Deco XE75 unknown SSID from wifi 6E
Hi.
I have 3 XE75 setup as APs with ethernet backhaul.
2.4/5ghz ssid is setup and 6ghz ssid is setup. I see both when searching for wifi.
but I also see a different ssid with wifi 6E that has random numbers and letters as name. (zEQQ8ZV3L9N...)
so its not hidden and the mac address is the same as the 6ghz mac except for the last nr
ex: 6ghz mac= aa:aa:aa:aa:aa:a3
unknown wifi 6E ssid mac = aa:aa:aa:aa:aa:a2
it is also at the same dB as my wifi6ssid so I am convinced its the XE75 producing the ssid.
is it the wireless backhaul? shouln'd it be hidden?
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@Warpy Hi, Thanks for sharing your concern with us.
The support email #TKID231252654 indeed was from TP-Link( from me actually) via the forum official email---support.forum@tp-link.com. Usually, I will add the forum post ID to explain what this email is about.
I don't think this issue is easily duplicated. I talked with the engineer earlier. He thinks it is very likely to be the 6Ghz Backhaul SSID but it is not supposed to be visible though.
Thank you very much and best regards.
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Hi, Is the odd 6G SSID hidden or visible?
Could you please share some pictures with me?
Thank you very much and wait for your reply.
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@David-TP it's visible and usually starts with lower case z.
For example it shows up on my phone.
It follows the 6GHz in that there are three access points in the group corresponding to the SSID and the MAC address is one less than the last octet of, for example, the 6Ghz SSID and one greater than the MAC address of the MLO SSID on the BE85.
I'm not sure but IIRC on the XE75 the mystery SSID would disappear when the 6GHz SSID was disabled.
That doesn't happen on the BE85, probably because the MLO SSID includes the 6GHz wireless.
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Screen shot attached.
Just for clarity.
I have XE75 Pro EU/2.0 running Firmware Version 1.2.7 Build 20231011 Rel. 71327
Current network is 1GHL_6Hz which is a "hidden" 6GHz network.
The unexpected SSID in "Available Networks" is zEQQeiXRYN1aWKXA
That SSID is definetly from the DECO and dissapears if I "unhide" the 1GHL_6GHz SSID.
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Update:
The SSID " zEQQxxx" is a hidden network by default, and it’s designed for 6 GHz backhaul used along with other bands. However, once activating the 6 Ghz primary Wi-Fi on the Deco App, this SSID will become visible. The reason for broadcasting this SSID is to ensure compatibility with certain cellphones or NICs that support the 6 GHz band, such as the Samsung S21. These devices may struggle to detect Deco's wireless signals if the zEQQ SSID remains hidden.
Rest assured, your network security is guaranteed. Even though this SSID is visible, it is encrypted by default, and client devices are prohibited from connecting to it.
Moreover, We are currently evaluating to optimize this mechanism on the 6GHz-supported Deco devices and will consider the option of hiding this zEQQ SSID in future firmware updates.
Thank you very much and best regards.
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Well that kinda defeats the purpose of Hidden SSIDs then!
I've not seen that behavior or reasoning with other non TP LInk routers.
One behavior I have noticed (and indeed think I read about it somewhere) is that the phone needs to go into lock screen before it auto-connects with a hidden SSID.
I'm using Andriod 14 (Samsung One UI 6) and if I turn on wifi it will not auto-connect to the hidden wifi SSID until the phone goes to screen lock. Again I am sure I read something somewhere about that behavior being normal. (I'll keep searching and post if I find it)
I really doubt that has anything to do with the backhaul SSID being visible or not.
Suggest maybe your engineers need to go back and investigate this further.
Regards
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@David-TP I dont even use wifi backhaul, use ethernet backhaul between all 3 XE75, and the backhaul SSID still shows up which would be completely unnecesary with ethernet backhaul....
definitely not happy with this product, just looks like sheer sloppy bandaid engineering.....my 6E devices have trouble connecting as per everyone else simialr issue
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Hi, only my two cents:
A product where security should be a beacon, like a router or an access point. It is really questionable to have these devices broadcasting SSID with passwords where I as an owner can't control or monitor either network, SSID or password.
As an administrator and responsible for the network would state that this is really the worst backdoor I have ever heard about, hiding in plain sight.
These DECO products should be used with greatest care until TP-Link has locked them down and security is at trustworthy level.
My best regards
Pelle
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That's just the point, nobody knows.
So beware of Chinese unmarked cars driving around.... TP-Link defenitly have or can atleast gain access to the passwords, or atleast need to prove that they can't. :-)
//Pelle
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