Devices not visible if connected to a wifi extender

[Metathesus]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing open and closed issues and I checked the docs https://github.com/jokob-sk/NetAlertX/tree/main/docs

Current Behavior

Devices not visible if connected to a wifi extender!
Logs are spammed, it show the mac adress of the repeater and multiple IP change.

Expected Behavior

All devices are visible

Steps To Reproduce

I use a wifi extender (wifi repeater) TP-Link RE305
All device connecter to the repeater are not visible

app.conf

No response

docker-compose.yml

No response

What branch are you running?

Production

app.log

No response

Debug enabled

• I have read and followed the steps in the wiki link above and provided the required debug logs and the log section covers the time when the issue occurs.

[jokob-sk]

Hi @Metathesus ,

That behavior is expected. A Wi-Fi extender typically works by creating a separate network or subnet, which can cause certain network scanning tools, like arp-scan, to be unable to detect devices behind the extender.

This happens because arp-scan uses ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) to map IP addresses to MAC addresses on the local network. Since ARP is a Layer 2 (data link layer) protocol, it usually only works within a single broadcast domain, which is typically limited to a single router or network segment.

When you introduce a Wi-Fi extender, it may isolate devices on different segments of the network, meaning ARP packets cannot easily traverse from one segment (your main network) to another (the network behind the extender).

To scan devices behind the extender, you can try:

• Scanning the specific subnet that the extender uses, if it is separate from the main network.
• Using supplementing plugins that use alternate methods. Protocols used by the SNMPDSC or DHCPLSS plugins have good support and usually can be used as a workaround.

Check the plugins list to find a plugin supported by your router and your network setup.

Hope this helps,
j

[Metathesus]

Hi, Thanks for your explanations and all your works!