Home Networking Questions

[CitadelBlue]

Seems my Router enables 3 networks at my house 5g for TV streaming, guest and main.
I use the 5g network for my 2 streaming TVs, guests - for when guests or the kids come home and the main for everything else. So my question is....should I really connect my laptop, phones, Echo, Alexsa, printers, ring door bell and Gosung outlets for lights all on the same "main" network?

 

[ycgoat]

I am no expert but figured the separate networks was for security and to facilitate lower frequency devices. So I would put my cell and computer / printer on the 5G with the TV, and the high risk devices such as Alexa, ring, and outlets on the main.

 

[Youngandfree]

Put the printer, laptop, and phones together so they can see the printer on the network. I'd put Ring, and the other spy devices on a seperate network since you don't really need to directly connect the computer or phone to those.

That's how I'd do it at my house.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Seems my Router enables 3 networks at my house 5g for TV streaming, guest and main.
I use the 5g network for my 2 streaming TVs, guests - for when guests or the kids come home and the main for everything else. So my question is....should I really connect my laptop, phones, Echo, Alexsa, printers, ring door bell and Gosung outlets for lights all on the same "main" network?

what is the make and model on the router? unless its using VLANs to virtually separate the 3x WiFi SSIDs from each other, its all fluff and pointless.... some consumer grade routers will have the option to isolate the guest network but nothing else....

the make and model are key here I'm able to give you a good response

 

[ipgenie]

^^^This. Most dual band home routers have everything on the same network but offer both 5gHz and 2.4gHz frequencies for device connectivity. Many 'smart' devices only support the 2.4 band.
The guest network is usually just isolated to internet access only.

 

[infinkc]

It’s all the same network no matter what ssid you connect to. Anything that supports 5g connect to that. Surprised there is a separate ssid for the frequency’s, see if there is a setting to combine them with auto frequency assignments. I have always disabled guest accounts, I trust the ones I give my password to.

Post up the model of the router.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

It’s all the same network no matter what SSID you connect to.

not true if VLANs are involved.... you must be new at this.

Anything that supports 5g connect to that. Surprised there is a separate ssid for the frequency’s, see if there is a setting to combine them with auto frequency assignments.

why is that? thats been standard config on almost all consumer grade dual band wireless routers for years now. nothing new.

my commercial customers prefer separate SSIDs and band steering doesnt always work (what youre calling auto frequency assignments which is not a standard term) doesnt work on all hosts especially older stuff. best practice is to just use 2x SSIDs to make things less complicated on the back end. very rare to see a WLAN with just one SSID.

I have always disabled guest accounts, I trust the ones I give my password to.

Post up the model of the router.

Guest accounts? never seen a guest account on a wireless router. did you mean guest SSID?

helps to use industry standard terms to avoid muddying the water....

 

[ArcReactorKC]

It’s all the same network no matter what ssid you connect to. Anything that supports 5g connect to that. Surprised there is a separate ssid for the frequency’s, see if there is a setting to combine them with auto frequency assignments. I have always disabled guest accounts, I trust the ones I give my password to.

Post up the model of the router.

You do not understand networking.

 

[justsam]

I realize all the players on here understand the difference but just for clarity lets not mix up the use of the term 5G, with 5GHz. (Thank you ingenie). The former is 5th generation cellular which will find it's way into our homes as a broadband ISP, and the latter is the radio spectrum, or one of the bands authorized by the FCC for WiFi.

 

[dcg9381]

Seems my Router enables 3 networks at my house 5g for TV streaming, guest and main.
I use the 5g network for my 2 streaming TVs, guests - for when guests or the kids come home and the main for everything else. So my question is....should I really connect my laptop, phones, Echo, Alexsa, printers, ring door bell and Gosung outlets for lights all on the same "main" network?

First, lets remember that 2.4g networks have much better range. 5g is faster.
"Generally" the purpose of a guest network is that it provides internet access, but denies internal LAN access to things like your computers and devices. This is a good idea as you don't want a guest to roll up and have access to everything inside the house.

I'd use a 2.4G network for "guest". It's got the best range and is most widely compatible.

I'd let the 2.4G and 5G networks be internal. Different SID (network name) is what I use so I can distinguish.
I HARD wire almost everything that stays in the house, but that's just me.

Guest and internal networks should not be able to talk to each other.

 

[CitadelBlue]

I am no expert but figured the separate networks was for security and to facilitate lower frequency devices. So I would put my cell and computer / printer on the 5G with the TV, and the high risk devices such as Alexa, ring, and outlets on the main.

Made some time and decided to put Ring, Gosung/outlets, and Ring on the guest network. Works well and I feel better.