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Forum Discussion
WAX220 Issue (moved from the Orbi section)
I'm having the same issue with my WAX220. My laptop can see many SSIDs in my neighborhood but not mine. Firmware is up to date. I've tried changing the 2.4 channel, the power level, the bandwidth...
RTL8188CE is a very old 2.4-only N card and often can’t see SSIDs when the AP is set to newer security (WPA2/WPA3 mixed) or certain 40 MHz channel configs — try forcing the WAX220 to WPA2-PSK only and 20 MHz on 2.4. The hidden SSID is normal: it’s the management/BSS network used internally by the AP and can’t be joined.
The hidden SSID is normal: it’s the management/BSS network used internally by the AP and can’t be joined.
Nothing like that is visible on air on the WAC220, neither using healthy, correct working AX or AC clients.
Note: It's not a mesh capable access point (and neither a router or satellite) where such a hidden BSSID is often intentionally used as part of the mash "plug and play" capabilities.
Netgear had a responsibility to make their product backward compatible with existing technologies. They failed.
Old, yes. Lame, yes. Poorly supported, yes.
It won't even work when bandwidth is set to 20, AX is disabled, and security is set to Open.
Garbage.
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