LAN connection problems…

I agree with michaelkenward that this might a a complicated problem.

 

Apple Airprint.  It is not entirely clear (to me) whether Apple Airprint uses

• A direct WiFi connection between the Apple device and the printer (in which case knowing the network IP address of the printer is of no use), or
• Searches the local network for a printer that supports Airprint.  ("Air" would seem to argue against this).

There is a list of printers compatible with Airprint:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201311 

After verifying that the HP printer is on the list, it might be worth a few minutes to look at the printer user guide to see how HP describes using Airprint.

 

This is also a case where my primitive understanding of iPhones is not helpful.  My Android devices, for example, have tons of apps which can be used for network troubleshooting.  For example, I can 'ping' the IP address of specific devices and see if  they respond.  ("Out of the box" my Epson printer (a) does respond to ICMP ('ping') and (b) has a web page that can be accessed from the network.  Thus, my network apps can 'ping' it and I can open the web page using a web browser on my phone or tablet.  "Out of the box", Windows computers are set to not respond to ICMP and the Windows firewall has to be told to allow it.)

 

Does the iPhone have similar apps?

 

Airplay from a iPad to a Libratone is another topic which displays my colossal ignorance.  Does Airplay (a) use the network for connection, or (b) connect directly to a device?

 

 

 

 

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m1ante wrote:

Example 1: I want to AirPrint / HPprint but there is simply no connection being allowed between my printer and my iPhone. The IP address of the printer is known but my iPhone cannot see it. When the IP address search is selected it just times out…

That sort of operation has so many links in the chain that you have to look at each component before you blame the router.

 

iThings, for example, are not under your control Apple does not trust users to know what they are up to. So it does things like this:

 

NETGEAR Mobile Applications and Apple Devices FAQ - NETGEAR Communities

 

Printers can also cause grief. They have their own control systems that can get in the way. Most have their own configuration utilities that can demand your attention.

 

You may have done all this, but troubleshooting can be a painstaking case of tracking down the real problem and ruling out issues.

 

Then there i this:

 

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Also side note, not sure if it’s related but once every 2/3 weeks, overnight, the router becomes totally useless and requires a switch off in the morning to regain consciousness. No wired or wireless devices can connect to it. I think it may have something to do with DHCP? But I cannot access the router to find out why it’s doing this and the logs get wiped upon power off…

 

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There are several clues in there. Why can't you access the router and look at the logs?

 

That is a strong hint about what could cause your other problems.

 

What firmware version do you have on the device?

A number is more useful than "the latest". There may be newer versions, or "hot fixes", that do not show up if you check for new firmware in the browser interface.

If there is one it might also help if you told people the make and model number of the modem/gateway/ONT that sits between this router and the Internet. Is it, by any chance, also a router, with a set of LAN ports on the back?

I ask because a lot of people turn up here trying to put a router behind a modem that is also a router. That can complicate troubleshooting.