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Forum Discussion
RBK852 - Lock Down Wifi Network?
Hello, new Orbi owner here! So far very happy with the speeds, but I do have a question: The last time I had an Orbi years ago, MAC filtering existed in the web interface. When I go to Advanced -> ...
TheGrumpyGent wrote:
What I'm trying to do is lock down the main wifi network to just the devices I have, so the kids can only share the guest network to their friends etc when they visit. Doesn't have to be MAC filtering, just whatever the equivalent would be in the current firmware (V4.6.3.16_2.0.51 in my case).
Would you mind confirming whether Parental Controls are enabled on this new Orbi system?
(My old RBR50 has never used Parental Controls and I can attest that Access Control remains available as always. I'd like to know if this "Please use the app..." situation is a result of (a) enabling Parental Controls, or (b) the new AX model being 'different'.)
I am also uncertain whether enabling Access Control with "Block new devices" applies to the guest WiFi network. I can test that some time, but since you have no Access Control at all, the results would not be useful.
Is there a reason the kids cannot be trusted to share only the guest WiFi credentials with their friends? You could change the primary WiFi password and force the kids to use only the guest WiFi for their own devices. If they don't know the password, then they can't share it.
CrimpOn wrote:
TheGrumpyGent wrote:What I'm trying to do is lock down the main wifi network to just the devices I have, so the kids can only share the guest network to their friends etc when they visit. Doesn't have to be MAC filtering, just whatever the equivalent would be in the current firmware (V4.6.3.16_2.0.51 in my case).
Would you mind confirming whether Parental Controls are enabled on this new Orbi system?
(My old RBR50 has never used Parental Controls and I can attest that Access Control remains available as always. I'd like to know if this "Please use the app..." situation is a result of (a) enabling Parental Controls, or (b) the new AX model being 'different'.)
I am also uncertain whether enabling Access Control with "Block new devices" applies to the guest WiFi network. I can test that some time, but since you have no Access Control at all, the results would not be useful.
Is there a reason the kids cannot be trusted to share only the guest WiFi credentials with their friends? You could change the primary WiFi password and force the kids to use only the guest WiFi for their own devices. If they don't know the password, then they can't share it.
I do have Parental Controls active on the Orbi. I don't see any option to "Block new devices" (which would definitely solve what I'm looking for).
I may not have been clear - I trust the kids to share the guest wifi as much as they want, they have accidentally given out the main wifi network in the past (its easy to share a wifi network from an iphone). I just want to lock down new devices on my main wifi network.
TheGrumpyGent wrote:
I do have Parental Controls active on the Orbi. I don't see any option to "Block new devices" (which would definitely solve what I'm looking for).
I may not have been clear - I trust the kids to share the guest wifi as much as they want, they have accidentally given out the main wifi network in the past (its easy to share a wifi network from an iphone). I just want to lock down new devices on my main wifi network.
So, it remains unknown whether Parental Controls has disabled Access Control or whether the new Orbi model doesn't have Access Control to begin with.
Maybe the kids would be open to "It is so easy to accidentally share our home WiFi password on iPhones, if you 'forget' the WiFi and connect to the Guest WiFi instead, then that can't happen any more. Your iPhone will still work great, and Grumpy Dad will not be anxious any more."
CrimpOn wrote:
TheGrumpyGent wrote:I do have Parental Controls active on the Orbi. I don't see any option to "Block new devices" (which would definitely solve what I'm looking for).
I may not have been clear - I trust the kids to share the guest wifi as much as they want, they have accidentally given out the main wifi network in the past (its easy to share a wifi network from an iphone). I just want to lock down new devices on my main wifi network.
Maybe the kids would be open to "It is so easy to accidentally share our home WiFi password on iPhones, if you 'forget' the WiFi and connect to the Guest WiFi instead, then that can't happen any more. Your iPhone will still work great, and Grumpy Dad will not be anxious any more."
Well, Grumpy Dad will be grumpy anyway... :)
Considering its new, and I paid for both Parental Controls and Armor I'd hope I'd have at least a little control in this regard. Dropping the kids off the main network would mess up any connectivity to IoT devices such as the TV (streaming) etc. I may research what you just mentioned about Parental Controls - I really don't need them, so if that's what it takes to return Access Control to the Orbi that's fine by me.
