Why on earth would you have multiple WiFi networks in your home?
Comment on Google is discontinuing the Chromecast line
jballs@sh.itjust.works 2 months agoAlso they made it reliant on the Google Home app, which makes it really hard to change WiFi networks. It’s a pain in the ass if you have multiple WiFi networks setup at your house.
FrederikNJS@lemm.ee 2 months ago
CameronDev@programming.dev 2 months ago
I take my Chromecast on holiday, you basically have to factory reset it every time to change network. But my recollection is that you’ve always had to do that.
FrederikNJS@lemm.ee 2 months ago
That makes perfect sense, and switching is definitely annoying then… But the person I responded to said they had multiple WiFi networks at home… E.g. Not on holiday
tjhart85@programming.dev 2 months ago
My solution: get a travel router and have it broadcast the same SSID (and use the same password) as you use at home.
All your devices should successfully connect to it and you don’t need to factory reset them.
Many of them have the ability to navigate through a captive portal too (since I got mine all the hotels I’ve gone to have just needed a password, so i haven’t needed to test that).
CameronDev@programming.dev 2 months ago
I have a travel router as well, I just prefer to keep the SSIDs different. It is definitely paranoia, but if someone sees your travel router at a hotel, they know your not home, and your home can be found on wigle.net.
Its not that bad to reset the Chromecast, and I do it infrequently, so I’m happy with that.
foggenbooty@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I have a trusted network, an IoT network (where the CC would go), and a guest network.
I know most people aren’t going to have the time or knowledge set up network segmentation, but it’s still good practice.
FrederikNJS@lemm.ee 2 months ago
No need for a physically separated network, that’s what VLANs are for
foggenbooty@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I mean, yes? I’m obviously using VLANs here. I’m not running a separate switch and AP for each network…
jballs@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
I personally have a Comcast router/modem with its own network. I have a network switch that I plug into the router that I use for hard coded stuff. Mostly my PC and a couple other things that I want to run fast instead of convenient. Then I have a WiFi mesh network that I run for most of my other devices, including my phone.
So for my Chromecast, if I want to stream from my phone on the mesh network, I have it on one network. But if I want to stream from my PC, I have it on another network. While with most devices, changing the network you’re connected to is simple, it’s a massive pain in the ass with a Chromecast.
Natanael@slrpnk.net 2 months ago
What you need to do is put devices which you want to access from multiple networks in a specific network / VLAN and then bridge it over
FrederikNJS@lemm.ee 2 months ago
So as far as I understand, you have
- Outer router (Comcast), which has WiFi enabled
- Inner router (your own), which has WiFi enabled, and further meshes with other WiFi mesh devices (or is the mesh separate?)
- A plain switch, for stuff you want cabled and fast
Is that correct?
Why not get the WiFi in the Comcast router disabled, and use your inner network exclusively, such that both WiFi and ethernet devices are on the same network?
That’s what I did with my network, and I even got the ISP to put their modem/router into bridge mode, so it’s completely transparent.
jballs@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
I could, but I like having the router network as an option to connect to. I know the point of a mesh network is to improve WiFi connectivity overall, but every once in a while it will get a bit laggy when streaming a video. Probably because I’ve got like 90 some devices connected to it. I like having the option to switch my phone to the router network and go upstream of all the other stuff.
CameronDev@programming.dev 2 months ago
Remind me, what app did it use before? I have had Chromecast since gen 1, can’t remember any other app, but that’s probably my memory failing.
jballs@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
Honestly I don’t remember. I had a gen 1 Chromecast as well and I think it was just a Chromecast app. Now it’s all integrated with Google Home.