HP Printer Drivers

I have just bought a new/used HP Businessjet 2280tn (jetdirect) as I
need a networkable printer for my home network (WINXP Pro). The
printer (haven't got it yet) does not come with the driver CD but
looking at the HP web site for drivers I am totally confused as to
which driver(s) I need. The choices are:

1. HP Universal Print Driver for Windows - PCL 5

2. HP Universal Print Driver for Windows - PCL6

3. PCL3 driver (full printing system, WHQL certified) for the hp
business inkjet 2230/2280/2280tn printers

4. PCL3/PCL5/PostScript driver (full printing system, WHQL certified)
for the hp business inkjet 2280/2280tn printers

Driver 1 and 2 are dated 2006 while divers 3 and 4 are dated 2002 and
are are likely the original drivers whereas 1 and 2 are the recent
varieties. I will only be using the printer for 'home' use, not that
that should make significant difference (at least that is what I
think). Incidentally I really have no idea of the significance of
PCL3, 5 and 6 and suspect that these 'protocols' are not really
relevant to my needs. Which of the above drivers should I load, or
doesn't it really matter?

I am also somewhat confused about the networking part of the printer,
that is Directjet. I want to connect (RJ45) the printer to my
wireless router (3com Office Connect), Peer to Peer configuration (I
think). I need to be able to print from other machines without having
my machine (server) continuously on as at present (HP 930c). From my
brief reading of the manual it looks to me that I do not need to 'use'
the Directjet system but simply choose add network printer within
WINXP Pro and load the p[rinbter drivers onto each of the clients.

I will appreciate your guidance on this, it may save/prevent me from
having a nervoius breakdown! :-).

Edward W. Thompson wrote:
> I have just bought a new/used HP Businessjet 2280tn (jetdirect) as I
> need a networkable printer for my home network (WINXP Pro). The
> printer (haven't got it yet) does not come with the driver CD but
> looking at the HP web site for drivers I am totally confused as to
> which driver(s) I need. The choices are:
>
> 1. HP Universal Print Driver for Windows - PCL 5
>
> 2. HP Universal Print Driver for Windows - PCL6
>
> 3. PCL3 driver (full printing system, WHQL certified) for the hp
> business inkjet 2230/2280/2280tn printers
>
> 4. PCL3/PCL5/PostScript driver (full printing system, WHQL certified)
> for the hp business inkjet 2280/2280tn printers
>
> Driver 1 and 2 are dated 2006 while divers 3 and 4 are dated 2002 and
> are are likely the original drivers whereas 1 and 2 are the recent
> varieties. I will only be using the printer for 'home' use, not that
> that should make significant difference (at least that is what I
> think). Incidentally I really have no idea of the significance of
> PCL3, 5 and 6 and suspect that these 'protocols' are not really
> relevant to my needs. Which of the above drivers should I load, or
> doesn't it really matter?
>
> I am also somewhat confused about the networking part of the printer,
> that is Directjet. I want to connect (RJ45) the printer to my
> wireless router (3com Office Connect), Peer to Peer configuration (I
> think). I need to be able to print from other machines without having
> my machine (server) continuously on as at present (HP 930c). From my
> brief reading of the manual it looks to me that I do not need to 'use'
> the Directjet system but simply choose add network printer within
> WINXP Pro and load the p[rinbter drivers onto each of the clients.

Yes, that correct, you need only create a new tcp port on each machine and
they can print directly to it.
However, by default your printer will not have a tcp/ip address.

However if there is a dhcp server on the network it will pick one up, or
alternatively it will give itself one. It is not usually very clever and
will often give itself one which is not in a usual range. If you then put
your machine in the same network range you can simply use your browser to
'go' to it http://dotted ip address and change it back to one in a range you
are using. You find out what range it's in by printing out it's
configuration, there's ususually a small button by the network connection
which will do this if pressed briefly after it has been switched on. After
you've changed it back to the range you are using you can then connect all
the machines to its tcp/ip port.

PCL6 drivers support more features than PCL5, Postscript drivers can
sometimes produce smaller files which should be quicker to print (that's my
experience anyway). I suspect a full feature driver will give you just that:
more thing to play with. Try them all, see whether theres a difference. I
would recommend only using the same driver on all machines however, I think
sometimes a network printer can get confused if you print from different
drivers on different machines.

Edward W. Thompson wrote:
> I have just bought a new/used HP Businessjet 2280tn (jetdirect) as I
> need a networkable printer for my home network (WINXP Pro). The
> printer (haven't got it yet) does not come with the driver CD but
> looking at the HP web site for drivers I am totally confused as to
> which driver(s) I need. The choices are:
>
> 1. HP Universal Print Driver for Windows - PCL 5
>
> 2. HP Universal Print Driver for Windows - PCL6
>
> 3. PCL3 driver (full printing system, WHQL certified) for the hp
> business inkjet 2230/2280/2280tn printers
>
> 4. PCL3/PCL5/PostScript driver (full printing system, WHQL certified)
> for the hp business inkjet 2280/2280tn printers
>
> Driver 1 and 2 are dated 2006 while divers 3 and 4 are dated 2002 and
> are are likely the original drivers whereas 1 and 2 are the recent
> varieties. I will only be using the printer for 'home' use, not that
> that should make significant difference (at least that is what I
> think). Incidentally I really have no idea of the significance of
> PCL3, 5 and 6 and suspect that these 'protocols' are not really
> relevant to my needs. Which of the above drivers should I load, or
> doesn't it really matter?
>

find out if its a PCL5 or PCL6 printer and use one of the tow first choices.

> I am also somewhat confused about the networking part of the printer,
> that is Directjet. I want to connect (RJ45) the printer to my
> wireless router (3com Office Connect), Peer to Peer configuration (I
> think). I need to be able to print from other machines without having
> my machine (server) continuously on as at present (HP 930c). From my
> brief reading of the manual it looks to me that I do not need to 'use'
> the Directjet system but simply choose add network printer within
> WINXP Pro and load the p[rinbter drivers onto each of the clients.
>
> I will appreciate your guidance on this, it may save/prevent me from
> having a nervoius breakdown! :-).


Can't remember exactly what Jetdirect *can* use but its normal operation
is a simple raw socket..the printer driver needs to be loaded into each
computer that needs to access it. It has the software to open a direct
connection..IIRC the driver also has a 'discovery' mode that will ID any
HP style print serving cards on the network..

Edward W. Thompson wrote:
> I have just bought a new/used HP Businessjet 2280tn (jetdirect) as I
> need a networkable printer for my home network (WINXP Pro). The
> printer (haven't got it yet) does not come with the driver CD but
> looking at the HP web site for drivers I am totally confused as to
> which driver(s) I need. The choices are:
>
> 1. HP Universal Print Driver for Windows - PCL 5
>
> 2. HP Universal Print Driver for Windows - PCL6
>
> 3. PCL3 driver (full printing system, WHQL certified) for the hp
> business inkjet 2230/2280/2280tn printers
>
> 4. PCL3/PCL5/PostScript driver (full printing system, WHQL certified)
> for the hp business inkjet 2280/2280tn printers
>
> Driver 1 and 2 are dated 2006 while divers 3 and 4 are dated 2002 and
> are are likely the original drivers whereas 1 and 2 are the recent
> varieties. I will only be using the printer for 'home' use, not that
> that should make significant difference (at least that is what I
> think). Incidentally I really have no idea of the significance of
> PCL3, 5 and 6 and suspect that these 'protocols' are not really
> relevant to my needs. Which of the above drivers should I load, or
> doesn't it really matter?
>
> I am also somewhat confused about the networking part of the printer,
> that is Directjet. I want to connect (RJ45) the printer to my
> wireless router (3com Office Connect), Peer to Peer configuration (I
> think). I need to be able to print from other machines without having
> my machine (server) continuously on as at present (HP 930c). From my
> brief reading of the manual it looks to me that I do not need to 'use'
> the Directjet system but simply choose add network printer within
> WINXP Pro and load the p[rinbter drivers onto each of the clients.
>
> I will appreciate your guidance on this, it may save/prevent me from
> having a nervoius breakdown! :-).

Gee why not wait until you actually get the printer.
Go with Driver #3.
It is a fairly simple task to use the printer menu to assign a static IP
within your network range. (recommended as DHCP may assign a different
address for any number of reasons, resulting in the PC's having an
invalid printer port)

On Wed, 03 Jan 2007 20:04:32 GMT, Mön§igñor ßoddoM
<Bottomsup@mekahineyho.com> wrote:

>Edward W. Thompson wrote:
>> I have just bought a new/used HP Businessjet 2280tn (jetdirect) as I
>> need a networkable printer for my home network (WINXP Pro). The
>> printer (haven't got it yet) does not come with the driver CD but
>> looking at the HP web site for drivers I am totally confused as to
>> which driver(s) I need. The choices are:
>>
>> 1. HP Universal Print Driver for Windows - PCL 5
>>
>> 2. HP Universal Print Driver for Windows - PCL6
>>
>> 3. PCL3 driver (full printing system, WHQL certified) for the hp
>> business inkjet 2230/2280/2280tn printers
>>
>> 4. PCL3/PCL5/PostScript driver (full printing system, WHQL certified)
>> for the hp business inkjet 2280/2280tn printers
>>
>> Driver 1 and 2 are dated 2006 while divers 3 and 4 are dated 2002 and
>> are are likely the original drivers whereas 1 and 2 are the recent
>> varieties. I will only be using the printer for 'home' use, not that
>> that should make significant difference (at least that is what I
>> think). Incidentally I really have no idea of the significance of
>> PCL3, 5 and 6 and suspect that these 'protocols' are not really
>> relevant to my needs. Which of the above drivers should I load, or
>> doesn't it really matter?
>>
>> I am also somewhat confused about the networking part of the printer,
>> that is Directjet. I want to connect (RJ45) the printer to my
>> wireless router (3com Office Connect), Peer to Peer configuration (I
>> think). I need to be able to print from other machines without having
>> my machine (server) continuously on as at present (HP 930c). From my
>> brief reading of the manual it looks to me that I do not need to 'use'
>> the Directjet system but simply choose add network printer within
>> WINXP Pro and load the p[rinbter drivers onto each of the clients.
>>
>> I will appreciate your guidance on this, it may save/prevent me from
>> having a nervoius breakdown! :-).
>
>Gee why not wait until you actually get the printer.
>Go with Driver #3.
>It is a fairly simple task to use the printer menu to assign a static IP
>within your network range. (recommended as DHCP may assign a different
>address for any number of reasons, resulting in the PC's having an
>invalid printer port)


Welll I ask the question now, rather than when I get the printer, so
when I get it I can set it up without going round in circles. I
didn't think that to be an unreasonable approach :-). I hope you are
right and it is straight forward.

Why do you recommend the #3 driver? Is it from experience? Looking
at the file sizes the #3 driver (vintage 2002) is about 21mb whereas
the more recent drivers, #1 and #2, (vintage 2006) are smaller at
about 16mb. Unless someone has specific experience of the drivers,
perhaps the most sensible approach is to try them all starting with
the older drivers then updating.

Really do appreciate everyones suggestions and advice.

Edward W. Thompson wrote:
> On Wed, 03 Jan 2007 20:04:32 GMT, Mön§igñor ßoddoM
> <Bottomsup@mekahineyho.com> wrote:
>
>> Edward W. Thompson wrote:
>>> I have just bought a new/used HP Businessjet 2280tn (jetdirect) as I
>>> need a networkable printer for my home network (WINXP Pro). The
>>> printer (haven't got it yet) does not come with the driver CD but
>>> looking at the HP web site for drivers I am totally confused as to
>>> which driver(s) I need. The choices are:
>>>
>>> 1. HP Universal Print Driver for Windows - PCL 5
>>>
>>> 2. HP Universal Print Driver for Windows - PCL6
>>>
>>> 3. PCL3 driver (full printing system, WHQL certified) for the hp
>>> business inkjet 2230/2280/2280tn printers
>>>
>>> 4. PCL3/PCL5/PostScript driver (full printing system, WHQL certified)
>>> for the hp business inkjet 2280/2280tn printers
>>>
>>> Driver 1 and 2 are dated 2006 while divers 3 and 4 are dated 2002 and
>>> are are likely the original drivers whereas 1 and 2 are the recent
>>> varieties. I will only be using the printer for 'home' use, not that
>>> that should make significant difference (at least that is what I
>>> think). Incidentally I really have no idea of the significance of
>>> PCL3, 5 and 6 and suspect that these 'protocols' are not really
>>> relevant to my needs. Which of the above drivers should I load, or
>>> doesn't it really matter?
>>>
>>> I am also somewhat confused about the networking part of the printer,
>>> that is Directjet. I want to connect (RJ45) the printer to my
>>> wireless router (3com Office Connect), Peer to Peer configuration (I
>>> think). I need to be able to print from other machines without having
>>> my machine (server) continuously on as at present (HP 930c). From my
>>> brief reading of the manual it looks to me that I do not need to 'use'
>>> the Directjet system but simply choose add network printer within
>>> WINXP Pro and load the p[rinbter drivers onto each of the clients.
>>>
>>> I will appreciate your guidance on this, it may save/prevent me from
>>> having a nervoius breakdown! :-).
>> Gee why not wait until you actually get the printer.
>> Go with Driver #3.
>> It is a fairly simple task to use the printer menu to assign a static IP
>> within your network range. (recommended as DHCP may assign a different
>> address for any number of reasons, resulting in the PC's having an
>> invalid printer port)
>
>
> Welll I ask the question now, rather than when I get the printer, so
> when I get it I can set it up without going round in circles. I
> didn't think that to be an unreasonable approach :-). I hope you are
> right and it is straight forward.
>
> Why do you recommend the #3 driver? Is it from experience? Looking
> at the file sizes the #3 driver (vintage 2002) is about 21mb whereas
> the more recent drivers, #1 and #2, (vintage 2006) are smaller at
> about 16mb. Unless someone has specific experience of the drivers,
> perhaps the most sensible approach is to try them all starting with
> the older drivers then updating.
>
> Really do appreciate everyones suggestions and advice.

Because driver #3 is the one that corresponds to your printer. It will
give you the complete functionality of all features related to the 2280.
(print size, quality, duplex, toner monitor, etc.)

And yes I have installed about 400 of the 2280's in a hospital on
network connections.

Driver's #1 & #2 are generic print drivers that allow you to print to
just about any HP laser printer. They generally do not give you all
options for print finishing. Like I said generic. ( they have recent
dates because being a generic driver it must have up to date info as to
what systems it can communicate with).

Driver #4 is a Postscript driver. Unless you have a specific program
that requires .prn files you will not need this driver.
(And yes that is a base answer, to all flamers).

On Thu, 04 Jan 2007 20:45:57 GMT, Mön§igñor ßoddoM
<Bottomsup@mekahineyho.com> wrote:

snip
>
>Because driver #3 is the one that corresponds to your printer. It will
>give you the complete functionality of all features related to the 2280.
>(print size, quality, duplex, toner monitor, etc.)
>
>And yes I have installed about 400 of the 2280's in a hospital on
>network connections.
>
>Driver's #1 & #2 are generic print drivers that allow you to print to
>just about any HP laser printer. They generally do not give you all
>options for print finishing. Like I said generic. ( they have recent
>dates because being a generic driver it must have up to date info as to
>what systems it can communicate with).
>
>Driver #4 is a Postscript driver. Unless you have a specific program
>that requires .prn files you will not need this driver.
>(And yes that is a base answer, to all flamers).

Let me trouble you one more time as you clearly have all the necessary
experience in setting this printer up in a network. I have none as
will become obvious :-).

I have printed the 'configuration page' that shows the printer IP
address as 192.168.20.222, subnet 255.255.255.0 and default Gateway as
192.198.20.254 all of which I assume is the default as I reset to the
default.

The printer is intended to be used in a Peer to Peer configuration in
a small network. The printer will be connected to a 3com
OfficeConnect wireless router which is hardwired to the principal
machine, all other machines access the 'net' wirelessly. All machines
use WINXP Pro.

With the printer connected to the router, I thought the printer should
detect the IP address of the net (192.168.1.XXX) and align itself
using DHCP but apparently it is not doing that so I assume I have to
change the printer IP to match the net IP manually. I think I know
how to do this but would appreciate your confirmation.

The IP used on all machines is of the 'shape' 192.168.1.XXX. What I
think I must do is to disconnect the RJ45 connection between the main
machine and the router and connect the printer. Then in the browser
enter the printer IP address which will give access to the printer
'setup' menu and allow me to change the printer IP address to the same
series as the router and other machines, that is 192.168.1.XXX. Once
done, if I then reconnect the main machine to the router and connect
the printer to the router I believe I can now 'see' the machine on the
net to allow drivers to be installed.

The question: is this procedure correct? I recognize that for
someone with experience this is very basic but without experience I
find it all somewhat confusing.

I will appreciate your guidance.

Edward W. Thompson wrote:
> On Thu, 04 Jan 2007 20:45:57 GMT, Mön§igñor ßoddoM
> <Bottomsup@mekahineyho.com> wrote:
>
> snip
>> Because driver #3 is the one that corresponds to your printer. It will
>> give you the complete functionality of all features related to the 2280.
>> (print size, quality, duplex, toner monitor, etc.)
>>
>> And yes I have installed about 400 of the 2280's in a hospital on
>> network connections.
>>
>> Driver's #1 & #2 are generic print drivers that allow you to print to
>> just about any HP laser printer. They generally do not give you all
>> options for print finishing. Like I said generic. ( they have recent
>> dates because being a generic driver it must have up to date info as to
>> what systems it can communicate with).
>>
>> Driver #4 is a Postscript driver. Unless you have a specific program
>> that requires .prn files you will not need this driver.
>> (And yes that is a base answer, to all flamers).
>
> Let me trouble you one more time as you clearly have all the necessary
> experience in setting this printer up in a network. I have none as
> will become obvious :-).
>
> I have printed the 'configuration page' that shows the printer IP
> address as 192.168.20.222, subnet 255.255.255.0 and default Gateway as
> 192.198.20.254 all of which I assume is the default as I reset to the
> default.
>
> The printer is intended to be used in a Peer to Peer configuration in
> a small network. The printer will be connected to a 3com
> OfficeConnect wireless router which is hardwired to the principal
> machine, all other machines access the 'net' wirelessly. All machines
> use WINXP Pro.
>
> With the printer connected to the router, I thought the printer should
> detect the IP address of the net (192.168.1.XXX) and align itself
> using DHCP but apparently it is not doing that so I assume I have to
> change the printer IP to match the net IP manually. I think I know
> how to do this but would appreciate your confirmation.
>
> The IP used on all machines is of the 'shape' 192.168.1.XXX. What I
> think I must do is to disconnect the RJ45 connection between the main
> machine and the router and connect the printer. Then in the browser
> enter the printer IP address which will give access to the printer
> 'setup' menu and allow me to change the printer IP address to the same
> series as the router and other machines, that is 192.168.1.XXX. Once
> done, if I then reconnect the main machine to the router and connect
> the printer to the router I believe I can now 'see' the machine on the
> net to allow drivers to be installed.
>
> The question: is this procedure correct? I recognize that for
> someone with experience this is very basic but without experience I
> find it all somewhat confusing.
>

Not quite. Because your computer won't be on the right range of
addresses to communicate with the printer at all.

What you need to do is get the printer on the network, and change (or
add) an IP address on one computer to 192.168.20.something.

Then you will be able to connect to the printer long enough to set its
IP address up to your own network.


> I will appreciate your guidance.

On Fri, 05 Jan 2007 12:00:57 +0000, The Natural Philosopher <a@b.c>
wrote:

>Edward W. Thompson wrote:
>> On Thu, 04 Jan 2007 20:45:57 GMT, Mön§igñor ßoddoM
>> <Bottomsup@mekahineyho.com> wrote:
>>
>> snip
>>> Because driver #3 is the one that corresponds to your printer. It will
>>> give you the complete functionality of all features related to the 2280.
>>> (print size, quality, duplex, toner monitor, etc.)
>>>
>>> And yes I have installed about 400 of the 2280's in a hospital on
>>> network connections.
>>>
>>> Driver's #1 & #2 are generic print drivers that allow you to print to
>>> just about any HP laser printer. They generally do not give you all
>>> options for print finishing. Like I said generic. ( they have recent
>>> dates because being a generic driver it must have up to date info as to
>>> what systems it can communicate with).
>>>
>>> Driver #4 is a Postscript driver. Unless you have a specific program
>>> that requires .prn files you will not need this driver.
>>> (And yes that is a base answer, to all flamers).
>>
>> Let me trouble you one more time as you clearly have all the necessary
>> experience in setting this printer up in a network. I have none as
>> will become obvious :-).
>>
>> I have printed the 'configuration page' that shows the printer IP
>> address as 192.168.20.222, subnet 255.255.255.0 and default Gateway as
>> 192.198.20.254 all of which I assume is the default as I reset to the
>> default.
>>
>> The printer is intended to be used in a Peer to Peer configuration in
>> a small network. The printer will be connected to a 3com
>> OfficeConnect wireless router which is hardwired to the principal
>> machine, all other machines access the 'net' wirelessly. All machines
>> use WINXP Pro.
>>
>> With the printer connected to the router, I thought the printer should
>> detect the IP address of the net (192.168.1.XXX) and align itself
>> using DHCP but apparently it is not doing that so I assume I have to
>> change the printer IP to match the net IP manually. I think I know
>> how to do this but would appreciate your confirmation.
>>
>> The IP used on all machines is of the 'shape' 192.168.1.XXX. What I
>> think I must do is to disconnect the RJ45 connection between the main
>> machine and the router and connect the printer. Then in the browser
>> enter the printer IP address which will give access to the printer
>> 'setup' menu and allow me to change the printer IP address to the same
>> series as the router and other machines, that is 192.168.1.XXX. Once
>> done, if I then reconnect the main machine to the router and connect
>> the printer to the router I believe I can now 'see' the machine on the
>> net to allow drivers to be installed.
>>
>> The question: is this procedure correct? I recognize that for
>> someone with experience this is very basic but without experience I
>> find it all somewhat confusing.
>>
>
>Not quite. Because your computer won't be on the right range of
>addresses to communicate with the printer at all.
>
>What you need to do is get the printer on the network, and change (or
>add) an IP address on one computer to 192.168.20.something.
>
>Then you will be able to connect to the printer long enough to set its
>IP address up to your own network.
>
>
>> I will appreciate your guidance.

Thank you. I did try what I thought was the correct procedure and
just as you said, the printer was not recognized. However, for
reasons I don't understand, during this exercise the printer IP
address reset to that of the network (DHCP I suppose) and all is now
fine. I don't know, and would like to, what caused the printer to
recognize the network and change its address to suit. I thought from
what I had read, that by simply connecting the printer to the network
would result in the printer setting itself (IP address) to match the
network but this didn't happen until I disconnected it from the router
and connected it to the main machine. I suspect this is not relevant
but my ignorance knows no bounds on this subject :-).