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.

 

[WiFiphenom]

Another frustrating issue is that while I've set my 5 GHz band to WPA3 (SAE), the router is broadcasting a hidden 5 GHz band with WPA2/WPA3 that I can't turn off, negating my security settings.

 

[Tech9]

This may be an issue indeed, but your only option at the moment is to report it to Asus in Feedback Form.

 

[0ID]

Another frustrating issue is that while I've set my 5 GHz band to WPA3 (SAE), the router is broadcasting a hidden 5 GHz band with WPA2/WPA3 that I can't turn off, negating my security settings.

Same here, the hidden networks are on WPA2 and @Tech9 : No way to get a reply from Asus.

 

[Tech9]

No way to get a reply from Asus.

Reply is not needed or expected. Feedback Form is just for user Feedback.

 

[0ID]

Reply is not needed or expected. Feedback Form is just for user Feedback.

Ah, its you again!
Now I understand why you have over 17000 posts here. You have your say to any post.

 

[Tech9]

You addressed me directly, remember?

Same here, the hidden networks are on WPA2 and @Tech9 : No way to get a reply from Asus.

 

[bbunge]

@OiD - Do you have any Roku devices? If so and they have remotes the remotes will show up on a WIFI scan as a hidden network. The remotes will be on the same band as the Roku. That is why you can't use DFS channels with Roku: the remotes are WIFI ...

 

[WiFiphenom]

Well, in my software, the hidden networks specifically say they're coming from an ASUSTek device.