[Technology] The abomination that is WPS.

[zefarelly]

Hi all. I'll set myself up for proper embarrassment by opening with the fact that I worked in IT all my life (Mainframes and Unix servers).

I've inherited an Epson XP-225 which is nice and works perfectly over USB. I need to put it on the network for all to share. There is no ethernet port, so it's wireless only. There is no control panel, so that just leaves WPS. As I understand it, it should be as simple as pressing WPS on my router, then WPS on my printer and the magic should happen.

It always times out. I have printed out the network configuration from the printer, and it shows the previous SSID, which obviously doesn't match mine. Is WPS meant to work around this, or is it a stumbling block? I run Linux, but have fired up a Win11 virtual machine, and although the printer is recognised over USB, the driver doesn't seem to have any option to change network settings.

I realise that WPS is the future and I'm just a dinosaur, but WTF am I doing wrong? Any of you young uns able to help?

I haven't got a clue what you're talking about . . . . .

 

[South Stand Bonfire]

Hi all. I'll set myself up for proper embarrassment by opening with the fact that I worked in IT all my life (Mainframes and Unix servers).

I've inherited an Epson XP-225 which is nice and works perfectly over USB. I need to put it on the network for all to share. There is no ethernet port, so it's wireless only. There is no control panel, so that just leaves WPS. As I understand it, it should be as simple as pressing WPS on my router, then WPS on my printer and the magic should happen.

It always times out. I have printed out the network configuration from the printer, and it shows the previous SSID, which obviously doesn't match mine. Is WPS meant to work around this, or is it a stumbling block? I run Linux, but have fired up a Win11 virtual machine, and although the printer is recognised over USB, the driver doesn't seem to have any option to change network settings.

I realise that WPS is the future and I'm just a dinosaur, but WTF am I doing wrong? Any of you young uns able to help?

Are you looking for the Bellcheeses thread?

 

[boik]

Ooh, looks interesting. Thank you.

Tried that too. "Product can not be found". It asked me to switch bluetooth on, which seemed promising, but I can see no mention of bluetooth on the printer so probably not applicable.

I've tried scannin for wifi networks, but there is nothing showing.

It really shouldn't be this difficult!!

 

[boik]

Are you looking for the Bellcheeses thread?

I'm feeling like a proper bellcheese at the moment.

 

[Anger]

CTRL + P

You're welcome.

 

[PeterOut]

Don't want to seem ungrateful, but p21 is blank and 19 and 20 are about paper loading. It also only seems to go up to p107.

Not sure what you are seeing / have downloaded - the guide that I am looking at has 145 pages.
If you are sure you have clicked on the correct link, search for "XP255-277 Series User's Guide" - that is the title of the PDF.

 

[Goldstone1976]

Fi; a printere ithelp. I connet. I cannot getwork by home net getwor WPS, ork by WiFi; a problease annot get. I cand thelp. Plem wit to my home a problease a printernet is networ WiFi; a printere is net toothelp. I cannot tooth my home home a problem wit is nect get is net. I cannect it toot toothere her. Please have not getwor WPS, Bluet. I help. I home is nothere is networ WiFi; anneto my WPS, Bluet. I cannoth my WPS, ork by Epson printernect geto my Eth, Bluet ither. Plem wit th my Epson printer

 

[5Ways Gull]

Nearly worn my finger out!

Yeah OK, but have you tried switching it off and on again?

 

[boik]

Not sure what you are seeing / have downloaded - the guide that I am looking at has 145 pages.
If you are sure you have clicked on the correct link, search for "XP255-277 Series User's Guide" - that is the title of the PDF.

Sorry, too many windows open. I was looking in the 225 manual that I had open, not the 255. It's the same process though. WPS times out and Epson smart panel says that it cant find any products. Guy I got it from says it's definitely working OK, just won't seem to ignore his network settings.

I might have to spoof his network with an old router and see if he will trust me with the mtching aifi passowrd. Doubt it though.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

This youtube vid any use?

 

[boik]

This youtube vid any use?

Thanks, but that is exactly the process I have tried many times.

I also followed this official epson video with no joy. "The product can not be found". Grrrrrr!

 

[Oh_aye]

Hi all. I'll set myself up for proper embarrassment by opening with the fact that I worked in IT all my life (Mainframes and Unix servers).

I've inherited an Epson XP-225 which is nice and works perfectly over USB. I need to put it on the network for all to share. There is no ethernet port, so it's wireless only. There is no control panel, so that just leaves WPS. As I understand it, it should be as simple as pressing WPS on my router, then WPS on my printer and the magic should happen.

It always times out. I have printed out the network configuration from the printer, and it shows the previous SSID, which obviously doesn't match mine. Is WPS meant to work around this, or is it a stumbling block? I run Linux, but have fired up a Win11 virtual machine, and although the printer is recognised over USB, the driver doesn't seem to have any option to change network settings.

I realise that WPS is the future and I'm just a dinosaur, but WTF am I doing wrong? Any of you young uns able to help?

I've had this problem before, yiu get round it by writing 'please work' on an a4 piece of paper, holding it up against the screen and pressing print screen.

Don't forget to do the naked squat thrusts between each press though.

 

[Birdie Boy]

I'm a network engineer of 33 years and I have about 3 printers in the garage brand new and never worked via WiFi. I go and work away for 2 years and comeback and find the wife has bought another and set it up and works perfectly! I then used WiFi-direct on my phone to connect to it and it worked! WTF!
I don't think this helps you but hey...

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Hi all. I'll set myself up for proper embarrassment by opening with the fact that I worked in IT all my life (Mainframes and Unix servers).

I've inherited an Epson XP-225 which is nice and works perfectly over USB. I need to put it on the network for all to share. There is no ethernet port, so it's wireless only. There is no control panel, so that just leaves WPS. As I understand it, it should be as simple as pressing WPS on my router, then WPS on my printer and the magic should happen.

It always times out. I have printed out the network configuration from the printer, and it shows the previous SSID, which obviously doesn't match mine. Is WPS meant to work around this, or is it a stumbling block? I run Linux, but have fired up a Win11 virtual machine, and although the printer is recognised over USB, the driver doesn't seem to have any option to change network settings.

I realise that WPS is the future and I'm just a dinosaur, but WTF am I doing wrong? Any of you young uns able to help?

Had the same printer after 6 hours of frustration I threw on the desk at Currys. The chap said we get these back all the time with this problem. Why bloody sell them then?

 

[Barnet Seagull]

Can't you just connect with Wifi without WPS using the SSID?

 

[US Seagull]

Printers are the most unreliable, unpredictable and self centered component in any home setup.

Indeed. We can put a man on the moon, but we can't build a reliable printer.

This won't solve the problem, but maybe the OP will feel a little better?

 

[boik]

Can't you just connect with Wifi without WPS using the SSID?

There is no way of setting the SSID. No control panel on the printer itself. The Epson smart control panel app doesn't have it listed as a supported device. Been on the Epson forums and apparently it's a waste of time contacting epson. I haven't paid for the printer, so haven't lost anything, but I hate these "automatic" processes that have no manual override when they doesn't work.

 

[Official Old Man]

I'm probably way off here but I've set up 30+ Wi-Fi conected items in my house. I'll use the latest as an example.
It's a simple Alexa mains switch with instructions translated from god knows what to English in very small unreadable text.
Download the app required for the device.
Set up your phone on your home WiFi but in most cases it needs to be 2.4Ghz, you'll always get two signals so log on to the 2.4 (one may have a 5 in the name). Having done that search now for the WiFi emitting from your new device and conect. Set up should then be automatic and your phone will tell the device which signal to use in future. If your phone is on the better 5Ghz WiFi and the device only works on 2.4Ghz it just wont work.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Tried that too. "Product can not be found". It asked me to switch bluetooth on, which seemed promising, but I can see no mention of bluetooth on the printer so probably not applicable.

I've tried scannin for wifi networks, but there is nothing showing.

It really shouldn't be this difficult!!

Is it maybe your use of Linux that is the problem here? Maybe your specific WPS/printer/router setup just isn't compatible with Linux. Have you seen anything to confirm that it is?

 

[boik]

Is it maybe your use of Linux that is the problem here? Maybe your specific WPS/printer/router setup just isn't compatible with Linux. Have you seen anything to confirm that it is?

WPS doesn't involve a computer. It is supposed to be a handshake between the router and the client (printer). I have built a Win11 machine (spit!!) and am trying to install various bits of software. It'll work perfectly if I can find any way of changing the already configured SSID and Password.