Configuring a PHN Portal Device with Eero Router
The PHN Portal is a network device that creates a captive portal experience for your guest Wi-Fi network. When paired with an Eero router, the Portal allows you to collect guest information and provide a customized sign-in experience for visitors connecting to your network.
Benefits of the PHN Portal
- Guest Data Collection: Capture guest email addresses to build your direct booking database
- Personalized Sign-In Experience: Create a branded portal page that matches your property
- Automatic Device Recognition: Phones and tablets prompt for sign-in, while other devices connect seamlessly
- Real-time Monitoring: Track portal status and guest connections through the PHN Dashboard
What You'll Need
Before you begin: Ensure you have the following items ready:
- PHN Portal device
- Included network cable (Ethernet cable)
- Included power adapter
- Eero router with available Ethernet port
- Mobile device with the Eero app installed
- Access to your PHN Dashboard
Screenshot placeholder: PHN Portal device and connection diagram
Step-by-Step Setup Instructions
Part 1: Connect the PHN Portal
If you haven't already connected and powered on your PHN Portal device, follow the instructions in Connecting Your PHN Portal for the First Time, then return here once the status light is green.
Part 2: Eero App Configuration
1. Create a DHCP Reservation
- Open the Eero app on your mobile device
- Navigate to Settings from the bottom menu
- Select Advanced networking > Reservations & port forwarding > Add a reservation
- Find the device with a name that starts with "portal-" For example: "portal-8b247h1a"
- Tap on this device to select it
- Tap SAVE to create the reservation
3. Copy the IP Address
4. Configure Custom DNS
5. Wait for Router Reboot
Confirm: The Guest wifi network setting should be set to off. Guest networks are limited in function and cannot support captive portal interactions.
Confirm: Advanced networking > IPv6 should be set to off. Router will restart after changing.
Screenshot placeholder: PHN Dashboard Devices page showing Portal online status
Testing Your Portal Configuration
1. Turn off Setup Mode
- Open your PHN Dashboard in a web browser
- Navigate to Devices from the left menu
- Click on your Portal device to view its settings
2. Test with a Mobile Device
- Disconnect your phone from the Wi-Fi network (if currently connected)
- Open your phone's Wi-Fi settings
- Select your Wi-Fi network and join
- If using a password-protected network, enter the Wi-Fi password when prompted
- A sign-in page should appear automatically within a few seconds
3. Verify Portal Page Content
- The sign-in page that appears should match the preview shown in your PHN Dashboard
- Navigate to Location > Portal settings to view the expected layout
- If needed, adjust the layout and type of information you collect
4. Understand Device Behavior
- Devices that will prompt for sign-in: Phones, tablets, laptops
- Devices that will connect without sign-in: Baby monitors, game consoles, smart TVs, IoT devices
Note: Some devices may cache network settings. If you don't see the portal page, try forgetting the network on your device and reconnecting.
Troubleshooting Tips
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Portal LED Not Turning Green | Verify network cable is securely connected to both the Portal device and Eero router. Check that your internet connection is working properly. |
| Portal Not Showing in Eero App | Wait 2-3 minutes after connecting the Portal for it to appear in the device list. Try refreshing the Eero app or restarting it. |
| Sign-In Page Not Appearing | Confirm that the DHCP reservation and DNS settings are correctly configured in the Eero app. Verify the Portal device shows as online in PHN Dashboard. |
| Portal Shows Offline in Dashboard | Check that the Portal LED is green. Verify your internet connection is active. Try power cycling the Portal device. |
| Wrong Sign-In Page Appearing | Verify the Portal device is assigned to the correct Location in the PHN Dashboard. Check your Location > Portal settings to ensure the correct layout is active. |
| Unable to Copy IP Address | Write down the IP address manually if copying is not working. Ensure you've saved the reservation before navigating to DNS settings. |
Need Additional Help?
If you encounter any issues during setup or have questions about the PHN Portal configuration, please contact our support team (
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