Not detecting non-broadcasting APs

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  • May 28, 2012 at 5:37 am #1670

    Alex – NetSpot
    Keymaster

    markuhde said: Also, many devices won’t connect to hidden SSID’s

    I had a similar issue with one of the Android devices not long ago…

    All true

    May 28, 2012 at 4:10 pm #1677

    markuhde
    Participant

    That surprises me, most Android devices will. Windows Phone 7, by design, will not. I applaud Microsoft (rare words for me to say) for taking that stand. I wish more equipment vendors would take the stand to NOT allow connections to hidden SSID’s. And of course, AP and router vendors remove the option.

    September 25, 2012 at 5:14 am #1720

    Marisa_NetSpot
    Participant

    Hi there,

    I’ve sent you the link to download beta version of NetSpot 2.x which allows you to add non-broadcasting networks to the list of those included on the survey. Just let us know if you have any questions.

    September 30, 2012 at 5:31 am #1725

    nathane
    Participant

    Hi. I have a similar situation where the people I am living with have two dual band routers sharing two hidden SSIDs, one for 2.4 and one for 5GHz. I added the hidden SSIDs to the list of known WiFi networks in Mac OS and Mac OS can see them. But Netspot only sees them sporadically. For example, I took about 100 sample points both upstairs and downstairs. My personal broadcasting AP showed up just fine in all 100 samples, but the other two non-broadcasting APs only showed up in about 5 samples.

    Will the 2.0 version of Netspot fix this? I’d love to try the beta. I’d be willing to share my current data. Can you send me the beta link?

    Thanks

    September 30, 2012 at 11:13 am #1726

    Alex – NetSpot
    Keymaster

    That’s weird that non-broadcasting APs were seen by NetSpot 1.3, even in selected samples. NetSpot 2 doesn’t fix this. NetSpot 2 lets you include hidden SSIDs into survey. So the fix is global. We’ll send you the beta asap.

    September 30, 2012 at 9:42 pm #1727

    nathane
    Participant

    Thanks, looking forward to the beta.

    October 22, 2012 at 1:17 am #1733

    Alex – NetSpot
    Keymaster

    Guys, have a look at this article in our knowledgebase, NetSpot 2 will actually easily scan your hidden networks: /help/hidden-ssids/

    July 2, 2013 at 11:12 am #1861

    fdonadio
    Participant

    I know this thread is old, but here I go…

    Scanning hidden networks is very important, as stated by markuhde, when you want to confidently choose an adequate channel for your AP(s).

    I use NetSpot Pro to conduct surveys for my customers, *before* they install their infrastructure. So, I use NetSpot as a Wi-Fi planning and design tool. My customers often need Wi-Fi coverage inside big warehouses, sometimes over 100,000 sq ft (!), so they can use Wi-Fi-enabled, barcode-scanning mobile computers.

    I have a battery powered access point that I take to the customer premises, position it on an adequate spot and then take my measurements. Once I decide the position is the best, I choose the spots for the other needed access points, repeating the same procedure for every on of them, until I get the coverage as desired.

    This is needed because mission-critical applications will be used through this network. The infrastructure must be flawless!

    For me, it’s crucial to know about every single neighboring access point that can cause interference, not only the ones broadcasting their SSID’s. Even the new features in NetSpot 2.1 won’t be enough, as I can’t have the password for the neighbors’ networks.

    So, I still need to use some other tool to be sure that there’ll be no surprises…

    July 17, 2013 at 1:04 am #1872

    Alex – NetSpot
    Keymaster

    fdonadio said: Scanning hidden networks is very important, as stated by markuhde, when you want to confidently choose an adequate channel for your AP(s).

    Absolutely true.

    However, to make this an exceptional choice, you need more than just a Wi-Fi survey app, it’s really important to analyze the whole signal spectrum with additional hardware like WiSpy (support is coming). So currently, the best option in your case would be using any tool like Apple’s Wi-Fi Diagnostic (/System/Library/CoreServices/) that will switch your Airport adapter into passive mode, locate all hidden networks for you, so you can then import that list into NetSpot. You can do this in your whole area, so you are somewhat assured that you got all of them listed. Unfortunately, there’s no other way around this currently, as we strongly believe that NetSpot should not have any sniffing-like features embedded.

    One of the next versions of NetSpot will have the automatic suggestion for optimal channel choice.

    PS: sorry for the delayed follow-up.

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