How can I restore the network connection to my Epson SX235W?

Question

My Epson SX235W has lost it's network connection for no apparent reason. The settings for my wireless network haven't changed - other wireless devices can still connect - and (as far as I can work out) the settings on the printer haven't changed either. I haven't enabled MAC filtering, the wireless password hasn't changed, the SSID of the network hasn't changed.

I've tried both reinstalling the printer software from the installation CD and reconnecting the printer via the "Wi-Fi" button on the front panel. In both cases the printer goes away for 5 minutes attempting to communicate and comes back with either:

Communication error

or a flashing orange light on the front panel. There is no other information as to what is wrong.

The router seems to think that the printer is connected. It has an entry for the printer called "EPSON2C11F5" and has assigned it an IP address. However if I try to ping that address I get "Destination host unreachable.". Unfortunately I don't know whether that's because the printer doesn't respond to pings or really is unreachable.

What other options do I have?

The printer part is working fine when I connect via USB - it's just the wireless networking that's failed.

Solution 1

Definitely a weird problem this.

I rang Epson support and they just said "try resetting the router" - hardly inspiring, but I thought I'd give it go. So I reinstalled the software and drivers (having previously left them uninstalled on my previous attempts) but this time I selected the "WPS" option.

Lo and behold the printer found and connected to the wireless network without a hitch. Though the orange light is still flashing an hour or so after the installation.

Solution 2

I found the solution. It seems that with every change of network configuration, even with a new computer start, turning the printer off and on again etc., the printer may request/receive a new IP from the router.

So the trick to fix it is to find out the new IP of the printer (I am doing that via the router admin interface), then run "Start" - "Epson" - "Epson Scanner Configuration", and there I delete the existing scanner from "Network Scanner Address" and add a new one with the correct IP. Clicking "Test" should find the scanner now.

After that, refresh the scanner list in the software (it may be 'cached' with an old IP address) and run a scan - for me it works ever since! (well unless my printer receives a new IP, aargh!!)

Solution 3

You can reset the settings on the printer by holding down the Network info button as you turn the printer on and then run the disc.

Comments

[ChrisF]

@fixer1234 - I've just nuked the comment. I can't remember what I searched for to find it now.

[ChrisF]

I did try reinstalling via the CD.

[Dave]

In that case, if you can, shut down all network devices in the building. Boot up with router first, wait 30 seconds, then PC, wait and then printer + mobile phones etc.

[hdhondt]

The best thing to do is to give the printer a fixed IP address. You can do that on the printer (or via its browser interface). Just make sure the address is well outside the normal DHCP range (e.g. if the printer is now 10.0.0.5, make it 10.0.0.250). Alternatively you can reserve an address for it on the router.

[ChrisF]

I don't have that menu/option. I'll dig around this area though.

[richey]

@hdhondt: if I enter the printer's IP in the browser, it forwards to some empty subpage only displaying the printer model. How else would I get to the "browser interface" of the printer, is it a certain port or so? Unfortunately, my router doesn't seem to allow me to set a fixed IP for a certain Mac address.

[richey]

@ChrisF: on my computer (Win7), it is in "Programs"-"Epson"-"Epson Scan"-"Epson Scanner Configuration". HTH...

[Ravindra Bawane]

Connecting your printer to your neighbor's internet is quite a different problem than what OP had.

[fixer1234]

@music2myear, my read is that the neighbor had a strong signal that was confusing the printer into trying to connect to it rather than the in-house network.

[Ravindra Bawane]

The printers I've worked with have you choose the network they should connect to. If the SSID was the same, there's a chance of what he says, but if not, that's just a big case of user error.