This topic

Static IP address

Frogmodem — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 12:06:25 GMT

My printer keeps dropping its wifi connection to the Hub2. When I look at the hub's interface I see that it's allocated the expected 192.168.1.***. The toggle at the side says 'always use this address' and is on. Does that mean that it already has a static IP? If not, how do I set one through the Hub2 management portal? I have found stuff on Google about other ways to set a static address but was wondering about the Hub2 as a starting point. The printer is the latest Canon Pixma, by the way.

Re: Static IP address

imjolly — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 12:12:05 GMT

you cannot set a static IP address using the SH2 just always use this address. you would need to into printer setting and see if you can set a static IP address there.

have you set specific wifi channels in the hub or is it on auto? if the latter I would suggest you at least set a channel for your 2.4ghz network and see if that helps the printer stay connected

Re: Static IP address

WSH — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 12:38:37 GMT

As imjolly says, a static address is set on the printer, not the hub. Assuming the SH2 is still on its default IP range, that static address will need to be below 64. (Just for the record, the “always use this address” is what is known as a ‘reserved address’. Not quite the same thing as a static address but should achieve the same end).

Re: Static IP address

Frogmodem — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 13:01:36 GMT

Very interesting. Where in the hub's settings do I find the IP range? I haven't changed anything so it should be as you described.

Re: Static IP address

imjolly — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 13:02:30 GMT

you need to set the static address in printer not hub

Re: Static IP address

WSH — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 13:37:17 GMT

Advanced settings > My network > IPv4 configuration

If you’ve never changed it, addresses 192.168.1.1 – 192.168.1.63 will be available for use as static addresses. If you use 64 or above it will, (sooner or later), clash with an address issued to another device by DHCP and chaos will ensue. The place to set a static address will be on the control panel of the printer.

Re: Static IP address

Frogmodem — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 15:59:28 GMT

Would extending the lease time have a beneficial effect?

Re: Static IP address

licquorice — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 16:12:20 GMT

Your printer dropping connection will have nothing to do with IP addressing.

Re: Static IP address

Frogmodem — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 18:08:23 GMT

That's not correct, I'm afraid. Our IT bloke at work reckons that a static IP might work, as printers are notorious for dropping DHCP assigned stuff.

Re: Static IP address

imjolly — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 18:19:51 GMT

@Frogmodem

The usual printer problem is connection problems with the SH2 because you cannot split the 2.4/5ghz wireless networks and printer normally only connects to the 2.4ghz network. Have you set the wireless channels to a static channel or is it still on auto? I would check channels in use near you using WiFi analyser then select a free or least congested channel

Re: Static IP address

licquorice — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 18:33:06 GMT

@Frogmodem Not sure your IT bloke knows what he is talking about.

Re: Static IP address

WSH — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 18:40:25 GMT

I'd have to agree. I was just answering your question re: static vs reserved addresses, but if it's a wireless printer the connection problem is almost certainly the wireless. Can you try it as a wired connection? See if that makes a difference.

Re: Static IP address

Frogmodem — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 09:17:28 GMT

My Hub2 shows the 2.4 band as 'Smart Channel 1' and 5Ghz as 'Smart Channel 44'. I also have an option for wireless mode (1,2 or 3). It's set as 1 at the moment. My IT bloke reckons that another issue might be the automatic timeout on the printer - it switches itself off completely after a few hours of non-use. I'm trying to find out how to extend this, although I realise the need for energy saving.

Re: Static IP address

imjolly — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 09:46:43 GMT

I would change from 'Smart Channel' to a fixed channel maybe 11 for 2.4ghz and 48 for 5ghz. smart channel allows hub to change channel if it decides one of other channels is better. maybe me but I prefer the fixed channel.

the modes are to allow for older wifi but normally you would stay on 1

if your printer timed out that would mean it is not in use and as soon as you wanted to print it would start and automatically select the wifi channel.

sorry but as others have said I don't think much of your IT guy

Re: Static IP address

gg30340 — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 11:16:36 GMT

@Frogmodem wrote:

My Hub2 shows the 2.4 band as 'Smart Channel 1' and 5Ghz as 'Smart Channel 44'. I also have an option for wireless mode (1,2 or 3). It's set as 1 at the moment. My IT bloke reckons that another issue might be the automatic timeout on the printer - it switches itself off completely after a few hours of non-use. I'm trying to find out how to extend this, although I realise the need for energy saving.

If your IT bloke is so good how come you are still having a problem. It sounds to me that he is just flanneling.

How come no one else has the same problem when their printer turns off either on an auto turn off or when the person turns it off at the end of the day!

Re: Static IP address

WSH — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 11:25:59 GMT

To be fair to the “IT Guy”, I have known reservations to be temperamental myself. I had one that worked fine for a couple of years and then suddenly started playing up for no obvious reason. I’ve also worked in one place that wouldn’t allow the use of reservations because they’d had problems with them in the past. (Mind you, I’ve also spent 18 months working somewhere where everything was done as reservations and everything worked perfectly).

On balance though, if it’s wireless, I’m 9 out 10 in favour of it being a wireless stability problem and I’d take a static address over a reservation any day.

Re: Static IP address

Frogmodem — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 11:28:18 GMT

The printer actually turns off completely (power light off), usually overnight - I'm trying to find the setting to change this. (When I see it happening I get that wonderful americanism - 'printer is switching off, please wait momentarily'.) It does go to sleep when still switched on (power light on, screen blank) and wakes when I send a print command. I assume that this re-sets the countdown to powering off. My IT bloke is very good with Excel macros, by the way, and has also shown me a neat little batch file that runs from the Command prompt to stop and then re-start the Print Spooler. The latter will (99% of the time anyway) get the printer working again.

Re: Static IP address

WSH — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 11:52:17 GMT

Yes, the spooler is on the computer, not the printer and there always has been a built-in way to restart it. (Plus, Microsoft are supposed to have fixed the problem with that years ago).

Re: Static IP address

Frogmodem — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 12:13:49 GMT

Strange thing is that when I manually access the spooler (via Services) it's always 'on'. But when I stop it, then start it, the printer is usually fine again for a while.

Re: Static IP address

WSH — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 14:18:57 GMT

Yes, used to be notorious for freezing but, as I said, it's supposed to be fixed in Win 10 & 11.