Help needed setting up network printer...

[sheeny (Al)]

I have an Epson C1100N network printer, which was on my old network before I moved. I was running a D-Link DSL-G604T wireless modem router.

I have now moved out of town where there's no ADSL, so I have a new router - a Linksys WRT64G. I have the network and wireless network functioning, my lappy can connect via wireless, etc. Until I get the satellite installed I have no gateway, but I can't get the router to detect the printer.

On the D-Link I simply set the IP address manually on the printer and it all worked (so the printer has a fixed IP address but the PC's IPs are allocated by the DHCP). I think I set a static IP address in the D-Link but it seemed to promptly forget it...

Any suggestions welcome! I've run out of ideas ATM, and would be grateful for some advice from anyone with an idea what I should be doing!

Al.

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Hi Al,

I think the problem is the new router is setting itself and the computer / lappy to a new subnet. That is, it dishes out addresses to each of the network components that ask for one.

The issue is that the printer is being set as a static IP address such as 192.168.0.100 for e.g. and the new router is probably doing its own thing in a subnet of 192.168.1.x or something like that. Therefore the printer is unable to talk to the other devices on the network.

My suggestion is this:
1) From your start bar, find the run command on XP or in the start search bar for vista, type cmd and then press enter.
2) In the black box that comes up, ignore the c:\documents and settings\ stuff, and type the word ipconfig and then press enter.
3) On the screen you should see the ip address that the router has given your pc or laptop.
4) Take note of the subnet numbers (192.168.1.32 as an example) and then set the static IP address of the printer to 192.168.1.200 or some other last number that is LESS than 254.
5) See if this works.
6) Alternatively, set the IP address settings on the printer to DHCP enabled and let the router set the IP address of the printer for you. (You may have to search for the printer in the printer setup wizard or see if the router's interface can tell you in the DHCP leases what is in use to then find the number of the printer.

See how you go, I tried to make it not long-winded, but you know me, if I can waffle, I will.

Cheers

Chris

[sheeny (Al)]

Thanks Chris! I just logged back on to say that I think I've solved it.

I was forgetting to switch the network printer off and back on again after changing the IP address in the printer. ATM I have the printer set to auto (which should be the same as DHCP allocated IP address I think) so I'll see how that goes.

Thanks for the help! At the moment, I think the problem is solved. If I strike problems I'll post again.

(Gee, dial up is a hassle!)

Al.

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Cool Al,

I know how frustrating it can be to have something not working, I am struggling with my collimation at the moment.

Glad I could sort of help, let me know if you get stuck.

Chris