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Why use the Guest Network for Airbnb guests?

I have an Airbnb suite on the front side of my home with its own beacon and access to the guest network.  The limitations to the guest network aren't really practical now that people travel with their own stuff, or are travel/working. 

-no air printing

-no air play streaming AND most recently 

-no ability to use their smart speakers (my current guest couldn't connect her google nest mini so I gave her my own main network name and password)

Initially I thought I could stick another Eero router on my modem but Eero support said that won't work; they will interfere with one another.  No splitting the signal from the ISP.

My question is: what are the real liabilities for just opening up my regular home network and allowing guests to use it?  I could finally put that printer in there, and I wouldn't have frustrated guests trying to troubleshoot their streaming devices.

I have a pretty well-appointed smart home (Apple HomeKit) that I can limit to our own devices to control (unless they bring a HomePod, then they can turn my lights on and off I guess) but what else should I be concerned about?  Is this a real threat from the garden variety Airbnb traveling guest?

Thanks.

7 replies

    • eero_support
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Hello jennifer ,

    It is never ideal to share your home network password with people you may not trust. However, it is a quick option for you to allow your customers to gain access to any IoT devices they may bring. If you are concerned at all about how they will use your services, you can setup a second network in your home.

    To setup a second network in your home you would need an upstream router, you can use either a Modem Router Combo if you have one or you can use your primary eero network. But you will have to run an ethernet to the area where you are going to setup the second network as the Gateway will need to be wired into the upstream router. 

    Once that is setup you can go into your eero app on the same eero account and click on Settings -> Add Network. This will allow you to create a second network to manage on your account. Make sure the SSID, network name, is different than your main network and setup a password. This will allow your customers to connect up to that network and access their IoT devices.

    Let me know if you have any additional questions.

    • jennifer
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Thanks so much James!  I mean, this is the solution I thought I articulated to eero support but, from the answer I received, understood it would not be an option.

    My current setup is a Spectrum modem with one ethernet out, which goes into my eero ... I used to have a modem/router combo but boy when I added the eero with the same exact network name boy was there trouble as you could imagine.  I believe it's a modem-only at the moment.  Exactly how do I need to configure a 2nd network?  Does upstream mean it has to be straight out of my modem and then daisy-chained to the eero?  And is the Gateway the name for the eero router?  V-e-r-y  s-l-o-w-l-y explain to the technologically challenged :) 

      • eero_support
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Hello jennifer ,

      No problem! I'll write it out in steps for you below.

      1) You'll need an eero that has an ethernet port on the back for the second network, the beacon will not be able to act as the gateway for the second network. 

      2) You'll need to run an ethernet cord from your current Gateway eero to the location where you want to setup the Gateway for the second eero network.

      3) Plug the ethernet cord into the back of the Gateway on your current network.

      4) Plug the ethernet into the eero that will be the Gateway for the second network.

      5) Plug the power into the Gateway eero for the second network.

      6) When the eero is flashing blue, open your eero app and click on Settings.

      7) Scroll to the bottom of that page and select Add Network.

      8) Follow the steps in the app and make sure to label the SSID something different than your primary network.

      9) You can switch which network you're viewing by going into Settings and at the bottom you'll now see an option to switch networks.

      Let me know if you have any questions.

      • jennifer
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      James Okay, for 2) ... why can't they just be right next to one another?  I can't see running an ethernet cable through the attic to put the thing closer to the other room (which is in theory only two doors/30 feet away) but I suppose it could be done (but I don't have an outlet up there) since I already have a 3rd beacon in there and my entire house is only 1700 sf, would two gateways right next to one another dead center, and one beacon 30 feet away in the actual room where the 2nd network would be used suffice?  (currently it's working great with the one eero Gateway there and three beacons in the three far reaches of the house footprint)

      • eero_support
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Hello jennifer ,

      You can try. But there is a likelihood of WiFi congestion that can cause devices to disconnect and have reduced speeds. It is best to make sure that any eero on the same network is between 35-45ft from each other. When you have eeros on different networks you really want them to be closer to 50+ft away from each other so there is less congestion and cross traffic.

      Being that your entire house is only 1700 sqft, you may want to consider just letting them connect to the primary network if they need access to IoT devices. You really don't want two eero networks sitting side-by-side.

    • jennifer
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Okay, this makes sense and was likely what eero support was trying to communicate.  Please tell me what are the real-world risks of just opening up my own network and password to visitors?  Are there certain things I should be sure to do to my own devices to protect them from unknown prowlers...er, guests... on my own network ?  Or is this too large and/or a stupid question for this forum?

      • eero_support
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Hello jennifer ,

      Please, ask anything that you have questions about regarding your network and it's security. When you allow someone on a network with your other devices, they will have access to seeing those devices on that network and be able to interact with them if they know how to do that.

      Ideally you will want the second network or to keep your guests on the guest network, but if you are unable to afford the second network setup and you don't mind sharing the network you can just let them on your primary network. It should be safe, but there are always exceptions. There really isn't much you can do to protect your devices though once you let them on the network. The password and firewall of the router are what make those devices safe and letting guests onto the primary network will bypass that security.

Content aside

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