I opened NetSpot to check what was using the 5 GHz band and noticed something odd.
My network, Home 5, is on channel 48, but directly under it NetSpot also shows [Hidden SSID] on the exact same channel. The signal levels are almost identical, and the BSSIDs are very similar.
I only have one router, and there aren’t any other nearby WiFi networks with a signal this strong. Is this hidden network being created by my router, or should I be concerned that another device is broadcasting from inside the house?
NetSpot shows [Hidden SSID] when the access point is transmitting but not advertising a network name. Hiding the SSID doesn’t make the network invisible. The app can still detect its BSSID, channel, security type, and signal level — it just can’t display a name that isn’t being broadcast.
@NodeRunnerY That makes sense. I was confused because it appears in exactly the same place on the channel graph as my normal network.
Same channel, nearly identical signal, and very similar BSSIDs strongly suggest both are coming from the same router. Routers sometimes create extra virtual networks for mesh backhaul, extenders, wireless TV boxes, guest features, or internal management. The hidden one may not be intended for normal client connections.
Walk away from the router while watching both networks in NetSpot’s Comparison view. If their signal levels rise and fall together, they’re almost certainly coming from the same device. You can also temporarily disable mesh, guest WiFi, or any ISP extender feature one at a time and rescan. Don’t reset everything at once, or you won’t know which setting created it.
@nightblade_13N_1 I checked the router settings and found that its mesh compatibility feature was enabled even though I don’t use any mesh nodes. After disabling it, the hidden SSID disappeared from NetSpot.Looks like it was just an additional network created by the router. Thanks!
