Wifi Icon keeps flashing but is connected

hat said the icon for the wifi application on the Mac shows connected when expanded but the icon shows it is continuing to scan Epson ET 4750

Let me suggest a few things.. firstly I understand the wired connection is not as easy to use.. but is far superior.. You can buy 5M (15') USB cables.. and using special amplified type USB cables even further than that.

To setup multiple network links in the Mac it is really important to follow a few rules.

1. The wireless setup to the printer running ad hoc mode will require you use a static IP in the computer.. That IP must be in a different range to your main ethernet wired network.

Please tell us exactly what IP range the two are using.

2. Gateway and DNS settings for wireless must be set to the Ethernet values.. let me give you an example.

I am using a ethernet link to a router..

Important to use Link-local only for IPv6 on both connections.. or maybe even off on the wireless.. would give better results.

Now I am going to setup an isolated network to a second router.. but same as your printer running ad hoc.

This must be on a different subnet. The apple router is 10.0.1.1 in default configuration.

I set the wifi address manually.. using any suitable IP in the range.. eg see below.

But I replace the router address (gateway in normal network terminology) to the main router.. IP.. same as ethernet.

DNS should also be set to same as the main router.

Search domain should be empty.

When I do this I get no flashing of the wifi..

3. Last item.. ethernet should be head of the list here.

If wifi is higher priority cf ethernet you will definitely have issues.. use the set order to drag ethernet above wifi. (Or wifi below ethernet).

The computer must use ethernet as its main connection.. but when you attempt to use the printer the alternative IP range will be fine..

4. Finally the printer might work better setup in IPP mode rather than normal bonjour discovery mode.

If you need further help with this ask.. but it is simple enough to do.. only you need to select your printer drivers yourself.

Not using the broad office wifi

... but one does exist ... correct? If so, then your AirPort card in your iMac is constantly (by design) looking for wireless networks to connect to ... even if it is currently connected to one. In this case it is connecting to the ad-hoc wireless network provided by the printer and still searching for other Wi-Fi networks in the area.

This question is not related to airport routers in any way I can see. You are better asking it in the particular Mac OS version you are running.

Happy to attempt some sort of answer although you will understand that using ad hoc wireless on a printer is going to lead to issues that probably need support from the printer company.. good luck with that!!

You forgot to include vital info..

What Mac do you have?

What OS is it running?

What make and model is the printer?

What mode and model is your main router? Plus any other aspects of the network relevant to getting network configured correctly.

Perhaps a screenshot because we have no idea really the desktop icon you are referring to.

As a more network orientated person.. you will do better running the printer in standard infrastructure mode.. so the printer becomes part of your main network.. and you will print via your normal internet connection rather than a specialized setup.

Per chance, do you have an HP printer and are trying to use either HP wireless direct or Wi-Fi Direct to print from your iMac to its ad-hoc wireless network? Is there some reason that you just don't connect this printer to the same Ethernet network that you iMac is connected to?

What I'm trying to understand is do you have this Epson printer connected to an existing wireless network at the office or is it creating its own wireless network that you can connect wireless devices to for printing. Typically it would be the former ... and, if that's the case, you would not need to use a wireless connection from your iMac to this printer.

Regardless, what is the model of this Epson printer and (if your office is providing the wireless network), the make & model of that wireless router that is providing it?