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Forum Discussion
dkornaros
Oct 05, 2021Tutor
New Device Notification (Orbi RBR50v2)
How can I be notified when someone joins my Orbi network? (either main SSID or guest) Does the Orbi mobile app support this type of notification? if not, what does?
CrimpOn
Oct 05, 2021Guru - Experienced User
dkornaros wrote:
How can I be notified when someone joins my Orbi network? (either main SSID or guest)
Does the Orbi mobile app support this type of notification? if not, what does?
Having fallen for Netgear's Headline and failed to read the fine print, I just now performed an experiment.
- Enabled Access Control.
- Selected Allow all New Devices to Connect. (Because, duh, what would be the point of the experiment if new devices are not allowed to connect.)
- Click "Apply"
- Got out a TP-Link Kasa smart plug from my BBOP (Big Box of Parts) and used the Kasa app to 'add' it.
- Went through the usual steps: plugged in plug, went through the "Is the light flashing?", etc. and the plug was added.
- Kasa says there is a firmware update. Did that.
- Plug turns on and off as it should.
All this time, the Orbi app was open on an Android tablet. No message. No notification. Nada.
The Orbi app is also installed on my Android phone, but not open. (who goes around with the Orbi app open all day long?)
No notification. Opened the app. Nothing. Once Access Control is enabled, the Orbi log generates messages about every device being allowed access. The smart plug was listed in the log the same way as every other device. Nothing said, "New".
So, my conclusion so far is (drum roll) By itself, the Orbi app does not appear to notify when new devices are connected to the network. The reason I am only 99% confident is: I checked the LAN Setup table and the Access Control table of "Allowed devices that are not connected" because surely I connected this plug sometime in the last 18 months to test how it worked. I did not see the MAC address in either of those tables, but my eyes are not always perfect.
If someone has evidence that the app does in fact notify about new devices, please post so I can eat crow (again).
dkornaros
Oct 05, 2021Tutor
wow! thx