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Wireless networks with hidden network name (SSID not broadcast) not supported by Garmin devices?

Hello everyone!

I just received my first Garmin product yesterday:  A Venu!

It's a very nice watch, except for 1 thing:

The watch cannot connect to my home wireless network because the SSID is not broadcast (network name is hidden).

In 2020, I find it incredible that any consumer electronic device does not support this feature that has been part of the IEEE standard since at least 2007.

I have 15+ other devices in my home, of various ages and from multiple vendors, that can connect to my wireless network. All these devices can connect to my wireless network with ease and without issue... except for my Garmin Venu.

I was able to confirm the issue by temporarily enabling SSID broadcast and successfully connecting to the network.  Once I disabled the SSID broadcast feature again, the Venu again failed to connect to the wireless network.

I believe the fix would be simple:  Instead of having the watch waiting to receive a beacon with the network name in it, just have the watch issue a join request for the configured network.  I believe the wireless network test feature in the Garmin Connect app on my phone performs the network connectivity test this way:  by just issuing a join request instead of waiting for a beacon.  This is why the network tests run from the app on the phone are successful, while connectivity from the watch fails.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago

    has a 'low power' watch enough saft to perform this request technique Wink

    this thread contains for me, a plausible (explanation)(reason) why not to hide SSID

    forerunner-945-won-t-connect-to-hidden-wi-fi-ssid

    Hidden SSIDs are not a good thing for low power devices as instead of just passively listening to beacons from the Access Points containing the netork name, the device has to actively query the APs to check if they are part of that network.

    It's also a privacy issue as it makes you trackable as your portable device will constantly broadcast the network name when it's searching for those hiddent network.

    Overall a BAD design, please avoid using hidden networks.

    happy & safe sporting

  • It appears that the Garmin only enables WIFI when a service requests it.  Other smart watches are constantly connected to WIFI, so they drain the battery much faster.  If anything, connecting to a hidden SSID network would be more efficient, since instead of waiting for a beacon, it instantly sends a join request.  Of course, all of this happens over the course of a few milliseconds, so I really don't think it makes much of a difference.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to DugieHowsa

    forgot the important part

    welcome to the Garmin family Slight smile and enjoy the Venu

    happy & safe sporting

  • I have the same issue. Neither my First Avenger nor my Fenix 6X Pro Solar can "see" my hidden network, but my Edge 830 can. Annoying and frustrating. All on latest software / WiFi, etc.