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Forum Discussion
Identification of Orbi back haul
Using a WiFi analyzer app, I see a number of networks sharing the same channels as my Orbi. It's easy to identify the client networks. How do I identify the Orbi back haul network? SSID? MAC? ...
The backhaul is hidden. You can only see it with a few combinations of scanning software and WiFi adapter. Only a very few will show the signal consistently.
The SSID may be hidden, but as Netgear must follow standards to use WiFi, the chanels, etc. are defined. So I did some more digging with my handy dandy WiFi Analyser, and found a note from a fellow Orbi user that clarified the use of a 2.4 GHz channel as part of the backhaul.
These are the Mac addresses and Channels used between the Orbi and clients.
Router Mac 08:02:8e:a6:d3:66 Ch 48
Sat Mac 08:02:8e:a7:86:80 Ch 48
Router Mac 0e:02:8e:a6:d3:64 Ch 3+7
Sat Mac 0e:02:8e:a7:86:7e Ch 3+7
Then I found these "hidden" SSID's, which are probably for the backhaul:
Router Mac 08:02:8e:a6:d3:67 Ch 157
Sat Mac 08:02:8e:a7:86:81 Ch 157
Router Mac 12:02:8e:a6:d3:64 Ch 3+7
Sat Mac 12:02:8e:a7:86:7e Ch 3+7
There may be other "hidden" SSID's. And i might have missed a few things.
It's interresting, in a good way, how the first and last portion of Mac addresses are manipulated based on usage.
I think a lot uf us like to understand how our systems ("toys") actually function. The more we know, the better we can be at providing accurate feedback to Netgear.
Bob