GT-BE98 Pro (Ver 1.0) as Node to BQ16 Pro

[jzchen]

Recently purchased a BQ16 Pro (1 pack).  While I've seen BE98 Pro as router and BQ16 Pro as node, I decided to swap.  (Since my DECO BE95 is router which gets IP Passthrough from AT&T BGW320-500, I use Access Point Mode with AiMesh).  See attached screenshot of BE98 Pro SSID issue, (my OnePlus Open just got dropped to Mobile Network as well but auto reconnected to WiFi - I am near the BQ16).

EDIT- MAC addresses are normal but erased manually, somehow some were replaced with cryptic symbols via AiEraser on Android.

 

[jzchen]

Took my phone nearby, toggled WiFi off then on.  None of those long SSIDs exist, just a defect in ASUSwrt user interface.

[Saltgrass]

If I remember correctly, the network was hidden and open.  At the time I speculated, because it was an open network, that a 32 digit ID was created so nothing would accidentally stumble on that network.

You might make sure your system is set to connect to a hidden SSID.

[jzchen]

Open SSIDs are definitely scary.  I remember one of the nodes having an open SSID, but when I tried to connect to it, there was no Internet access.  I vaguely remembering/guessing it was from my lone AC router (RT-AC68U).

I re-connected the AXE16000 as a node to try to help give the room I sleep in better signal, as performance was worse than my just prior iPhone X.  It also provides 10 Gbps Ethernet to my desktop PC, as I replaced a network switch that did so.

It was obviously not supposed to be open.  It was supposed to create a dedicated 6 GHz backhaul to your BE98 Pro of the format SSID_dwb.  For my wired backhaul case it did do that, my SUSA_70_dwb.  If I then turned on Ethernet Backhaul Mode it would change to SUSA_70 and allow me to use it, but the network was somehow unstable and I turned Ethernet Backhaul Mode off as recommended by ASUS instructions on AiMesh with network switch, just set Ethernet as Priority.

[Saltgrass]

Could you elaborate a little more on what you see as a problem?  You are looking at the AiMesh page with the Be98 Pro selected?

You seem to have smart connected active?

If your SSID is not what you are showing and the Android is not involved, the only time I have seen such a number was when I was experimenting originally with MLO using the AXE16000 as Node and that number was created for some specific purpose.

[jzchen]

Yes, let me try to explain a little better.

I took that screen shot from the OnePlus Open phone.  (I then used its editor to conceal the MAC addresses for all four channels, 2.4, 5, 6-1, and 6-2 but is otherwise uneditted).  The Network Name (SSID) fields are all filled with the exact same "9A6DA621E9568B23ED74D0453FC6B3A0".  This is not my typical SUSA_70 nor SUSA_70_OLM, (OLM indicating it is part of the MLO SSID).  Yes, SmartConnect is enabled, along with MLO.

I have been running my AXE16000 as an AiMesh node (Ethernet wired backhaul), and surprise, surprise, it appears to get MLO!  (See attached).  This is specifically as a node to the BQ16 Pro, vs GT-BE98 Pro.

*GT-AXE16000 gets MLO*

[Saltgrass · Accepted solution]

It will use your MLO SSID, and currently, I only have the MLO SSID, since the other SSID was removed and replaced by the MLO version in Smart Connect.

You probably don't remember me complaining about open networks when we were doing the initial testing.

[jzchen]

I actually do remember your concern about open networks.  I also remember trying to relay that concern to my friend at ASUS.  (I consider him a friend because he's the one that sent me my BE98 Pro).  I'm afraid I did not get far with that attempt to help you.  (I remember that too, sigh).

I also had all sorts of issues with my OnePlus Open.  I eventually put the blame on the phone because I wasn't getting good performance from connecting with the TP-Link DECO BE95 either.

I'm going to have to check that MLO page.  As background I got a PM on SNBForums to ask about MLO performance when I added the BQ16 Pro, so I tried it again...

[Saltgrass]

Tell me what type of performance info you would need.  I can use my Windows insider build to get that info and post it here.

I cannot sign onto the SNBforums since Spectrum does not allow.  

Winows24H2 may be out on Oct. 8th.

[jzchen]

@Saltgrass -  You're correct every 5 GHz and 6 GHz radio has the "_OLM" SSID, even though several do not support MLO.

I'm afraid the MLO pages are more rudimentary with the BQ16 Pro as primary Access Point: