topic Re: Does a Smart WiFi Plus (booster) support Guest Networks in Broadband & Landline

Does a Smart WiFi Plus (booster) support Guest Networks

Ogram — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 14:24:09 GMT

I have a Smart Hub Plus extended by a Smart WiFi Plus booster (y'know, if you have to put "Smart" in the name, that tells me everything I need to know about how smart the device is). I have a Guest network configured for IoT devices. However, all the IoT devices struggle with weak WiFi signal. Running around the house with a network scanning tool on my phone, it appears that the Booster isn't extending the Guest (IoT) network, only the Main network.

So my question is: is this expected behaviour? is the Booster supposed to support the Guest network as well as the Main network?

Re: Does a Smart WiFi Plus (booster) support Guest Networks

JimM11 — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 14:33:18 GMT

@Ogram Was the guest network turned on after you had setup the smart wireless extenders?

Re: Does a Smart WiFi Plus (booster) support Guest Networks

Ogram — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 16:54:43 GMT

I think that it probably was. However, I've since deleted the Booster and reconnected it (using WPS) and there's still no Guest network on the Booster. I guess the next step is a full factory reset of the Booster. Seems like a pretty poor mesh design if configuration data isn't replicated to all mesh partners!

Re: Does a Smart WiFi Plus (booster) support Guest Networks

JimM11 — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 17:38:55 GMT

@Ogram Do not use the EE mesh, use real Asus AiMesh, seems like the EE Mesh takes a few days to bed in and work out what it needs to do, hopefully someone using the guest feature and also smart wireless will pipe up and have a look see. Have a look with your analyzer and see what channel is on both the router and extender plus mac generation for each, bad enough trying to get devices to show up web interface, and not showing in the app, now flipped the mac as before to a random assignment since yesterday picked up a laptop name, god knows why but as not in the app then no change can be made and not resetting for love nor money....

Re: Does a Smart WiFi Plus (booster) support Guest Networks

Ogram — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 00:01:43 GMT

"Get new kit" isn't really a tenable solution. I need to work with what I have and apply pressure to EE to make their stuff work properly (fat chance, but if everyone just buys alternate kit then EE definitely won't get better). I'm afraid the rest of your message from "bad enough..." makes no sense to me, I'm not sure how this is meaningful in the context of my issue. (The EE app is truly apalling if that's what you're saying)

Re: Does a Smart WiFi Plus (booster) support Guest Networks

JimM11 — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 00:13:36 GMT

@Ogram Point in origin, slight change made by EE somewhere on there system completely changed the outlook that is now viewed via the web interface! There is the option of you raising your point with EE Tech support, would drop the IoT as reference though, not what a guest network is about.

Re: Does a Smart WiFi Plus (booster) support Guest Networks

bobpullen — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 11:33:45 GMT

@Ogram - Guest WiFi is not supported by the extenders and only broadcasts from the main unit. I guess this may change in future but for now, that's the way it seems to be.

What is the reason for connecting the IoT devices to the Guest network? Is it a question of compatibility or security? I'm surprised that they're all working to be honest as the Guest WiFi is on a completely different VLAN to the main WiFi network. I'd have thought that might cause some problems when trying to communicate with the IoT devices from the main network.

Re: Does a Smart WiFi Plus (booster) support Guest Networks

Ogram — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 13:05:34 GMT

Ah! Thanks for that, it's useful information. Do you happen to have a reference; is it in the documentation anywhere? It matches my observations, but I still have a factory reset of the Booster to attempt before abandoning the effort.

I (want to) keep the IoT devices off the main network for security reasons. IoT devices are generally apallingly insecure because the manufacturers care about selling features and maximising margins; security and privacy are not features that sell, so I want to isolate them from devices that hold data. Yes, there are communications challenges that can be caused by isolating the IoT devices from the rest of the devices, but they are not a consideration for the configuration that I use. However, using the main network for IoT and the Guest network (without booster) will definitely cause me some pain.

Re: Does a Smart WiFi Plus (booster) support Guest Networks

Ogram — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 08:59:37 GMT

I got an email from EE "If you didn't find the perfect answer, please post a comment to let us know. It's likely that other customers, such as our Community Stars, will help you out. If they can't help, a member of the EE Community Team will."

Well, bobpullen's answer certainly agrees with my observations, but it's not "the perfect answer" because -despite how helpful bobpullen was being (thanks!) it's not backed up by EE documentation (probably because there isn't any documentation). So I'm posting here as instructed, hoping the the EE Community Team will respond with a definitive response.

Re: Does a Smart WiFi Plus (booster) support Guest Networks

XRaySpeX — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 11:13:33 GMT

Dunno if Guest WiFi | Keep Your WiFi Under Control helps much:

Guest’s devices are kept separate from your main WiFi to help keep your home devices safe.

Re: Does a Smart WiFi Plus (booster) support Guest Networks

Ogram — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 11:27:00 GMT

Zero relevant information there. It even claims "Your Guest WiFi and your normal WiFi behave the exact same way, but your guests will get a separate WiFi username and password to connect their device." Which is clearly not true if Guest doesn't work with Boosters! It also says "Devices on the Guest WiFi will be listed below the devices connected to your main network and have a label stating 'Online (Guest)'." I have never seen a device on the guest network listed in that manner. The EE app is pretty awful IMO.

Re: Does a Smart WiFi Plus (booster) support Guest Networks

Katie_B — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 11:35:36 GMT

Hi @Ogram.

I've had some confirmation that Guest WiFi is not supported from extenders.

This may be something that is introduced in the future, however, at the moment there is no information on this.

Katie

Re: Does a Smart WiFi Plus (booster) support Guest Networks

Ogram — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 16:56:42 GMT

While that's helpful input, it does mean that extenders are a pretty stupid design: what is the point really, if they don't support the Guest WiFi?

Re: Does a Smart WiFi Plus (booster) support Guest Networks

Majtepper — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 17:39:59 GMT

Really regretting swapping from BT to EE. Main reason i swapped was desperate to have a guest network as we have a large number of people in and out of the house. Its been installed for two days now and realising Guest Network Is providing a poor response compared to main Network. Also originally had 4 bt black mesh disks to cover a large house (which are now obsolete even though they insisted they would be ok even though i pointed out this was not being conveyed on the EE community chat). So have ended up in a worse position:( Have added two ee Wifi extenders but now realise a bit pointless if not extending Guest wifi.

Are we confident that there is no wifi extender out that will solve this problem with the setup supplied by EE?

Re: Does a Smart WiFi Plus (booster) support Guest Networks

JimM11 — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 17:56:46 GMT

@Majtepper It may be time to draw up from where you are currently and re think your whole process. You can easily have a subset mesh to the EE Router, it is not that difficult. Have a search look at the following "tp-link guest network", just to get you started, "asus guest network"....

Re: Does a Smart WiFi Plus (booster) support Guest Networks

Majtepper — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 18:44:22 GMT

Cheers.

Sounds like extra expense and a degree of knowledge which im probably not up to.

its bad enough having to deal with EE without having a third party system to muddy the waters.

Re: Does a Smart WiFi Plus (booster) support Guest Networks

AnnaH123 — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 06:15:22 GMT

Have you seen any further updates on this please? I have installed a Smart Hub Plus with extenders supplied by EE and can’t get the guest WiFi to broadcast from the extenders. EE Guides recommended I did a full factory reset, saying the extenders should behave the same way as the router. Would rescan help or is that pointless?

Re: Does a Smart WiFi Plus (booster) support Guest Networks

JimM11 — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 09:42:04 GMT

@AnnaH123 Pointless, the guest network only operates on the main EE Router, nothing else!

Re: Does a Smart WiFi Plus (booster) support Guest Networks

Majtepper — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 11:21:52 GMT

I know that now. The main reason i swapped from BT was it offered a guest network.Totally useless as we have three EE boosters which dont interact with main box. So unable to use guest network as it would only cover part of the house.

Re: Does a Smart WiFi Plus (booster) support Guest Networks

Peter_W — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 15:13:11 GMT

Hi @AnnaH123 👋

Welcome to the Community!

I've double checked this one, and as @JimM11 has mentioned, it is only the main Hub that supports the Guest Network at present.

If this ever were to change in the future we'd be sure to let you know.

Peter