[German]A rather crude observation from a blog reader, which he described to me some time ago and which I am posting here. The reader bought an HP OfficeJet Pro 9122e and was surprised that the device started setting up as soon as the network plug was plugged into a socket and the print cartridges were inserted. At this point, no network connection had been established – and the reader wondered how the printer could communicate.
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Observation when switching on for the first time
Thomas S. had already contacted me in a private message on Facebook in September 2024 because he had purchased the HP OfficeJet Pro 9122e All-In-One multifunction printer from a large electronics department store.
Well, everyone has to know whether they are "happy" with inkjets and HP's instant ink – I would have kept my hands off it. But that's not the issue here. The user wrote that he was surprised when setting up the device.
After inserting paper, plugging in the power plug and inserting the "print cartridges", the blue Wi-Fi LED on the device flashes for network setup. This network setup had not yet taken place (which is logical, as the device is only just being put into operation).
However, the reader was astonished: From the moment the printer received power, an "HP OfficeJet Pro 9120e" for "setup" also appeared in the HP Smart "app" on his notebook, even though the new printer did not have a network connection. This was because the WLAN had not yet been set up with the required connection data, the LAN cable had not yet been plugged in and Bluetooth was also switched off on the notebook, according to the reader.
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As soon as the setup process on the printer is canceled due to inactivity and the blue LED stops flashing, the "HP OfficeJet Pro 9120e" entry in the HP Smart "app" also disappears again, the reader stated. He then legitimately asked: "How does the HP OfficeJet Pro 9120e communicate with HP or the HP app without WLAN or LAN?
Answer from HP support
I couldn't help the reader much. But he subsequently wrote to me that he had received answers to X from HP support (HP provides similar information on this page).
The HP OfficeJet Pro 9122e does not require Bluetooth to be enabled on your device for initial setup. The printer uses a combination of Near Field Communication (NFC) and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for this process.
The reader suspected that the printer had used the two new iPhones in the household to establish a communication path to the Internet via HP. The HP app on the notebook could then be informed that a printer from the manufacturer was nearby. Some might say it's a bit "scary" how modern devices can make calls home.
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