Wireless printer connection to Control4 network

[stevendale1 0]

For no known reason, my HP wireless printer lost connection to my Control4 network.  Networks, both 5.0 and 2.4 show up on the printer screen as seen.  However, they do not show the padlock as secured and will not connect because they do not give an opportunity to input the network password.  Printer wireless does work.  I set up iPhone as a hot spot and printer connected - required hot spot password.  Why would Control4 networks not give opportunity to enter password to connect?

[msgreenf 2,410]

What is a control4 network? Control4 is not a network provider but uses your network 

[stevendale1 0]

I have AT&T internet service and router.  Control4 installer installed an Araknis router and and two Araknis wireless access points.  For most activity, we use the networks set up on the Araknis equipment. These are not allowing re-connection of the wireless printer because of no opportunity to input the password.  Printer will connect to AT&T router with password, but signal is very week compared to Araknis network used for Control4.

[sonic30101 471]

Is there a separate 2.4 wifi network on the araknis access points? HP are very finicky. I usually have to log into the access point and put them in wps mode and walk through the printers wizard to get them to play nice when the normal procedures are giving grief

[stevendale1 0]

Yes.  We have a 5.0 and 2.4 set up by installer.  Most everything is on 5.0.  HP printer was 5.0 and AOK until this weekend.  HP support said to change to 2.4.  But cannot connect to either because they show available without opportunity to put in password.

[JSTRONG 151]

Why did he keep your att router network going if he has an Araknis router and network ? He should Have just bridged your isp router 

[msgreenf 2,410]

1 minute ago, JSTRONG said:

Why did he keep your att router network going if he has an Araknis router and network ? He should Have just bridged your isp router 

Aman - double NAT is terrible idea

[sonic30101 471]

Most att wond do full bridge mode. Best you can probably do is dmz the araknis which doesn't disable att wifi. I don't mind leaving them running for emergency but always rename then to att modem as said for easy redundancy when there is trouble and troubleshooting if 1 works but other is down. Proper explanation to the client is key if you do it that way and have documentation especially when a modem won't bridge

[ejn1 148]

29 minutes ago, sonic30101 said:

Most att wond do full bridge mode. Best you can probably do is dmz the araknis which doesn't disable att wifi. I don't mind leaving them running for emergency but always rename then to att modem as said for easy redundancy when there is trouble and troubleshooting if 1 works but other is down. Proper explanation to the client is key if you do it that way and have documentation especially when a modem won't bridge

why leave the att wifi active?   Will only create interference imho.   You can alway just plug a laptop into the ATT router to troubleshoot but this should be a rare need.

[Crustyloafer 206]

Do you have multiple wireless access points?

HP printers absolutely hate seeing more than one source of an SSID. In a multi-AP Wi-Fi environment I often setup a hidden printer only SSID and configure it to be broadcast by only the AP closest to the printer, fixes these issues with HP printers every time.

[stevendale1 0]

Yes to multiple access points.  Many thanks for your tip about a printer only SSID.

[Cyknight 2,748]

I've not had too many (recent) issues with multiple SSIDs as such - but HP (and most others) printers CANNOT handle 'fast-roaming' (also called Fass (BSS) Transition or officially IEEE 802.11r) which you find on many modern access points.

This can cause issues even with a separate SSID depending on the AP (ie is the fast roaming option global or per SSID).

 

[tekki70 37]

turn off fast roaming, and use wpa2 mixed encryption,

[RAV 136]

Printers WiFi software as mentioned can be troublesome.

If printer has an Ethernet jack, we've avoided the issue with one of these, setup for WiFi to LAN connection.

TP-Link N300 $30
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TQEX8BO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[HRT 15]

I've woked with an HP printer that refused to connect to a wifi network until it as hardwired on that same network, then resetup as wifi. Could not explain it.

 

[Crustyloafer 206]

My suggestion of a single printer only SSID broadcast from a single AP is no doubt also avoiding the issue with the fast roaming incompatibility, as the device cannot roam if there is only one source of the SSID it connects to.

[zaphod 461]

Given the cost of printers, buy a wired printer.

[Jakelay 20]

Did your dealer update the firmware on your WAP? If so, maybe one of the settings above got changed and caused the issue.  Odd that it would just stop working out of nowhere.

[Cyknight 2,748]

19 hours ago, Crustyloafer said:

My suggestion of a single printer only SSID broadcast from a single AP is no doubt also avoiding the issue with the fast roaming incompatibility, as the device cannot roam if there is only one source of the SSID it connects to.

I was at a client in December who got an extra ubiquiti APthemselves to do the same thing, turned fast roaming on and it still wouldn't connect until it got shut off.

'Just having a single AP' for whatever reason still can give some grief - main point to 'the public' being to ensure that you have fast roaming shut down on any wifi that includes printers.