Solved Cannot add network printer using ZenWiFi BD4

[Terepin]

So I switched from TUF-AX6000 and I am no longer able to access the printer via wi-fi. The printer is connected, it has proper address in the same subnet, the 2.4 GHz is not isolated, and yet no other device in the network can detect it. I never had this problem before with RT-AX56U, RT-AX58U or TUF-AX6000. I just connected the printer into my home network, searched for it in Windows 11 or Android and simply added it. But with ZeWiFi I have no such luck anymore. What can be the issue?

SOLUTION: Disable IGMP snooping in 2.4 GHz band.

 

[bennor]

Post your WiFi settings for others to review.
Is the printer being attached to a Guest Network (or Guest Network Pro network)

Some suggestions since it's a 2.4Ghz WiFi client that is having problems.
Set the Authentication method to WPA2-Personal not WPA2/WPA3.
Set the WPA Encryption to AES if it has more options than AES.
Set the Channel Bandwidth to 20Mhz.
Set a specific Control Channel. Use the common channel 1, 6, or 11.
Avoid using special characters (including spaces and underscores) in SSID names or WiFi passwords. Try using shorter password lengths if using a very long password.
Reboot the router if you haven't done so already.

 

[Terepin]

Perhaps you misunderstood me. I don't have problem connecting the printer (HP DeskJet 5820) to router. That works just fine. The problem is that despite being connected to the same network no other device within the network can see it.

 

[ColinTaylor]

How is your printer connected to the router, USB, ethernet (directly or via a switch), Wi-Fi?

 

[Terepin]

Wi-Fi

 

[ColinTaylor]

Wi-Fi

Can you ping the printer's IP address from the client?

 

[Terepin]

No, I cannot.

Here is a screenshot of the list of clients:

192.168.50.9 is the printer, 192.168.50.205 is my PC.

 

[ColinTaylor]

No, I cannot.

192.168.50.9 is the printer, 192.168.50.205 is my PC.

Can you access the printer's UI from a browser using http://192.168.50.9

 

[Terepin]

Nope, I'm getting connection timed out.

 

[ColinTaylor]

Nope, I'm getting connection timed out.

Hmm.

If you log into your router and go to Network Tools - Network Analysis can you ping 192.168.50.9 from there?

 

[Terepin]

Nothing. Even traceroute is completely empty. I'm baffled.

 

[ColinTaylor]

Nothing. Even traceroute is completely empty. I'm baffled.

So for all intents and purposes the printer is not connected to the network anymore despite what the router's client list says.

Can you check the printer's Wi-Fi status and IP address using the control panel on the printer.

When you switched from your old TUF-AX6000 to the ZenWiFi BD4 did you set it up from scratch without importing an old config file from the old router?

 

[Terepin]

No no, it is connected. Printer says it's connected, even printer's app says it's connected to wi-fi, but it cannot connect to the printer itself.

It was a clean installation.

 

[ColinTaylor]

Well, I'm out of ideas. The firmware used by the BD4 is significantly different than that used by the older routers. So maybe that's got something to do with it.

 

[Terepin]

Could be a compatibility issue. The printer is a bit old at this point.

 

[ColinTaylor]

As a last resort, as per the manual:

1. From your printer control panel, press the Wireless button ( ) and the Information button (i) at the same time to print the wireless network test report and network configuration page.

2. Check the top of the wireless network test report to see if something failed during the test.
– See the DIAGNOSTICS RESULTS section for all tests that were performed, to determine whether or not your printer passed.

 

[Tech9]

When testing AiMesh some time ago my wireless printer never worked if connected to node. I've read complaints about it and did target testing to confirm the issue. I don't know if this is valid for all printer models, but Brother MFC series definitely doesn't work. The symptoms were the same - printer connects as usual, but is not discoverable by any device on the network. If this is still the case - Asus has to fix upstream. I don't know what happens with routers running 3006 firmware.

 

[bbunge]

I had intermittent connection issues with my old Canon printer. I solved it by assigning a static IP address at the printer. If you do this you will need to change the DHCP Server - IP Pool Starting address to leave a block of IP addresses the router does not assign. My example: IP Pool Starting Address - 192.168.50.30 and the IP address of the printer is 192.168.50.20 ( I also have other clients with a static IP address in this range).
Also, if you have an old printer use WPA2-Personal on your WIFI.

 

[Terepin]

I had intermittent connection issues with my old Canon printer. I solved it by assigning a static IP address at the printer. If you do this you will need to change the DHCP Server - IP Pool Starting address to leave a block of IP addresses the router does not assign. My example: IP Pool Starting Address - 192.168.50.30 and the IP address of the printer is 192.168.50.20 ( I also have other clients with a static IP address in this range).
Also, if you have an old printer use WPA2-Personal on your WIFI.

There is no need for such complicated solution. You can manually set IP address like this:

 

[Terepin]

When testing AiMesh some time ago my wireless printer never worked if connected to node. I've read complaints about it and did target testing to confirm the issue. I don't know if this is valid for all printer models, but Brother MFC series definitely doesn't work. The symptoms were the same - printer connects as usual, but is not discoverable by any device on the network. If this is still the case - Asus has to fix upstream. I don't know what happens with routers running 3006 firmware.

I bound the printer to the router. Still nothing.