Connect Printer to Router via USB

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MikeAqua

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#295438 29-Mar-2022 14:48

I have an HP CM1415fn printer. The network function on it appears to have died. It's visible on my Deco network but the printer has no internet access. I can't ping it from a command prompt. I've tried obvious things like power-cycling, a different LAN cable and even a different router. The problem persists.

The printer has a USB-B which can be sued to connected it directly to a computer. I thinking of using this to connect it to my router (Deco T9), which has a USB socket. I'm hoping it would then be visible on the network, again.

Before I go and splash out on a new USB cable. Does anyone know if this will work?

Mike

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#2893541 29-Mar-2022 15:01

Certainly works fine for me printing to a HP laser printer via a Fritzbox router; have you googled your router's model to see if the USB port supports printing? I've searched for the Deco T9 and couldn't find anything - do you mean M9 perhaps?

bagheera

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#2893556 29-Mar-2022 15:09

It depends if the usb port can be used as a printer server or not (required software in the router firmware) - can not find a t9, but if you mean m9 then the answer is no, the port only used for charging

https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/forum/topic/205236?page=2

MikeAqua

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#2893585 29-Mar-2022 16:17

Sorry, yes it's an M9. Sounds like a no go. Might see if I can use a Pi as a print server.

Mike

Tinkerisk

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#2893615 29-Mar-2022 17:24

MikeAqua:

Sorry, yes it's an M9. Sounds like a no go. Might see if I can use a Pi as a print server.

There is hope. If you can find the printer model in the compatibility list of CUPS, you could use a Rsspberry Pi with CUPS installed and plug in it‘s USB port to have a fully supported network printer server - either remotely via WLAN or the Pi‘s LAN.

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KiwiSurfer

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#2893650 29-Mar-2022 19:32

Have you tried resetting the printer and reconfiguring it again?

MikeAqua

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#2894112 30-Mar-2022 10:28

KiwiSurfer:

Have you tried resetting the printer and reconfiguring it again?

I've restored defaults on the printer. It didn't help. Another logical move would be to update the firmware. The manual says that need an internet connection. I'm trying to figure out if it's possible to do it from a USB stick.

Mike

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MikeAqua

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#2894138 30-Mar-2022 11:24

Tinkerisk:

There is hope. If you can find the printer model in the compatibility list of CUPS, you could use a Rsspberry Pi with CUPS installed and plug in it‘s USB port to have a fully supported network printer server - either remotely via WLAN or the Pi‘s LAN.

Just checked and it's not in the list. Amazon has a bunch of USB print servers. I'll look into them.

Mike

1024kb

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#2894171 30-Mar-2022 12:08

When you say it's visible on your Deco network, I take it that you can see it under Windows Network view, along with the rest of your network? And I'm guessing that you have the HP Smart app installed? Seems odd that it appears on the network yet won't hit the internet. To me, that's a firewall or similar type of software setting.

The latest Windows updates / Windows 11 do something stupid with access to HP printers - mostly requiring you to log in to an online HP account to use your own printer for scanning locally. The account form will often not let you log in anyway. Grrrr. The workaround - & this may help in your case - is to double click on the printer icon in your Windows Network view. This will take you to the printers own control panel interface, from where all functions are available. I don't know for sure but there may be some setting there that will re-enable your internet access.

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MikeAqua

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#2894286 30-Mar-2022 15:12

1024kb: When you say it's visible on your Deco network, I take it that you can see it under Windows Network view, along with the rest of your network? And I'm guessing that you have the HP Smart app installed? Seems odd that it appears on the network yet won't hit the internet. To me, that's a firewall or similar type of software setting.

The latest Windows updates / Windows 11 do something stupid with access to HP printers - mostly requiring you to log in to an online HP account to use your own printer for scanning locally. The account form will often not let you log in anyway. Grrrr. The workaround - & this may help in your case - is to double click on the printer icon in your Windows Network view. This will take you to the printers own control panel interface, from where all functions are available. I don't know for sure but there may be some setting there that will re-enable your internet access.

Thank for this suggestion. I'll try it shortly

I currently have the printer in bits looking for loose connection or similar internally.

Before I did this it wasn't visible in Network places or via my mobile but I could see it in the deco app.

Mike

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#2894321 30-Mar-2022 16:31

MikeAqua:

... Another logical move would be to update the firmware. The manual says that need an internet connection. I'm trying to figure out if it's possible to do it from a USB stick.

You should be able to plug the computer in to a PC to update the firmware. Would require aforementioned USB cable however.

MikeAqua

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#2894324 30-Mar-2022 16:36

So the printer is back together. Disconnected and reconnected everything I could and gave it blast with some canned air.

The printer is now visible on the network to windows and android devices. I can access the printer via it's IP address and I can ping it from the command prompt.

I've updated the firmware ad the touchscreen display has visibly changed. I can print a test page from windows.

So far so good

But ... the printer doesn't think it has a network connection. It's very strange.

Mike

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Tinkerisk

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#2894328 30-Mar-2022 16:42

The latest Windows updates / Windows 11 do something stupid with access to HP printers - mostly requiring you to log in to an online HP account to use your own printer for scanning locally. The account form will often not let you log in anyway. Grrrr.

That‘s the exact reason I‘ve banned all HP junk stuff from my network. Nevertheless, when you call up the login page and cancel it instead of login, it often does the job.

Tinkerisk

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#2894331 30-Mar-2022 16:46

MikeAqua:

But ... the printer doesn't think it has a network connection. It's very strange.

Maybe it has trouble with network speed auto negotiation. You could set the switch port speed related to the printer to a fixed 100M (or whatever it is from the printer side)?

allan

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#2894365 30-Mar-2022 17:45

MikeAqua:

... Just checked and it's not in the list...

Sometimes a close equivalent definition will work in CUPS.

If you do still need to go down the Raspberry Pi as a printserver route, I can can recommend using a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 w (if you can find one right now of course). Breathed new life into an ancient Brother HL-2140 laser printer that is now network attached.

MikeAqua

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#2894470 31-Mar-2022 08:10

allan:

Sometimes a close equivalent definition will work in CUPS.

If you do still need to go down the Raspberry Pi as a printserver route, I can can recommend using a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 w (if you can find one right now of course). Breathed new life into an ancient Brother HL-2140 laser printer that is now network attached.

Thanks, do you know if a Pi with CUPs installed will support printing from a mobile app, over a network?

Mike

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