With Nighthawk R7000 connected USB to printer, how can I print from Android phone over WIFI?

Thanks! I will work on that and post back. I have several projects going, so it might take me most of the weekend.

Excellent advice from Kitsap. I'll throw this in to speed up your chase and confirm what you have been advised to do:

Installing HP wireless printer software | Wireless Printing Center | HP® United Kingdom

I keep that address handy because the question comes up here so often.

Here is the current situation. Windows 10 PC is connected wireless to R7000.

USB cable is off. Ethernet cable is connected router to printer.

In "Devices and Printers" of Windows 10 desktop there are two instnces of "Brother MFC-8860DN USB", which is the original name.

I can't print a test page.

Brother "Network Connection Repair Tool" can't find the printer.

Netgear Genie shows BRN_DB4A05, a printer w icon, wired, IP=192.168.1.6 MAC= 00:80:77:DB:4A:05. I believe this might be the printer but I'm not sure.

> In "Devices and Printers" of Windows 10 desktop there are two instnces
> of "Brother MFC-8860DN USB", which is the original name.

   I'd delete all of them.  Whatever Windows might have known about your
printer is likely to be obsolete (looking for the old USB connection,
for example).

> I can't print a test page.

   "can't" is not a useful problem description.  It does not say what
you did.  It does not say what happened when you did it.  As usual,
showing actual actions (commands) with their actual results (error
messages, LED indicators, ...) can be more helpful than vague
descriptions or interpretations.

   I'd install the printer afresh, specifying its new network
connection, and try again.  That's a printer-v.-Windows argument.

> Netgear Genie shows [...]

   You refer to an "Attached Devices" report?

> [...] BRN_DB4A05, a printer w icon, wired, IP=192.168.1.6 [...]

   Sounds promising.

> [...] I believe this might be the printer but I'm not sure.

   You could try disconnecting/reconnecting the printer, and see how
that report changes.

   Or, you could point a web browser at that IP address, and see what
happens.  I know nothing, but I would not be amazed if the printer had
its own little web site (just as your router does).

> Brother "Network Connection Repair Tool" can't find the printer.

   I know nothing about it, and even less about what you might have done
with it.

   Have you consulted the printer documentation for the "How to Install"
instructions?  Radical, but occasionally effective:

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RTFM

   Before proceeding too far, it might be wise to use Address
Reservation (on the router) to specify a fixed IP address for the
printer.  Not all software will be able to follow it around if its
address changes whenever something restarts.

I have been able to create a second copy or the printer that can I can print ot from "properties". But I'm afraid the router will change its address, which is 192.168.1.11. If that is a risk, how can I set up an  Address Reservation.

Also, shouldn't the system be designed such that it automatically can't lose track of the path to a printer?

Also, the "new" printer has USB in its name. Can a printer's name be changed?

> [...] how can I set up an Address Reservation.

   Treating that as a question, ...

>       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RTFM

   Visit http://netgear.com/support , put in your model number, and look
for Documentation.  Get the User Manual (at least).  Read.  Look for
"Address Reservation".

> Also, shouldn't the system be designed such that [...]

   Ask Microsoft?  All I said was "might be wise"; I didn't guarantee
that it would fail.

> Also, the "new" printer has USB in its name. Can a printer's name be
> changed?

   Another Windows question.  I'd expect so, but I'm not a Windows
expert.  Who picked that name?

You should delete all of your Brother printer drivers that were created with other types of connections to the printer (USB etc.).  They most likely contain details that will not work well with your new network connection or prevent the Brother phone application from communicating with the printer.

Install a new printer driver for a network connection (possibly \\192.168.1.11 in your case).

You need to work you way through the add a new printer in the settings section.  There is a full path under the blue "The printer that I want isn't listed". 

> You should delete all of your Brother printer drivers [...]

   Those are printers, not printer drivers, but how could I be so lame
as not to have suggested that already?  Oh, wait...

---

Kitsap wrote:

 

Install a new printer driver for a network connection (possibly \\192.168.1.11 in your case).

 

---

One way to fix the IP address is to dive into the printer maker's software (see above) and to look for that option.

Sorry to be a bit vagie, I'm not a user of HP printers. But that option certainly exists in the "Network Tool" for Canon printers.

PS Ignore the noises off. They aren't intended to help anyone.

> One way to fix the IP address is to dive into the printer maker's
> software (see above) and to look for that option.

   If that vague description refers to configuring the printer with a
static IP address, then that's almost certainly possible, but it's
probably not a wise idea.

   Configuring a printer (or any other device) with a static IP address
has implications for the configuration of the DHCP server (on the
router).  Using static IP addresses with the default router (DHCP
server) configuration is asking for trouble (IP address collisions).

Using (DHCP) address reservation is typically easier and simpler, and
less trouble-prone.

> Sorry to be a bit vagie, I'm not a user of HP printers. But that
> option certainly exists in the "Network Tool" for Canon printers.

> Printer: Brother MFC8860DN

> PS Ignore the noises off. They aren't intended to help anyone.

   Some of us define "help" differently from others.

The current status of my Brother MFC8860DN printer is that it is connected by Ethernet to the Netgear R7000 router. The printer's IP = 192.168.1.236. It prints OK from both the Dell Windows 10 desktop and from the HP Windows 10 laptop. Both computers currently contact the router by Wireless.

My Android phone contains the Brother app iPrint&Scan. I can print from the phone but the font size is about 28. I will have study the user manual to fix that.

In order to make the Brother "Network Connection Repair Tool" find the printer I first ran in [Devices and Printers] and "Add a printer." I specified that it was an old printer. I changed the printer's name to Brother MFC-8860DN Ethernet. (It had said USB) Then I rebooted everything, stopped antivirus protection, and ran the connection tool.

I left the printer's previous name and structure "Brother MFC-8860DN USB" in existance in case something goes bad at the router I can still connect the printer to a PC.

I'll do thorough testing over the next few days to make sure the app works well.

> [...] The printer's IP [address] = 192.168.1.236. [...]

   Did you reserve that address for it (on the router/DHCP server)?  Is
it assigned using DHCP, or did you follow that (lame) advice to
configure the printer with a static IP address?

> [...] stopped antivirus protection [...]

   Any reason?

> I left the printer's previous name [...]

   Should be harmless, if it doesn't cause confusion.

---

antinode wrote:

> [...] The printer's IP [address] = 192.168.1.236. [...]

 

   Did you reserve that address for it (on the router/DHCP server)?  Is
it assigned using DHCP, or did you follow that (lame) advice to
configure the printer with a static IP address?

I didn't do anything to control the IP. It had the .236 following the running of the Brother "Network Connection Repair Tool".

---

antinode wrote:

> [...] stopped antivirus protection [...]

 

   Any reason?

Yes, I had difficulty making the Network Connection Repair Tool run. It would stop running after saying to move the printer close to the router. On retry it would stop with a message about trying to process a file.

When I rebooted windows and turned off virus protection the tool ran to completion. I  don't know the cause.

FYI: This does not involve printing from the android phone so if the solution is not obvious I will start a new thread.

I have a third computer running Windows 98 that File Explorer cannot find - from either of my Windows 10 PCs. Its R7000 Ethernet indicater light (#3) is red instead of white.
The Netgear Genie shows it on the network map: Wired, Name=TOWER, IP=198.168.1.11.

I used to be able to reach it by IP in Windows 10 File Explorer, but not by clicking on its name (TOWER). But now the IP method doesn't work either anymore. It is an old PC. I am thinking of trying a new Ethernet card in it.

> I didn't do anything to control the IP [address]. [...]

   Ok.  As explained earlier, reserving an IP address for it might be
wise.  That ".236" address should be about as good as any.

> FYI: [...]

   Probably doesn't matter.

> I have a third computer running Windows 98 that File Explorer cannot
> find - from either of my Windows 10 PCs. [...]

   Regarding "cannot", see "not a useful problem description [...]",
above.  If the (dangerously past support) Windows 98 system can access
the internet, then you're looking at a Windows file-sharing problem, not
a router problem.

   I don't claim great Windows expertise, but Windows 98 might be using
an old/obsolete SMB version (1), which more modern Windows versions
might not support (at least not by default).

> [...] Its R7000 Ethernet indicater light (#3) is red instead of white.

   "red" being what Netgear calls "amber"?  In the User Manual, look for
the LED descriptions.  An old PC might have a sub-gigibit/s Ethernet
interface.  (A faulty cable could cause it, too, but I'd put my money on
an old/slow Ethernet chip/card.)  The "Properties" of the Ethernet
adapter should reveal its speed.

> [...] I am thinking of trying a new Ethernet card in it.

   A gigibit/s-capable card might change your LED color, but it might do
little else for you.

Correction:
I made a typo typing the IP when trying to access the Win 98 from Windows 10 File Explorer. The correct IP was \\192.168.1.11.
That IP correctly brings up the file structure of the Win98 PC named TOWER.

Also, Explorer shows both the \\198.168.1.11 address that can expand, and the TOWER that it doesn't expand. See pictures.

Does this narrow in on the problem source.

> The correct IP was \\192.168.1.11.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Protocol

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_address

   "192.168.1.11" is an IP[v4] address.  "\\192.168.1.11" might be a
file-system path which means something to Windows.

> Does this narrow in on the problem source.

   Which "problem"?

> [...] If the (dangerously past support) Windows 98 system can access
> the internet, then you're looking at a Windows file-sharing problem, not
> a router problem.

   Still true.

> [...] I'm not a Windows expert. [...]

   Also still true.

Once the IP-MAC address pair was reserved on the router, so the router DHCP does always assign the same IP address, the router is mostly out of the game, except for handling the network connectivity.

In general, a good start would be to consult with the printer manufacturer support pages, for the subject -> Brother Support (US, English) - MFC-8860DN 

The crux with what Brother offers when it comes to Android printing is to use Google Cloud Print ...  unfortunately Google Cloud Print service is no longer available since January 2021. Not much we can do here for you....

In the last 2 days the IP of my Win98 (MAC=00:04:5A:80:2F) has changed from 192.168.1.11 to 192.168.1.9 and back again. I want to reserve the IP associated with 00:04:5A:80:2F at some value.

Q1: What IP value should I reserve?
Q2: How should I reserve the IP of TOWER from Windows 10?

Just so I understand more, what is the difference in meaning between DHCP and SMB. Do they both reside in the router or does Windows get involved?

> [...] I want to reserve the IP associated with 00:04:5A:80:2F at some
> value.

   Ok with me.

> Q1: What IP [address] value should I reserve?

   Doesn't matter to me.  Pick one.  If you pick one which is already in
use by some other device, then you might need to restart that device and
the router.

> Q2: How should I reserve the IP [address] of TOWER from Windows 10?

   I don't know what that means.  An IP address is a property of a
network interface.  It's not an address "from" any other device.

> Just so I understand more, what is the difference in meaning between
> DHCP and SMB. [...]

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_Host_Configuration_Protocol
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Server_Message_Block

   Your router includes a DHCP server, which is used to assign IP
parameters (address, ...) to devices on your LAN.

   SMB is a file-sharing system/protocol, which Windows (among other
operating systems) uses.

> [...] Do they both reside in the router or does Windows get involved?

   I wouldn't say that they "reside" anyplace.

   Your Windows systems would typically act as DHCP clients, getting
their IP parameters from the DHCP server in your router.  That's
unrelated to SMB.

   If your Windows systems do file sharing, then they'd normally use SMB
for that.

   If you connect a USB-attached storage device (disk drive, ...) to
your router, then the router might also use SMB for access to that
shared storage.  Look in the User Manual for "Share USB Storage Devices
Attached to the Router".

I tried to reserve an IP number for the Win98 but failed. I tried to set the Win98 to IP =  192.168.1.196 for MAC = 00:04:5A:80:4A:2F. The R7000 firmware is V1.0.9.88_10.2.88. The original (unreserved) IP for the Win98 was 192.168.1.8.  I used a Chrome browser for this.

I used these instructions: https://kb.netgear.com/25722/How-do-I-reserve-an-IP-address-on-my-NETGEAR-router Here is the sequence of events at step number 8 after pushing the [Apply] button:

1 While the progress indicator operated: Internet disconnected
2 Internet connected
3 A sign-in test box appeared
4 Popup message appeared: "A new device has been detected": 192.168.1.3 (That device was named chromecast.)
5 I submitted the sign-in window [Yes]
6 Message:
"You are currently logged in from another device. There can be only one device logged in at a time. If you log in from this device, the other device will be logged out. Do you want to proceed?"
7 I entered [Yes]
8 Closing browsers and programs preparing to restart
9 Message: Another computer on this network has the same IP as this computer. ... See system event log.
10 I restarted the computer (The Windows 10, not the Win98. The instruction doesn't say which computer.)
11 Result: Win98 IP is still 192.168.1.8.
12 Restarted Win98.
13 Result: IP is unchanged at 192.168.1.8.

Why does the 192.168.1.196 fail to reserve for MAC = 00:04:5A:80:4A:2F of the Win98?

> [...] I used a Chrome browser for this. [...]

   Running on what?  The Windows 98 system, or something else?  I'm not
sure exactly what you're doing with what.

   The "D" in "DHCP" is for "Dynamic", not "Whimsical".  When the DHCP
server grants an address lease, it won't let you fiddle with those
parameters (until the lease expires).  Similarly, a client which got a
lease might expect to retain it.  Changing addresses which are currently
in use might require restarting everyone involved.

   You might have a smoother path if you plan out your address
reservations, disconnect all but one client device (computer with web
browser) from the router, and then shut down both the client device and
the router, and restart them _both_.  That should give you a relatively
clean slate on which to make your address reservations, thus avoiding
most of the possible conflicts.

   Worst case, if the client device which you're using for this job is
already using an address which you want to reserve for some other
device, then you might need to make two restart passes, to get it moved
out of the way.

   When you get all the address reservations configured on the router,
then you should be able to connect all the client devices to the router,
and get the expected results.  (I'd probably restart all of them, but
I'd expect that being disconnected for a while and then reconnected to a
restarted router would be enough to stimulate them to request fresh
parameters from the DHCP server.)

> R7000 firmware is V1.0.9.88_10.2.88. [...]

   I doubt that it's significant for this problem, but that's far from
the latest.

      https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/m-p/2069376#M186506

---

antinode wrote:

> [...] I used a Chrome browser for this. [...]

 

   Running on what?  The Windows 98 system, or something else?  I'm not
sure exactly what you're doing with what.

 

The router is in my home. I am the only person who operates it. There are eight or nine devices thar connect to the network at various times -- like cell phones, chromecasts, printer, TV's etc. . I wan't to reserve the IP for only one device -- the Windows 98 computer. It doesn't have a brand because I built it myself. Also on the network is a Windows 10 computer on which I run Google Chrome to access routerlogin.net and run setup. My current goal is to reserve IP number 192.168.1.196 for the Windows 98 computer only. 

As you can see from my previous post, I followed a netgear procedure exactly and it didn't work.

My question is, what is the easiest way to block all devices except the router and the Windows 98 computer so I can start those two without the other devices interfering? I can't shut them down physically so I hope the router's setup system has a way to do that.