PIXMA TR7020a How to keep it online

[JimSpy]

Greetings,

I have a Canon TR7000 series printer.  It's been a solid printer for several years now.  The only complaint I have is that it does not stay online for very long, maybe an hour, then it switches to offline.  The temporary solution of course is just to hit the online button, but that's not very elegant.  So my query is this:  IS there a setting to "Stay Online"?  Or some kind of fix for this?  Appreciate any help rendered, and thank you for your attention to this matter. 

JimSpy

[Danny]

Thanks for joining the conversation, JimSpy!

So that the Community can help you better, we need to know exactly which Canon printer model you're using within the PIXMA TR7000 series.  The model number should appear on the front of the unit at the lower right. That, and any other details you'd like to give will help the Community better understand your issue!

If this is a time-sensitive matter, click HERE search our knowledge base or find additional support options HERE.

Thanks and have a great day!

[normadel]

Is this printer connected via USB cable, or is it networked?

If ti is networked, the first thing to do is give it a STATIC IP address, rather then letting it get a DHCP-assigned address from your router. The router also has to be set to reserve the address in a static pool. Then see if that fixes the problem.

[JimSpy]

Well I guess better late than never.  

The model # is TR 7020a.

[shadowsports]

Please answer normadel's question above.  

What is the connection method? 

If you are using wireless connection, it's recommended that you assign the printer a static IP on your network as he mentioned.  

We can provide additional guidance once you answer his question. 😉

[JimSpy]

This bad boy is networked.  

Are you saying that this turning off after a few hours is not normal behavior, that it's a "problem"?  I thought it was "a feature, not a bug."  

The way my router works is rather confusing.  It is DHCP but "reserved".  In other words, it is effectively "static" because the router (a Gryphon tower) reserves the same IP address for each unit, and assigns that same address at login, EVEN if it is listed as DHCP.  I think.  

So what does that tell you? 

[shadowsports]

Greetings,

If the device is using DHCP, the router will periodically attempt to check with the device and if powered off or asleep, the router may reclaim the IP address if it doesn't hear back.  This is normal for any router or DHCP server and is not a "feature" of the printer.  The printer does have power saving options, but these are independent from what the router does.  

IP addresses assigned via DHCP are leased.  This is expected, as designed.  

A quick search showed several videos on how to set a static IP address on your Gryphon Tower.  Looks like there's an app when you can use to do it.  

After this is done, you should power cycle the printer using its power button.  Ensure you know the IP you have chosen.  Then open a web browser and enter the IP in the address bar, then press enter.  The printers webserver should display.  You can also review the list of attached devices in the Gryphon app, but the method above will also ensure that the device you're using can communicate with the printer at the expected IP.

Once you've done this I would uninstall the printer from that machine, restart the computer , etc. and reinstall the printer as a TCP/IP device.

If you need help with that last part, just let us know and I can provide instructions based on the operating system you're using.  You'll need to tell us the version and build of the OS.  

[normadel]

I learned all about how DHCP works (and can fail) in training to become a networking technician. The concept of Static addressing is not known to the untrained/uninitiated, unfortunately. It is invaluable in setting up networked peripherals and things called Network Attached Storage (NAS) servers, commonly used by home network owners. Any device that has to be found by a user computer on a network benefits from it. Printer and scanner makers should mention this in their user manuals.

Networkable devices (printers, scanners, NAS servers etc) can be given Static (unchanging) addresses in their network settings. But that's not all. The router has to be told (setup) to reserve static addresses for the devices so DHCP will not randomly give those addresses to other things.

How this is done varies with different routers, and can be found in the router manual or from manufacturer support. For example, on my router you set aside a range of addresses from the DHCP pool to be reserved for static use. On other routers you tell them to give a specific address to a specific network device by its MAC (hardware) address. 

Learning about networking concepts and/or getting help from a knowledgeable user, computer service business, etc. is an invaluable part of using networked devices.

[JimSpy]

OK, but I just checked, and I'm right, the Gryphon router does it differently (and IMHO stupidly.)  In Settings, you can designate a range for the DHCP.  Mine is .100 to .249.  Everything outside this range can be statically assigned.  But guess what, IP addresses within the DHCP range can also be statically assigned - "reserved" they call it.  So really everything can be DHCP...unless it's not.  Everything can be randomly assigned, except anything that's reserved, no matter what range it falls in.  

My Canon TR7020a has the address of .142, which as you can see is within the DHCP range.  Yet, it also is RESERVED, so it always comes up .142 when it reconnects.  

So that's not the problem.  

[shadowsports]

Greetings,

I'm glad you're confident of your network and the function of your Gryphon router.

I am not convinced yet.  Can you please provide the model number of your Gryphon tower device?  

Also, is this router sitting behind ISP issued hardware?  Modem only, modem,/router combo, etc?  If so, is that device configured for pass-through mode? 

Last two questions.  Please provide the version and build of the operating system you are using the printer with, and can you confirm if you are using third-party antivirus or a software firewall? 

The printer should not be "dropping off" the network if it has a static IP.  

I have some additional ideas but I need answers to the questions above to determine the appropriate next steps. 

I'd like to feel better about the network before moving to the printer's power management settings.  

Thanks,