Forum Discussion
Hidden Network
This is probebly crazy, but I'll ask anyway. Is the Gen5 modem-wifi creating a hidden network? I've been noticing it every time that I turn on wifi on my Wondows 10 Surface Pro 3. When I unpl...
Yes the signal is coming from your HT2000w... You wont be able to connect to that signal, and the signal is disabled if you disable the Wifi on the modem.
It's kind of like the USB port on the back of the HT1100... It's there for "future use", but, we have no idea when or if that future will ever come. :)You'll pardon my "clueles banter", but tone is as tone does.
First question asked about hidden network. After thinking about it I asked 2 more questions.
I do not believe that Hughesnet is being transparent. I do not buy that they can do what they want and we have no choice.
When members ask specifically about the "Hidden Network" no explaination is given.
The "supposed experts" on this forum also have no answers as to the "hidden network". They chose to attack members wanting to know what is going on. WHY?
I'll just leave it at that.....
Just to be clear, these two checkboxes are unchecked for you?
I think the other settings (SSID Enable, SSID Broadcast) found elsewhere don't necessarily turn off the wifi radios, they just disable the individual channels and/or hide the SSID from discovery; not neccesarily turn off the actual radio itself.
Again, not saying this isn't the case, just want to make sure we're all on the same page.
I have the two checkboxes for each of the four radios, 2.4Ghz and Guest and 5Ghz and Guest, unchecked. I show "State Code of 14.2.3 -- Both WiFi radios are off," like wildcats198308.
With that said, I had no idea there were two other radio checkboxes. I'm leaving them checked, as having the two boxes on each of the other four radios unchecked keeps my devices from seeing any of the radios. I did recheck the boxes normally used, then uncheck the two boxes shown in the advanced section, and it gave the same state code. I think either way turns off the radios, but it one utilizes all four of the radios, or any combination of them, then having only those two boxes to mess with would be easier.
It's interesting that unchecking the radio in one place doesn't uncheck in the other, as it gives the same result. That could be a bit confusing when trying to determine someone's WiFi issues, as everything could look fine on the Home Page, but be unchecked in the Advanced page. With that said, if one goes into the individual radio in the Advanced page and unchecks the boxes, it DOES uncheck them on the Home page, and vice versa, but, again, not on the main Advanced Wireless page.
I sure am glad that I only ever use the 2.4Ghz main radio (not guest), and only have to turn that on/off when needed, with both check boxes on the other three being off all the time. I'll leave the two boxes on the Advanced Wireless page checked.
It makes me think of houses that have two switches for one light, like one at the top of the stairs and one at the bottom. And if they're both dimmers, that's even more fun! :p
I uncheck the two boxes in Advanced Setup and the Hidden Network still showed, I restarted my Laptop and it wasnt showing. I went back in and checked the 2 boxes and the Hidden Network showed up again right away. Then I unchecked them again and restarted my Laptop and it was still showing. But it does not come up on my tablets. Kinda strange it wasnt showing one time then the next it did. Maybe I didnt wait long enough for it to show up the first time.
I dont see any problem with it showing really as long as no one is able to connect to it. Which when I tried you need to know and manually type the SSID plus know the passcode for the network to connect to it. So its just as secure as any other network.
I should have added that I have yet to receive the updated software, so I'm not seeing the hidden network at this time. My modem is still using 3.4.3.33, though I'm sure the update will be coming to my gateway soon.
My software versions are...
Application Software 3.4.3.35
Fallback Software 3.4.3.28
WiFi Software 0.09.22
With my Fallback being 3.4.3.28 I guess thats the last version that was installed. So I guess my modem skipped 3.4.3.33.
Well, the Hughesnet Engineers must have been monitoring the Community! :p I was just updated to the 3.4.3.35 software. And I just put my laptop away, so I'll check for the hidden network tomorrow. Too tired now. LOL.
wildcats198308 wrote:With my Fallback being 3.4.3.28 I guess thats the last version that was installed. So I guess my modem skipped 3.4.3.33.
You almost assuredly had the 3.4.3.33 software before your update to 3.4.3.35. Now that my software has updated, I still have 3.4.3.28 as my fallback software, just as I did before the update.
Interesting.
My original rationale was that you could check SSID Enable for either the Primary or Guest Networks independently, but would still need the radio operational in case you left one or the other enabled. I'm pretty sure they use the same physical radio, just different SSIDs.
So using a single checkbox as gang switch to turn off the radio would be logical under that level menu item - otherwise it's just duplicating the settings already found in two other places.
But... that's just one man's interpretation. The mystery of the hidden network continues until someone with authoritative knowledge (i.e., Amanda) returns with an answer...
Just an FYI...
The Fallback version, will be what ever version is considered "Stable" during the modems manufacturing and first programming. That way the modem always has the latest possible code during shipment, and doesn't have to make a massive jump update wise when it gets to a customer. Would be unwise to jump from version 1.0 to lets say, version 3.4 suddenly. Sometimes that breaks things. :)Hello
So I am still getting the same information as before - this SSID is attributed to the latest .35 software update (which everyone with a HT2000W should have now). It has been included to provide support for a future service from HughesNet. This will not affect your normal service or usage. If it is causing any connectivity problems somehow, please let me know.
Thanks
Amanda
Amanda wrote:Hello
So I am still getting the same information as before - this SSID is attributed to the latest .35 software update (which everyone with a HT2000W should have now). It has been included to provide support for a future service from HughesNet. This will not affect your normal service or usage. If it is causing any connectivity problems somehow, please let me know.
Thanks
Amanda
"It has been included to provide support for a future service from HughesNet."
I bet it's the popcorn maker.
I was hoping it automatically delivered Starbucks on demand.
I don't know, it still seems odd to me. Having something on my account that I cannot access. Who then, can access the Hidden Network? An explanation of what such future plans entail is needed.
What can this Hidden network access? It is on my account. Can it monitor the other wifi connections? Can it do what ever Hughesnet wants without the ability for me to know what it is doing?
I don't want to be a nuisance or be picky, however, a much better explaination is owed to us, the customers, and, an option to opt out if we so desire.
Without an adequate explanation of the purpose, it seems a bit shady to me.
Hughesnet, explain your intensions with the Hidden Network. We deserve to know.
1. Right now, no one can access it. It's apparently not operational. Even if someone could access it, only Hughes knows the hidden SSID.
2. Again, it can't access other wifi connections. And even if Hughes were to do so, they'd have to be within radio range of it. Considering that they are routing your data within the satellite network and could access the modem remotely, driving to your house to do something nefarious with your modem would be unfeasible, if not practicable.
3. They've provided the explanation that it's for future use. They don't have to be more specific if they're not charging you extra for something that wasn't there before. Right now, it's just an undocumented innocuous feature that's most likely just being tested before they roll something out later.
As I've mentioned elsewhere, I still don't understand what the furor over this is. It's completely inert and harmless. Unless it's impacting the service you're paying for (which it isn't) there is absolutely zero need for concern, nor to imagine it impacts your security.
When they are ready to tell us what it is they will tell us, but there's no point in describing a potential feature if they've not even decided it's feasible to implement it. Then they'd be accused of bait n' switch: "So where is this such-n-such you promised us....", "you said we'd have this-n-that...", "you didn't produce...."
See my point?
MarkJFine wrote:As I've mentioned elsewhere, I still don't understand what the furor over this is.
People get kind of edgy when something pops and they not only don't know what it's for, but can't control it, either. And, many people tend to immediately jump to the worst possible scenario, or what is worst to them, at least. Perhaps thinking it's there so "someone" can spy on them or their habits, or even glean personal information. Perhaps thinking it's there so their data can be secretly drained (you know that one's coming). Some people just get jumpy when it comes to things like this. That's nothing against those people, of course, just the reality of something like this. People take new things different ways.
With that said, it doesn't bother me.
I also checked my laptop today. Sure enough, it's there now that I have the new modem software. Whether every radio box is checked or unchecked, including the two under the main Advanced Wireless page, it's there.
Who knows, maybe it will enable them to offer some type of remote access tech service in the future, sort of like Microsoft is able to do if your system is having a hiccup and you enable them to do so. It could even be some future special radio access that only on site techs can utilize when troubleshooting the system. For those settings that customers shouldn't be tooling around in, or even looking at. Normally, I tend to imagine the beneficial possibilities instead of the others. :)
I still want it to deliver my coffee. Breakfast Blend or Pikes Place... either one will do.
I just want that fancy popcorn machine that was promised. :) :p
Popeyes is a bit heavy for me.
Closer in to DC there are a lot of Chilean and Peruvian chicken places and they are awesome. You haven't lived until you've had half an Andean chicken breast with fried plantain.
Not as awesome as that, Gainesville is now one of the few places in the US to have a (cheeky) Nandos.
Ah. I used to live in Manassas, but moved away in early 2000. The area wasn't quite as built up then, espcially Gainesville. They had a few things there, but I know it's gotten MUCH bigger since then and there's a lot more to do, including the increase in types of restaurants.
Would love to go back there one day, if nothing more than to visit.
I've been in the area since '87. It is so much different now you wouldn't believe.
No, I do not see your point.
We were not notified that there would be an update that would give us an Hidden Network. It just showed up out of nowhere, no explaination at all.
Then when discovered and questioned, nebulis answers.
Cyber security is scarey and I need to knpw exactly what Hughesnet is doing to my account. PERIOD.
When was the last time you were given notice of an update and what was in that update.
Does it help you to know that I was formerly in the cyber security buisness for a major defense contractor and I'm still telling you there's no issue?
NO
MarkJFine wrote:When was the last time you were given notice of an update and what was in that update.
Does it help you to know that I was formerly in the cyber security buisness for a major defense contractor and I'm still telling you there's no issue?
NO
So clearly the answer is "NO".
Oh well... Sorry to hear that. Can't please everyone.
I can assure you, they are not using that hidden network to hack into your private network, if that is what you are worried about. There would be HUGE legal consequences if they did that.
lake_woman wrote:We were not notified that there would be an update that would give us an Hidden Network. It just showed up out of nowhere, no explaination at all.
No one was notified because it's a modem update, not a service update. Hughesnet isn't required to let you, nor anyone else, know. Nor are they required to tell you what it's for, nor anything else about it. About the only thing they may answer is..."Is it a security concern?" I'm sure the answer will be, "no."
As has already been stated..."It has been included to provide support for a future service from HughesNet. This will not affect your normal service or usage."
