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Forum Discussion
BobDuke
Jan 20, 2018Apprentice
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? ...
st_shaw
Jan 20, 2018Master
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.
BobDuke
Jan 21, 2018Apprentice
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