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Mchicao's avatar
Mchicao
Aspirant
Oct 15, 2024

Masking a MAC address

I recently purchased a water monitoring device and for some reason the MAC address presented by their bridge is slightly different from what their APP expects. Weird but true.

Waiting on them to decide if they should send me a replacement. In the meantime, is there any way to send out the APP expected MAC while keeping the MAC the device presents to the router.  Thx

4 Replies

  • CrimpOn's avatar
    CrimpOn
    Guru
    Oct 15, 2024

    Some devices are capable of reporting a different MAC address than the physical hardware MAC address.  (Orbi routers. Windows computers.)  A key requirement is that the device have a user interface.  An "internet of things" gizmo that has no display, no keyboard, and no camera thus has no capability for the user to do anything until it has been linked with the smartphone app.

     

    So, no.  Not possible.

     

    How does the app communicate that the device MAC address is the problem?

    Typically, IoT devices broadcast a WiFi signal with a predictable SSID. The smartphone app scans the available WiFi networks looking for an SSID that matches the expected pattern and connects to the device.  MAC address is not usually involved in the process.

     

    Care to share specifics about what this gizmo is?

     

     

    • Mchicao's avatar
      Mchicao
      Aspirant
      Oct 15, 2024
      Flume makes a sensor that attaches to your water meter to report on water flow. The sensor communicates via a bridge that sits on your network and I think communicates with flume perhaps over the internet. . To start the sequence of attaching bridge to network you scan a QR code on the bridge which is supposed to contain info about the bridges MAC address. The mac address that the QR code reveals and the
      MAC address that shows up on the network for that device are different. The bridges has an IP address but the flume app is expecting a different MAC address and so no go

      • CrimpOn's avatar
        CrimpOn
        Guru
        Oct 15, 2024

        How cool.  (Do I want to spend $250 right now? decisions, decisions)

         

        The installation video seems pretty clear:

        https://help.flumewater.com/en/articles/4534642-the-complete-guide-to-installing-your-flume-2-device 

        Nowhere in the installation video does it mention a MAC address.

        (There is a comment in the "Advanced WiFi" FAQ that some home routers will require the user to "allow" the bridge MAC address to connect.  Netgear Orbi manages this feature in the web application, on the Advanced Tab, Security Menu, Access Control.  Just personally, I have found this feature to be more trouble than it is worth and I keep it disabled.  There is also a setting to "allow new devices to connect".)

         

        Could you indicate a which point in the installation video things "go wrong"?  (The entire video is 4:30 long.)

         

        How did you determine there was a problem with the bridge MAC address?  (I would probably use a QR code 'app' to see what information is included in the QR code and compare it with (a) a MAC address printed  on the bridge case, or (b) the Orbi Attached Devices page.)