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Rickles

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#324059 22-Feb-2026 11:23
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I've recently been checking my new wifi router capabilities, and noticed something odd.

 

Whenever I check the signal strength, there is always another almost duplicate signal on top of the primary router signal (using Wifi Analyser App).

 

This ghost signal is named "Hidden", and even moves whenever I change the primary router's Channels.

 

Apart from the first pair of characters, this ghost signal has the same MAC address as the primary signal ... all other details are identical.

 

I've gone through the router settings and ensured no other signals or SSID's are in play.

 

Any ideas?


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lxsw20
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  #3463621 22-Feb-2026 11:38
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Router make and model?




Rickles

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  #3463622 22-Feb-2026 11:43
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TP_Link Deco BE58 (as supplied by OneNZ).

 

I thought maybe Band Steering, but the ghost signal is 2.4Ghz, the same as primary and with 5Ghz turned off.

 

 


freitasm
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  #3463624 22-Feb-2026 11:52
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Maybe an AP for mesh network connections?





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RunningMan
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  #3463626 22-Feb-2026 12:06
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It's part of the mesh system.

 

 

Old video, but the concept will still be relevant.


Rickles

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  #3463627 22-Feb-2026 12:35
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This is probably it -

 

     The "ghost" signal you are seeing from your Deco system is typically a hidden, encrypted SSID used for the 6GHz wireless backhaul. This signal is a standard feature of Wi-Fi 7 and other tri-band Deco models designed to help satellite units communicate with the main router. Because this backhaul is essential for the mesh system's performance, it cannot be turned off via the Deco app or web interface

 

Thanks all.


Tinkerisk
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  #3463648 22-Feb-2026 15:35
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NMP - Normal Mesh Plague. 🙂





- NET: FTTH & VDSL, OPNsense, 10G backbone, GWN APs
- SRV: 12 RU HA server cluster, 0.1 PB storage on premise
- IoT:   thread, zigbee, tasmota, BidCoS, LoRa, WX suite, IR
- 3D:    two 3D printers, 3D scanner, CNC router, laser cutter


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