BT Smart Hub2 WiFi broadcasting without an SSID despite being turned off

[google1901]

Having now an EE SH2 (renewal so phone forced over to BT/EE DV) I see 5ghz & 2.4ghz hidden SSIDs drop for a few mins (at times alternate & then both together) then pop up again. Mac address for SH2 hidden SSIDs I'm seeing are variants of 1st & last 2 hex digits.

[Trillian796]

I have seen similar with an EE SH2, that 'turning wifi off' doesn't actually 'do what it says on the tin'. Instead it simply hides the SSID.
I have raised this with multiple engineers (Open Reach & EE support) , if the WIFI is turned off why is it still reporting scans for alternative channels in the log. It shouldn't be looking at channels at all as it doesn't need one if WIFI is set to off. Have also seen the HIDDEN network SIDs transmitting radio signals. I have multiple issues with this action.
First, In terrace housing there are lots of signals around and another one pointlessly transmitting is a waste in energy usage and channel bandwidth, that could be used by some else. Then there is the issue of security what WIFI protocol is it using and password etc?
Second, If it has been coded this way for this, what other 'quick fixes' have been implemented to it ? Is WPS actually 'off' when it is turned off ? or merely marked in the admin screen as off ??
Looks like I am going to be dumping the home phone now. As there is no way to use the home phone without the BT/EE router (from my research) and I refuse to open my home network to something that has that level of poor coding practices.

[WSH]

I suspect what you are seeing is the backhaul for the mesh discs.

[Trillian796]

Will have to investigate further. But if there is no mesh being used, why ?

[Trillian796]

Currently have a third party router connected to the FTTP and no working home phone. So would need to interrupt internet usage and I tend to get complaints 😉 when I do that!!
In order to have the EE one up to test properly.

-Tried multiple routers previously (Gfast/FFTC) (SH's) and ended up using a bt modem and my router and then went to FTTP as the FTTC was soo unreliable as it couldn't cope with any CRC errors and only a few FEC errors. At the time EE 3rd line support were able to access the charts and sent me a copy of a specific time period for my line. Any time there was a CRC error the whole line dropped and the system would try and re-configure the settings. I spent time talking to the Open Reach, Patch Lead Engineer for my area. We had upwards of 10 visits from senior engineers to try to resolve the issues. (A side issue)

All the Hubs EE gave me had the same issues. The only time I didn't have the hidden networks was when using the BT modem for FTTC and now without the EE SH for FTTP.

[WSH]

Not an expert with these but believe it is on by default.  (The older firmware on the Smart Hub 2 was the same but you can turn it all off now).

[Trillian796]

Ok, ta will have to have a look again after updating the firmware. 

[VeteranISPUser]

It is probably there for the 4G Hybrid Connect backup modem.

[licquorice]

@Trillian796 why are you posting on a BT forum about a problem with EE?

[Trillian796]

@licquoricebecause they were discussing the Smart Hub 2 which is used by both BT & EE. As EE & BT are also partners and part of the same family of businesses it is likely an issue seen with one will be seen with the other.
BT have also long run the physical backbone of the EE network and OpenReach (previously part of BT) have run the maintenance side for both brands.
I was looking to see if this issue with the SH had been resolved yet as my FTTP seems to require the SH is used for home phone, which I wanted to get working. As they used by both seemed to make sense to try the BT forum as I have not come across any info on the EE forum in the past.

https://www.bt.com/ee

p.s I mean no disrespect in this post, licquorice. Merely answering your question but have been told in the past I can come across as a bit abrupt. Thank you for taking an interest in my post. 🙂 Any sage advice on these Hubs ?? I am fed up of hearing 'I don't care why it doesn't work, I just want it to work' from the husband.