Printer and laptop transmission across 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies
Printer and laptop transmission across 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies
Hello everyone! While adjusting my AIO modem and powerline setup for wireless use, I noticed some unusual occurrences: 1) One of my printers is transmitting its own 2.4GHz signal on the same frequency as the network it’s linked to—even though it didn’t have Ethernet support. This raises questions about its purpose and whether it might interfere with other devices. 2) My Surface 3 Pro is broadcasting a 5GHz signal, labeled DIRECT-MO <<Device name>> on channel 36. Initially I thought I had accidentally turned on the hotspot feature, but it wasn’t active. Once I enabled hotspot, the original network vanished and was replaced by the hotspot network on the same channel. 3) The MacBook Pro from early 2011 couldn’t detect any channels above 48 MHz in the 5GHz band. After checking, its network card supports 802.11n and functions correctly on channel 36. It appears the country code detected during boot—EU—determines which bands are allowed on that frequency. If you have insights into why these behaviors happen, your feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Do you believe it's causing interference when nothing is being transferred? I looked at the Surface and noticed it's labeled as "Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter #3." When I tried to turn it off, it disappeared. Would you explain why the printer needs it—maybe for phone-to-printer scanning? If yes, could there be a way to disable it? Thank you!
It might be affecting performance, particularly if it shares the same channel. Yes, the printer probably has a setting you can adjust with an app or similar tool to print directly from your device. You can disable it in the printer’s menu if you find the options.