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What is Wi-Fi 2

Running Mojave on a Mac mini (2018).


In the Network preferences you see 2 Wi-Fi in the left hand column.

I can't find any documentation of what that is. The Network Name will switch when you change Wi-Fi. It doesn't assign itself an IP address.

Posted on Sep 17, 2019 10:51 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 17, 2019 12:28 PM

jimlongo wrote:


It looks like I can configure the Wi-Fi according to that documentation. There are 2 Wi-Fi networks active on the modem, the "Primary" and a Guest.

Is that what causes 2 Wi-Fi s to show up in the prefs?

No. The wifi on your Mac is an actual physical piece of hardware. The guest and primary networks on your modem should just appear as available networks in the wi-fi list, not as available hardware connections there.


The ethernet connection, is also not going to show up a secondary wifi, it shows up as per your image as "ethernet".


There has to be something else, plugged in to the Mac that is creating it.


What if anything is plugged into its USB ports?

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 17, 2019 12:28 PM in response to jimlongo

jimlongo wrote:


It looks like I can configure the Wi-Fi according to that documentation. There are 2 Wi-Fi networks active on the modem, the "Primary" and a Guest.

Is that what causes 2 Wi-Fi s to show up in the prefs?

No. The wifi on your Mac is an actual physical piece of hardware. The guest and primary networks on your modem should just appear as available networks in the wi-fi list, not as available hardware connections there.


The ethernet connection, is also not going to show up a secondary wifi, it shows up as per your image as "ethernet".


There has to be something else, plugged in to the Mac that is creating it.


What if anything is plugged into its USB ports?

Sep 17, 2019 10:56 AM in response to jimlongo


That means you have 2 Wi-fi adapters (hardware) connected to the Mac in some way. We can't tell you what it is and you won;t find any documentation about it, because its specific to your setup.


Its a secondary means of connecting to Wifi.


What devices are connected to your Mac exactly?


It could be an external USB wifi adapter or similar.



Sep 17, 2019 11:12 AM in response to jimlongo

I have a Bell fibre modem. It's called a Bell HomeHub 3000

https://support.bell.ca/internet/connection-help/manage-wi-fi-on-your-home-hub-3000


I have the ethernet connected to my computer and enabled.

I also use the Wi-Fi for streaming to an Airport Express.


It looks like I can configure the Wi-Fi according to that documentation. There are 2 Wi-Fi networks active on the modem, the "Primary" and a Guest.


Is that what causes 2 Wi-Fi s to show up in the prefs?

On my other devices, MacBook Air(s) and phones, etc., there is only 1 Wi-Fi.


Thanks.



What is Wi-Fi 2

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