Airplay/Chromecast on a "smart" TV connected to an Orbi guest network?

[pozzlux]

I have an Airplay-enabled Vizio "smart" tv connected to my Orbi guest network.  But when I try to Airplay or screen share content to the tv from a phone or tablet, the tv does not appear in the device list.  When I switch the tv and device to my primary network, the tv appears in the device list and they immediately connect without any problem.  I had a similar problem with a Google Chromecast.  It recognized the guest network, but would fail to ultimately connect.  Is there something inherent in a guest network that doesn't allow casting or Airplaying?  Is there a workaround short of allowing the tv access to my primary network?  Thanks.

[CrimpOn · Accepted solution]

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@pozzlux wrote:

Thanks very much for the reply.  Nope, as you surmised, that box is not checked.  So, is it the case that allowing them to Airplay to the tv and keeping them out of my primary network are conflicting goals?

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Yes, this is correct.  Someone made a design decision years ago to set up Guest WiFi with these two options.  It seems 'obvious' with the benefit of hindsight that there should have been a third option: "Allow guests to see each other but not the primary network."

However, this is not as dire a situation as it may appear.  Yes, with this setting a guest can "see" devices on the primary network.  But, what can they do with regard to these devices? Almost every device has a firewall that rejects connection attempts.  Those that do accept connections almost always require login credentials. (My FTP server for security cameras requires each camera to have a separate user ID and password.)

[CrimpOn]

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@pozzlux wrote:

I have an Airplay-enabled Vizio "smart" tv connected to my Orbi guest network.  But when I try to Airplay or screen share content to the tv from a phone or tablet, the tv does not appear in the device list.  When I switch the tv and device to my primary network, the tv appears in the device list and they immediately connect without any problem.  I had a similar problem with a Google Chromecast.  It recognized the guest network, but would fail to ultimately connect.  Is there something inherent in a guest network that doesn't allow casting or Airplaying?  Is there a workaround short of allowing the tv access to my primary network?  Thanks.

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There is a check box on the Guest WiFi setup, "Allow Guests to see each other and access the primary network."

Is it checked?

This is on the Orbi web access interface, not the Orbi 'app'

[pozzlux]

Thanks very much for the reply.  Nope, as you surmised, that box is not checked.  So, is it the case that allowing them to Airplay to the tv and keeping them out of my primary network are conflicting goals?

[CrimpOn · Accepted solution]

---

@pozzlux wrote:

Thanks very much for the reply.  Nope, as you surmised, that box is not checked.  So, is it the case that allowing them to Airplay to the tv and keeping them out of my primary network are conflicting goals?

---

Yes, this is correct.  Someone made a design decision years ago to set up Guest WiFi with these two options.  It seems 'obvious' with the benefit of hindsight that there should have been a third option: "Allow guests to see each other but not the primary network."

However, this is not as dire a situation as it may appear.  Yes, with this setting a guest can "see" devices on the primary network.  But, what can they do with regard to these devices? Almost every device has a firewall that rejects connection attempts.  Those that do accept connections almost always require login credentials. (My FTP server for security cameras requires each camera to have a separate user ID and password.)

[pozzlux]

Thanks again.  I'll do a survey of all connected devices to make sure they remain inaccessible before I dare to check that little box.  Thank you again for your help.