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Forum Discussion
Guest Network Available both Secured and Unsecured.
Just an FYI for other users.
During set up I found an unsecured Guest Network in addition to the secured Guest Network – same SSID (same MAC and IP as well) but no password needed to log on and have internet access. (Prior to set up I factory reset the router and both satellites, twice each just to be sure, using the reset button on the back to get a clean installation after preliminary setup activities last week). This only occurred when satellites were powered up - one satellite was connected via wireless, the other connected to the router via CAT6. The unsecured Guest Network was available irrespective of which satellite was powered up and typically took several minutes to appear after applying power - probably a result of the inordinately long time for the router and satellites to sync, stabilise etc. The router and satellites had the latest firmware installed (v2.1.4.16). As I have 90 days complimentary support I called Netgear. The lady I spoke to was very helpful, I observed that I had seen a similar report on the Netgear Community in Nov-17 and had followed the same process that resolved the issue for that customer. Unfortunately that did not work for me so we spent the best part of 2 hours resetting, connecting, disconnecting etc, all to no avail. Netgear were unable to offer any solution other than downgrade the FW (not acceptable to me) or return and refund/replace. BTW, another user reported a similar issue back in Jan-18 and the resolution then was multiple resets but I did two resets prior to set up and then reset each satellite again during the investigation with Netgear with no impact. Maybe Netgear could investigate the efficacy of the reset process? Anyway, you may want to check your WiFi for anything similar.
11 Replies
Was this with Guest Network enabled or disabled?
I didn't see any of this on my friends 50 series when I set this up for him:
This occurred with the Guest Network enabled with SSID visible. When the Guest Network is not enabled the Unsecured Guest Network is not evident on WiFi (obviously the Secured Guest Network also not available).
Sounds strange. I don't quite understand what you were seeing though.
By MAC I assume you mean the hexadecimal BSSID, like a0:04:60:16:5b:a0?
You said you found these networks during setup. How exactly did you find these networks? What were you looking at?
The BSSID and the SSID define the network, so I don't see how it's possible to have two networks with the same SSID and BSSID. How did you determine there were two networks operating?
Are you using Apple devices when you encounter this issue?
The MAC I referred to was the MAC address of the device as listed under the network details on my mobile which I used to observe the available SSID and log on.
Networks found by looking for available wireless networks on my mobile and tablet (both android, no apple devices in use) after enabling Guest Network.
I determined there were two networks operating by looking on my mobile and tablet to see what SSID were available after enabling Guest Network. When I logged on to the Secured Guest Network (which had the expected SSID defined at set up) using the defined password I recorded the network details (MAC address, IP address etc). After logging off I then logged on to the Unsecured Guest Network, which had the same SSID as the Secured Guest Network, no password necessary, and similarly recorded the network details.
See the following as well, other users have seen this:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-RBR50-guest-access-showing-unsecured-network/m-p/1421945
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/New-Unsecured-networks-on-Orbi-RBK50/td-p/1481297
Here is some additional data.
As I mentioned previously, when I said that the MAC address was the same for the Secured Guest Network as the Unsecured Guest Network, that was the MAC address as shown under network details on my mobile when I logged in to either of these. See below for the answer to your question on BSSID.
As an overview, I have attached a screen shot from my tablet of the three available networks, the Secured Main WiFi, the Secured Guest Network and the Unsecured Guest Network. I have blanked out most of the SSID just from a security prespective but rest assured the Secured and Unsecured Guest Networks have exactly the same SSID.
Attached are some screen shots of the Secured and Unsecured Guest Networks as viewed from a WiFi analyzer. I have also blanked out the first three octets, once again from a security perpsective, but these are the same for the Secured and Unsecured Guest Networks.
