I can’t connect Epson ET-2850 to Smart Hub Plus

[HenryTudor8]

I’m going in ever decreasing circles. I set up an Epson ET-2850 a week or two ago and everything was fine. Then a couple of days ago the wheels came off. I have a Mac Mini running OS Sequoia and I run NordVPN. 

I saw a message flash up on the screen that appeared to say that an IP address (local network) had been blocked. No time to read it fully before it went. Since then I can’t connect my printer. I’ve spent the best part of two days and can’t fix it. I wonder if the hub has blocked the MAC address. 
I’ve done everything other than reset the hub.

Any ideas please and the wisdom of resetting the hub.

many thanks. 

[HenryTudor8]

A bit info:

Setting up WiFi from the printer (not the Epson app) the Check Network result passes down to MAC address filtering and this returns “FAIL”. From what I’ve read the EE hub doesn’t have this option, but clearly it does. How can I clear this, other than possibly a factory reset?

Also the IP address of the printer, to pair with the hub, is OK. But the Subnet mask is 255.255.0.0 which my Google searches tell me is also a problem. 

Thanks again. 

[Mustrum]

@HenryTudor8   have you reset the printer?

Also have you used the compatibility setting on the router to help the printer setup?

[HenryTudor8]

Yes, I’ve repeatedly reset the printer, and left the power cord disconnected overnight (that’s how desperate I am).

I’ve not seen a compatibility setting on the router, but the printer still won’t log onto the router even though it sees the ssid and asks for the password. It just fails to connect after a good few minutes of trying.

[Mustrum]

@HenryTudor8   the printer is only WiFi4 whereas the Smart Hub Plus is Wifi6 and has a higher level of security. So the later firmware updates for the Hub include a compatibility mode for older devices, or you could try changing the WiFi security from WPA3 to WPA2. You will need to log into the router and go to the WiFi Advanced settings.

[HenryTudor8]

Thanks for the additional ideas. I've found the compatibility setting but given that the printer worked for some time it should be ok. The Epson website implies that they are struggling to make their drivers and software compatible with Mac OS Sequoia and I'm wondering if that is the problem.

Incidentally I also turned off the 5Ghz channel and the printer still won't connect to the router. I don't why I can't even get the Mac to recognise the printer when I have a USB cable connected. I'm assuming it's the cable that's not compatible, so have ordered a new one from Amazon.

Thanks again.

[Mustrum]

@HenryTudor8  although it may have worked I suspect the router has had a firmware update, that may be why it is not working now.

MAC drivers will be nothing to do with the Epson WiFi. 

Does the printer see the compatible network? If so can you connect to that?

Have you tried changing WiFi security to WPA2?

[HenryTudor8]

I think you're right that the router firmware update seems to coincide with the printer problem. I've not had the courage yet to change the security to WPA2. I'll do that tomorrow.

The printer always sees the router. If I'm using the iPhone Epson app to set it up it simply says it can't connect. But if try from the printer's panel it also prints out a "check network communication" report. Everything passes until it gets to the MAC address filtering check and it fails. I can't get to the MAC filtering on the router. Accessing the router via its web page sends me to the app and the app doesn't appear to have that option. A number of posts in various groups say that the EE hub doesn't have MAC address filtering.

Round and round in circles.

Thanks.

[XRaySpeX]

---

@HenryTudor8 wrote:

Accessing the router via its web page sends me to the app

---

It shouldn't do! Are you logging to your EE Smart Hub/Router at http://192.168.1.254 with the admin password on the bottom of the slider label on the back of the router?

EE routers don't have MAC address filtering.

[HenryTudor8]

I possibly didn’t express myself well enough. Yes, I’m logging on to the hub via the web page. It doesn’t actually send me to the app, it tells me to use the app. It calls it something else but is meant to be Mac filtering. But then it’s not accessible so, as you say, the router doesn’t appear to do Mac filtering. But if pretty certain it’s blocking the MAC address of my printer. 

Thanks.