Device names in WiFi hotspot client list

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the identification of devices in the client list of an Android personal hotspot. Participants explore why some devices are displayed with their configured names while others appear as "Wireless device," despite showing MAC addresses.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that some devices, like "raspberrypi" and "ESP_AEEB39," are identified by name, while others, such as an Android tablet and spare phone, are labeled as "Wireless device."
  • Another participant suggests that manufacturers may intentionally obscure device names for security reasons, or that end-users may not have configured names for commercial devices.
  • A participant mentions that there is a way to set device names through the "About Your Phone" dialog, although the specific method may vary.
  • One participant indicates that they have set a name in "About Phone," but it does not appear in the hotspot client list.
  • Another hypothesis is that devices may not trust the WiFi network enough to disclose their names.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express curiosity about the reasons behind the naming discrepancies, but no consensus is reached on the exact causes or solutions. Multiple competing views are presented regarding manufacturer intentions and user configurations.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include potential variations in device settings and manufacturer practices, as well as the lack of clarity on how different devices handle name disclosures in hotspot contexts.

Swamp Thing
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The personal hotspot in Android has a Connection Management feature that lists the devices that are currently connected to it. I see that some devices are identified by name, like "raspberrypi" and "ESP_AEEB39" (which is a smart plug). But some devices are just identified as "Wireless device". This is the case with my Android tablet and spare phone. In all cases, the MAC address is shown below the respective name.

I'm just curious why some devices don't get displayed with their actual names as configured in their setups.
 
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The manufacturer doesn't want them to be easily discovered, or the end-user has not set up the name for commercial devices like a phone.

In some cases, like your tablet, there is a means to set it, although offhand, I need to find out the command or area in your setup utility would handle it.

Searching, I found that you can change it via the "About Your Phone" dialog, but the selection name may differ.
 
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I have entered a name through "About Phone" and it appears in other contexts like Bluetooth pairing but not in the hotspot client list.
 
Swamp Thing said:
I'm just curious why some devices don't get displayed with their actual names as configured in their setups.
Probably because they do not trust the WiFi network sufficiently to disclose any information to it.
 

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