Printer SSID appearing on my wi-fi list

[macbookproi5]

Hi, I recently purchased the HP CP1025NW printer. I am able to set this printer up with no problems. I just noticed that the printer ssid would appear on my wifi list. At the same time that SSID is unsecure. I don't want people that I don't know able to access my printer and print stuff there. Is there a way for me to secure this?

[Cloud_Strider]

Is the printer connected to the computer using a USB cable?

It sounds like what is being seen is the printer's ad-hoc connection.  Ad-hoc is the ability to connect two wireless devices without the use of a wireless router or access point.  To be able to print to the printer, they would have to be within range which is typically not a large range.

You should be able to correct this by turning the wifi feature of the printer off.  This will be the button with an antenna on it with a flashing blue light.  Once that is off, power off the printer for 30 seconds and then turn it back on to ensure the new setting is applied.  When it is turned back on, the flashing wireless light should be off.

The ad-hoc network should only be listed when the wifi is on and the printer is not connected to a wireless network. 

[macbookproi5]

No chief. The printer is connected wirelessly to my devices. Ipad2, Iphone 4s, Vaio PC and Mac. I always turn my printer off. But if you said that i need to turn off the wi-fi I'll try to do that.

[Cloud_Strider · Accepted solution]

My apologies.  The most common cause of seeing the printer's SSID is when it is connected by USB only as the printer's network will not have a connection.

However, this printer does have an additional feature called Wireless Direct Printing.  This feature is off by default, but it does broadcast a second network when it is enabled no matter the connection of the printer.

I suspect this feature has been enabled.  If you have not already done so, turn the wireless back on and it should connect to your network automatically (it may take a few minutes to connect).

The following steps are from page 71 of the manual.  Follow the same steps to get to wireless direct setup, but uncheck Enable Wireless Direct Printing.  Since it was broadcasting the SSID even with a wifi connection, this should disable that feature.  I have included a screenshot of what the page looks like when Wireless Direct Printing is enabled.

Use HP Direct Print (wireless models only)

Use HP Direct Print to print directly to the product from any mobile device (such as a smart phone, net
book, or laptop computer).

NOTE: No setup is necessary, but HP Direct Print must be enabled. Your mobile device must have an
HP print application installed.

1. To enable HP Direct Print, follow these steps:

a. After the product is connected to the network, print a configuration page and identify the
product IP address.  

The network configuration page can be printed by holding the resume button (paper with a down arrow on it) for a few seconds.  Once the activity light blinks, it should print the page a few moments later.  The IP address will be located on this printout.

b. At your computer, open a Web browser and enter the product IP address into the address
line. The HP EWS screen appears.

c. Click the Networking tab.

d. On the Networking page, click Wireless Direct Setup. Select the check box, enter the
network name (SSID) in the Wireless Direct Printing Name (SSID) field, and then click
the Apply button. The IP address of the mobile device appears in the Networking page.

NOTE: To find the network name (SSID), click the Wireless Configuration menu in the
Networking page.

Wireless Direct Printing is a feature designed to allow mobile users to find and print to the printer without having to switch networks constantly.  Disabling Wireless Direct Printing will not affect printing from your Apple devices or other devices as long as they are on the same network.