be98pro with be98pro node and 2x b16pro nodes broadcasting hidden wifi on all bands.

[Dadman77]

Hello my asus router appears to be broadcasting hidden wifi and causing interference.  ie

on 2.4Ghz band 

mywifi mac - XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:a4

*hidden* mac - XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:a3

with each node doing the same thing.  So it doubles the items on each wifi channel from 4 to 8.

mywifi mac - XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:70

*hidden* mac - XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:69

It also appears to do the same for 5GHz and 6GHz-1 and 6GHZ-2

wifi 7 off and mlo off and ethernet backhaul on.  any help would be appreciated.

[jzchen]

I'm actually seeing this using Net Analyzer app on my Android Phone.  One BE98 Pro AP Mode (Ethernet Backhaul Mode) and one BQ16 Pro node.  (There are other non-WiFi 7 nodes).

I guess I'll start a Feedback log that hopefully techs can replicate...

[Saltgrass]

The link below goes to NetSpot.  The description on the page makes me think, this is not unusual.

What interference do you feel is happening?  Can you connect to any of those hidden networks?  Keep in mind, all of the ASUS routers have hidden SSIDs based on the ASUS_XX number, after the Router is configured, it becomes hidden.   

Hidden Network: What It Is and How to Discover One

[Dadman77]

Doubling the number of wifi networks does congest the wifi.  I receive random disconnects when streaming music that did not happen before.  This issue only appeared recently since the wifi was changed to have main network as part of the Network tab firmware 37038.  I simply believe something was missed in the patch where I do not believe the other wifi hidden networks are needed and are added erroneously with ethernet backhaul on.   I cannot connect to the hidden wifi network as it requires a password that I do not know.  honestly if it is the ASUS_XX it simply should not be broadcasting after other wifi have been setup.  I believe this is the issue then.

Nice to know one other user can report the same scenario.

[jzchen]

When I started the Feedback log, the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz hidden bands seemed to disappear, while 6 GHz still seemed to have them.  Strangely my TP-Link DECO BE95 seems to be broadcasting 6 GHz hidden networks as well.  This morning  I noticed that the 2.4 and 5 GHz hidden networks appear to have returned.  I did receive a note from a moderator that 6 GHz hidden networks are going to be explained with respect to AiMesh.  I hope they include explanation of how it relates when Ethernet Backhaul Mode is toggled ON, because that is supposed to free up bandwidth that would otherwise be reserved for self healing.

I do get drops to mobile on my OnePlus Open, but I haven't come to a conclusion as to what causes it.  It does seem to be replicable if I move the phone around the house while streaming Netflix for example. At other times I could be stationary in bed doing the same thing and suddenly there is a drop to mobile network, inexplicably...

[Tajmundo]

Power off all the b16pro nodes and leave the  be98pro on only. Your signal dropping will stop. Asus sent out garbage b16pros with garbage firmware. Got rid of my nodes and no more drops.

[Saltgrass]

Regarding Ethernet backhaul, have you enabled the setting in the AiMesh - System Settings to only allow Ethernet Backhaul Mode?

This last update has been causing me problems, but hopefully, they have been worked out after doing a factory reset on both of my routers and starting over.   

On my MLO system, I show the Wi-Fi 7 SSID and the MLO and IoT SSIDs.  This did not change with 37038.

MLO was basically developed in order to connect to more than one Radio, not SSID, so as to improve network speeds or maintain more than one viable radio connection in case one would disconnect.  You don't seem to be using that, but it may help your situation if you change your mind.

@jzchen That OnePlus seems to have a 5.8 GHz radio.  Have you or can you disable that?

[jzchen]

Whatever was the miracle that happened once I added the BQ16 Pro ever since the phone is not lagging, so disconnecting from WiFi is a minor nuisance since it does not affect my browsing nor NetFlix.  I use this analyzer app, which appears to have an iOS version for you...

https://techet.net/netanalyzer/

[Dadman77]

that is correct i have enabled ethernet backhaul mode under the aimesh system settings page.

[Saltgrass]

You may want to check the link to another thread.  He seems to be seeing the situation, but he is using Net Spot Pro which can actually see Hidden networks.

I also just noticed, if you look at his attachment, the information on the Hidden SSIDs matches exactly with the normal SSIDs.  It is not very likely 2 different networks would appear exactly the same.

https://rog-forum.asus.com/t5/gaming-routers/asus-gt-be98-pro-x2-in-mesh-mlo-creating-hidden-ssid-fo...