NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
dwade
Dec 26, 2019Aspirant
WIFI signal strength varies
Hello! I'm a brand new Orbo user. 6 days in & the problems with my old system have been resolved. I do have a couple of minor problems. My WIFI signal meter will vary in strength. I don't ever s...
- Dec 27, 2019
That's just it......even when manually adding a network, my network didn't exist.
I've dealt with a fair number of hidden networks. Including all of my networks for the past decade. They never show up when scanning for available networks because they're hidden. That's completely normal & I get that.
I appreciate your help.
CrimpOn
Dec 26, 2019Guru - Experienced User
The Orbi web interface provides a method to turn off Broadcast of the SSID on both 2.4G and 5G.
The Advanced Tab, Advanced Setup, Wireless Settings, has options to Enable/Disable SSID Broadcast on each WiFi frequency.
I am sure there is a good reason to hide the SSID. So far, I have not needed to.
dwade
Dec 26, 2019Aspirant
I tried to 'hide' the broadcast of my SSID in the advanced tab but it didn't just hide the SSID. It shut the WIFI down completely.
The reason: safety/security. No need to blast to everyone within reach of my signal.
- CrimpOnDec 26, 2019Guru - Experienced UserWhat was the evidence that the WiFi was shut off? There are specific procedures to connect to a "hidden" network.
When I disable SSID, my WiFi Analyzer program shows an access point on the same channel as my Orbi with the same ether net MAC address ax my Orbi. In other words, it is my Orbi but not broadcasting SSID.- dwadeDec 26, 2019Aspirant
None of my devices were able to access the web. No WIFI signal icons appeared. When I instructed my devices to look for the network, it wouldn't show up.
I hid the SSID on all of my systems for a number of years. All of the WIFI in our offices is hidden.
I'm sure I just have to figure out exactly how this system operates and communicates. This is certainly not a huge a problem. Just something I noticed.
- CrimpOnDec 26, 2019Guru - Experienced User
dwade wrote:None of my devices were able to access the web. No WIFI signal icons appeared. When I instructed my devices to look for the network, it wouldn't show up.
I hid the SSID on all of my systems for a number of years. All of the WIFI in our offices is hidden.
What you observed is what is supposed to happen. When SSID is not being broadcast, any device that automatically displays a list of available WiFi neworks will not show it. On my Android phone, there is a line underneath all of the available WiFi networksk called "+Add a Network". Click on that and it brings up a screen where I can enter the SSID/password and connect to a hidden network.
This is different from the network being "turned off".
- FURRYe38Dec 26, 2019Guru - Experienced User
If your concerned about reach of your Orbi broadcast, you can turn down the wifi signal on the radios from 100% to say 50%. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings
dwade wrote:I tried to 'hide' the broadcast of my SSID in the advanced tab but it didn't just hide the SSID. It shut the WIFI down completely.
The reason: safety/security. No need to blast to everyone within reach of my signal.