Dell Dimension desktop sometimes won't communicate with my HP Photosmart 6510 wireless printer

Question

At random times, when trying to print from Dell Dimension desktop to HP Photosmart 6510 wireless printer, I get a message that the computer can't communicate with the printer.  The printer shows that it is connected to the Internet. I haven't changed any settings.   Each time this happens, I unplug the printer and router, but it doesn't fix the problem.  After about 20 minutes or so, it prints normally.  It always happens at the most inopportune times.  Any suggestions about how I can keep this from recurring?

Answer 1

These settings are for setting up your wireless printer to stay connected to your router, keeps wireless devices better connected and makes your router secure and hack proof.
1. Set a static IP in the printer (see step 6) outside the DHCP range of the router (check your manual). 
2. Verify in the printer that 'Auto Off' is disabled.  Use the Embedded Web Server (EWS) by going to the  
    printers IP address in your browsers address bar, click  Settings Tab/Auto Off.  Or use the Printer
    Assistant, Printer Home Page (EWS). 
In the router:  (Refer to your router manual for information)
3. Use a fixed wireless channel like 1,6 or 11, never 'auto', try channel 1 first then the rest. 
4. Set router to 20Mhz only, or 145Mbps depending on router. 
5. Always use WPA2-AES (Personal) encryption, but you can try ‘mixed’ mode. 
6. Disable WPS and never use it and disable UPnP for the routers security.  Nobody can hack your
    system now and helps with wireless connectivity (if you want to know why, search the web). 
7. If you have a dual band router (2.4Ghz and 5.0Ghz bands), make sure the SSID’s are NOT the same,
    they must be different for all bands, even for any Guest networks. 
8. Save all settings.  Power off both, wait 5 mins.  Power on router wait 3 mins. 
9. Power on printer and verify it reconnects to router. 
Windows 7/8/8.1   Is Network Discovery on or off?
Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network and Sharing Center\Advanced sharing settings.
Under Home or Work (current profile) \ Network Discovery.
Select "Turn on network discovery" and save changes.
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