Can I add a 2nd router for a guest network?

[BarnyardDog]

I have an Xfinity XB6 gateway up and running and so far it’s been great. However, the one major issue is its lack of a guest network.

The two “alternatives” Xfinity provides are non-starters: I have guests who are not Xfinity subscribers, and I don’t want to give out my network WiFi password.

Is it possible to have a 2nd WiFi router run a 2nd WiFi network and use the gateway for internet?

[RobertWy]

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@BarnyardDog wrote:
I have an Xfinity XB6 gateway up and running and so far it’s been great. However, the one major issue is its lack of a guest network.

The two “alternatives” Xfinity provides are non-starters: I have guests who are not Xfinity subscribers, and I don’t want to give out my network WiFi password.

Is it possible to have a 2nd WiFi router run a 2nd WiFi network and use the gateway for internet?

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Yes.

[EG]

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@BarnyardDog wrote:
I have an Xfinity XB6 gateway up and running and so far it’s been great. However, the one major issue is its lack of a guest network.

The two “alternatives” Xfinity provides are non-starters: I have guests who are not Xfinity subscribers, and I don’t want to give out my network WiFi password.

Is it possible to have a 2nd WiFi router run a 2nd WiFi network and use the gateway for internet?

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Would you be more specific please about exactly what you would like to do ? Are you talking about having a second gateway device like the XB6 connected to a coax outlet ?

[lesmikesell]

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@EG wrote:

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@BarnyardDog wrote:
I have an Xfinity XB6 gateway up and running and so far it’s been great. However, the one major issue is its lack of a guest network.

The two “alternatives” Xfinity provides are non-starters: I have guests who are not Xfinity subscribers, and I don’t want to give out my network WiFi password.

Is it possible to have a 2nd WiFi router run a 2nd WiFi network and use the gateway for internet?

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Would you be more specific please about exactly what you would like to do ? Are you talking about having a second gateway device like the XB6 connected to a coax outlet ?

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He wants what many home routers offer - the ability to configure a separate guest network for guests to access the internet without being able to access your home devices and without having to give them your main wifi password.    That is, very much like the xfinity ssid works except for his benefit, not xfinity's, since his guests may not be xfinity customers.   

Should he add additional restricted users to his xfinity account and give those credentials to the guests in his home instead?

[EG]

I'll wait for his answer, thanks. There is a method to my madness... 

[lesmikesell]

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@EG wrote:

I'll wait for his answer, thanks. There is a method to my madness... 

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You can answer it for me.  I don't want a second cablemodem - or a second router either.  Just a guest network that doesn't need an xfinity account for the guests.

[BarnyardDog]

I'm trying to have a secondary network for guest users that is isolated from the primary network, and to be honest the XB6 is the first router I've had in a long while that didn't offer one.  

There's always the option to put the XB6 in bridge mode and use another router, but 1) I was trying to avoid that given I have the XB6 and 2) The XB6 has been extremely good as far as performance is concerned.

[EG · Accepted solution]

Thanks for replying. Disregard my question.

FWIW;

"How can visitors connect to Xfinity WiFi in my home?

• Visitors who are Xfinity Internet subscribers can simply select the Xfinity WiFi network xfinitywifi on their device and open a web browser to get started. They will be able to sign in with their Xfinity username and password.
• Non-Comcast subscriber access is limited to complimentary passes or the purchase of WiFi On Demand passes."

[jlavaseur]

I believe on windows 10, you can put up a hotspot to share your connection, with a separate login and password,  that might work for you, it can be done with Linux also

[darkangelic]

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@BarnyardDog wrote:

I'm trying to have a secondary network for guest users that is isolated from the primary network, and to be honest the XB6 is the first router I've had in a long while that didn't offer one.  

There's always the option to put the XB6 in bridge mode and use another router, but 1) I was trying to avoid that given I have the XB6 and 2) The XB6 has been extremely good as far as performance is concerned.

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You can certainly do that with a third party router connected to the XB6. In fact, pretty much any older model Wireless N or AC router lying around will do. 

You will then need to configure it as a Wireless Access Point only (no routing functions), set up a separate SSID and password, and enable AP Isolation so anyone connected to that access point doesn't access your LAN. 

If your router doesn't support AP Isolation, you may be able to flash it with third party firmware such as DD-WRT or Tomato to enable that function. 

@jlavaseur wrote:

I believe on windows 10, you can put up a hotspot to share your connection, with a separate login and password,  that might work for you, it can be done with Linux also

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No, OP wants their LAN isolated from guest access. Windows 10 Internet Connection Sharing won't do that.