Strange mirror network with hex ID name.

[Mr Zippy]

Just setup a new BT8, currently just the main router as not got around to setting up node yet. I only have 2.4 and 5 ghz clients.

Anyway I see two what appear to be mirror networks if I scan wifi that have what look like hex IDs at the broadcast name. The MAC IDs are almost identical to the main network as is the RSSI, if I change channel they move with it.

What’s going on?

I can’t see this in the ASUS web UI.

 

[ColinTaylor]

IIRC this has been reported before and it's something to do with AiMesh. I'd hazard a guess that it's the mechanism by which AiMesh nodes join a network.

 

[Poul Bak]

I would rather think (this is also just a guess) that it is related to MLO or just SSIDs with multi channels.
MLO creates a hidden SSID for each band, that is included in the MLO.
I have never used AIMesh and I have seen it too - on both my routers.
It typically happens right after you have changed some wifi settings (haven't seen it lately). My guess is that has not yet hidden those SSIDs causing them to display for a while.

 

[ColinTaylor]

This is one of the threads I was thinking about: https://www.snbforums.com/threads/mystery-ssid-keeps-appearing-and-disappearing-and-changing.84617/

It predates the MLO capable routers so it's probably not that. That thread was inconclusive but it seems to indicate WPA3 as a possible cause.