PIXMA TS6420a cannot connect wirelessly

[NanaSharon41]

I cannot get my Pixma TS6420a to connect wirelessly to my Windows 11 laptop.  When I bought it 2 years ago, it connected easily, but I haven't been able to connect it for over a year now. Any suggestions?

[DerrickL · Accepted solution]

Yes, buy a printer cable, it can help troubleshoot wireless connectivity, if you still need that after hardwiring the printer to your laptop. I say it till I am blue in the face, wired printing is far more reliable and has less troubles than wireless hands down.  I say that as a retired business computer hardware and computer networking company owner for 25 years. 

[DerrickL]

Your printer can operate wirelessly on 2.4ghz or 5ghz network so that eliminates the need to find out what signal your wifi is using. 

Here are the step by step instructions for fresh WIFI setup of your printer on Windows. 

https://support.usa.canon.com/kb/s/article/ART177449

[normadel]

What changed in the two years? Did you get a new router?

[DerrickL]

I was wondering that myself. 

[shadowsports]

Gents ,

Just want to provide the following correction. The TS642a does not support 5ghz.

Specs show 2.4 GHz only.

PIXMA TS6420a Wireless All-in-One Printer Black https://share.google/nZQRcyLWsEzy9nZFI

A cable is not required for troubleshooting as long as you confirm, your network is broadcasting on the correct band and using the correct security encryption.

A USB connection is great for connection to a single PC or if your device is in close proximity to the printer.  The whole purpose of wireless is to provide convenience and flexibility allowing any device connected to the same network to utilize the printer. This often isn't practical unless you don't mind being tethered to your desk. 🙂

[NanaSharon41]

Thanks so much to everyone who replied to my connection issue. I did buy a printer cable today and was able to print from the Canon Pixma 6420a. We are traveling in our RV when I use this printer and I use a hotspot as a router. I think we might have changed hotspots since I set up the printer the first time. The cable works fine for the small amount of printing that I need when we're traveling. Thanks again to everyone who responded to my problem.

[DerrickL]

There is a footnote from the specs for this printer that reads the following:

Wireless printing and scanning requires a working network with wireless 802.11b/g/n capability, operating at 2.4GHz or 5.0GHz 

[shadowsports]

Yes.  I saw that.  The footnote while correct, does not apply to.802.11 b/g/n single band 2.4 GHz consumer devices.  While this is part of the ratified Wi-Fi standard, it's not implemented or supported on this device.  It's inclusion is unfortunate because it can cause confusion making people believe their single band device is 5G capable.   

[DerrickL]

Understood. The footnote is not helpful then is it? After a bit more research just as you posted this printer cannot connect to 5ghz at all.