topic Smart Hub. MAC filtering. in Archived Posts

Smart Hub. MAC filtering.

DebzH — Mon, 31 May 2021 11:07:40 GMT

I've had my Smart Hub for a while now. It looks nice sitting on the shelf and ir provieds a nice stable Wi-Fi signal throughout the house.

But there is one thing i don't like about it.
It doesn't have MAC address filtering.

I've seen this topic mentioned a few times on here but I'm posting again to say just how stupid an idea it is not have MAC filter.

Right now Smart Hub Manager says I have 8 devices connected to my network.
Errmm. NO. There should only be 5!?
My PC, my tablet, dads phone, dads tablet and mass storage.
Yet i've got a few "unknown" devices listed.
I'm now going to have to try and track down if these "unkown" devices are really mine and what they are.
To then figure out how to kick them off if they aren't.

It would help give me peace of mind that only approved device can connect.

It just doesn't make sense that EE would leave out such a usefull security feature that is included on so many other routers.
I'm tempted to set up my own router just to get help with security.

Re: Smart Hub. MAC filtering.

XRaySpeX — Mon, 31 May 2021 11:14:04 GMT

In the absence of MAC filtering you could use Access Control to block them 24/7 but that can only be by local IP. However you can fix these using "Always use this IP".

Re: Smart Hub. MAC filtering.

DebzH — Mon, 31 May 2021 11:35:15 GMT

So.
I've had a look at the list of devices and gone through them all.

My old router which had MAC address filter what I done was compile a list of all the MAC codes of "all" my devices, and that of family whose devices i granted the use of my network.
This would help with trouble shooting connectivity problems as well as security.

Only 2 of the "Unkown" items are not identified as they are not on that list.
If they aren't on that list then they were never connected to my old router!
If they were never connected to my old router they were never in this house!

I looks like I'm going to have to try the work around that has been suggested and block everything then set things to allow things "always use this IP".

The hard, nonsensical, way of doing things.
Please.
Pretty please.
EE, give us proper MAC address filtering for the "Smart Hub".
Please.

Re: Smart Hub. MAC filtering.

XRaySpeX — Mon, 31 May 2021 11:42:30 GMT

Note that the router will remember devices that had connected to it in the past, but are no longer present, like visitors' mobile phones. These will show up greyed-out. You can't use "Always use this IP" on them until they return & show up Green.

Re: Smart Hub. MAC filtering.

DebzH — Mon, 31 May 2021 11:50:06 GMT

I've noticed that the Smart Hub does that, remembers devices that are not currently connected.
These 2 "unkown" are showing as currently connected.
It's not letting me "remove" them either.

I have a list of "all" the MAC codes of "all" the devices that were ever connected to my old router.
No new devices have been added since upgrading my broadband so that list should still be 100% accurate!