cq20 latest firmware; i set the wifi network up via a pc.. 2.4/hidden and with password. and reconnect.. and yet on a second app / tablet the settings still show as visible, the other app shows hidden.
Anyone else found this bug ?
Long story short, don’t use hidden SSIDs on your wireless network.
Doing so provides ZERO security benefits because the “hidden” network will eventually broadcast it’s SSID in clear text through network headers which are a fundamental requirement for network communication. Not only that, it actually causes MORE traffic to try to connect to your “hidden” wireless network than you would have if it wasn’t hidden - basically accomplishing the complete opposite goal for why most people want to use a hidden network. It is also annoying for people to connect that legitimately need to, and can cause weird issues like you are experiencing.
I’ll say it again. NEVER set up your wireless networks to use a “hidden” SSID. There is nothing to be gained from it, it actually causes network issues, and it’s super annoying for everyone to deal with.
PS - now that your devices have connected to your “hidden” network, they will constantly try to connect to every other “hidden” wireless network you come across in “the wild”. This isn’t just a single attempt either. Because the network is “hidden”, the devices will attempt to connect to it, and reattempt, (and reattempt…..) constantly. In layman’s terms, your device will constantly query the hidden network and ask, “I am suppose to connect to a hidden network that has a real SSID of “AdriansNetwork”. Is that you?” The network will respond, “No. That’s not me.” And then your devices will regularly (like every 60 seconds) ask the network that same question because it can’t assume it’s talking to the same hidden network that it did 60 seconds ago. These constant attempts to connect to the network is “self inflicted” unwanted traffic that network has to deal with, and the battery life of your devices trying to constantly connect can also suffer from all the unneeded connection attempts.
On the other hand, if you simply broadcast your “AdriansNetwork” SSID, every device that comes across the network will see the SSID. Only devices that have previously connected to a network with an SSID “AdriansNetwork” will even attempt to connect to your “AdriansNetwork”. Obviously they will have to have the correct password to be authenticated and allowed to pass onto the network. Any device that hasn’t previously connected to a network with an SSID of “AdriansNetwork” will simply ignore your network and won’t send any traffic to it.
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ok. that wasn’t something i was aware of. i will change from hidden back to visible. that may well help me where i had connection problems in a busy town square, with so many shops and flats and audience all around. (using hidden -both on the cq20 wifi and also on an external Asus router) thank you for your reply!