Archer C7 v5 is emitting a hidden network
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Hello,
my Archer C7 v5 is emitting a hidden wifi network that I can't explain.
According to a wifi network analyzer, it's MAC address is identical to the MAC addresses of the 2.4 and 5 GHz network, except that the first 6 entries are AA:DA:C4 instead of the TP-link associated 98:DA:C4. The hidden network has same maxium speed of 216.7 Mbps as the 2.4 Ghz network and allows authentication via WPA2 PSK-CCMP.
The hidden network exists independent of the operation mode (Acess Point or Router) and also if both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks are disabled.
Any ideas what that is?
Best,
Frederik
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Given the large number of replies in this thread, I think TP Link should address our concerns with this issue rather repeating their reply without offering any solution. To summarize this thread so far, there are 4 issues with the hidden network being always on:
1) Security issues
Any additional wireless network adds security vulnerabilities. If there is no added benefit (in the case the user does not want the wireless mesh functionality), there is no reason to add vulnerabilities without anything in return, especially if the user has no control over the additional network. In addition, as we have heared from @lemon (reply #51), there already exists a proven vulnerability with TP-Link's OneMesh. How can you, @Kevin_Z, respond to this issue with saying OneMesh is "very safe"?
2) Energy consumption
Clearly, the added wireless network consumes additional energy. For the sake of dealing responsibly with the resources we have available on planet Earth, I makes no sense to waste them. Sustainability can be achieved in all human activities, operating wireless routers is no exception.
3) Interference with other networks
As we have heared from @gdog, the hidden networks contribute to areas with a high density of different wifi-networks, potentially causing cross-interference. To not congest such areas with additional networks nobody uses, it makes sense to turn-off unwanted networks.
4) Giving up control
The user of a device should decide on how he/she operates it. If certain features are not neccessary to operate the device, there should be an option to deactivate them.
In summary, there are a number of issues with the additional hidden network. Any of the concerns listed above should be a reason to add an option to turn off the hidden network, let alone all of them combined!
@Kevin_Z, please forward this thread to your decision makers and software developers. Adding a possibility to turn off an unwanted network should not be a difficult feature to implement. What is the reason that this functionality does not already exist?
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@Kevin_Z Please ask the Tech people at TP-Link to provide a solution for this issue for TP-Link Archer C6 v2(EU) as well. The above post sums up the problem with the *hidden network* pretty well. Energy isn't free you know : x
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Hello all, if you require to disable the Onemesh hidden network on the TP-Link router, please refer to this thread we've updated to find a solution:
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This issue is also found on the Archer A6 v2.0 that I have. So are there any plans to update the firmware for this device with the ability to turn of this OneMesh signal?
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Hi @Kevin_Z,
I am C6 user from Hong Kong and the same happened to my router just bought. From the firmware page it mentioned firmeware could not be downgraded. Is there other solution?
Will the on/off switch also planned for C6 as well? Thanks.
https://www.tp-link.com/hk/support/download/archer-c6/#Firmware
| Archer C6(EU)_V2_200402 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Published Date: 2020-04-22 | Language: English | File Size: 8.18 MB |
|
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Hi, thanks for bringing this up again.
Yes, we already have the plan to add the on/off switch for the OneMesh feature on both Archer C6 and A6, as well as on the Archer A7 and C7, but there is no ETA for that new firmware now.
Please keep an eye on the official website for the future firmware updates, thanks a lot.
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@Kevin_Z Now I bought a C6 and I am very disappointed with your approach. The switch should have been there a long time ago. When will the new firmware be? You certainly don't know. I'm going to return the router
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I recently bought the AC1750 A7 router when I upgraded my internet service a few weeks ago, and this thread has been very enlightening, to say the least. It started with a simple question back in September of last year, basically asking "what is this hidden network thing" (paraphrased) and getting a basic (and sad) response "it's not a bug, it's a feature" (again, paraphrased). Many pages of comments, concerns, and reports of legitimate issues and 10+ months later we have a "good news everybody" response saying that they've heard the community and will implement the kill switch in a future firmware update.
Happy to hear there will be an update coming, sad to see it took 10+ months of customer feedback to get there.
I get it though, and I'm not throwing shade at the engineers for this. I've seen this scenario play out in real-time on previous projects: Marketing exec sells product idea to top corporate execs, without really consulting the engineers that actually do the work day in and day out. The product managers tell the real engineers the idea, and the engineers roll their eyes (as engineers often do) and tell the product managers that it's probably not a good idea. The product managers tell the engineers to "hold their nose" and do it anyway, implementing the best version of the bad idea that can be implemented. Product manager: "This is something the customers really want!" Engineers: "Sure, but do the customers know about the risks of a back-channel that can't be user configured, regardless of how obscured and difficult it is to hack?" Product manager: <blank stare>
Anyway, just adding some snark to the conversation so that I can be notified when this thread is updated, hopefully with the announcement of the new firmware.
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Tp - Link vr2100 emitting hidden network, i want to disable it but firmware does not let to do so. Please add an option to disable it
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