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Forum Discussion
Can a mesh network have 3 SSIDs (2 family and 1 guest) - Models RBK50 and/or RBK753
Hi, I'm looking to buy a new mesh network to cover a 3 floor suburban home. I'm looking at either Models RBK50 and/or RBK753 in a 2 node or 3 node configuration. It is an in ground basement an...
mdezrin wrote:There are 4 residents, 2 adults who work from home, and their kids. Due to work reasons, they'd like to have 3 WiFi networks:
- Guest
- Family
- Home office/company info. They'd like, for security reasons, to keep the work info separate from everyone else's access.
Is this possible with either of these systems?
One last question. They have a Canon Color ImageClass MF726Cdw printer. If everyone needs access to this printer, and there can be 2 "internal" networks, what is the best way to put the printer on the network with either WiFi or ethernet?
As far as the implied question (RBK53 or RBK753). Neither of these routers offer three WiFi SSID's.
Shared printer: if all WiFi SSID's on a system lead to one IP subnet, then all users can access the printer.
It would be useful to know the purpose of multiple WiFi SSID's. If it is to prevent users from "seeing each other", then the printer issue becomes much more difficult.
the goal for the 3 SSIDs is to prevent 3 people from accessing the work stuff of the 4th. Ideall, we'd put the printer on the all-access SSID and the 4th would switch to it to print. But wasn't sure if I could route it via ethernet to the 4th and also via WiFi to the other 3. It sits in the room with the modem and main router and that is where the 4th with the security concern sits.
I did see that Netgear has a proline and it offers 3 SSIDs.
Thanks.
mdezrin wrote:the goal for the 3 SSIDs is to prevent 3 people from accessing the work stuff of the 4th. Ideall, we'd put the printer on the all-access SSID and the 4th would switch to it to print. But wasn't sure if I could route it via ethernet to the 4th and also via WiFi to the other 3. It sits in the room with the modem and main router and that is where the 4th with the security concern sits.
I did see that Netgear has a proline and it offers 3 SSIDs.Yes, Netgear has a "Pro" version of the original Orbi (RBK50, but with different firmware) that supports four WiFi SSID's (see page 87 of the User Manual) https://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/SRK60/SRK60_UM_EN.pdf I may be reading it wrong, but my take is that the "Employee", "IoT", and "Guest" SSID's cannot access devices on the LAN or on the other SSID's. probably not what you want. Before going in that direction, I would want to read the manual very carefully and then post the specific design on the Orbi "Pro" community forum for comment: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-Pro-WiFi-for-Small-Business/bd-p/en-business-pro-wifi
There is a chance that the problem is less complicated than it appears.
Person #4 has the most security concern and is phyisically located with the router and printer.
Connect #4's computer to the router with an ethernet cable and the printer with an ethernet cable.
(If the computer does not have an ethernet jack, there are USB to ethernet converters for under $20.)
#4's computer surely has a firewall that prevents anyone from accessing it.
Not being on WiFi, #4's packets cannot be intercepted.
Everyone can print and then arm-wrestly #4 to get their hands on the paper.
As to the question of "How much of what kind of WiFi?", your are correct for today. AC WiFi is "good enough". All of those "IoT" gizmos use the cheapest WiFi chips, which are all 2.4G. There are only a handful of devices supporting WiFi6 and none supporting WiFi 6E. Eventually, someone will own a new computer that would benefit from new router technology, but not this minute.