Orbi Router RB-20 not staying to connect to HP 4650

Question

I have an HP 4650 wireless printer that is having issues staying online.

Before anyone says connect it wired... the 4650 doesn't have a wired ethernet connection.

I have tried removing all drivers, software, etc.. The HP Print Doctor can't find anything wrong or it can't find the printer. Tried turning off the firewall, no luck.

When using the wireless wizard on the printer... it can't get a good IP address but joins the network.. I can see it on Orbi and HP, but the IP address starts with 169 instead of 192 like it should.

Now the printer will randomly appear online to my PC and another one. So if I print it will sit in the queue until the print show online again.. prints and then goes offline shortly after.

I have no issues it appears print using the wi-fi direct from a smartphone.

This worked just fine with a ASUS router.

CrimpOn · Answer

I generally prefer "assigning" a specific IP address to things like printers. My PC, especially, gets confused when printer IP's change.

Using the Orbi web interface, on the Advanced Tab->Setup->LAN Setup, add an entry for the printer and put in the WiFi MAC address of the printer (should be on a product label somewhere)

Might look at the Network Configuration, page 59 in the Manual for how to find the MAC address: http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c04783165

From my quick look, it's not clear to me how the printer joins a WiFi network (enter the password, etc.)

CAG61 · Answer

The printer joins the network by selecting the SSID and then entering the password. That gets me the default IP address starting with 169...

The Router is setup to assign it an IP address but that doesn't seem to be working.

I have manually set the IP to bring onto the subnet. Set the IP, Subnet Mask, DNS and Gateway.

I also manually set the 2.4 wireless to channel 6. I read about the channel 13 issue.

I can ping the router but the EWS won't connect, says "192.168.2.99 refused to connect." The main router is 192.168.2.1

CrimpOn · Answer

Oh, this gets more complicated by the minute. Channel 13 is not allowed in many places (US for example). If the Orbi was on channel 13, a printer designed for US markets may not connect. Good move to select channel 1 thru 11.

"EWS" stands for ??? (sorry, I am not up on my abbreviations)

If the Orbi is at 192.168.2.1 (unusual, but certainly allowed), and it has an assignment to give the printer an address in the 192.168.2.x range, I am mystified that the printer would somehow wind up with a 168 address. (I'm guessing that the printer has been assigned 192.168.2 99??)

CAG61 · Answer

EWS is the Web Page to access the printer setup. EWS - Embedded Web Server.&nbsp;According to HP the 169 address is the default for the printer when it can't talk with the router.. odd since the router shows the printer in the "attached devices" screen.&nbsp; The Printer "network status" shows that it is connected to the SSID.&nbsp;192.168.2.1 is an IP address which is used for systems like Belkin, Edimax, Siemens, SMC and many more different routers. I have never changed using since then.&nbsp; 192.168.xxx.xxx is available for internal use, actually you can use anything you want behind a router.&nbsp; &nbsp;here are the approved ranges -&nbsp;The&nbsp;Internet Assigned Numbers Authority&nbsp;(IANA) reserves the following IP address blocks for use as private IP addresses:10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255

CrimpOn · Answer

Thanks for explaining what EWS stands for.&nbsp; My HP printer responds to ICMP (ping) requests.&nbsp; Can you open a command window (CMD:) on the PC and see if your printer responds to pings to the Orbi assigned address?&nbsp;The "appear and disappear" thing is really puzzling.&nbsp; I have no experience with printers that allow a smartphone/tablet to print directly to them without going through a network.&nbsp; (I print off my HP using the HP Android software, but it goes through the Orbi network, not direct.)&nbsp; Wish I had something to offer.

Forum Discussion

Orbi Router RB-20 not staying to connect to HP 4650

6 Replies