This topic

Smart Hub 2, no guest network, help please

gjbrunsdon — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 18:52:28 GMT

Hi, understand that the smart hub doesn't have an option for a guest network, which I really miss.

So I've been searching and there seems to be an idea that adding a complete wifi black disc, would allow you to setup a guest option.

I've installed the BT whole home WiFi app on my mobile. But it won't let me explore options without adding a disc first.

Interestingly it asks which disc pack you have, and the minimum is a 2 disc pack? I only planned to buy one...

So any advice or experiences would be really appreciated

Re: Smart Hub 2, no guest network, help please

Les-Gibson — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 19:08:36 GMT

You're mixing the discs up.

The black discs are Complete Wi-Fi Discs and are configured from the MY BT app and have no facility for a guest network.

The BT Wholehome Wi-Fi app is for the white discs.

Hence the Wholehome app is reporting that it can't find any discs because there are no compatible ones there to be found

Re: Smart Hub 2, no guest network, help please

gjbrunsdon — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 21:08:44 GMT

Ok thanks,

Maybe another option would be to buy a wired wireless access point, with a guest network facility?

Re: Smart Hub 2, no guest network, help please

licquorice — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 21:13:37 GMT

Why is a guest network so important? Don't you trust your guests?

Re: Smart Hub 2, no guest network, help please

Keith_Beddoe — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 22:01:48 GMT

You would not get total isolation on a wireless access point with guest isolation. Guests would still be able to access your LAN via the home hub.

Some modem/router combinations with a guest network, do provide isolation within NAT, and guests are assigned a separate IP subnet. Its similar to the free Wi-Fi provided by some retailers, where their own internal network is isolated from the free guest network.

To achieve full isolation on a home network, is quite involved. But it can be done using a managed network switch which supports VLANs.

If you just want to provide a separate wireless access point for guests, then that is easy, just assign a different SSID and password, but bear in mind they can access any unprotected network shares.

Re: Smart Hub 2, no guest network, help please

gjbrunsdon — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 10:12:56 GMT

Many thanks

Re: Smart Hub 2, no guest network, help please

gavin7 — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 09:42:27 GMT

Here's a scenario, bloke arrives to fit new dishwasher. He wants to use my wifi on his phone (the mobile coverage in my home is very poor) so I give him my wifi password.

Later, parked up outside my house, he uses my wifi to download the worst kind of illegal stuff.

Guess who gets their door knocked at 5AM and all their kit confiscated.

That's why you need a guest wi-fi network and BT not having it on their most numerous router is **bleep**.

Re: Smart Hub 2, no guest network, help please

imjolly — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 10:49:47 GMT

@gavin7

I can't understand why you would give your wireless password to a complete stranger who is fixing an appliance knowing that will give access to your complete network. And then having made that mistake why you then didn't immediately change the wireless password to avoid any problems you highlight

Re: Smart Hub 2, no guest network, help please

licquorice — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 12:03:23 GMT

@gavin7 wrote:
Here's a scenario, bloke arrives to fit new dishwasher. He wants to use my wifi on his phone (the mobile coverage in my home is very poor) so I give him my wifi password.

Any sensible person would temporarily change the password first and then revert.

Later, parked up outside my house, he uses my wifi to download the worst kind of illegal stuff.
Yeah, like thousands of tradesmen do that

Guess who gets their door knocked at 5AM and all their kit confiscated.

That's why you need a guest wi-fi network and BT not having it on their most numerous router is **bleep**.

If you say so

Oh, and by the way, they would still come knocking on your door guest wifi or main wifi, its still your responsibility.

Re: Smart Hub 2, no guest network, help please

gg30340 — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 15:21:18 GMT

@gavin7 wrote:
Here's a scenario, bloke arrives to fit new dishwasher. He wants to use my wifi on his phone (the mobile coverage in my home is very poor) so I give him my wifi password.

Later, parked up outside my house, he uses my wifi to download the worst kind of illegal stuff.

Guess who gets their door knocked at 5AM and all their kit confiscated.

That's why you need a guest wi-fi network and BT not having it on their most numerous router is **bleep**.

Along with above information and folly of allowing an unknow person to use your network, as has been pointed out, even if you have a guest network, in the event of the scenario that you have posted, the authorities would still come to your home. The guest network is still your responsibility because it is emanating from your broadband.

If it was that simple to avoid detection for illegal activity do you not think that any person wishing to do illegal stuff would just need to set up a guest network in their own property and surf away rather than using a VPN, TOR browser or the plethora of other ways they use to avoid detection.

Re: Smart Hub 2, no guest network, help please

gavin7 — Sun, 25 Dec 2022 10:45:11 GMT

Well clearly, having considered the replies to my post, I'm utterly wrong and BT's router not having Guest Mode is a fine thing and to be applauded.

Well done.

Re: Smart Hub 2, no guest network, help please

gg30340 — Sun, 25 Dec 2022 17:57:07 GMT

@gavin7 wrote:

Well clearly, having considered the replies to my post, I'm utterly wrong and BT's router not having Guest Mode is a fine thing and to be applauded.

Well done.

Well clearly you had not thought through your scenario or how Guest Mode works on a router.

Re: Smart Hub 2, no guest network, help please

WelshDave — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 13:48:41 GMT

Change the wifi password on a regular basis - simples

Re: Smart Hub 2, no guest network, help please

robert999 — Sun, 12 Mar 2023 21:55:33 GMT

Here in some recommendation to support BT providing a guest network solution for Smart Hub 2: Is someone able to raise this with BT to look at a roadmap for providing this feature?

thanks:

NSA recommend using a guest network:
"Implement wireless network segmentation

Leverage network segmentation on your home network to keep your wireless communication secure. At a minimum, your wireless network should be segmented between your primary Wi-Fi, guest Wi-Fi, and IoT network. This segmentation keeps less secure devices from directly communicating with your more secure devices"

From "National Security Agency | Cybersecurity Information Sheet
Best Practices for Securing Your Home Network"

Re: Smart Hub 2, no guest network, help please

Dooley_do — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 15:16:07 GMT

Indeed a guest network is a must have if you have a lot of guests or visitors to your home. This is especially important if you have a lot of connected kit like Sonos, Hue, smart TVs etc as it prevents guests from being able to connect to these devices. Typically routers with guest networks also give preference to non-guests which is useful if you've got a load of teenagers over nailing your broadband.

You won't want to rotate the password on your main network as it would mean setting up all your connected equipment again. Imagine dealing with that for 8 smart speakers, 3 TVs, the washing machine (!), Thermostat etc. Nightmare. Having a guest network where you can rotate the password with zero impact is much better.

Massive oversight on what otherwise is pretty decent kit from BT. I use a Nest router and points but there are cheaper and probably better alternatives for a lower price.

Re: Smart Hub 2, no guest network, help please

jimmyjones3020 — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 20:06:06 GMT

I think the poor chap was actually being sarcastic. No concept of irony is a wonderful thing.

These nitwits are trying to say that all manufactures of routers are wrong in adding the function of a guest network !!

Re: Smart Hub 2, no guest network, help please

gg30340 — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 21:02:06 GMT

@jimmyjones3020 wrote:

I think the poor chap was actually being sarcastic. No concept of irony is a wonderful thing.

These nitwits are trying to say that all manufactures of routers are wrong in adding the function of a guest network !!

I think it is you that is the nitwit here and I suggest that you re read the thread.

No one has said a guest network is not a good function to have.

What has been said is that the scenario that was given by gavin7 would not stop the Police knocking at his door if the bad guys were using his guest network for unlawful purposes.

If the guest network is only a feature of the router, it will be using the same public IP address as you are using. The private network subnet may be different, and the router should prevent guests from interacting with non-guest devices using the same router.

If an ISP provides a guest network such as BT-WiFi where other users of the BT ISP can use the guest account while roaming round the country providing they are within range of a suitably enabled router, then the public IP address used by BTWifi will be different from your own public IP address.

The BTWifi connections take the user to a landing page where they have to enter a username and password to authenticate that they are a legitimate user of the ISP. With the BT system, anyone can use their guest service. If they do not have a broadband contract with the ISP, then when they hit the landing page they can buy a short term access pass with a credit card payment via the landing page which obviously requires their name and address to be available if required by the Police etc.