Multiple Guest Networks

[DarkLordDad]

So I use 5 guest networks and the 3 normal networks on my asus ac 3200 with merlin firmware.
All of my kids have their own network, basically for parental controls and such.

I'm curious if this will have any adverse effect on my routers performance? We haven't experienced any issues over the past 6 months but I can't seem to find much information on this and what I have found is just what I already know of shared bandwidth.

I'm looking for a little more specifics, such as if antenna ranges would take a hit or increased cpu/ram on the router etc... I'm assuming it would at least have a minor impact on the work load but overall everything gives the appearance of being completely normal.

Thanks!

 

[Klueless]

Yes, I run similar (lots of SSIDs) and I wondered similar. Saw some theoretical nits but nothing that outweighed the benefit of mulitple SSIDs ... for me. (The benefits to me were being able to "lock" production machines, enforce "good behavior" on some of the guests, layered trouble shooting (I can simply disable some of the SSIDs with "unknown to me" devices), etc.

But for you ... you use guest SSIDs for "Parental Control"? I don't recall a "guest net" offering much in the way of parental controls. Most of the good stuff is by MAC (which Asus makes pretty easy to implement).

Speaking of parental control have you tried Open DNS Free Family Shield? It shields the kids from "accidentally" pulling up one of the naughty websites.

 

[DarkLordDad]

But for you ... you use guest SSIDs for "Parental Control"? I don't recall a "guest net" offering much in the way of parental controls. Most of the good stuff is by MAC (which Asus makes pretty easy to implement).

Speaking of parental control have you tried Open DNS Free Family Shield? It shields the kids from "accidentally" pulling up one of the naughty websites.

I use it as part of a parental control system so to speak. It's easier to disable a guest network or change the password if someone gets grounded as to not disturb any time schedule my children have. Overkill? Yeah probably... But they feel special with their own network with their own password and it makes my life easier. I have 4 kids, so if my oldest wants to get himself in trouble, I can disable his SSID without shutting off the whole house.

I do use the family shield as well, so far so good I think.

Asus - and even the merlin firmware itself has been a fantastic experience for my busy household and parental controls, I doubt it can be beat currently.

 

[sfx2000]

So I use 5 guest networks and the 3 normal networks on my asus ac 3200 with merlin firmware.
All of my kids have their own network, basically for parental controls and such.

I'm curious if this will have any adverse effect on my routers performance?

there is a definite impact to having that many SSID's for WiFi - not for the wired side of the network, but each SSID adds overhead to the wireless channel.

Revolution WiFi has a nice spreadsheet that shows what that overhead is.

 

[Klueless]

Revolution WiFi has a nice spreadsheet

Ah ... that's the chart I was looking for! Shows overhead for multiple APs and for multiple SSIDs. Now Dark can confirm his benefit exceeds the cost/overhead. (It did and does for my application.)

 

[DarkLordDad]

Now Dark can confirm his benefit exceeds the cost/overhead.

I like where this is going, and thank you sfx2000 for the tool... But I feel this wafted straight over my head.

Once i've obtained the correct variables, I would be looking at 1 APs on channel with 8 SSIDs correct? I feel I can manage to overcome learning how to find the variables however I want to be sure i'm reading this right.

Edit: ac3200 has tri band, I don't know if you would consider each band it's own access point... or if they combine to equal one. I do not use the smart connect that bounces wifi devices around to different bands.. So they are all static.

 

[Klueless]

I don't know but using the chart and working backwards.

• 3 APs plus 8 SSIDs = 77% overhead. Since you're happy with performance I'm going to guess 3 APs is not the answer.

So that leaves us with?

• 2.4 GHz plus 7 SSIDs = 22% (5 guests plus ...)
• 1st 5 GHz band plus 5 SSIDs = 16% ( 3 guests plus ...)
• 2nd 5 GHz band plus 4 SSIDs = 13% (the other 2 guests plus ...)

 

[pege63]

Have you checked the modem/gatway where you may turn off individual assembly IP number/MAC Address between certain times of the day?
I have turned off the WiFi for my daughter's cell phone, tablet, laptop between 19:00 to 8:00 am on my gateway, Just a point a tipp.