Q: My HP OfficeJet printer and my desktop PC are on a mesh Wi-Fi network. The printer recently stopped receiving printing requests that the PC sent through the Wi-Fi network. But the printer still receives Wi-Fi printing requests sent from my iPhone and laptop PC. What's wrong?
Barney Johnson, Minneapolis
A: Mesh networks use multiple Wi-Fi antennas to blanket a large house with a strong wireless signal. But this convenience comes at a price: Mesh networks are more complicated than those that have a single antenna (usually on your wireless router.)
Because all the antennas in a mesh network talk to each other, they should relay a print request from any computer or phone on the network to a shared printer. But glitches can be caused by:
• Software updates. A recent update to Windows 10 or to PC security software may have scrambled the desktop PC's ability to communicate with the wireless printer. To fix that, use the Microsoft or HP troubleshooting programs for printers (see tinyurl.com/y73ue45y). Or use Windows 10's System Restore to undo recent PC changes (see tinyurl.com/yc4er5lk).
• A Wi-Fi frequency problem. Mesh networks often use two wireless frequencies, 2.4 gigahertz and 5 gigahertz. The 2.4 gigahertz signal reaches farther and penetrates walls better; the 5 gigahertz signal is faster.
But this can lead to problems. If the desktop PC and printer are on different frequencies, your print request won't be received. (To make sure all devices use the same frequency, consult your mesh network setup directions.)
Alternatively, if both PC and printer are using the 5 gigahertz frequency, the signal might be fading out after passing through too many walls or floors. (Reposition the mesh network antennas so Wi-Fi signals pass through fewer obstacles.)
