AX56 aimesh node shows open access (no password or security)

[Labdoc]

Problem: AX56 FW3004.388.8_4 in an aimesh network that shows the access as open.
Situation: The main router and aimesh host is an RT-BE96 FW 3006.102.5. An RT-AX88 is also a aimesh node. The backhaul for all routers is wired.
Security on the BE96 is WPA2/WPA3 personal.
Security on the AX56 and AX88 are default.
The AiProtection utility on the BE96 is ON and shows no problem

On a wireless windows pc, the utility Netsetman (Copyright Ilja Herlein, version 5.4.0) )shows the AX56 node as open, without security, on 2.4 and 5 GHz channels. The AX88 and BE96 show as WPA2+3 AES encrypted.

Is there a way to configure the AX56 to force WPA2+3 AES encryption?

 

[Tech9]

Is the node really open or just an App is showing is this way?

 

[Labdoc]

When AX56 is in the Aimesh network, I do not see how to access the security settings in the AX56. I assume they are the same as the BE96.

On a test to connect to the AX56 from another wireless windows pc, I can connect without a password challenge. From that I assume the node is open

 

[Labdoc]

Thanks folks. Your posts helped me decide to retire the AX56. No replacement without an immediate replacement.

 

[degrub]

did you try a factory reset, manually reconfigure the AX56, and then join as mesh node ?
What if you set it as an extender ?

 

[Labdoc]

>did you try a factory reset, manually reconfigure the AX56,
No. However, I notice there is a factory firmware update issued 3 days ago
ASUS RT-AX56U Firmware version 3.0.0.4.386_52049
If time permits, I can return to the factory FW (currently Merlin -- no longer updated)