topic Re: HP printer not wirelessly connecting to Hub - Mac filter issue? in Broadband & Landline

HP printer not wirelessly connecting to Hub - Mac filter issue?

Mark_D — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:48:33 GMT

Have a HP Officejet which connected perfectly on my previous BT Home Hub - switched to EE Smart Hub and I have lost 3 days of my life trying to get it to connect. Finds the Hub no problem - asks for WPA PW but fails. Message on the report seems to indicate Mac Enablement issue. But I could be wrong. Please don't say add the MAC address as I couldn't find a way to do that on the new EE Smart Hub.

Re: HP printer not wirelessly connecting to Hub - Mac filter issue?

robh661 — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:39:49 GMT

Does the printer have a WPS button on it, to automatically connect to the hub and get an IP address, and then in the hub manager set the IP address allocated to the printer to fixed.

Re: HP printer not wirelessly connecting to Hub - Mac filter issue?

Mark_D — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:41:27 GMT

Thanks - yes tried both WPS and also entered the PW for the router when asked - it just times out and provides the FAIL report. ps worked fine on BT Router previously. And isn't an old dinosaur printer...

Re: HP printer not wirelessly connecting to Hub - Mac filter issue?

Ewan15 — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:01:59 GMT

Hi Mark

Have you tried installing HP Smart and getting it to search for your printer?

If all else fails I would factory reset the printer and follow the setup instructions again.

NB don't factory reset the printer if you have an HP Instant Ink account.

Another option is to connect your printer using an Ethernet cable to get it on the network and then try getting it to connect wirelessly, without the network cable connected.

Hope this helps

Re: HP printer not wirelessly connecting to Hub - Mac filter issue?

Mark_D — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:07:26 GMT

Thanks - yes at the moment I have it connected to an Extender but it is not ideal as I need the printer in another room! Have tried factory reset but might also try unplugging the printer for a few minutes. The weird part is it sees the Hub and also reacts when I press the WPS on the hub so it is connecting (sort of).

Re: HP printer not wirelessly connecting to Hub - Mac filter issue?

robh661 — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:55:00 GMT

Does the printer appear in the hub manager when on wireless, and have you tried adding the printer via the settings page if you're running Windows 10 or 11.

Re: HP printer not wirelessly connecting to Hub - Mac filter issue?

Mark_D — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 14:20:31 GMT

Hi - no it is not connecting so no printer and no IP. Running Mac and also printer is stand-alone

Re: HP printer not wirelessly connecting to Hub - Mac filter issue?

Ewan15 — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 12:09:16 GMT

@Mark_D have you tried using the HP Smart app to get the printer connected?

Re: HP printer not wirelessly connecting to Hub - Mac filter issue?

Mark_D — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 15:53:53 GMT

Thanks all for the advice - to be honest I have given up trying to resolve this so have simply connected a spare EE Hub extender and ethernet. Works fine but seems overkill. And don't speak to me about the EE app which frankly is very clunky and ineffective 🫣

Re: HP printer not wirelessly connecting to Hub - Mac filter issue?

MPB61 — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 13:48:25 GMT

It’s also spent 3 days of my life trying to sort out this travesty!! HP doesn’t like BT to EE just plagued with problems. Fixed myself - when using your pc Ethernet cable printer direct to router you can print no problems . Then when you want to print from your device whatever it may be go to settings and on WiFi change your WiFi to the printer , print what you need then re set your device to the WiFi tested all I phone devices and windows pc 👍👍

Re: HP printer not wirelessly connecting to Hub - Mac filter issue?

MaryF1 — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 16:00:29 GMT

Having same problem with new hub, printing fine with old ee hub.

Where is the WPS button on the hub?

I am a dinosaur.

Re: HP printer not wirelessly connecting to Hub - Mac filter issue?

XRaySpeX — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 18:01:46 GMT

@MaryF1 : On the LHS.

Re: HP printer not wirelessly connecting to Hub - Mac filter issue?

Peter_W — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 18:05:51 GMT

Hey there @MaryF1, welcome to the EE Community 😊

Which model of EE Hub do you have?

Feel free to post a picture if you're not sure, but it will usually be found on the back or side.

Peter

Re: HP printer not wirelessly connecting to Hub - Mac filter issue?

Goodfera — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 02:57:26 GMT

Like all, found no answer via community and EE tech support works unhelpful short hours. So I tried intuition and it worked.

In hub Admin Wireless panel I enabled Compatibility, 2.4G option and tried same SSID as my default one but, with a "c" at the end to prompt it is compatibility mode.

Then I selected wireless wps connect and pressed button of hub to pair.

It worked ! Printer could be accessed and now visible on network through the hub !

Hope this helps those with same problem.

Re: HP printer not wirelessly connecting to Hub - Mac filter issue?

Leanne_T — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 07:05:18 GMT

Morning @Goodfera

Thanks for sharing how you got connected. I am sure this will be very helpful for other customers experiencing the same problem with the printer 🙂

Just to let you know, your signature has been edited as this contained personal details.

Have a lovely day.

Leanne.

Re: HP printer not wirelessly connecting to Hub - Mac filter issue?

bobpullen — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 07:08:37 GMT

@Goodfera - that's one way to do it. I think enabling Compatible WiFi also enables Wi-Fi 802.11b (a very old Wi-Fi standard) on the main network, which would explain what you're seeing.

Another suggestion for anybody reading this thread that has problems is: -

Enable Compatible WiFi by accessing the Hub Manager at http://192.168.1.254 and navigating to Advanced > Wireless > Compatible WiFi.
Enable Compatible WiFi, choose a name/password for the Compatible WiFi network, leave the 5GHz option disabled and save the changes (may cause a brief interruption to your WiFi).
Try connecting the printer to the new Compatible WiFi network instead of the main WiFi network. One way to do this is to go to the same page in the Hub Manager and use WPS, but instead of pressing the physical WPS button on the hub, click the WPS button on the Compatible WiFi page in the Hub Manager instead (note, you will need to initiate a WPS connection from the printer too - instructions for doing that will vary depending on the model).