Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 22:15 Post subject: Mysterious issue with a WiFi printer
Hi,
I'm a newbie on this forum. I've used DD-WRT on a Dlink DIR-825 (rev. C1) for 8 years at home. I've 3 WiFi devices connected on the 5 GHz band : 2 smartphones and a printer (HP Color LaserJet MFP M281fdw). Everything worked fine with DD-WRT r43028.
Recently, I updated my router to r46316. My smartphones still work fine but the printer doesn't work any more. Strangely, it succeeds to connect and get an IP address from DD-WRT DHCP server. However, I can't connect to its Web interface nor print or scan anything while I din't change any setting on my router and printer. I tried to connect the printer on the 2.4 GHz band and it works. I compared all DD-WRT WiFi settings for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz and I didn't see any difference. I checked every setting in Basic settings, Advanced Settings, Wireless security. No difference! I don't understand.
Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2021 10:05 Post subject: Mysterious issue with a WiFi printer
I updated my router with DD-WRT last release (46446). No change.
Finally, I restored release 43028 and my printer works again on both WiFi bands. So, there is a bug in most recent DD-WRT releases. But it is very difficult to identify since my two smartphones worked with these recent releases. Moreover, my HP printer is a labyrinthine system .
Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 14242 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2021 13:24 Post subject:
The idea was to check and update the printer's firmware to rule that out. Also, if in the process of your updating your router you reset any settings or didn't check them against the wi-fi settings sticky / wiki.... _________________ "Life is but a fleeting moment, a vapor that vanishes quickly; All is vanity"
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Linux User #377467 counter.li.org / linuxcounter.net
Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2021 14:03 Post subject: Mysterious issue with a WiFi printer
kernel-panic69 wrote:
The idea was to check and update the printer's firmware to rule that out. Also, if in the process of your updating your router you reset any settings or didn't check them against the wi-fi settings sticky / wiki....
The printer's firmware was updated in October 2020, no newer firmware is available. I checked every Wifi setting in DD-WRT. Even though I don't understand every advanced setting, I can assure you they were the same for both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz and they worked on the 2.4 GHz band. So, I didn't understand what was wrong.
Anyway, the printer has worked again on the 5 GHz band since I restored DD-WRT release 43028. Therefore, it was clearly a bug in DD-WRT recent releases.
Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 14242 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2021 16:00 Post subject:
I am pretty sure something changed that you overlooked after updating DD-WRT. If you're okay with the missing vulnerability patches and such in that older firmware, then stay where you're at. Otherwise, without seeing properly sized screenshots of wifi settings on 43028 compared to the 46446, we have no clue what could be wrong and cannot advise you on what to do to fix it. _________________ "Life is but a fleeting moment, a vapor that vanishes quickly; All is vanity"
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Linux User #377467 counter.li.org / linuxcounter.net
Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2021 1:16 Post subject: Mysterious issue with a WiFi printer
Here are the screenshots for r46446:
Note that my printer gets an IP address and a lease when connected on the 5 GHz band. But I can't access its Web UI and my Android app, HP Smart, or my Windows app, HP Scan, don't find any printer/scanner. On the 2.4 GHz band, everything is OK. I haven't changed any setting after upgrading.
Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2021 2:27 Post subject: Mysterious issue with a WiFi printer
Look at this picture! With r46446, the printer's control panel shows an APIPA address which means its DHCP client failed to get an IP address while DD-WRT displays at the same time that its DHCP server has provided an IP address and a lease to the printer. Strange!
I had not checked the printer's control panel because it didn't show an alert (yellow triangle on the Wifi icon) as when no Wifi connection is possible.
Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 14242 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2021 2:47 Post subject:
Worst case is:
1) You actually read the QCA wifi settings wiki and sticky and fix your settings and / or:
2) You forget the current wi-fi network on the printer and re-join the wi-fi network. Why you're using 5GHz for the printer, I don't know, but that's entirely your choice. _________________ "Life is but a fleeting moment, a vapor that vanishes quickly; All is vanity"
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Linux User #377467 counter.li.org / linuxcounter.net
2) You forget the current wi-fi network on the printer and re-join the wi-fi network. Why you're using 5GHz for the printer, I don't know, but that's entirely your choice.
I'm using the 5 GHz band because all my devices support it and the 2.4 GHz band is crowded (I live in a big city in the neighborhood of 2 hotels).
I already tried what you suggest. I removed from the printer all WiFi settings, restarted the printer and set up WiFi network again.
Like @kp69 said, read the wiki which is a sticky in this forum.
Your settings are way off.
France is not a tested Domain (US, Europe and Germany are tested and a lot of others do work but it is something you can check if the advised settings are not working)
Which settings are way off? Don't forget it's an old router released in 2011! It only supports Wifi n 2x2!
The regulatory domain is not an issue, it has been removed from 5 GHz section. Anyway, rules are set by the EU. So Europe, France or Germany, it doesn't matter.