1) Will a static IP address keep my computer from losing communication with my wireless printer?
Solution : f your computer regularly loses communication with your wireless printer, it can help to give the printer a static IP address. This address will not change over time and your computer may have an easier time finding the printer after long periods of printer inactivity.
Solution : f your computer regularly loses communication with your wireless printer, it can help to give the printer a static IP address. This address will not change over time and your computer may have an easier time finding the printer after long periods of printer inactivity.
To give your printer a static IP address:
- From the control panel of your printer, print a Network Configuration page and Wireless Network Test report, and write down your printer's IP address. Compare the printer's IP address to the gateway IP address. They should have a similar format (for example, the gateway IP address might be 192.168.0.1 and the printer IP address 192.168.0.5). If the printer has an IP address similar to 169.254.XXX.XXX or 0.0.0.0, it is not connected to your wireless network.
- Type the printer's IP address into your Internet browser's address bar, and press Return. A web page appears, displaying the printer's internal settings.
- Choose the Networking tab, then the Wireless tab, then the IPv4 tab (your menu path may be slightly different, depending on the model).
- On the page that appears, do the following:
- Set a Manual IP. Your wireless router automatically sets an IP address within a specific range (called the DHCP range). If you know what the DHCP range is, set an IP address in which the last set of numbers is outside that range, but no higher than 254. Keep the first three sets of numbers the same. If you do not know the DHCP range, select a fairly high IP address, like 250 (again, for the last set of numbers). To learn about your router's DHCP range, contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or wireless router manufacturer.
- For the subnet address, use 255.255.255.0, unless you know that it is different, in which case you should use that number.
- For the gateway address and the first DNS, enter your router's IP (it is on the Network Configuration and Wireless Network Test reports). Leave the second DNS field blank.
- Click Apply. The screen will not refresh. If you changed the printer's IP address from what you typed into your Internet browser, you will have to type in the new IP address to access the printer. If you did not change your printer's IP address, wait 30 seconds after clicking Apply, and then click the Refresh button in your browser. Print another Network Configuration page from your printer to verify its IP address is what you assigned.
- Turn off both the wireless router and printer.
- Restart the wireless router.
- After the wireless router restarts, restart the printer.
If you changed your printer's IP address in step 4, then there may be an additional step needed, depending on your printer model (and only for Windows users):
- Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7:
Start -> Programs -> HP -> {your printer model} -> Update IP Address.
Windows 8:- Launch the Printer Software from the Start screen (icon for the printer model name) or from the tile named for your printer.
- Select (click or touch) Utilities on the top of the Printer Software screen
- Select Update IP Address
- If this entry exists, click it and enter the new IP Address that you entered in step 4.
2) How do I set up my printer with an Internet Service Provider (ISP)-provided router?
Solution : If your router is provided by your ISP, you may have problems connecting your wireless printer to it. To connect a wireless printer with a ISP-provided router:
- Unplug the Internet cable that runs between the router and the wall.
- Remove the power cord to the router, wait 30 seconds, then reconnect the power cord.
- Connect the printer to the router using one of the three methods described in "Connecting your wireless printer". Try using the method you have previously attempted.
- From the control panel of your printer, print a Network Configuration page to locate the IP address of the printer. Consult your manual for details.
- Compare the printer's IP address to the router's IP address. They should have a similar format (for example, the router's IP address might be 192.168.0.1 and the printer IP address 192.168.0.5). If the printer has an IP address similar to 169.254.XXX.XXX or 0.0.0.0, it is not connected to your wireless network.
- Type the printer IP address (like 192.168.1.5) into a browser (like Internet Explorer) to verify that it is connected. You should see the printer's homepage.
- Plug the Internet cable back into the router, restart the router and test your printer's connection.
3) How do I improve a weak signal from my wireless router?
Solution : In some cases your wireless printer may not be receiving a strong enough signal from your wireless network. The following solutions may help:
- Proximity: Move the printer and wireless router closer to each other. On some models of wireless routers you can try adjusting the position of the antennas.
- Obstructions: When choosing a location for your wireless router or wireless printer, avoid having the following items between the wireless router and wireless printer: long distances, walls, other wireless devices (like cordless phones), and large appliances.
- Wireless channel: Consider changing your wireless router's channel to 1, 6 or 11.
- Network extension: You can extend the range of your wireless router's signal by adding a wireless access point. This is a device that shares the wireless settings with your wireless router and extends the wireless signal range in your home. We recommend buying a wireless access point (sometimes called a range extender) from the manufacturer of your wireless router.
4) What is MAC Address filtering and how does it work with my printer?
Solution : All network devices have a MAC (Media Access Control) address that uniquely identifies the device. This address is permanent and is assigned when the device is manufactured. An IP address also uniquely identifies a device on a given network, but is assigned by the wireless router and can change over time.
MAC address filtering is a method of securing your wireless network. If MAC address filtering is turned on, only devices whose MAC addresses are listed will be allowed onto your wireless network. This method is not recommended, however, because those seeking unwanted access to your network can easily obtain your MAC addresses and use them to gain access.
MAC address filtering is part of the configuration of your wireless router. To turn MAC address filtering on or off, or to add a device to the filter list, you need to access your wireless router configuration settings. For instructions on how to access your wireless router configuration settings, see your wireless router documentation or contact the manufacturer.
Once you access your wireless router configuration settings, you will need to do one of the following:
- Turn off or disable MAC address filtering altogether (recommended).
- Find your printer's MAC address and add it to the list of devices allowed to access your network.
Many HP wireless printers display the MAC address on the printer's control panel when you press the Wireless button or touch the Wireless icon from the printer's Home screen. If you do not see the printer's MAC address, print either a Wireless Network Test Report or a Network Configuration Page from the control panel of your printer. Either of these reports can usually be printed from the Wireless Settings menu. If your printer does not have a display or does not have an option to print either report, see your printer documentation to find the correct key sequence to print the Wireless Network Test Report or Network Configuration Page.
Printers that have both wireless and Ethernet capability will have a unique MAC address for the wireless network adapter and another for the Ethernet network adapter. If you are using your printer over a wireless connection, add the wireless MAC address. If you are using your printer over an Ethernet connection, add the Ethernet MAC address. If you aren't sure, add both to be safe.
5) How do I print wirelessly without a wireless router?
Solution : If you don't have a wireless router, you can still print to your HP printer wirelessly! To do this, you set up what is called a "peer-to-peer" wireless network (sometimes called an "ad hoc" network).
To set up a peer-to-peer wireless network between your computer and your printer:
- If your printer is currently connected to your home wireless network you will first have to reset your printer's network settings to their factory default. This will disconnect your printer from the network to which it was connected. Check your printer's manual for instructions on how to do this. If you want to re-connect your printer to a wireless network you will have to connect it again.
- Make sure the printer's wireless is on (blue light illuminated on the front). If it is not, check your printer's manual for instructions on how to do this.
- Search for a local wireless network with a name beginning with "hp" or "HP". This wireless network is being broadcast from your printer. The way to search for a wireless network varies, depending on your computer's operating system. See your computer's manual for help.
- Connect to the wireless network. The peer-to-peer network will not require a wireless password.You can now install the software for your printer.
- When asked during the software install, select Through the Network, Network, or Wireless. The wording will depend on the version of software you are installing. The software will automatically detect your printer over the network.
Troubleshooting
If your computer does not see a network name beginning with "hp" or "HP", there are a couple of things you can check:
If your computer does not see a network name beginning with "hp" or "HP", there are a couple of things you can check:
- Reset your printer's network settings to their factory default. Check your printer's manual for instructions on how to do this. This will disconnect your printer from any network to which it was connected. If you want to re-connect your printer to a network you will have to connect it again. This will also turn off your printer's wireless system, so you will have to turn it back on manually.
- Enable peer-to-peer (or ad hoc) networking in your computer. The method of doing this varies, depending on your computer's operating system. See your computer's manual for help.
Downsides to peer-to-peer networking
- Your computer can only connect to one wireless network at a time. When it is connected to your printer, it cannot also connect to a wireless router (for Internet access, for example).
- The connection is not very secure. By default there is no wireless security. You can enable WEP security on your peer-to-peer network, but WEP is not very secure.
- You may need to manually connect to your printer's wireless signal every time you turn on your computer.
- If your printer uses any Web Services (such as PrintApps or ePrint) these services will not work with a peer-to-peer connection. To enable these services, your printer must be connected to the Internet through a wireless router (called an "infrastructure network").
Overall, connecting your printer to an infrastructure network (with a wireless router) is preferred over a peer-to-peer connection. It is probably more reliable, certainly more secure and allows your computer to be connected to the Internet while simultaneously being connected to your printer.
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