Asus XT9 Hidden Networks

[0ID]

Hi, I'm new here and also newbie with Asus routers.

I have a trio of Asus XT9, one set as router and two as wired nodes.
Everything is fine exept the fact that I see two Asus hidden networks.
The nodes are set exclusively as wired, but I suspect that those hidden network have something to do with the backhaul.
Bug or miscofiguration?

Thanx

-0ID

 

[bennor]

By hidden networks do you mean you are seeing IP address ranges/subnets of 192.168.101.x and 192.168.102.x? If so, expected behavior. It's the WiFi Guest Networks.

https://www.snbforums.com/search/1265655/?q=192.168.101.&o=relevance

 

[0ID]

Hi, thank you for replay.
I see the 2 hidden networks on 5GHz with the WiFi Explorer, see last two rows on printscreen.
The guest networks are disabled.

EDIT: I deleted the printscreen as contains too many private info.

 

[0ID]

Bump!

 

[0ID]

Digging around to find the provenience of the two Asus hidden networks.
I'm just speculating, maybe an expert can confirm or refute my suspicions on WPS.
Could the following settings causes the presence of the mentioned hidden networks?

WPS - Off
Connection status - Not used
Configured - Enabled !!!
AP pin code - xxxxxxxx

This configuration is identical on 2.4, 5-1 and 5-2 GHz
If really this WPS configuration causes the hidden networks this must be a bug and accordingly reported, but I don't know where and how to do it.

 

[ColinTaylor]

If really this WPS configuration causes the hidden networks this must be a bug and accordingly reported, but I don't know where and how to do it.

Click on the Feedback option at the bottom of any of the webUI pages.

 

[0ID]

Click on the Feedback option at the bottom of any of the webUI pages.

I did some two weeks ago, no reply from ASUS. Nada, niente, nichts, etc...

 

[KevTech]

If you have it off it is off.
Asus changed the wording for WPS configured from Yes to Enabled.
Just means it has been setup.
If you turn WPS back on you will get a Reset button next to configured but that just takes you back to the setup screen.
Did you reboot router after turning it off?

[Wireless Router] How to set up WPS connection? | Official Support | ASUS Global

 

[0ID]

If you have it off it is off.
Asus changed the wording for WPS configured from Yes to Enabled.
Just means it has been setup.
If you turn WPS back on you will get a Reset button next to configured but that just takes you back to the setup screen.
Did you reboot router after turning it off?

[Wireless Router] How to set up WPS connection? | Official Support | ASUS Global

Hi KevTech,
When I switch the WPS on, I don't get a reset button, it goes directly to config screen and yes I rebooted the router, many times.

 

[WiFiphenom]

Did you ever figure this out?
I'm broadcasting 3 hidden networks.

 

[0ID]

Did you ever figure this out?
I'm broadcasting 3 hidden networks.

No.
I sent twice from the router web interface requests for support to Asus, but nobody cares.
The only interest of Asus, as of the majority of other big companies is to sell, sell, sell! ......... and piss on customers.

 

[WiFiphenom]

OK thanks lol

 

[0ID]

Did you ever figure this out?
I'm broadcasting 3 hidden networks.

So, I found out that the above mentioned hidden streams are the Nodes backhauls, found the involved BSSIDs in router log. Apparently Asus has a bug or simply doesn't care about this.

If the backhaul of XT9 is set to WAN First (Ethernet) and if happens that the backhaul wire is pulled from the router or Node is switching automatically to wireless backhaul. Perfect!

In case that the backhaul is set to Ethernet backhaul mode (in Ai Mode -> System Settings) and ALL Nodes are wire connected, the wireless backhaul should be completely OFF!

So Asus, please be so kind and adjust the firmware accordingly as firing unnecessarily hidden streams which pollute the environment and increase the power consumption of involved devices is not nice. Maybe someone from Asus will read this.....

 

[WiFiphenom]

So, I found out that the above mentioned hidden streams are the Nodes backhauls, found the involved BSSIDs in router log. Apparently Asus has a bug or simply doesn't care about this.

If the backhaul of XT9 is set to WAN First (Ethernet) and if happens that the backhaul wire is pulled from the router or Node is switching automatically to wireless backhaul. Perfect!

In case that the backhaul is set to Ethernet backhaul mode (in Ai Mode -> System Settings) and ALL Nodes are wire connected, the wireless backhaul should be completely OFF!

So Asus, please be so kind and adjust the firmware accordingly as firing unnecessarily hidden streams which pollute the environment and increase the power consumption of involved devices is not nice. Maybe someone from Asus will read this.....

Yea it's so wasteful to have these high speed networks broadcasting when they're not in use.

 

[OzarkEdge]

In case that the backhaul is set to Ethernet backhaul mode (in Ai Mode -> System Settings) and ALL Nodes are wire connected, the wireless backhaul should be completely OFF!

Agreed. With the routers I've used with wired backhaul (AX86U, AX86 Pro, AX88U Pro) and not necessarily with all of them... when I have discovered the wireless backhaul ON in the Wireless Log on rare occassions... toggling EBM ON/OFF has turned it OFF... cleared it from the Log.

OE

 

[0ID]

Agreed. With the routers I've used with wired backhaul (AX86U, AX86 Pro, AX88U Pro) and not necessarily with all of them... when I have discovered the wireless backhaul ON in the Wireless Log on rare occassions... toggling EBM ON/OFF has turned it OFF... cleared it from the Log.

OE

Hi, what is EBM?

 

[bennor]

Hi, what is EBM?

Ethernet Backhaul Mode.

[AiMesh] What is Ethernet Backhaul Mode/Backhaul Connection Priority in AiMesh System and how to set up in different scenarios? | Official Support | ASUS Global

 

[OzarkEdge]

Hi, what is EBM?

Ethernet Backhaul Mode... if backhaul is wired, enable EBM to disable wireless backhaul and/or failover to wireless backhaul.

OE

 

[0ID]

Ethernet Backhaul Mode.

[AiMesh] What is Ethernet Backhaul Mode/Backhaul Connection Priority in AiMesh System and how to set up in different scenarios? | Official Support | ASUS Global

No luck. After disabling the EBM i got 6 hidden streams, reenabled is back to 2 hidden streams. When disabled is switching off also 5-1 and 5-2 smart connect.

 

[0ID]

Agreed. With the routers I've used with wired backhaul (AX86U, AX86 Pro, AX88U Pro) and not necessarily with all of them... when I have discovered the wireless backhaul ON in the Wireless Log on rare occassions... toggling EBM ON/OFF has turned it OFF... cleared it from the Log.

OE

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?