Administration of multiple Wifi SSIDs

[tobiaslindberg]

I need to add WiFi to 12 rental apartments, so I thought about using 4x 3-pack of Google Wifi for it.

The question I am thinking of;
Can I admin 12 Google Wifi devices separately (not as a mesh) with the Google Home app without using them as a mesh?

I'd like to have "apartment 1" as a SSID and "apartment 2" and so on and be able to remotely update settings.

[MichaelP]

Hello @tobiaslindberg 

Each Google WiFi unit can be a "primary" (router + firewall) with its own SSID. But, they will each need a separate connection to the internet via their WAN (globe icon) Ethernet port. The Google Home app only allows one WiFi network per "home", and while the Google Home app does support multiple "homes", it only supports a maximum of five homes per Google account. It does support multiple Google accounts. So, to manage 12 separate systems, you'd need three different Google accounts with five or less homes in each account. Switching between accounts and between homes within an account isn't too bad, but it could be tedious keeping track of which ones are in each account/home. So, can you do this in theory? Probably. But, I don't think I would. This is definitely not a use-case the system was designed for. Also, they will all be on the same 5GHz channel as each other, and that could result in pretty slow speeds if that channel gets congested.

I think I would look into a more commercially-oriented product. Something that gives you more control over channel assignments and lets you adjust the transmit power to reduce interference. That will be more expensive, I expect, but it should also be a better fit for your use-case.

[tobiaslindberg]

Hi @MichaelP,

Thanks for your excellent answer!

The limit of 5 homes per account I was aware of, but that would require 3 accounts to be setup to have a separation. Well, I think it should not be too hard of a pain, but it sounds a bit weird to do it like that.

Could you be more specific in the channel part? If I recall correct, there should be an option to set the channel on a router to a specific one (if not running Auto). On that way I could specify different channels for each WiFi or are you meaning something else?

Many thanks,
Tobias

[MichaelP]

The Google/Nest WiFi units will automatically select a 2.4GHz channel (from among the three that are usable). However, in the 5GHz band, they are configured to use a single channel that cannot be changed. At the wider bandwidths used in modern 5GHz systems, there are really only two 5GHz channels available in the U.S. due to the DFS rules that would apply to much of the middle part of the band. U.S. systems are configured to use the upper of these two, since it allows higher transmit power.

So, there isn't anything to configure in terms of channel selection for either 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands, and in the 5GHz band, all of the Google/Nest WiFi units will be on the same channel as each other. Some other WiFi systems might let you pick a different 5GHz channel, including options where DFS rules would apply (which means you could be violating those rules in an area where that spectrum is already being used by non-WiFi systems).

[tobiaslindberg]

Thanks @MichaelP for the details about the available channels on the device. Is it the same with devices sold in Europe (I'm based in Sweden)?
I could always turn of the 5 Ghz band and let it only do 2.4 Ghz so that there is not so much interference.

@EdwardT, I think I got all I need to know about the Google WiFi product right now. I initially thought about Ubiquiti products, but that is not fitting in my situation. Or yeah, it would if I'd buy multiple devices for every apartment, but that would be pretty costly.

The nice thing with Google WiFi is that it's just one device doing it all and it's possible to remote it in case I'd need to adjust a setting or so.. that is what I was looking for.
Going there to reconfigure is not working, since it's over 500 km from where I am living 😛

[MichaelP]

Hello @tobiaslindberg 

Devices sold in Europe have fewer 5GHz channels to choose from than in the U.S. – there's really only one (again, without getting into DFS rules). So, Google/Nest WiFi devices sold for use in Europe use only that one. It will be at a lower transmit power, though. That reduces the range, but also reduces the interference.

The 5GHz band cannot be disabled.

[EdwardT]

Hi folks,

@MichaelP, thanks for the help!

@tobiaslindberg, I'm glad to hear that MichaelP's response answered your question. Let us know if you have other questions and we'd be glad to assist you.

Thanks,

Edward

[Jeff]

Hi all,

As we got our resolution here, I'm going to mark this one as resolved in the next 24 hours. Thanks to all who helped and contributed. If anyone has any other needs, please feel free to let me know before the lock.

Thanks,
Jeff

[EdwardT]

Hi folks,

@MichaelP, thanks for the help as always!

@tobiaslindberg, I hope MichaelP's answer helped you. Let us know if you have other questions and we'd be glad to assist.

Thanks,

Edward

[EdwardT]

Hi tobiaslindberg,

It's me again. I wanted to check back in to see if you have other questions and concerns. Feel free to let me know if you do. 

Thanks,

Edward

[EdwardT]

Hi tobiaslindberg,

I'm just checking in to make sure that you've seen our response. Please let us know if you have any other questions or concerns as I will be locking this in 24 hours.
 

Thanks,

Edward