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Wireless Printing
I have my internet service with xfinity using the FXI modem/router with the gigabit plan. I am having problems with whole home coverage thus am considering the Orbi 860 or above. However, before i sp...
A separate IoT WiFi network is not a requirement. As the screen shot in message 8 above illustrates, the Orbi 860 product supports WPA2 authentication on the primary and guest WiFi networks, as does every other Orbi router I have found. (As does every Xfinity WiFi router as the screen shot in message 16 shows.)
For the vast majority of us, WPA3 authentication is a distraction with no practical value. 99.9% of the devices we already own are not compatible with WPA3, so making WPA3 the only authentication protocol would immediately block them all from connecting. Thus, newer systems now support either only WPA2 or a combination WPA2/WPA3. This allows that one new device to be "more secure" (HA) when it could just as easily connect with WPA2 and be done with it.
If the fix is to setup a IOT said then I am ready to have it marked resolved. If that is not the resolution then I must keep looking as I must have WPA2 security in order to connect…..thanks
A separate IoT WiFi network is not a requirement. As the screen shot in message 8 above illustrates, the Orbi 860 product supports WPA2 authentication on the primary and guest WiFi networks, as does every other Orbi router I have found. (As does every Xfinity WiFi router as the screen shot in message 16 shows.)
For the vast majority of us, WPA3 authentication is a distraction with no practical value. 99.9% of the devices we already own are not compatible with WPA3, so making WPA3 the only authentication protocol would immediately block them all from connecting. Thus, newer systems now support either only WPA2 or a combination WPA2/WPA3. This allows that one new device to be "more secure" (HA) when it could just as easily connect with WPA2 and be done with it.
- My experience is that some WPA2 devices do not connect to a 2/3 combination, so that’s why I suggested the IOT. Then you can have 2/3 for your other networks if desired.
After researching on my own as to the user manuals for the Orbie 800/900 series, it does not offer just WPA2 alone on the main network. They offer combination WPA2/WPA3 or WPA3 which my printer still will not accept. They do offer WPA2 stand alone on the IOT and Guest networks. So I agree with you, I think I would either have to go IOT or Guest. If you can believe the documentation which is all I have access to.
...Thanks
I, also, must rely on the documentation (which Netgear does not always keep up to date).
The RBRE960 does indicate only two choices for the primary WiFi network, both of which include WPA3.
Page 57 of the User Manual for:
Clearly shows these choices for the primary WiFi network:
It is a puzzle to me that a network supporting both WPA2 and WPA3 would be incompatible with a device that supports only WPA2. During the connection process, both WiFi system and WiFi device exchange information about their capabilities in the form of Beacon Frames, Probe Requests, Association Requests, etc. There are a number of long articles describing the process, such as:
https://howiwifi.com/2020/07/13/802-11-frame-types-and-formats/
I would assume the access point says, "I can authenticate using WPA2 and WPA3" and the device says, "I can authenticate using WPA2" so they use WPA2.
I have a lot to learn!
