After you have set up your network, you really gotta change your router's default password for security.
While connected to your Netgear dual-band wireless router, open your web browser and navigate to routerlogin.net (or http://192.168.0.1). You’ll be prompted for your username and password. By default, your username is “admin” and your password is “password.” Yup, not so tricky.
If you uncheck Enable SSID Broadcast, people will not be able to "see" the network on a regular Wi-Fi scan and will have to manually type the SSID.
Once logged in, select Guest Network from the list of options on the left. You’ll be presented with many options for configuring your guest network. By checking Enable Guest Network and specifying an SSID, you can be up and running in no time. However, you can also allow or disallow access to your local network by checking or unchecking the option for Allow Guest To Access My Local Network.
Nice and secure.
Under the Security Options, you can choose from a plethora of security algorithms, including WEP and WPA2, and you can then specify your passphrase. This is the password you’ll give to guests, so don’t use the same password as you use to secure your router’s settings (Step 1) or the password you use on your own Wi-Fi network.
Looky there... a guest network that you created, and if you're using WPA2, it's pretty secure too.
After you type in your information and click Apply, your router will restart. Your guest network will then be created, and you’ll be able to view it from the wireless menu on your Mac or PC. Your guests will be able to get online without you having to give up your main network’s password, and they won’t be able to access your network’s computers or other equipment.
Next Page: "What if My Router Isn't a Dual-Band?" and WEP vs. WPA >>
dougstrickland
April 30, 2010 at 5:19pm
I have this set up on my D-Link DIR-655 using the 'Guest Zone' - and it works really well.
But how can I create a 'landing page' that my guests see when they go through my network? Like what happens at a Starbucks or other hotspot?
dougstrickland
April 30, 2010 at 5:20pm
http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524446240462&afsrc=1&site_refer=GGLBASE001&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=ParentItem0452500341587
These look like something that my parents threw out after a garage sale in the 1980's...
feinberj
April 27, 2010 at 7:49am
The article and comments have been dropping hints, but so far nobody has come out and said that the Time Capsule supports guest networks. I will say that it definitely supports guest networking, provided that it's one of the newer models with dual networks. An Apple tech note specifically discusses guest networking on the "early 2009" airport extreme and time capsule:http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3477John FNew York, NY
desabraw
April 26, 2010 at 4:55pm
I have airport extreme 802.11n ver 7.4.2 but no guest set up option in the manual configuration panel.
tarkin
April 22, 2010 at 10:29am
My G5 iMac has a WiFi network setup with a password. Anyone with an iPod touch can connect to it no problem. However I've never been able to get a Windows laptop to connect. Would setting up a guest account fix this?
ppuu
April 21, 2010 at 6:45pm
What a great idea, excellent tips dude.
Lou
www.ultimate-privacy.at.tc
kermudgn
April 21, 2010 at 3:31pm
I have the router that Apple calls a Time Capsule.
After I click Manual Setup in step 1, I do not see Guest Network as shown in step 2.I thought this "Time Capsule" was a dual band router.
Is it not as good as a "Airport Extreme?"I am a recent convert from Windows and I like my Mac even with the childish names that Apple gives to its hardware.
jiubreyn
April 22, 2010 at 3:44am
To answer your question directly, the Time Capsule is no better or worse than the Airport Extreme Base Station. The Time Capsule is essentially an Airport Extreme Base Station with a hard drive for wireless backup built-in. Apple tends to upgrade their hardware and software on a regular basis, therefore depending on when you purchased your Time Capsule, it may not have dual-band capability.
wildmomo
April 21, 2010 at 2:02pm
I have a WGT624v3 Netgear, and I am not seeing any options for guest networks. Can you elaborate more on the version of this device. I am using the firmware from April, 2008 which seems to be the latest and greatest for the 624v3.
Thanks!
