What does "Connected via Orbi" mean in my wi-fi connection & is it a problem "via Orbi" is now gone?

Question

I was struggling with the Samsung "Couldn't Authenticate Connection" error and went through a number of different ways to remove and recreate my current wi-fi connection.

At some point in the "reset" process, I got in a state where even though I had deleted my connection, when I restarted my phone my wifi connection was there and connected, with a message saying "Connected via Orbi".

After a few more disconnections and "Forget Network"s and removing / reinstalling the Orbi app and phone restarts, I'm at a pretty solid place in regard to the authentication error (knock on wood / keeping fingers crossed), but the network connection now just says "Connected", with no "via Orbi".

How did I get the "via Orbi" in the first place and is it a problem I'm not seeing it ("via Orbi") now?

CrimpOn · Answer

BrianG_Simi&nbsp;wrote:What I'm wondering is what the mechanism would be for my Samsung connection to be "aware" that I was connected "via Orbi". Is the router advertising itself in a way that Samsung / Android can pick up? Is this something that's just standard in the WiFi spec or something special between Samsung \ Android and Orbi? Was it somehow related to having the Orbi app installed? Most importantly, is there any downside to no longer seeing "via Orbi"?The WiFi SSID was not "Orbi", correct?&nbsp;During the WiFi connection process, devices share their hardware MAC address. A lot of products use the MAC address to guess what is being connected, often with puzzling results.&nbsp; Devices also share their capabilities.&nbsp; It could be that Netgear Orbi has a combination of MAC address and capabilities that makes it unique.&nbsp; I have put a WiFi adapter into "monitor mode" and captured the dialog between device and access point, and a lot of information is shared before the device does the actual connection.&nbsp;"Any downside?"&nbsp; Having never seen a comment like this on any device, my guess is "not at all."

schumaku · Answer

Probably is shows the network with this "via Orbi" somewhere in the Orbi App - on plain Android (or Apple iOS) only the network name (SSID) will be shown.

BrianG_Simi · Answer

Just to be clear, the "Connected via Orbi" was showing in the Android (Samsung One UI 3.1) wifi screen, not within the Orbi app.

I was hoping it has some significance and provides a clue to the authentication errors I was seeing. I can't seem to duplicate it. Perhaps, it's related to creating the network directly from the main router vs a satellite?

CrimpOn · Answer

An internet search for "Samsung One UI 3.1 WiFi" turned up numerous issues with connecting to WiFi after the Samsung update.

I did not locate a post that specifically mentions the term "via", but I gave up pretty quickly.

My guess is that since this appeared on the phone, the answer lies with Samsung, not Netgear.

BrianG_Simi · Answer

I'm sure the "authentication" issue is with Samsung, but that's really not my question - I think I've got the authentication issue "solved".&nbsp;What I'm wondering is what the mechanism would be for my Samsung connection to be "aware" that I was connected "via Orbi". Is the router advertising itself in a way that Samsung / Android can pick up? Is this something that's just standard in the WiFi spec or something special between Samsung \ Android and Orbi? Was it somehow related to having the Orbi app installed? Most importantly, is there any downside to no longer seeing "via Orbi"?

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What does "Connected via Orbi" mean in my wi-fi connection & is it a problem "via Orbi" is now gone?

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