New WiFi Router - No Connection to Printer

[ardr021]

A week ago or so I received a new router to replace the one for which the security updates were about to expire (TalkTalk email of June 2025 refers, I think).  Since installing the new router, I have had problems with printing documents: to wit, I no longer have printing functions. 

I have a HP Smart Tank Plus 550 printer.  The HP Smart printer assistant (printer settings) tells me that, in the "Network Information" screen that:  "Wireless: Status - Not Connected"; Ethernet; Status - Not Supported".  What this means is that the printer no longer works.  On the printer control screen,  I have used the HP instructions to try and connect the printer to the WiFi network, by pressing the wireless button and the cancel button for three seconds. Nothing happens, other than the wireless button continuing to flash (blue light) indicating that the printer is trying to connect, without success.

In the Windows settings, under the "Network and Internet" menu, I have selected the top option - "WiFi" from the menu; and then gone into "Show Available Networks". The list shows "DIRECT -01-HP Smart Tank Plus 550" which I have then clicked on.  The "Connect Automatically" option is ticked; but nonetheless I then clicked on the "Connect" button. I then get one of two messages after the computer completes its attempt to "check network requirements": one is "Can't connect to the network"; the other message is "No Internet, secured". The router is, of course, working at this point.

In summary, with my new router, I now have no printing functions, which for me are essential for what I do.  It is also frustrating that the ethernet cable connection does not work either. 

I now wish I had never opted for the replacement router, as everything was working fine beforehand.  I am not very happy and I certainly will be thinking about changing broadband  supplier when my existing contract comes to an end. 

For the avoidance of doubt, my technical skills when it comes to computers, on a scale of 1-10, are around 3 (for example, I don't have a smart phone).   Obviously I want to be able to restore the printer functions that I previously had, but I fear that I will not be able to do this without some very simple, clear advice that I am capable of understanding and implementing. 

Thanks for any help.

[Philile-TT]

@fr8ys @KeithFrench thank you for your support. 

[KeithFrench]

Hi @ardr021 

You mention the WiFi switch on your router, which toggles all of its WiFi networks on and off again on the router. Does your printer allow connection to the router's WiFi by selecting the router's network & manually entering the password, or is WPS your only option? Is your WiFi actually enabled? If not, the printer will never connect to it. The easiest way to prove this is to see if any other devices connect to the router & have internet access. 

[KeithFrench]

HI @ardr021 

In your opening post, you mention an HP wireless direct network "DIRECT -01-HP Smart Tank Plus 550". That is not your router's WiFi network, but one some HP printers use themselves to allow clients to directly connect to the printer.

The WPS function of the router should allow the printer to connect to the router's WiFi, if your printer supports that, which is what is needed here. When you press in the WPS button on the router, what happens to the light on it? WPS could be disabled within the router; you can check this by logging into it & going to:-

Advanced Settings > Wi-Fi 2.4Ghz > WPS    or

Advanced Settings > Wi-Fi 5Ghz > WPS

Make sure that WPS is enabled on both the 2.4GHz & 5GHz bands.

[ferguson]

OK, I cannot see any reason why you shouldn't be able to set this up. Although from personal experience I have also had to faff around with connecting a printer after changing routers. But I did get there in the end.

@KeithFrench any thoughts here, please?  

[ardr021]

Thank you for the suggestion.  The router is located at a distance of 15cm from the printer.  The laptop, router and printer are all located in close proximity.  

I have tried what you have suggested with regard to the Wi-Fi Hub identifier name in the printer settings.  

[ferguson]

I am not sure that particular design nuance has a bearing on the issue here.

It works best for an initial WPS connection if both devices are close togerher , have you tried that? Alternatively go into your printer settings when connected by ethernet and see if you can see the router SSID there. 

[ardr021]

That's it: brilliant as a work of art, not very practical.  I am surprised that TalkTalk buyers thought that it was a suitable design.  The light indicating that the router is on is under the base, inside the vent. 

[ardr021]

Thanks for the suggestion.  I did do what you indicated and the printer was still not connected to the WiFi - I know this because the printer has a failed connection indicator.

[fr8ys]

@ferguson thanks. Not seen that design before.

[ferguson]

@ardr021 

You need to press the WPS button on the printer first and then hold down the button on the router for around 5 seconds or so. 

[ferguson]

@fr8ys 

I suspect it is the latest Hub 3 which is as the poster describes:

.

[ardr021]

Thank you for the suggestion. Yes I have tried using the WPS button, as prompted by the Epson installation wizard. As I have indicated elsewhere, this button has no light around it so it is difficult to know whether it is working or not. As I have said on other comments, design-wise it is a very poor product and is not user friendly. As a work of art, it is superb.  

[fr8ys]

Could you take a photo of it please as this seems strange as I have a hub 3 and it is as per the photo.

[ardr021]

Thank you for your message.  The router I have is not the one that you have pictured.  

The new router supplied by TalkTalk ("Wi-Fi Hub 3") does not have the "TalkTalk" logo on the front. In fact there is no logo on it at all.

The router is positioned upright, just as shown in the accompanying instruction book. As I said, there is no light on either of the buttons affixed to the side of the router; and the light to indicate that the router is working is inside the vented base. 

[ferguson]

@ardr021 

Have you tried connecting the router to the printer using WPS? 

[nambuso-TT]

Thanks for the support @fr8ys 

[nambuso-TT]

@ardr021 We appreciate your feedback regarding the router you have receive and I will take it back, I can also see that you are not happy with this, I have sent you a private message with our complaint link for you to know more about our complaint process

[fr8ys]

I don't know how you have your router positioned but all routers supplied by TalkTalk, have the light on the front above the TalkTalk logo, except Eeros (white routers) which are on the top.

There is a stand on the box which when opened out helps the router stand up 

It should look like this and you can see the white light.

 is yours lying down for it to be at the bottom?

If so stand it up which will improve the WiFi signal and your printers may well connect then.

[ardr021]

Thank you for your reply. Time to look for an alternative broadband supplier, I think. 

[ardr021]

Thank you for the suggestions, both here and elsewhere.

The new router does have a separate WiFi button and a WiFi Protected Set (WPS) Up button (at least i think that this is what these two buttons are for: only the WPS button is referred to in the instruction booklet; there is no explanation what the other is for.  As part of the Epson set up process, I did have to use the WPS button.  It is difficult to know whether either of these two buttons is on or off, because there is no light attached to them, unlike, say, the on-off swithch on my new printer which has a light surround whoch comes on when you switch the printer on. I am assuming that if they were off, I would not be able to access the internet as I am doing now. 

As an aside, the router is a triumph of aesthetic design over practicality: the light to indicate whether the router is connected is under the base (yes, that's right, under the base) so that you have to look for the reflection of that light on your table to know whether the router is properly connected.  Unbelievable. No common sense in the design.