Installing two WBE710s and a WAX610Y outside; all powered by MS510TXUP (connected to a SonicWall TZ570).
I'm currently using a Deco XE75 (three inside and their external unit outside), 70+ devices. Everything is on a single SSID and using WPA2. I turned off the 6Ghz band as we've been having issues with wifi calling on the iPhones and read that was an issue.
How do I easily migrate everything? My plan is to install the Netgear APs on a different SSID "initially" to get it up and running.
1. What security? Keep it at WPA2 or move to WPA2/WPA3?
2. What about the 6Ghz band? The WBE710 have it defaulted to off.
3. Likewise Band Steering? I would think this is a good thing but again its defaulted to off.
4. Best settings to ensure my Verizon iPhones work well with WiFi calling?
5. Anything else that's default I should consider?
When its configured and running....my plan is to turn off the Deco, reboot the SonicWall to flush all DHCP leases, and then change the Netgear SSID to my original one. Everything should magically pop right up??? Hey, I can hope....its sounds logical.
Any additional advice? Remember, I'm a home owner, pretty good network know how, but not a network engineer.
Installing two WBE710s and a WAX610Y outside; all powered by MS510TXUP (connected to a SonicWall TZ570).
....my plan is to turn off the Deco, reboot the SonicWall to flush all DHCP leases, and then change the Netgear SSID to my original one. Everything should magically pop right up??? Hey, I can hope....its sounds logical.
Sounds like like a good plan in general, some considerations for the planning:
The crux with both 6 GHz -and- WPA3 is that 6 GHz band does have the WPA3 mandatory, no way to continue operating WPA2. Guess that potentially caused some issues for your WiFi calling - a tech running trouble-free nowadays, as soon as you have reliable WiFi coverage.
Many of not most wireless devices require to "forget" the previously stored WPA2-only config, and re-adding each for WPA3 (or WPA2/WPA3-mixed mode). Once you know for sure all your wireless devices can be migrated to WPA3, there are no more show-stoppers to go forward. Worst case, define an additional SSID for the non-WPA3 capable devices for the time being.
Good luck, and have fun with your new network, very promising environment!
Thanks. While I didn't want to have two SSIDs, that was just me. But the more I think about it and I do have a few older devices, why not, it doesn't affect anything. So now I'm looking at:
SSID1 (current) WPA2
SSID2 (new) WPA3
I'll just leave 90% of my items on SSID1 as they are very low bandwidth (smoke detectors, sonos, smart outlets...) and re configuring those will be a total pain, all day effort.
And I'll move the new tech, iPhones, iPads, laptops, TVs... (high bandwidth, easy to change) and such to SSID2 so they can fully use any of three bands and automatically adjust.
A final option, which in my particular case, is to turn off security and only use access control, MAC address filtering. I know everyone is rolling their eyes, but in my rural house setting... Basically I'll walk my property. If I set it up right and I loose connection at the edge of my property then I'm good. If someone where to come on, they'd still have to figure out what I'm doing, search a current MAC address and then spoof it. Not the best idea, but it is a potential valid solution in my situation.
But the more I think about it and I do have a few older devices, why not, it doesn't affect anything. So now I'm looking at:
SSID1 (current) WPA2
SSID2 (new) WPA3
I'll just leave 90% of my items on SSID1 as they are very low bandwidth (smoke detectors, sonos, smart outlets...) and re configuring those will be a total pain, all day effort.
And I'll move the new tech, iPhones, iPads, laptops, TVs... (high bandwidth, easy to change) and such to SSID2 so they can fully use any of three bands and automatically adjust.
A final option, which in my particular case, is to turn off security and only use access control, MAC address filtering. I know everyone is rolling their eyes, but in my rural house setting... Basically I'll walk my property. If I set it up right and I loose connection at the edge of my property then I'm good. If someone where to come on, they'd still have to figure out what I'm doing, search a current MAC address and then spoof it. Not the best idea, but it is a potential valid solution in my situation.
Negative, you can't configure an SSID without any or no security on the 6 GHz band. As mentioned before, WPA3 is mandatory on the 6 GHz band.
When you look around, you will find to many posts in the community where network operators struggling on the fancy "Private MAC" or "Random MAC" - very useful when operating on public WiFi or other unknown networks, but a pain in the back on your own managed network.
