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Forum Discussion
Printer's IP seen, but cannot connect
On a Mac with Tahoe 26.x.x Logging in to the Orbi dashboard, my two printers are clearly seen with valid IP addresses. But when I try to connect and print, they say offline. One is wifi to the RBR and one is connected to the by wifi RBS
If I turn off a printer and turn int back on, the printer is recognized again and I can print.
I have tried refreshing the attached devices in the dashboard, but it doesn't show any updates. Any thoughts?
12 Replies
What model Orbi system do you have?
How many RBS are deployed?
What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?
What is the distance between the router 📡 and satellite(s)🛰️? 30 feet or more is recommended in between RBR 📡 and RBS 🛰️ to begin with depending upon building materials when wired or wirelessly connected. https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite
Is the printer connected to the RBR or the RBS?
Setup a ip address reservation for the printer on the RBR? or set a static IP address ON the printer itself that the address resides outside of the RBRs default IP address range.
Be sure to disable any MAC Address randomizers on phones and pads and Mac PCs while at home:
NETGEAR Mobile Applications and Android/Apple/Windows Devices FAQ | NETGEAR Communities
If I turn off a printer and turn int back on, the printer is recognized again and I can print.
Can you reach the printer web pages when you can't print?
Have you also looked for updated printer drivers and printer firmware?
Does rebooting the Mac also resolve the problem?
RBE771 This problem has gotten worse. My HP
Laserjet Pro M252dw is close to my satellite connected via wifi and the ip address is clearly visible in the Netgear admin. I have tried using the IP address as well, but have the same issue. The printer shows green and ready to print till I try to use it and then it goes "offline" The other printer is a Brother HL-24600DW. Same issue with both.
Sometimes restarting the Brother will then allow a print but having to go upstairs and reboot it every time I need to print it is not fun. In the Mac Printer dialog they say they are active but idle until I try to print. I had set up IoT but it doesn't seem to help. I can and then cannot get info from them in the printer dialog box.
The HP says it is connected via 24G as is the Brother. It is like they won't wake from sleep with a signal from the router. I was finally able to print this time by rebooting the router.
Does same thing happen if the printers are connected to the RBR?
Do these printers have a ethernet port in back? If so, I'd try ethernet connecting them to the RBR or the the back of the RBS and see if this changes anything.
Disable WiFi radios on the printers as well.
Make contact with the printer mfr support to get additional help and information.
Ensure the printers FW is updated as well.
Laserjet Pro M252dw
This is an old model. Does it work better if you connect it with ethernet?
Brother HL-24600DW
Dud you mean HL-L2460DW?
jefferisFURRYe38 for what it’s worth, I have two old HP printers, and I never was able to get them to work reliably on Wi-Fi. From my research at that time, it seemed that this was a common problem across home networks with different routers/manufacturers.
I ended up connecting both of them by ethernet to Orbi device satellites. I’ve had different model Orbis at different times now, but since I connected via ethernet, for several years they have both worked perfectly and they both get heavy use in our house.
You may find good success if you are able to hook them up via ethernet.
Agreed, from my direct testing and knowledge of HP printers, the wifi adapter inside these printers has never been the greatest. Also depending on age, older wifi adapters don't work well with WPA2 and AES. Seem to prefer WPA and TPIK for some older model printers. I would think the newer printers should have WPA2 and WPA3 support and should work better than older generation wifi adapters. Also there maybe the issue of older generation wifi adapters that won't work if WPA3 is seen on the signal. Been a long standing issue for some of these older generation devices. I have a HP laptop that is moderately old now, fails to connect to my 970 series main WLAN with WPA3 on the signal even though it's mixed in with WPA2. Only way it would connect was to enable IoT network and set WPA2 only.
Also an often over looked item regarding printers is making sure that the latest firmware is installed. Obviously the age of the printer may in this case dictate an EOL printer and therefore updated firmware is no longer available.
Yes HL-L2460DW The problem with
the HP is that the RBS has only 2 ports. I have it connected via ethernet to the router (it is in an upstairs office at the reliable limit of Wifi) and I have my computer connected to the other port. However I can connect it with ethernet to my computer. The Brother is in a nearby room to the RBR with wifi but there is no ethernet port near by.
Would it help to turn off IoT?
Since RBS only have two ports, one always add on a non managed LAN switch. Say a 5 port would do.
Can see if the printers work better on the main WLAN.
Would it help to turn off IoT?
Shouldn't matter.
The problem with the HP is that the RBS has only 2 ports.
A risk-buy of an unmanaged switch is worth considering (and it can be handy to have even if it makes no difference).
HL-L2460DW
So much newer. Have you tried connecting to the printer's web page when the print fails?
jefferis I use the Netgear GS348, 8 port only $20 from Amazon. It's perfect for printers and in fact it's a gigabit switch so plenty fast.
https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-8-Port-Gigabit-Ethernet-Unmanaged/dp/B07PFYM5MZ/ref=sr_1_3
There is even a 5 port version for $15:
https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-8-Port-Gigabit-Ethernet-Unmanaged/dp/B07S98YLHM/ref=sr_1_3
