Wireless printer issue...

[chitz]

We switched ISP's a few days ago. The new wireless modem/router is supposed to be 2.4ghz/5.0ghz, dual band.

All is well except, I can't get my HP C4500 printer on the network. It is 2.4ghz.
Also, our computers can only see and log onto the 5.0ghz network.

I called the ISP and they said talk to HP, but it's an older printer. (not their problem. Imagine that.)

Do I need a new printer? If I do, I can't find one that specifically states it will work on a 5.0 network.

AGF braintrust... Help this old 'puter dummy out here. What's the solution?

[MikeBmusic]

Get a USB cable for it! HP and Canon are notorious for obsoleting their printers.

[chitz]

Originally Posted by MikeBmusic

Get a USB cable for it! HP and Canon are notorious for obsoleting their printers.

Thank you Mike, But I've tried a USB cable direct from the printer into the router and no success there either.

It does work when I USB into the computers though. Just not wireless.

I have no objections to buying a new printer, but I have a bunch of ink I'd like to burn up in this HP first.

[nacluth]

I've had this issue before with a Canon printer. For me, it doesn't matter if the computers are on the 5.0 or the 2.4 network. The main issue is getting the printer to stay connected to the 2.4 network.
-I had to set the router with a custom password and then hand enter the network info into the printer.
-Make sure your computer is looking for a wireless printer. Mine keeps wanting to default to the wired printer (there's not even one attached). I have to check every time.
-There's YouTube videos on how to connect almost any printer to wireless. Watch one for your model.

Good luck.

[chitz]

Originally Posted by nacluth

I've had this issue before with a Canon printer. For me, it doesn't matter if the computers are on the 5.0 or the 2.4 network. The main issue is getting the printer to stay connected to the 2.4 network.
-I had to set the router with a custom password and then hand enter the network info into the printer.
-Make sure your computer is looking for a wireless printer. Mine keeps wanting to default to the wired printer (there's not even one attached). I have to check every time.
-There's YouTube videos on how to connect almost any printer to wireless. Watch one for your model.

Good luck.

Yes, this seems to be a popular problem from what my google searches have produced.

I'm off to youtube...

Thank you.

Edit: Went to youtube, could not find the info on my particular printer. I suppose I'm off to chitzbuysanewprinter.com

[LSemmens]

You can attach the printer to a computer and then "share" the printer as you would a drive. The only issue then is that that computer must be on, to use the printer.

FWIW That was how I ran my old, non networked printers for years. My current printer is an old ex-govt, HP laser printer that works fine over my network with no setup issues at all.

[Riverwolf]

Probably not your issue but...

When I upgraded from Win7 to Win10, I lost most of my wireless functions on my 3(?) year old HP printer.
I lost all ability to scan to computer for instance which is most annoying.
Sometimes for no reasons to myself, my laptop will not see my printer.
I have to remove/reinstall power from the printer and restart the laptop to fix this.
On occasion I need to go into control panel and reselect the printer.

Anyways, good luck!

[Gcunplugged]

If the computers are only seeing the 5ghz network, then I would suspect that the 2.4ghz band is turned off in the router settings.

Do you have the password to the router, so that you can login and make setting changes? If so, login and poke around to see if you can find a setting for dual band mode. It may be set to 5ghz only.

If not, ask your provider to verify that it is in dual mode.

Hope that helps,
Gary

[chitz]

Originally Posted by Gcunplugged

If the computers are only seeing the 5ghz network, then I would suspect that the 2.4ghz band is turned off in the router settings.

Do you have the password to the router, so that you can login and make setting changes? If so, login and poke around to see if you can find a setting for dual band mode. It may be set to 5ghz only.

If not, ask your provider to verify that it is in dual mode.

Hope that helps,
Gary

Gary, I am pretty sure it is broadcasting on both 2.4 & 5.0. When the tech first set it up, I saw both on my list of networks menu. Tech recommended to use the 5.0, so I did.
But since then, the 2.4 is not on the drop down menu. Weird. I can't even manually enter it.

[chitz]

Originally Posted by LSemmens

You can attach the printer to a computer and then "share" the printer as you would a drive. The only issue then is that that computer must be on, to use the printer.

FWIW That was how I ran my old, non networked printers for years. My current printer is an old ex-govt, HP laser printer that works fine over my network with no setup issues at all.

Before we switched ISP and to the 5.0ghz network, our printer worked on the network just fine.

[ManyMartinMan]

You've introduced new equipment into your system. Try a different router, then a different printer - one is the culprit. Change the one that's messing up your chill. If you haven't, go into your printer set up on your computer and delete everything then reinstall your printer driver. If that doesn't work, go back to my first sentence.

[Jeremy]

Originally Posted by chitz

Also, our computers can only see and log onto the 5.0ghz network.

But since then, the 2.4 is not on the drop down menu. Weird. I can't even manually enter it.

When you accepted the tech's recommendation to use 5 GHz, it sounds like they disabled the 2.4 GHz frequency.

Before replacing any hardware, see if your ISP can help you get your router to spit out 2.4 GHz again and then try connecting your printer to it.

Another thing to note, even if it's dual-band 5/2.4 GHz, it may not be configured to run with backwards compatibility to 802.11b/g which your printer operates in. My FiOS router does that; when set to a certain mode it only supports 802.11n and b/g devices cannot connect.

[chitz]

Originally Posted by Jeremy

When you accepted the tech's recommendation to use 5 GHz, it sounds like they disabled the 2.4 GHz frequency.

Before replacing any hardware, see if your ISP can help you get your router to spit out 2.4 GHz again and then try connecting your printer to it.

Another thing to note, even if it's dual-band 5/2.4 GHz, it may not be configured to run with backwards compatibility to 802.11b/g which your printer operates in. My FiOS router does that; when set to a certain mode it only supports 802.11n and b/g devices cannot connect.

Thanks Jeremy. I'll try talking to them again, but it might be easier to buy 100 new printers than get a straight answer.

[TBman]

We have the HP Envy 4500 which is supposedly wireless. I gave up with that and just run the usb chord. My phone keeps wanting to get personal with it, but I keep them separated.

[chitz]

Went to Walmart today, bought a cheap Epson printer.

Set it up, works fine on all our devices. Go figga.