Manage Network Access Points (SSIDs) and BSSIDs

Your network typically includes routers and access points.  A Network Access Point is a networking device that connects to your router to extend Wi-Fi coverage or provide additional coverage.  Place access points in areas of your home or office that are far away from the main router and therefore have no Wi-Fi or a weak signal.

The SSID is the network name of the access point or router, and the name you see when you search for a Wi-Fi network on your mobile phone or computer.   Access points can have similar names so every access point is uniquely identified through its MAC address and this is called a BSSID.

You can view both the SSID name and the BSSID of your access points on Fing.  To do so, on your mobile device, select See Devices, and then Select Network.

Under Access Points, you can see both the Network Name and the BSSID (MAC address). 

The BSSID is automatically assigned so you don’t typically need to do anything to configure it.   However, if you have connectivity problems with your device, for example if the wifi signal on the device is weak and you want to improve performance, or if you have security concerns about the network, you can remove a network from your available networks by removing the BSSID. 

Remove a BSSID Using the Fing Mobile App or Mobile App Controlled Agent or Monitoring Unit

To remove a BSSID from the available networks for your device, do this:

1. From Overview, select Online devices  or the blue See devices button. The Home page is displayed.
2. Select the Network tab.
3. Scroll down to the heading Access Points and click the downward arrow beside it to expand the BSSID list. Click the x icon next to the BSSIDs you want to remove.

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Remove BSSID using the Fing Web App

To remove a BSSID, do this:

1. From the Fing Dashboard, select Setup from the left navigation pane or select the Network Setup card.  The Network Setup window is displayed.
2. Under WIFI access points, hover over the BSSID you want to remove to display a Remove option shown in red as in this example.
3. Select Remove to remove the BSSID.   You are prompted to confirm that you want to remove.  Confirm to remove.

BSSID and Network Discovery

The Fing agent or monitoring unit monitors Access Points that have the same SSID as your network. When the agent detects a new BSSID, one that does not currently belong to your network, you will receive a warning message. You will be prompted with an option to trust or reject the BSSID.   Select Trust to add the new BSSID to your network.

A Fing agent or monitoring unit usually detects a new BSSID automatically. If this does not occur, you can manually select the new Access Point on your device Wi-FI, and then perform a device scan or refresh. 

Merge BSSIDs

Fing automatically merges device BSSIDs for best performance.   Merging BSSIDs (networks) optimizes bandwidth by automatically connecting to the  BSSID with the most available bandwidth for a task.   Merging BSSIDs also improves roaming by providing access to multiple networks.  If Fing does not automatically merge device BSSIDs for any reason, for example, continuing to consider them separate networks, you can manually merge BSSIDs.

Merge BSSIDs Using the Fing Mobile App

1. From Overview, click the Devices widget
2. Click the Network tab
3. Scroll down to the heading Access Points

Your network access points are displayed. Click the downward arrow to expand the list. You can also delete access points by clicking on the x beside the selected access point.

Merge BSSIDs Using the Fing Desktop

1. From Overview, click the Network tab.
2. Scroll down to the heading Wi-Fi Access points.

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