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Collector123's avatar
Collector123
Initiate
Feb 15, 2016
Status:
New Idea

R8000 Guest Network Needs Separated Wireless Isolation and Local Network Access

Guest Network now combined the 2 functions "Wireless Isolation" and "Local Network Access" as a single option. In the old days, they are separate options.

 

My Chromecast does NOT work on Guest Network because it needs to see other devices. I cannot select "Let devices see each other and allow access to my local network", it will defeat the purpose of using the Guest Network. My guests cannot use the Chromecast now because of this.

I need this fix very badly. I have been waiting for a long time for the fix to come, but it did not happen. Especially this is nothing new, it used to be there before. I didn't know why it was changed. I am sure I am not the only one who needed this. It just makes sense to have them separated.

44 Comments

  • I'll have to switch to DD-WRT soon. I rent out an apartment above my garage, and provide a guest WiFi network. Obviously I don't want to give out access to my personal network.

     

    However, they are unable to use chromcasts, printers, etc, unless AP isolation is disabled. Bundling these two separate options as a single option doesn't let me do what I need.

  • This Guest network is a real problem.. that s why so many people are playing with DD WRT or Tomato. 

  • Netgear needs to RE-separate these two configuration settings to allow separate and isolated Guest and Local networks. (see description below) If you need to stay with Netgear, then you need to get hold of a WNDR3700. On Amazon you can order a WNDR3700 but the device you receive will/may be a WNDR3800 with WNDR3700v2 firmware. Still works to setup a Guest Network, however as with the WNDR4500 the configuration help descriptions are incorrect on the subject!!!!!! ============ Netgear in their infinite wisdom has confused and altered the configuration and setup of Guest networks, effectively disabling the ability to set up a truely GUEST NETWORK separate from the Local network on all Wireless routers since WNDR3700. Initially it took Enabling the Guest network. Once enabled you had two choices: Could devices on the Guest network see the devices on the Local Network. This is Local Network Access/Authorization. The second choice is Wireless Isolation. This is separate from the Local network issue, but Netgear confused the two issues in configuration setups after the WNDR3700. This choice simply chooses whether or not to allow a device on the Guest SSID to see and communicate with any other device on the Guest SSID. These two choices are ONLY related if you do not select Wireless Isolation. If you do not select Wireless Isolation, then you need to decide if Guest devices can see the Local Network. Thus they had actually asked the questions in the wrong order!!! Impact: A guest network is created by leaving both options UNCHECKED (WNDR3700) Guest devices can access and share the resources of other Guest devices (Chromecast, Printers, Shared Drives, etc) but CANNOT see devices on the Local (private) Network. Netgear merged the choices to either say Guests can see EVERYTHING or NOTHING, you cannot create a separate GUEST network.