Hidden network, can't connect

Having some issues with a WiFi network and I can't figure out what the issue is.

On another phone that is connected to the network we can show a qr code on that device so we can connect another device and that works fine.

But we have a security camera we are trying to add but have to enter the connection info manually.

But it won't work. It's the right said and password as far as I know. It's using WPA and DHCP.

The QR code says the folling

WIFI:S:Devices 1;T:WPA;P:password;H:true;;

Is there some bit of info in that that's missing when we are entering the details manually?

Don't use the "hidden" SSID option for any permanent / live setup
1) it isn't hiding anything
2) an SSID is not a username, password or other credential
3) is not an official part of the standards so is implemented in inconsistent fashion,
4) leads to unpredictable problems with connecting devices or roaming to another AP,
5) causes clients of said network to probe any other AP in range in effect asking "do you have the network I am looking for?"


(4) the SSID is used together with the RSSI and advertised supported data rates to determine when a client is in range of a network it knows about and when a "better" candidate AP becomes available
and conversely to determine when beyond usable range and should stop trying to connect to any/other AP.

(5) means you end up unnecessarily leaking data about the SSID if you have any phone / tablet with the SSID saved and you take it out on public whenever it sees another hidden network

If you want to increase security make the password longer (if not using user or device client certificates)

Well, thats all stuff for the IT department to deal with. Above my paygrade!

I'm just trying to figure out why the QR code lets a device connect fine, but entering the same info manually does not.

Hi,

You might need to add the MAC address(es) of the camera(s) that wish to have access to your network as there might be MAC address blocking enabled to prevent unauthorised devices from accessing your network. There should be a section of your router that allows you to add devices to a Whitelist. You could also trying using WPS to add the device, if that is an option.

HTH,

What network standards does the camera support? It could be that some networks standards are disabled on the WAP and that the camera doesn't support the ones that are enabled.

Also, if you have an IT department then why are you connecting a camera to the network - has the IT department approved it and if not then don't you have an acceptable use policy that says not to connect unapproved devices to the network? If they have approved it then why aren't they connecting it for you?

Edited by ian72 (Thu 28-Aug-25 08:55:30)

In reply to a post by ian72:

... if you have an IT department ...

I took the reference to the IT department to be a flip comment.

In reply to a post by Seansmit17:

I'm just trying to figure out why the QR code lets a device connect fine, but entering the same info manually does not.

Maybe there is a non visible character in the passcode? Or the connection is using WPA3 and the device only supports WPA2...? or there is some mixed mode old style WPA1/WPA2 with TKIP which is horribly insecure but many ISP routers defaulted to.

You may have to scan the QR with something that decodes it into hex, so you can see exactly what is being provided.

My understand is a hidden SSID is more vulnerable than a visible SSID. On my setup it actually warns you not to do it when you try to set a hidden SSID

In reply to a post by DFScale:

In reply to a post by ian72:

... if you have an IT department ...

I took the reference to the IT department to be a flip comment.

I must admit I considered that but really couldn't tell.

If it is just their home networking then I am going to guess the camera does not support either current security protocols or current network standards - but without knowing what camera it is or how the router is configured it is largely guesswork.

Not wishing to teach you to suck eggs but:
Is it a duel band router?
If so, is the device you are using to access the UI on the camera operating on the same band you are trying to connect the camera to?
Have you tried temporarily setting the router to operate only on the band that you want to connect the camera to?