We have seen some HP printers broadcast an ad hoc SSID (usually very strongly and on an interfering channel) whenever the printer is not configured for Wi-Fi. Like Joann, we have to track these down to fix them.
Jason Jason Todd Network Security Officer Western University of Health Sciences From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of David R. Morton Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2013 9:56 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Wireless Printers Brought into Residence Halls Joann, If the printer wifi isn't being used, I wouldn't expect that it would cause much interference. The printers will send some Wi-Fi beacons, and others may see the devices in their Wi-Fi list, but neither of those would pose much of an issue. At the UW, we do allow users to bring and attach their printers to our Wi-Fi network. The bigger problem we see is how to handle AirPrint/AirPlay and other service discovery issues. In the residence halls we have seen this type of traffic use a lot of airtime. In the not to distant future we will be testing Aruba's solution to better manage that type of traffic. David David Morton Director, Mobile Communications Service Owner, HuskyTV University of Washington [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> tel 206.221.7814 On Mar 21, 2013, at 9:42 AM, Joann Williamson <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: Hi All, Our housing policy states that students should not bring wireless printers and other devices that might interfere with the campus wireless to the residence halls. However, students buy whatever is on sale and bring the printers anyway. They don't try to setup the wireless, but they leave it on (or in setup mode) which broadcasts a wireless signal and interferes with the campus wireless. Computer Services gets complaints and has to go find them and turn off the printer's wireless. This process is never ending! I was hoping for a discussion about what others are doing on this issue. This doesn't have to be a technical conversation, but I am open to technical discussions, too. I am aware of using rogue control to have the AP closest overpower the signal of the printer, but that usually bleeds through the gypsum floor and causes trouble for someone else. Is there an effective way to communicate to the students why we don't allow wireless printers? What seems to work at your university? Thanks, Joann L. Williamson Director of Network Systems, Architecture, & Infrastructure Computer Services Department University of South Carolina Aiken 471 University Parkway Aiken, SC 29801 http://www.usca.edu<http://www.usca.edu/> fax: 803-641-3494 phone: 803-641-3473 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
