Segmented Networks with HomePods

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DanS

• July 07, 2021 15:32

Hi, I am using Gold with two ASUS APs to Have Trusted and Untrusted networks.   Untrusted is for IoT devices.  My HomePod Mini seems to have have problems disconnecting when my iPhone is on Trusted.   I block traffic originating from Untrusted to Trusted.  HomePods also have an irritating habit of switching to whatever network the iPhone is on.  Looking for any advice from those with segmented networks and homepods.  

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  Andy

  • July 07, 2021 17:45

  I'm running similar type of network, one for IoT and one for my trusted devices. I keep all Apple devices on my trusted network, especially since devices like Apple TV and HomePod run pretty much the same code as iPhone's, and Apple is pretty good with keeping up with updates to all devices.

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  DanS

  • July 07, 2021 22:22

  I sometimes switch my iPhone to untrusted to confuse a new IoT device like a lightbulb.   When I do this often times my HomePod Mini switches to Untrusted too but when I switch iPhone back to trusted the Mini doesn't follow.  I have to reset it then!

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  Andy

  • July 07, 2021 23:24

  I do the same and cannot say I have seen that behavior with HomePod. My Apple Watch will do this, and this is expected behavior.

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  Firewalla

  • July 08, 2021 01:58

  Same here. We have noticed this strange behavior with the HomePod (old version) as well. 

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  ColoRock

  • November 03, 2021 04:27
  • Edited

  I wanted to force Apple TV and HomePod to connect to 5ghz band. They had a habit of connecting to an AP in my backyard via 2.4ghz rather than the AP across the room offering a strong 5ghz. Their 2.4ghz connection was slow and unstable, but they held it with a death grip.

  So, I setup a VLAN limited to 5ghz. But saw the issue you had where the HomePods just follow iPhones to whatever network they are on.

  1) I disabled Keychain on my and my wife’s iCloud account, but this didn’t fix the issue …
  2) I made sure all my mobile Apple devices had traffic from and to the 5ghz VLAN allowed in Firewalla so the Apple devices would work together across LANs (would want this anyway, unless you want to cripple the Apple ecosphere in your home).
  3) In my AP settings (TP-Link Omada) I created a MAC Address Group and put HomePod MAC addresses in, and set all other VLANs to block access for this MAC group, so if they try to wander, they are denied.

  That appears to have solved it. #2 alone may have been enough, but I’m unsure. It seems that when the HomePods can’t properly communicate with iPhones and iPads on the local network, they take the credentials to join them wherever they are.

  Hope that helps someone!

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