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Wireless Printer Connection Issues

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GreatWhiteWing

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Epson P600, Windows 10, Netgear Genie R6700v2 Router, with 2.4, 5 gig primary and guest accounts. Printer used to work on network, just stopped for no apparent reason.

Printer connects to guest account only. I know of no setting I intentionally set to prevent a connection. Printer reports passwords don't match but the do. Get other messages signal strength is low but it USED to connect just fine. Guest signal strength is from same router and that is good enough for a stable connection.

Printer shows IP 0.0.0.0

Connected to guest network doesn't help me print.

Any ideas where to look?

Originally posted in printing forum but it doesn't seem to be the printer but the network somehow.

I attempted a fresh install of the printer using setup disk. Works on USB cable and guest network
 
GreatWhiteWing said:
Epson P600, Windows 10, Netgear Genie R6700v2 Router, with 2.4, 5 gig primary and guest accounts. Printer used to work on network, just stopped for no apparent reason.

Printer connects to guest account only. I know of no setting I intentionally set to prevent a connection. Printer reports passwords don't match but the do. Get other messages signal strength is low but it USED to connect just fine. Guest signal strength is from same router and that is good enough for a stable connection.

Printer shows IP 0.0.0.0

Connected to guest network doesn't help me print.

Any ideas where to look?

Originally posted in printing forum but it doesn't seem to be the printer but the network somehow.

I attempted a fresh install of the printer using setup disk. Works on USB cable and guest network
Click to expand...
Change the location of the wifi router - away from the printer.

If a printer is too close to a wifi router, the signals can interfere with each other and diminish the strength of both. The more common issue is that the wifi router is too far from the printer, but too close is also an issue.

soloryb
 
soloryb said:
GreatWhiteWing said:
Epson P600, Windows 10, Netgear Genie R6700v2 Router, with 2.4, 5 gig primary and guest accounts. Printer used to work on network, just stopped for no apparent reason.

Printer connects to guest account only. I know of no setting I intentionally set to prevent a connection. Printer reports passwords don't match but the do. Get other messages signal strength is low but it USED to connect just fine. Guest signal strength is from same router and that is good enough for a stable connection.

Printer shows IP 0.0.0.0

Connected to guest network doesn't help me print.

Any ideas where to look?

Originally posted in printing forum but it doesn't seem to be the printer but the network somehow.

I attempted a fresh install of the printer using setup disk. Works on USB cable and guest network
Click to expand...
Change the location of the wifi router - away from the printer.

If a printer is too close to a wifi router, the signals can interfere with each other and diminish the strength of both. The more common issue is that the wifi router is too far from the printer, but too close is also an issue.

soloryb
Click to expand...
Router is one floor below and 30 feet horizontally. Printer is a pain to move as is router, I'll try this as a last resort but it connects up just fine on Guest (same router and same frequency) and USED TO connect fine on main network. Furthermore when I go into wifi setup wizzard it sees my main networks, not the 5g of course.

I have maybe a dozen other devices with passwords set or I would simply try changing that.
 
Have you tried switching OFF the ROUTER for say a full minute or so..restart it... does that make any difference ?
What does your COMPUTER show as the Router Wi-Fi signal ...OK ???
 
GreatWhiteWing said:
Router is one floor below and 30 feet horizontally. Printer is a pain to move as is router, I'll try this as a last resort but it connects up just fine on Guest (same router and same frequency) and USED TO connect fine on main network. Furthermore when I go into wifi setup wizzard it sees my main networks, not the 5g of course.

I have maybe a dozen other devices with passwords set or I would simply try changing that.
Click to expand...
That sounds like a heck of a distance (plus going through a floor) from wifi router to printer. I'd suspect that you were getting a marginal signal - just enough to give you a connection. Something changed slightly and reduced that signal enough for the printer to seek a stronger connection - your guest connection.

You need to measure the router's signal strength at the printer's location. Some wifi router software (Linksys, for example) will show individual device reception signal strengths. Buying a more powerful wifi router ( I would highly recommend Linksys) is an alternative to moving either the printer or the router to a new location. And, it would probably benefit all the devices on your wifi network.

Another way to measure signal strength is to download a wifi signal meter to a smartphone and use it to map out various locations. Many such apps are free and would be useful to identify dead areas and hot areas for your existing wifi. While these apps won't tell you the printer's connection strength, they should let you know if your printer is just sitting in a low or dead reception area.

soloryb
 
GreatWhiteWing said:
Epson P600, Windows 10, Netgear Genie R6700v2 Router, with 2.4, 5 gig primary and guest accounts. Printer used to work on network, just stopped for no apparent reason.

Printer connects to guest account only. I know of no setting I intentionally set to prevent a connection. Printer reports passwords don't match but the do. Get other messages signal strength is low but it USED to connect just fine. Guest signal strength is from same router and that is good enough for a stable connection.

Printer shows IP 0.0.0.0

Connected to guest network doesn't help me print.

Any ideas where to look?

Originally posted in printing forum but it doesn't seem to be the printer but the network somehow.

I attempted a fresh install of the printer using setup disk. Works on USB cable and guest network
Click to expand...
Problem Solved

It seems Epson can't handle or deal with a cascaded router setup. I won't go into an explanation of that hear, easy searching it on the web but Epson saw it as TWO different networks and failed in dealing with it.

I still have the cascaded router upstairs only gave it a new network name and turned off broadcasting it and everything seems to be working now

Your questions got me thinking differently to solve the problem even no one actually had the specific answer.

Thanks all
 
I did, see my reply to my original post one or two posts up
 
Found the issue, look up two posts, not signal strength
 
GreatWhiteWing said:
Epson P600, Windows 10, Netgear Genie R6700v2 Router, with 2.4, 5 gig primary and guest accounts. Printer used to work on network, just stopped for no apparent reason.
...
Click to expand...
GreatWhiteWing said:
Originally posted in printing forum but it doesn't seem to be the printer but the network somehow.
Click to expand...
Good to hear you solved the problem. One lesson of all this is that it really helps to describe the situation in detail when asking for suggestions. Mention of a cascaded router setup came late in the two threads.
 
Charles2 said:
GreatWhiteWing said:
Epson P600, Windows 10, Netgear Genie R6700v2 Router, with 2.4, 5 gig primary and guest accounts. Printer used to work on network, just stopped for no apparent reason.

...

Originally posted in printing forum but it doesn't seem to be the printer but the network somehow.
Click to expand...
Good to hear you solved the problem. One lesson of all this is that it really helps to describe the situation in detail when asking for suggestions. Mention of a cascaded router setup came late in the two threads.
Click to expand...
It's an art form to give only pertinent info. Too much and folks will stop reading, not enough and problem doesn't get solved.

I try very hard to write short, well worded posts.
 
soloryb said:
Change the location of the wifi router - away from the printer.

If a printer is too close to a wifi router, the signals can interfere with each other and diminish the strength of both. The more common issue is that the wifi router is too far from the printer, but too close is also an issue.

soloryb
Click to expand...
I'm convinced this is an urban myth of the tech world. I've never seen it mentioned in any context that included proof of anything other than a particular model or instance of a device having a poor wireless radio or antenna.

Think about it from the basic physics point of view. The two factors that cause interference in waves are phase and freqency. Things that should not be affected by moving one WiFi point closer or further from the other. That would affect amplitude.
 
My experience with wireless printers has been disastrous; nothing but hassles. And HP printers has been the worst in this regard.

If you want long term reliability consider doing what it takes to switch your setup to a wired configuration:

* USB connections are better than wireless, but not great.

* Connecting the printer to a local Ethernet is best. Always works, every time, no fuss.
 
malch said:
My experience with wireless printers has been disastrous; nothing but hassles. And HP printers has been the worst in this regard.

If you want long term reliability consider doing what it takes to switch your setup to a wired configuration:

* USB connections are better than wireless, but not great.

* Connecting the printer to a local Ethernet is best. Always works, every time, no fuss.
Click to expand...
Well I have it solved but I know what you mean. Running a cable is possible but my honey-do list is too long to take on that right now. Plus it's it's very cold outside..
 
GreatWhiteWing said:
GreatWhiteWing said:
Epson P600, Windows 10, Netgear Genie R6700v2 Router, with 2.4, 5 gig primary and guest accounts. Printer used to work on network, just stopped for no apparent reason.

Printer connects to guest account only. I know of no setting I intentionally set to prevent a connection. Printer reports passwords don't match but the do. Get other messages signal strength is low but it USED to connect just fine. Guest signal strength is from same router and that is good enough for a stable connection.

Printer shows IP 0.0.0.0

Connected to guest network doesn't help me print.

Any ideas where to look?

Originally posted in printing forum but it doesn't seem to be the printer but the network somehow.

I attempted a fresh install of the printer using setup disk. Works on USB cable and guest network
Click to expand...
Problem Solved

It seems Epson can't handle or deal with a cascaded router setup. I won't go into an explanation of that hear, easy searching it on the web but Epson saw it as TWO different networks and failed in dealing with it.

I still have the cascaded router upstairs only gave it a new network name and turned off broadcasting it and everything seems to be working now

Your questions got me thinking differently to solve the problem even no one actually had the specific answer.

Thanks all
Click to expand...
FWIW, I run into a similar issue occasionally with my daughter's laptop, which is on the other end of the house and connects to the wireless printer through a second router, which is configured as a WAP, and is cable Ethernet connected to the main router in the room where the wireless printer resides.

For no apparent reason her ability to print just stops occasionally. When I remove the printer from her laptop and search for new wireless printers, it doesn't show up. So I go into my AT&T router setup page and find the IP address of the printer and ping it from her laptop, and it always returns the ping successfully. Then I go into the laptop menu and manually setup the printer with the IP address, and it starts working again.

She doesn't print a lot, so I have the feeling the problem may be that if I happen to reboot either the printer or router occasionally, and the router assigns a new IP address to the printer, the IP address previously associated with the printer is no longer valid.

But the weird part is I'm fairly sure I've seen the printer show up occasionally as an available network printer when searching with the laptop for new printers, so I haven't figured out exactly why it sometimes doesn't see the printer when searching for network printers, even though it can successfully ping the printer at that specific time.
 
Billiam29 said:
soloryb said:
Change the location of the wifi router - away from the printer.

If a printer is too close to a wifi router, the signals can interfere with each other and diminish the strength of both. The more common issue is that the wifi router is too far from the printer, but too close is also an issue.

soloryb
Click to expand...
I'm convinced this is an urban myth of the tech world. I've never seen it mentioned in any context that included proof of anything other than a particular model or instance of a device having a poor wireless radio or antenna.

Think about it from the basic physics point of view. The two factors that cause interference in waves are phase and freqency. Things that should not be affected by moving one WiFi point closer or further from the other. That would affect amplitude.
Click to expand...
You need to re-convince yourself.

I recently went through an issue of weak signal strength to 3 printers and several other devices. The wifi was in the same room as all 3, but 2 of them (Canon Pro-1000 and an HP Envy 4520) were sitting right next to a very powerful Linksys EA9500 wifi router. When I moved the Pro-1000 2-meters away from the router, the signal strength to every device in my home jumped to 100%. When I contacted Linksys tech I was told that having a router too close to a large printer can reduce the signal strength through attenuation (absorption of the signal in the devices circuitry). Perhaps it's only a Linksys problem, but I doubt that.

So from a physics standpoint the following can affect the signal output amplitude from a wifi:

Wave interference: These devices, including the router itself, are emitting bands of frequencies around 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz or both. Within each band there is a spread of frequencies (often referred to as channels). Linksys (and I'm sure other wifis) actually has software that controls this spread by assigning specific channels (more exact frequency) to each device - just to prevent such interference.

Signal blockage and absorption from metal objects and wall wires.

Antenna orientation, size (they actually sell antenna extenders for wifis), number of antennas.

Distance from wifi - inverse square law.

Attenuation from nearby electronic devices.

I'm sure there are other factors, but these are the ones I know of.

So, no urban myth here.

soloryb
 
I measured signal strength at the printer, plenty strong enough.

Problem was Epson couldn't deal with cascaded router setup.
 
GreatWhiteWing said:
I measured signal strength at the printer, plenty strong enough.

Problem was Epson couldn't deal with cascaded router setup.
Click to expand...
With Linksys Smartwifi software you can see individual device signal strengths. This tells you what the printer is actually seeing. Signal meter Smartphone apps give a broader picture, but cannot tell exactly what the printer's signal strength is - in the case of interference between a printer and a wifi if placed too close together.

I've used cascaded wifi systems and much prefer just a single powerful wifi router. However, that can get expensive.

Another route to try besides cascading is getting wifi extenders (repeats and amplifies the signal for remote locations.) I once tried one but it ended up stepping all over my DirecTV wifi signal and stopped it from working. It did however boost the router wifi signal significantly.

soloryb
 
dwalby said:
FWIW, I run into a similar issue occasionally with my daughter's laptop, which is on the other end of the house and connects to the wireless printer through a second router, which is configured as a WAP, and is cable Ethernet connected to the main router in the room where the wireless printer resides.

For no apparent reason her ability to print just stops occasionally. When I remove the printer from her laptop and search for new wireless printers, it doesn't show up. So I go into my AT&T router setup page and find the IP address of the printer and ping it from her laptop, and it always returns the ping successfully. Then I go into the laptop menu and manually setup the printer with the IP address, and it starts working again.

She doesn't print a lot, so I have the feeling the problem may be that if I happen to reboot either the printer or router occasionally, and the router assigns a new IP address to the printer, the IP address previously associated with the printer is no longer valid.

But the weird part is I'm fairly sure I've seen the printer show up occasionally as an available network printer when searching with the laptop for new printers, so I haven't figured out exactly why it sometimes doesn't see the printer when searching for network printers, even though it can successfully ping the printer at that specific time.
Click to expand...
Have you tried reserving the ip address of the printer. This can be done in many wifi router software packages.

soloryb
 
soloryb said:
Billiam29 said:
I'm convinced this is an urban myth of the tech world. I've never seen it mentioned in any context that included proof of anything other than a particular model or instance of a device having a poor wireless radio or antenna.

Think about it from the basic physics point of view. The two factors that cause interference in waves are phase and freqency. Things that should not be affected by moving one WiFi point closer or further from the other. That would affect amplitude.
Click to expand...
You need to re-convince yourself.

I recently went through an issue of weak signal strength to 3 printers and several other devices. The wifi was in the same room as all 3, but 2 of them (Canon Pro-1000 and an HP Envy 4520) were sitting right next to a very powerful Linksys EA9500 wifi router. When I moved the Pro-1000 2-meters away from the router, the signal strength to every device in my home jumped to 100%. When I contacted Linksys tech I was told that having a router too close to a large printer can reduce the signal strength through attenuation (absorption of the signal in the devices circuitry). Perhaps it's only a Linksys problem, but I doubt that.

So from a physics standpoint the following can affect the signal output amplitude from a wifi:

Wave interference: These devices, including the router itself, are emitting bands of frequencies around 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz or both. Within each band there is a spread of frequencies (often referred to as channels). Linksys (and I'm sure other wifis) actually has software that controls this spread by assigning specific channels (more exact frequency) to each device - just to prevent such interference.

Signal blockage and absorption from metal objects and wall wires.

Antenna orientation, size (they actually sell antenna extenders for wifis), number of antennas.

Distance from wifi - inverse square law.

Attenuation from nearby electronic devices.

I'm sure there are other factors, but these are the ones I know of.

So, no urban myth here.

soloryb
Click to expand...
I have no reason to doubt that you experienced the symptoms you described. However, I don't see anything among those items that supports what I was replying to in your prior statement (emphasis mine below).
soloryb said:
If a printer is too close to a wifi router, the signals can interfere with each other and diminish the strength of both. The more common issue is that the wifi router is too far from the printer, but too close is also an issue.
Click to expand...
Could there be problems if a base station and a client station are very close together? Sure. Will it be beacuse the WiFi signals from each of them are interfereing with each other? Extremely unlikely except for poor/defective design.
 
Last edited:
Billiam29 said:
soloryb said:
Billiam29 said:
I'm convinced this is an urban myth of the tech world. I've never seen it mentioned in any context that included proof of anything other than a particular model or instance of a device having a poor wireless radio or antenna.

Think about it from the basic physics point of view. The two factors that cause interference in waves are phase and freqency. Things that should not be affected by moving one WiFi point closer or further from the other. That would affect amplitude.
Click to expand...
You need to re-convince yourself.

I recently went through an issue of weak signal strength to 3 printers and several other devices. The wifi was in the same room as all 3, but 2 of them (Canon Pro-1000 and an HP Envy 4520) were sitting right next to a very powerful Linksys EA9500 wifi router. When I moved the Pro-1000 2-meters away from the router, the signal strength to every device in my home jumped to 100%. When I contacted Linksys tech I was told that having a router too close to a large printer can reduce the signal strength through attenuation (absorption of the signal in the devices circuitry). Perhaps it's only a Linksys problem, but I doubt that.

So from a physics standpoint the following can affect the signal output amplitude from a wifi:

Wave interference: These devices, including the router itself, are emitting bands of frequencies around 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz or both. Within each band there is a spread of frequencies (often referred to as channels). Linksys (and I'm sure other wifis) actually has software that controls this spread by assigning specific channels (more exact frequency) to each device - just to prevent such interference.

Signal blockage and absorption from metal objects and wall wires.

Antenna orientation, size (they actually sell antenna extenders for wifis), number of antennas.

Distance from wifi - inverse square law.

Attenuation from nearby electronic devices.

I'm sure there are other factors, but these are the ones I know of.

So, no urban myth here.

soloryb
Click to expand...
I have no reason to doubt that you experienced the symptoms you described. However, I don't see anything among those items that supports what I was replying to in your prior statement (emphasis mine below).
Billiam29 said:
If a printer is too close to a wifi router, the signals can interfere with each other and diminish the strength of both. The more common issue is that the wifi router is too far from the printer, but too close is also an issue.
Click to expand...
Could there be problems if a base station and a client station are very close together? Sure. Will it be beacuse the WiFi signals from each of them are interfereing with each other? Extremely unlikely except for poor/defective design.
Click to expand...
I really don't know how to make it simpler. I did the following test:

I placed the offending printer (Pro-1000) 2 meters away from the wifi router (Linksys EA9500 - a real monster). The results were dramatic with the signal received by the printer doubling in strength to 100% (as measured in Linksys Smart Wifi software). The other devices on the wifi network also jumped immediately to 100% signal strength - when the printer was separated from the wifi router by 2-meters.

It's rather obvious, and doesn't require a physics degree to understand. The close proximity of the printer to the wifi router causes a diminution of all devices signal strengths. Linksys tech said that this was not an unknown occurrence - they've seen it before. They couldn't explain why it was happening but mentioned signal attenuation of the wifi frequencies by the printer's circuitry.

This signal interference occurred even when the power to the printer was off, so you're theory that the signals from the wifi were just interfering with those of the printer cannot be the cause.

soloryb
 
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