanned the life of two different WiFi routers.

I spent hundreds of dollars on this stupid thing and the bottom-of-the-line Epson Ink Jet we spent less than a hundred dollars on is serving most of our printing needs right now because, oddly, it always freaking works.   For years, I see this issue on message boards and no one ever has  a permanent fix. HP has done squat to address this in the years - except blame OS X which seems to be able to print to other printers, and even ping their broken ass printer.  Does anyone have any idea why this printer doesn't ever seem to work?  And why it now isn't able to install it's own scanner?

[TEJ1602]

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[wannarock · Accepted solution]

So the issue for both of the problems listed above center on the fact that this printer can only connect to a 2.4Ghz network.   I have a tri-band router (2.4Ghz, and two 5Ghz connections and it allows your devices to connect seamlessly to the strongest present signal). This model printer cannot connect to a 5Ghz network. Only the 2.4Ghz. So even though the networks are supposed to be seen as a single LAN, the printer driver does not seem to be able to handle the case where the laptop is connected to the 5Ghz if anything changes for too long (for example: the laptop is removed from the network for a few days and is used while traveling and then returns).  And if you try to install the latest driver, the printer driver installer does not recognize your device has Bonjour enabled so it does not install the scanner pieces.  

SOLUTION (sort of):
Unfortunately there is really no good solution to the intermittent appearing offline.  Until HP fixes its driver software, we're screwed. And since HP has been completely dismissive of this problem, don't expect any help from HP.  We can only reinstall our printers over and over and over and over and over ....

BUT when you DO have to reinstall ... again ... and again ... for the driver install not recognizing Bonjour is enabled:  I simply logged into my router and disabled my 5Ghz network. Then I rebooted both my Macbook and the HP mfp m277dw after the router config was updated (you may be able to accomplish with a simple turn off wifi and turn it back on rather than reboot).  Afterward, I installed the driver and was not given the "Enable Bojour" screen during setup. Scan interface was installed with the driver.  I then logged into my router and re-enabled my 5Ghz network. Once my Macbook connected back to 5Ghz, the printer showed offline until I restarted it. 

Community "Support" Rep who contacted me above sent me a message that clearly illustrated that they never read the post, nor ever even considered the actual problem. They basically apologized for the delay in response (took them four days to reply to THEIR  request for my information).  Then, they just said my printer was out of warranty.  Well no duh.  But this is a driver issue and not a hardware issue. So they were absolutely useless, dismissive, and completely did not care about their customer or the problem.  BTW, I replied to their response the same day they sent it, and it's been almost a week with no reply to a question they asked. So ... we're on our own.