Client printer has 110 disconnects from network

[Cody Shepherd]

Hi Technibble-rs,

I'm back with an issue my client is having. She has a HP Photosmart D110 printer that was previously unable to print wirelessly. Upon visiting her office, I was able to reset the network settings directly on her printer which seemed to repair the issue - but only temporarily (I was able to wirelessly print documents from all of her mobile devices, but only for a couple of minutes). After it disconnected from the network again, I printed a network test page from the printer. This network test page showed the printer having disconnected from the network 104 times in the last month. Printer troubleshooting is where I am less experienced, so hopefully you guys can give me some advice!

P.S. - Client wants to buy a new printer, as she is CERTAIN that I would have been able to fix the problem if it weren't a hardware issue on the printer's side (loyalty at its finest!). I told her that it was not the printer's fault and that it was simply my inability to fix the issue at the present time. Luckily, she doesnt need the printer fixed immediately, so i will be setting up an appointment in the near future to deal with this. Thanks for any help!

 

[Markverhyden]

How is the printer setup? Using the "private" wireless network they create? Using HP's automagical software?

I have a customer that has been using a similar, low priced HP printer, wireless and same symptoms. There is no way to deal with standby mode, probably the cause of the disconnects. I told my customer their problem is the printer.

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

That printer rates pretty poorly on Amazon. Might be better off just replacing it.

 

[fencepost]

Consider what her total cost is going to be, and how much time you'll spend on it.

Also, if she gets a new printer check for something that includes a wired network connection option, at least if it's anywhere near something to connect to - a wired connection may avoid a lot of disconnects, and as long as the devices in question are on the same LAN they should be able to print anyway.

 

[Cody Shepherd]

How is the printer setup? Using the "private" wireless network they create? Using HP's automagical software?

I have a customer that has been using a similar, low priced HP printer, wireless and same symptoms. There is no way to deal with standby mode, probably the cause of the disconnects. I told my customer their problem is the printer.

Yes I believe they are using the HP software to establish the connection. I had a similar issue with the standby connectivity errors on my Brother laser printer but I was able to bypass this. I don't think I can on this budget printer : / I am glad I'm not the only one dealing with this. Thanks as always for the advice.

 

[Cody Shepherd]

Consider what her total cost is going to be, and how much time you'll spend on it.

Also, if she gets a new printer check for something that includes a wired network connection option, at least if it's anywhere near something to connect to - a wired connection may avoid a lot of disconnects, and as long as the devices in question are on the same LAN they should be able to print anyway.

If I remember correctly it wasnt connected to the router, but the router was within arms reach of the printer. I will be sure to check for this option when referring a new printer to her. Do you guys know of any reliable +/- $200 printers that offer this option offhand?

 

[MichaelEC]

I don't know what quality of print she needs, but for printing forms and receipts, etc. I have a Canon 2900 that will print from four different systems in my house, never dropped a connection, and prints very nicely.

If she's not making photo prints or other highly graphical intensive printing tasks I can highly recommend this Canon.

 

[mraikes]

.....snipped.... I told her that it was not the printer's fault and that it was simply my inability to fix the issue at the present time....snipped....

Sorry, but this is probably wrong.

On more than one occasion I've had similar problems with HP wireless printers that turned out to be defective nics. In a couple cases HP warrantied them and sent new printers. In others, they just went in the trash. That printer is old and was pretty cheap even when new. There's no reason it shouldn't have problems today even if it never did before. It's simply not worth the money she's spending on you to try to fix it.

However if you want to try one last easy thing, move it further away from the router. Counter-intuitive perhaps, but I've occasionally had similar odd problems with older devices that seemed to be caused by being TOO close. Probably won't help, but doesn't cost anything to try.

And most wifi printers today also have a physical ethernet connection too. I'm sure there are some wifi only models, but I don't seem to run across them.

 

[fencepost]

Yeah, it depends on her needs. I haven't paid any attention to photo printers, I work pretty much exclusively with business clients and push towards almost entirely laser. Even though I have a bunch of photo paper, if I need a photo on paper at any size I'll probably upload it and print it at Costco (particularly since I no longer have an inkjet printer).

 

[fencepost]

And most wifi printers today also have a physical ethernet connection too. I'm sure there are some wifi only models, but I don't seem to run across them.

I've started to see the cheap ones drop the physical connection, presumably to save money. At least one or two of the low-end Brother lasers do this, which is annoying since I like them for doctor's desktop printers. ("What, you mean I have to go down the hall?")

Oh, and my folks had an HP inkjet that was being similarly troublesome, but they'd gotten it at Costco so it was still covered and they just took it back to swap out. My final step before recommending that was going to be a full hard printer reset that I'd dug up the instructions for, but we never got around to that.

 

[mraikes]

I've started to see the cheap ones drop the physical connection, presumably to save money. At least one or two of the low-end Brother lasers do this, which is annoying since I like them for doctor's desktop printers. ("What, you mean I have to go down the hall?")

Oh, and my folks had an HP inkjet that was being similarly troublesome, but they'd gotten it at Costco so it was still covered and they just took it back to swap out. My final step before recommending that was going to be a full hard printer reset that I'd dug up the instructions for, but we never got around to that.

Well, there you go. Penny wise and dollar foolish, even with advanced degrees.

 

[fencepost]

Actually, a $99 laser on an oncologist's desk is not a bad investment given that many of them are effectively paid at well over $150/hour. They don't tend to print much volume which is why I'm fine with low-end printers, and if it saves them a couple of hours a year for the lifespan of that printer, it's more than paid for even including time for setting it up, etc.

 

[lan101]

hp printers and wireless mentioned in the same sentence just makes me cringe lol

 

[MichaelEC]

And most wifi printers today also have a physical ethernet connection too. I'm sure there are some wifi only models, but I don't seem to run across them.

My Canon 2900 does not have a physical connection. It is entirely Wi-Fi. What I really like is just telling a computer to go find a printer and it automatically downloads the drivers and installs them and you're off. Hit the print button and it fires right up.