What am I missing - WiFi setup

[Where_sMyWhite]

I will be the first to admit I am not a network maven, however, I can usually get the simple tasks done

This is my personal/home Wifi.

I have an Arris Cable Modem that connects to Cox (much, I am sure, to their dismay).

I have a NetGear router (AC1750 Smart WiFi Router) for my LAN and Wifi connections.

I have a 2.4 network with SSID set to no broadcast and WPA2-PSK (AES) security with passcode. That’s been working just fine for the last few years for my iPhone, iPad and sometime the MacBook Air.

Introduce the beginning to think I made a mistake Echo Dot. First ‘issue’. The Dot doesn’t support hidden networks

So, after breaking and the fixed my original non-broadcast wifi for my iPhone and doing some researching I set up the Guest Network (on the router) so I could broadcast that SSID and use WPA-PSK security. Put in the password. My thought was if/when I needed to use my iPhone Alexa app to mess with the Dot, I could join the Guest Network otherwise, leave my iPhone on the non-broadcast SSID which has a better level of security.

My iPhone sees the Guest Network but it tells me I have an invalid password The password is just not that fancy… caps, lower case, a few numbers no spaces.

I figure if my iPhone won’t connect to the Guest, then the Echo won’t.

What am I missing? I my notion to flip between secure and guest a bad idea? Should I be doing something else other than sending the Dot back (which I don’t really want to do, it has some nice features).

My first foray into ‘smart devices’ and I’m thinking they’re seriously outsmarting me.

[Simkie]

That should work. Have you tried renaming the network something super simple (and very different than your “real” network), and using a super simple password, not for any length of time, but just to see if you can make it work? If you can connect at all, then you can build up the password to a better protect level.

You might also try having your phone forget the real network, and see if you can connect to the guest?

Those are the steps I’d take first, anyway!

[Where_sMyWhite]

This type of stuff makes my head hurt…

iPhone won’t connect to the Guest wifi (although it can see it in the wifi list) even with no security - tells me I don’t have an internet connection and NetGear doesn’t see it connected. Connecting via my non-guest wifi works fine with SSID broadcast off and I see my iPhone in the list of attached devices.

Can’t decide if this is an iPhone issue or a NetGear or configuration issue (although configuration I have no idea what I’ve done wrong). I can’t drop the wifi because it appears that the drop works only if you have successfully connected first.

Off to Google more…

[Where_sMyWhite]

This was excruciating and frustrating but ultimately happy

I try to make changes one at a time to know what ‘fixed’ something but after messing about, I may have done two or more things inadvertently.

In no particular order

Rebooted router.
Dropped my non-broadcast SSID on my iPhone
Changed Guest 2.4 from WPA-PSK [TKIP] to WPA2-PSK [AES]
Guest 5.0 not enabled
Connected successfully to the Guest wifi (which does broadcast SSID)

Successfully connected to iPhone!
Went back to the Echo Dot and tried the connection again to the Guest wifi

Got the basic configuration done, set up iHeartRadio and called it good

I did have to go back on my iPhone and drop the guest wifi and re-connect with password to my non-broadcast wifi.

Still annoyed that the Echo Dot can’t connect with a hidden SSID

Thanks for at least listening - sometimes just talking through a problem and little questions can really help

[candyappy]

I read the whole post and it was like a foreign language to me. We have wireless and I am so happy it works!

[Simkie]

Glad you got it working, yay! Enjoy your echo

[Where_sMyWhite]

@candyappy

I read the whole post and it was like a foreign language to me. We have wireless and I am so happy it works!

I agree that I too am happy when it works. I don’t like being dependent on companies like COX to do the home network setup if I can help it. I am fortunate to be able to do most of it myself.

When COX came out to turn on ISP (the actual internet part), they were not happy I already had a cable modem (thoroughly researched and purchased prior to their arrive). Tried to tell me it was junk so they could sell me their cable modem for a monthly fee (no). They were also not happy with the fact I had my own router (researched and purchased before they walked in the door).

The installer did install (connect) the modem and router. On his way out the door, told me to not change the SSID (wifi name) or password. I think I had both changed before his van door was closed.

I had all of this in my head assuming (bad acronym) that the Echo would be able to connect to a hidden (non-broadcast) SSID which is where the house of cards started to come apart.

[Equibrit]

Check this out; https://www.amazonforum.com/s/question/0D54P00006zSoOKSA0/connecting-alexa-to-hidden-wifi

[Where_sMyWhite]

@Equibrit

Check this out; https://www.amazonforum.com/s/question/0D54P00006zSoOKSA0/connecting-alexa-to-hidden-wifi

Thanks for the pointer

I think I actually stumbled over this in my internet searching. It seems that the Echo’s (or at least the Dot) doesn’t support connecting to a hidden SSID. I totally disagree with the people that imply hiding an SSID is a waste of time. Maybe for a hardcore hacker it is but for the average person on the residential street… keeps 'em from using my network.

I ended up setting a visible SSID just for the Echos and having to flip my iPhone to the visible SSID for the initial connection to the Dot. Then I put my iPhone back on the SSID network.

This thread is also fairly old - newest updates were over a year ago. I know this isn’t Amazon support but still disappointed that wifi connections to hidden SSIDs are not support