Guest network setup

Hey there, I couldn't find an existing thread about this so I figured I'd start my own...
I'm on the hunt for a new router—something that lets me run two distinct Wi-Fi networks. I need one for my private home use and a separate one specifically for guests staying at my rental property. Ideally, I want total isolation; nothing on the guest network should be able to "see" or access any of my personal devices. My current AT&T router actually has an option for two networks, but I haven't quite wrapped my head around what it actually does. From what I can tell, the only difference is a different SSID.
On top of that, I really need the ability to cap the bandwidth on the guest network, since my internet speed is honestly pretty abysmal as it is. Or, if capping isn't an option, at least something that allows me to set traffic priorities...
So, I’m wondering what kind of gear I should actually be looking to buy? I'm open to any and all suggestions. To recap, these two features are my non-negotiables: complete network separation and bandwidth limiting.🙂

Look, if we’re actually going to figure this out, I need some specifics first. What kind of AT&T router are you running? Also, what kind of speed are we talking about when you say it's "catastrophic"? And how far away are those guests—is it just a cat or are we talking about a separate guest house or something?

The AT&T router I'm using is a Cisco Router, and honestly, the speeds are hovering right around 3-5Mbps... which is a bit sluggish, isn't it? My guests are actually located just one floor down from me 🙂

Does anybody have a clue?

I have a secondary router connected via Ethernet to my main Xfinity gateway (which I picked up on Craigslist for $33). Each unit sits on a different floor, and they both run their own distinct SSIDs and passwords.

Guests connect to one network, while we use the other—or sometimes both.

If I recall correctly, the speeds on the primary modem match what I'm paying for. On the secondary router, I actually have the ability to throttle bandwidth, though we never bother because there’s no reason to.

Your priority should be securing decent internet speed first. Why would you even think about limiting guests when the connection is already sluggish to begin with?

Yeah, unfortunately, the speeds are just what they are, and there isn't much I can do about it on my end... Luckily, most of the guests are retirees, but I do have some folks living here who are constantly gaming online, so I might go ahead and ask them about using that other network instead.
That two-device setup you've got going on works perfectly for me, but which specific model should I be hunting for? Or better yet, what technical specs should I look for to make sure I can actually throttle the speed? I wouldn't mind picking something up used on Craigslist—it shouldn't break the bank too much. 🙂

Even if you manage to build exactly what you envisioned, you’re still going to run into a bottleneck because your bandwidth is too low.

The only way to actually boost speed is to upgrade to a faster plan. At least with AT&T, they can't claim your connection is fundamentally incapable; they'll just tell you that you need to pay more for a higher tier—though, of course, they're the only ones with the power to switch you over to a better one.

Yeah, I definitely see where you're coming from. So, which device should I actually be looking at then? I’d certainly love to bump up my speeds down the road, but for right now, that's just not on the table.

...it’s totally doable, assuming you've got a Verizon or T-Mobile tower nearby. Just check out what kind of speeds they're pulling for their Xfinity-style home internet deals.

The real issue here is that the service plan is tied specifically to the second line, so there’s honestly no point in me upgrading just for that reason—though, who knows, maybe one day I will. Anyway, what I actually need is a device that lets me segment my private network, and this AT&T unit just isn't capable of doing that...

Ubiquiti gear lets you spin up multiple isolated networks with speed caps without breaking the bank. It’s solid stuff. Though, let's be real—a novice is going to hit a wall and need a hand getting the configuration right.

Just follow what Lawrence Wright80 suggested. That’s exactly how I set things up at my place.

You can snag an extra router on Craigslist for $33 or even less (honestly, I’m actually selling my old AT&T Thomson unit on Craigslist right now for $13). Just hook it up to your current setup via a LAN cable, set up a separate Wi-Fi network on the new one, and you're done.
For next to nothing, you've got two parallel networks running in about 15 minutes.
The only potential headache would be if you actually need to throttle the speed on that guest network. I wouldn't know—I've never had the need to mess with it, so I never bothered looking into it—but I assume pretty much any router's settings will let you tweak that.

Can this Ubiquiti gear handle splitting things into two separate networks while also capping the speeds?

https://mikrotik.com/product/RB951G-2HnD

Susan Nguyen4 said:Hey there, I couldn't find an existing thread about this so I figured I'd start my own...
I'm on the hunt for a new router—something that lets me run two distinct Wi-Fi networks. I need one for my private home use and a separate one specifically for guests staying at my rental property. Ideally, I want total isolation; nothing on the guest network should be able to "see" or access any of my personal devices. My current AT&T router actually has an option for two networks, but I haven't quite wrapped my head around what it actually does. From what I can tell, the only difference is a different SSID.
On top of that, I really need the ability to cap the bandwidth on the guest network, since my internet speed is honestly pretty abysmal as it is. Or, if capping isn't an option, at least something that allows me to set traffic priorities...
So, I’m wondering what kind of gear I should actually be looking to buy? I'm open to any and all suggestions. To recap, these two features are my non-negotiables: complete network separation and bandwidth limiting.🙂

See, this is the absolute dealbreaker right here, but everyone just jumped straight to obsessing over the download speeds...

cosmicsailor63 said:See, this is the absolute dealbreaker right here, but everyone just jumped straight to obsessing over the download speeds...

But what good does that specific point do me if my option is just grayed out and I can't change anything on my end? It’s stuck...
Speed matters to me too, though—I am seriously considering switching over to a 4G plan, which would probably make limiting the speed feel more worthwhile. Still, I’m a bit lost on what technical specs this router should even have... what do you call those things again?