Asus XT9 Hidden Networks

[OzarkEdge]

Speculating - If I do a reset, place the nodes far from the router, wiring them with the router and then adding the nodes, would help?

I think the understanding in this thread is that the firmware may need improvement. If that is the case, then 'no'.

However, Resetting the firmware and configuring from scratch is troubleshooting of first and last resort... worth a shot if you have not tried it or unsure of your original commissioning of the network. To be sure, one would start at the beginning... recommission the network... that's your call... I have not tracked what you have been through already.

Note that you don't have to move the nodes out of WiFi range... once wired, enable EBM to turn OFF wireless backhaul and then proceed to add the reset node (I appreciate that this overlooks the issue... the pesky wireless signals that won't turn OFF). But if you never reset the main router firmware before configuring it, I'd start there... start over.

OE

 

[0ID]

@OzarkEdge

YES, definitively, the firmware needs improvement.
"The normal" in case of Ethernet Backhaul Mode enabled should be wireless backhaul OFF.

Asus should be more concerned about polluting the environment with unnecessary transmissions and reducing the power consumption of their devices.

 

[OzarkEdge]

Asus should be more concerned about polluting the environment with unnecessary transmissions and reducing the power consumption of their devices.

That applies to all of mankind.

OE

 

[0ID]

That applies to all of mankind.

OE

Except Asus?

 

[Tech9]

This is not exactly an issue. The hidden networks are most likely used for mesh sets pairing. I've seen XT8 set automatically restoring AiMesh after node reset, without touching it. It is done this way for user convenience, redundancy and perhaps reducing service calls. I also have a hidden network appearing if Wireless Meshing is enabled on my UniFi system. This is how the system finds/adopts new UniFi network devices. It is also used for wireless uplink as well as redundancy fail back to wireless when Ethernet is disconnected. So what Asus did is not unusual and not AiMesh specific.

 

[0ID]

This is not exactly an issue. The hidden networks are most likely used for mesh sets pairing. I've seen XT8 set automatically restoring AiMesh after node reset, without touching it. It is done this way for user convenience, redundancy and perhaps reducing service calls. I also have a hidden network appearing if Wireless Meshing is enabled on my UniFi system. This is how the system finds/adopts new UniFi network devices. It is also used for wireless uplink as well as redundancy fail back to wireless when Ethernet is disconnected. So what Asus did is not unusual and not AiMesh specific.

You may wonder why I'm so stubborn about these hidden backhaul streams, but at the moment I can see a total of 64 WiFi streams in my area + these 2 of mine... That's why!

 

[Tech9]

That's why!

It doesn't matter how many networks you see. Inactive networks transmit beacons only and have no impact on available channel bandwidth.