NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
Set a default SSID for private wired connections
The NetGear R6230 Router allows one to define 4 separate SSID networks : 1) a private 2.4Ghz, 2) a private 5Ghz, 3) a guest 2.4Ghz, and 4) a guest 5Ghz. When connecting my laptop to the router via t...
This first image shows my 4 wireless SSID's and no wired connection (CAT-5 cable unplugged):
- MiWiFi2 is the 2.4Ghz private network (internal)
- MeWiFi is the 5Ghz guest network (external)
- MiWiFi is the 5Ghz private network (internal)
- MeWiFi2 is the 2.4Ghz guest network (external)
The second image shows that I turned off WiFi and plugged in the CAT-5 cable. The wired connection now points to the internal private 2.4Ghz network and the wireless connections are no longer shown.
The third image shows the Network and Sharing Center and identifies the wired connection as MiWiFi2, a private network with an Access Type of Internet and a Connection Type as Ethernet.
As stated in my original post, sometimes the private network associated with the wired connection shows the SSID, MiWiFi, which is the 5Ghz network.
I guess the bottom-line question is does it matter which SSID is displayed for the wired connection. If not, this is, at best, a misleading "feature."
WMM2 wrote:
I guess the bottom-line question is does it matter which SSID is displayed for the wired connection. If not, this is, at best, a misleading "feature."
The puzzle is how you think the wifi SSID has anything to do with your wired connection.
It looks to me that you are confusing the name of your local wired Ethernet network with the SSID. Just because they have the same label does not make them same network. It may just the tag that Windows gave your router. This is something that Windows does all the time.
For peace of mind, try changing the name of the Ethernet network. Or change the wifi SSID and reel back in shock as the Ethernet network keeps its original label.
WMM2 Your simple consumer router does only have -one- network.
One network, the normal wireless SSIDs do connect transparently to the very same network, also accessible b the Ethernet LAN ports. Because of the router does enforce two different SSIDs or network names, Windows 10 does identify these as -two- different networks.
And then again the very same network, also used by the guest SSIDs connecting (to what extent see above), allowing your guests to access the Internet using the network at least as an intermediate network to access the Internet. Windows 10 does identify these as -two- different networks again.
When looking on the Windows 10 system, each of these four connections will be identified as an individual network. On connecting for the first time, each network is designated as a "public" network (and various firewall rules will be set accordingly) - unless the user does (during the first connection, or manually later) each to become a private network.
This isn't a feature - it's just the way it is, and how wireless routers are made for a decade or more.michaelkenwardand antinode I'm happy to put up links to the fine documentation. However, I'm with WMM2 as a user, and here is why:
1. We're in the year 2020, or almost in the year 2021. Even if we talk of a 75 USD router here:
- One would expect from a commodity product maker that correct terms are used. 2.4 GHz is not a network, 5 GHz is not a network, 2.4 GHz guest is not a network, and 5 GHz guest is not a network.
- An SSID must identify the network and the network capabilities - and must not be abused identify a radio adapter.
- The user or the guest should not have to care which band or adapter is to be used to access a certain network or it's allowed network capabilities.
- Enforcing different SSIDs for each radio adapter intended for the normal user access network similar for the guest networks is garbage - even if the consumer router "industry" tried to burn this into the consumers and non-tech mined heads for decades.
2. Guest Network(s)
- Neither the AC1200 Smart WiFi Router - Dual Band Gigabit R6230 Data Sheet nor the AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Model R6230 User Manual does explain the difference between the normal/secure and the guest network. "Guest networks allow visitors at your home to use the Internet." is all we can find.
- Based on experience - not on the documentation - some Netgear routers allow the guest SSID(s) LAN and Internet access, other routers are implementing some L2 filtering only allowing to access the Internet but not the local network or other devices (so denying using or accessing devices on the secure network like a printer, a media player/TV in the guest room, ...). No idea what this R6230 does.
WMM2 Your simple consumer router does only have -one- network.
One network, the normal wireless SSIDs do connect transparently to the very same network, also accessible b the Ethernet LAN ports. Because of the router does enforce two different SSIDs or network names, Windows 10 does identify these as -two- different networks.
And then again the very same network, also used by the guest SSIDs connecting (to what extent see above), allowing your guests to access the Internet using the network at least as an intermediate network to access the Internet. Windows 10 does identify these as -two- different networks again.
When looking on the Windows 10 system, each of these four connections will be identified as an individual network. On connecting for the first time, each network is designated as a "public" network (and various firewall rules will be set accordingly) - unless the user does (during the first connection, or manually later) each to become a private network.
> [...] However, I'm with WMM2 as a user, and here is why: [...]
Some might say that that's a much-longer-than-required explanation of
why it's confusing to assign the same name to a Windows Etherent
connection and a router wireless SSID. Which are two different things.
antinode wrote:> [...] However, I'm with WMM2 as a user, and here is why: [...]
Some might say that that's a much-longer-than-required explanation of
why it's confusing to assign the same name to a Windows Etherent
connection and a router wireless SSID.It's the very same network - the same default gateway, the same router MAC, .... - so Windows (ey even MacOS!) does take it as the same network. regardless if the computer is connecting using the built-in 2.4 GHz adapter, the 5 GHz adapter, the 60 GHz adapter - all using wireless links, or the built-in 2.5G Ethernet, the USB3 connected 5G Ethernet, or the TB3 connected 10G Ethernet adapter - all using wired connections - brilliant, isnt it?
antinode wrote:Which are two different things.
Still the very same network, the same LAN, the same VLAN, ... Different adapter, different media. different speed - granted.
I know it's often mistaken that the SSID does reflect the label atached to the cable outlet or the switch port.
Worth reading -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_set_(802.11_network)
schumaku wrote:
michaelkenwardand antinode I'm happy to put up links to the fine documentation. However, I'm with WMM2 as a user, and here is why:
You lost me after the first sentence.
I was just trying to explain what was going on, not put the world to rights or provide anyone with a degree course in networking.
The bottom line is that the wifi SSIDs are not the same as the Windows network name.
michaelkenward wrote:
schumaku wrote:michaelkenward and antinode I'm happy to put up links to the fine documentation. However, I'm with WMM2 as a user, and here is why:
The bottom line is that the wifi SSIDs are not the same as the Windows network name.
It was not intended to disagree with you above - just provide more insight. But at this point I have to...
- The Windows (wireless) network name is based on the SSID - for a reason it can't be renamed, isn't it?
- Windows does allow to "Show available networks" and does list the SSIDs available on-air. It does not say "Show the available wireless network access point radio.
- Windows 10 does identify and name the wired network connection according to the wireless SSID connecting to the same network.
Bottom line revision now?
Hey I know this is against almost everything the consumer WiFi industry including the market leaders have implied and told us for decade (s). And of course they introduced nice marketing designations like "Smart Connect" and "Mesh" when the also 10+ years old 802.11k/r/v IEEE standards were introduced - some have made it even to the 802.11 main stream.
Wireless routers or wireless access points not allowing to set the same SSIDs on all radios for the same network are a don-not-buy. I do not understand why we still see new router models repeating the old nonsense.
WMM2 your question was and is perfectly valid!
