Solving Ethernet Connection Issues - What Would a Tech Do?

All SignWarehouse technicians are committed to supporting our customer's success. This article's topic is on an issue many people face -- ethernet connection issues.

Our technician, Leif's, step-by-step instructions are here to help you overcome and prevent future ethernet connection issues.  (For a deeper understanding of IP addresses and how network protocol works, there are many helpful videos available on YouTube.)

When we have connection issues with an ethernet-enabled device like a Mutoh or PrismJET printer, Windows updates and network conflicts are more than likely to blame.

Re-Connecting a Printer

Here are the "meat and potatoes" on getting your printer connected again. Enjoy the meal!

We need to know what the IP address assigned to the printer is:

1. Go to Menu > Setup > IP Address
2. It will be 192.168.1.253 if you have never changed it.

         


        3. Once you get the printer connected and printing, I recommend printing a label of this IP and putting it somewhere on the printer so it will be visible from your PC.

         

        IPv4 Settings

        1. Back on the PC, I want you to search for your Windows “Control Panel”



        2. In the control panel go to “Network and Sharing Center”

        3. Next, go to “Change adapter settings”


        4. Open the network for your printer. If your printer is plugged directly into the computer, it will show up as an “Unidentified network”

        If your printer is plugged into a router, hub, or switch you will need to get your internal IT department to resolve any connectivity issues, or make a way to directly connect the printer to your computer.

        5. We need to open the properties for this connection and go to the IPv4 Settings.

        6. Once we’re in the IPv4 Properties, we want to check the option for “Use the following IP address” to set a static IP address, then designate an IP address where the first three octets match the printer, and the last octet is LESS than what is on the printer.

        Make sure the subnet mask field matches the subnet mask on the printer exactly.


        My printer’s IP is 192.1.168.253 so by designating the computer to be  192.168.1.250 it will ensure that the printer's and computer’s connection are on the same network, and are close enough to communicate.

        7. Click OK and then re-open the screen to double-check that the settings were saved here:

         Flexi/LXi Settings

        1. Right-click on your printer’s setup in the production manager, then go to “Change Port”

        2. Make sure TCP/IP is selected, then enter the exact IP address shown on your printer.
        Click “Test”

         

        3. If you see “Check connection success” your printer is now communicating with the software and you are good to go! 

        If you see any other pop-ups (“System administrator...”) you should assign the IP
        address 169.254.1.253 to the printer, and follow these steps again.

        If that does not do the trick, have your IT Department look at this document, and assign an IP address to your printer. Any kind of firewalls or network-based security poses a problem for these printer connections, I recommend taking your computer completely off the local network and internet if you are in a secure facility where these are in place.

        SignWarehouse technicians can be reached through the Help icon at the bottom, right of any page on signwarehouse.com

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