Advice On Troubleshooting Printing Issue Over A Wireless Network

by Techy007

posted on 11/07/2009

Unable to print over wireless network while using a router

- Get the exact landscape of the network (how many devices are there and how they are connected)
- Make a copy from the standalone unit to check if the hardware is fine.
- Make sure the full feature network print driver is installed.
- Check if the connection between the router and printer is fine (ping the router IP address from the command prompt of the computer and there should be 4 sent and 4 received packets with 0 loss).
- If there are multiple computers then need to check if the customer is experiencing the same issue with other computers.

Step 1 :

Print the network configuration page from the printer. This is how you can print:

Hit Setup button on the front panel then select Network > Print Network Configuration Page > Ok.


Check the following entries under Wireless (it depends on the class of network selected):

(The IP address details below is just an example of Class C network)


- IP address........ 192.168.1.100 (this is printer IP address and it should be under Wireless Section of the Network Configuration Page)
- Subnet Mask ....... 255.255.255.0
- Default Gateway........ 192.168.1.1 (This would be the routers or access point IP address)
- Network Status/Active Network (ready or online)
- Signal Strength (good)


If the IP address says '0.0.0.0' or '169.251.199.1' then the chances are that the Router is not broadcasting the SSID or DHCP mode is disabled or MAC address filtering might be enabled on the router.

If the IP address shows as '169.251.199.1' then run the Wireless Setup Wizard from the front panel of the printer.

Hit Setup button on the front panel of the printer and then navigate to Network > Restore Network Defaults > Ok. Then run the Wireless Setup Wizard. Hit Setup > Network > Wireless Setup Wizard. The printer will try to locate the router and will try to connect it. If the connection is established then the printer says "successfully connected" or "connected to <<network name>>" or "printer ready" etc., Then Print the Network Configuration page.


If the IP address shows as '0.0.0.0' then need to check the router settings and make sure that 'Broadcast SSID' and 'DHCP Mode' is turned on. Also, need to add MAC address of the router if 'MAC addresses filtering' is enabled. Then scan using embedded web server page of the router to check the functionality.

How to open embedded web server page of the router:

Hold down the Windows key and hit R. Type cmd and hit Enter key to open the Command Prompt window. Type ipconfig and hit Enter key. The default gateway would be the router IP address.

Open Run command and type http://<IPAddressOfRouter>>; and hit Enter key. This opens up the Embedded Web Server page of the router. Default Username and Password would be admin.


Now, check if the default gateway IP address is correct for the router:

Hold down the Windows key (it is between Ctrl and Alt keys) and hit R. Type cmd and press Enter key to open the Command Prompt window. Type ipconfig and hit enter key to get the network details. Make sure that Default Gateway address is same as the one printed on Network Configuration Page and it should be on the subnet mask.

Eg:
IP address ...... 192.168.1.112
Subnet Mask........ 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway....... 192.168.1.1

Step 2:

Open new Internet Explorer and enter the IP address of the printer over there and hit enter key as mentioned below:

http:\\192.168.1.100

This opens up the Embedded Web Server page of the printer if the connectivity is fine. Try scanning from the web server and check if that works.

Step 3:

Need to verify if correct IP address is set in the Printer Properties Ports tab.......

Hold down the Windows key and hit R. Type control printers and hit Enter key to open the Printer and Faxes window.

Right click on this printer icon and choose 'Properties'. This will take you to the Printer Properties window. Click on 'Ports' tab. The default port selected does have a check mark. Check if correct IP address is listed over there.

(Check if you see HP TCP/IP port configured, then you have to create a new Standard TCP/IP port and then add the IP address and then apply the changes.)

In case a different port is selected other than Standard TCP/IP then add a new port:

Click on 'Add Port' button. Click on 'Standard TCP/IP Port' and then choose 'New Port'. This will open the window that reads "Welcome to the Add Standard TCP/IP Printer Port Wizard' window.

Click on 'Next' button. Now, you need type the correct IP address of the printer on the network in the text box labeled "Printer Name or IP Address" eg 192.168.1.200 and then click on 'Next'. Choose 'Next' again and click on 'Finish' button. Close the 'Printers Ports' window. Click on Apply button on the 'Printer Properties' window.

Print a self test page from windows and your issue should be resolved now.

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