WiFi Accessories on Asus Guest Network

[BeccaBits]

Posting this in the hopes it helps someone in the future. For those with an Asus Router and running your Hydros on the 2.4GHz Guest Network, the Asus interface does not make it clear but client-to-client connections are prohibited, which means your collective will work just fine (since they are wired together) but connecting to a WiFi power strip will not (though you can pair them successfully, they will then go to "Not Responding"). To correct, you have to enable the "Access Intranet" on the Guest Network ...which unfortunately also allows access to your local (internal) network in addition to enabling client-to-client access. I'm sure most routers have a similar setting. Kudos to Carlos for helping me get to a resolution. Since they were pairing successfully, I was erroneously assuming they could talk client-to-device. What I failed to recognize is that the pairing isn't dependent on client-to-client WiFi communication (it's using your phone's bluetooth for pairing), and that was causing confusion. One of those things that's obvious in retrospect.

 

[Danny]

I have the Asus router but do not use the guest channels. I have a different name for the 2.4ghz and5ghz and have never had that issue since mine are on the regular 2.4ghz channel. I am not sure why you would put them on the guest channel though.

 

[BeccaBits]

I have the Asus router but do not use the guest channels. I have a different name for the 2.4ghz and5ghz and have never had that issue since mine are on the regular 2.4ghz channel. I am not sure why you would put them on the guest channel though.

We were looking to segment Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices from the rest of our home network, partially for security and partially for performance. Likely just going to set up a dedicated access point for IoT stuff that doesn't need to interact with our offices.

 

[JonD79]

I have the Asus wifi 6 RT-AX82U. i have it setup as seperate ch of 2.4 and 5ghz. I have the smart connection turned off so the system cannot decided what to use. Even with that router and settings my wifi plugs would drop a few times a day.
I solved it buy buying a cheap TPLink router for $25 at walmart and just made its own 2.4ghz HYDROS network from that and the only thing connected to it is the Hydros system and now I might get a wifi plug drop alert maybe once a week but its only for a few seconds before it kicks back online.

​

 

[Danny]

We were looking to segment Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices from the rest of our home network, partially for security and partially for performance. Likely just going to set up a dedicated access point for IoT stuff that doesn't need to interact with our offices.

That is probably the best route if you want the Hydros on its own wifi channel. I used and old router to setup an access point but in my case it has the same name and password as the main one so the controllers can connect to either one as needed. If security is the issue it is best that it has a different name and password though. If do that you will have to setup everything on the accrss point including any wifi devices like your wifi strips, wifi plugs and wifi feeders. You can use replace to setup the wifi devices though.

 

[Don]

Blocking client to client communications is kind of the definition of a guest network. The idea is that if someone is using your WiFi to access the internet you don't want them to be able to access your local devices. So this is working pretty much as expected.

A dedicated WiFi access point for Hydros is always a good idea.

 

[thom_smith]

Blocking client to client communications is kind of the definition of a guest network. The idea is that if someone is using your WiFi to access the internet you don't want them to be able to access your local devices. So this is working pretty much as expected.

A dedicated WiFi access point for Hydros is always a good idea.

@BeccaBits this is more than likely your problem. Wifi plugs, outlets and feeders communicate slightly different than other Controls and Wave Engines. They must communicate to other Hydros controls over the wifi whereas Controls and Wave Engines communicate between each other over the command bus and independently to the cloud. Many router/wifi manufacturers enable a client isolation feature to prevent communication among guests. IF you have an option to disable that feature and IF you desire to do so it would very likely work. Wifi clients on guest will then be able to communicate among each other but you could protect your guest network with a strong key to restrict access.