Factory scanners that only support WPA2 stop joining after a staff WLAN is set to WPA3 only. Phones that support WPA3 must keep using WPA3. Which WLAN setting lets both on?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
The scanners cannot speak WPA3, and the phones should not be kicked back to an open network. Transition mode is the compromise that lets your WPA2 scanners on while WPA3 phones stay on WPA3. Hiding the name does not add a security type.
Full Explanation
WPA3 transition mode, sometimes called mixed mode, advertises WPA2 and WPA3 on the same WLAN. Scanners that only have WPA2 can join, and phones that support WPA3 can still negotiate WPA3. That matches the factory constraint. Open authentication would let the scanners on by removing link security, and it would not keep WPA3 for the phones. A hidden SSID does not downgrade or upgrade anyone. The security type is separate from whether the name is in the beacon. Disabling protected management frames on a WPA3-only WLAN does not turn it into WPA2. WPA3 expects that protection, and WPA2-only scanners still have no WPA2 AKM to use. Transition mode keeps both security types on one WLAN. WPA3 phones can still negotiate WPA3 while the scanners stay on WPA2. Exam caveat: transition mode also lets a WPA2 client on, which is a weaker link than WPA3-only. Use it while the scanners exist, and plan their replacement if the factory wants WPA3-only later. Operational check: join a scanner and a WPA3 phone, and confirm the controller shows WPA2 for the scanner and WPA3 for the phone.