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Forum Discussion
Orbi 770 IOT option - questions?
Orbi770 user - does the IOT network option actually separate the IOT devises from the network by using a different subnet? Are there any downsides to enabling this network, like addl overhead? just curious if i should be using it. I do have about 21 things like cameras, doorbells, smart speakers, that i could put out on this network.
I couldn't find anything in the support documentation that mentioned what ip addresses get assigned to the IOT network. they do claim it separates possibly compromised IOT devices, but not saying how.
4 Replies
The IoT network is not separate from the main WLAN. Reason being is that if it was, this would cause the IoT device to loose access and control data with there perspective IoT applications or control software that is installed on phones and pads. All this is on the IoT Mfrs in how they design there devices to work with there software.
Netgear created the IoT feature after YEARS of customers hounding them for a way to handle devices that do not "play well" with Orbi routers. Customers asked for:
- The ability to assign different SSID to the 2.4G and 5G radios. "no. one SSID is a primary feature of the mesh system."
- The ability to temporarily turn off the 5G WiFi. "no. both 2.4G and 5G remain ON all the time."
- (The WiFi5 Orbi allowed users to disable broadcasting the SSID on the 5G radio, but that feature was removed when WiFi6 products came out.)
Thus, customers who purchased IoT devices with poorly written smartphone apps that refused to function when the smartphone was connected at 5G had to resort to all sorts of desperate work-arounds to get their IoT devices connected.
Finally, the IoT feature was created, which allows customers to (temporarily if they wish) disable the 5G signal (on the 5G SSID), connect their goofy IoT device, and then (if they wish) turn the 5G SSID back on again.
i.e. what customers had asked for in the beginning.
No. Orbi routers do not assign a different IP range to the IoT network. They get the same DHCP range as the primary network.
Yes, enabling the IoT network means that the router and every satellite will broadcast Beacon Frames for the IoT network up to 10 times per second on whatever frequencies are enabled.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beacon_frame
This does not appear to be a significant drain on network capacity. WiFi has a LOT going on. 10 more frames/second is not usually significant.
Thx. So it seems to be more organizational than secure. Is there anyone benefit to the IOT devices?
