Need to extend building wifi into private network on different subnet

Joem · Apr 25, 2015

Hi,
My building now offers Internet via WiFi with AP on every floor to be shared by everybody.
There is no real isolation among residents, and problem connecting to my wireless printer.

As a quick solution I managed to put together a two box setup:
Box1: Wireless client, connects to common WiFi and brige to wired LAN on building subnet.
Box2: Wireless router, WAN is the input from box1, LAN and wireless SSID on different subnet.

Is there a better way? Is there a single box solution with original or modded firmware?
I'll need my own subnet and SSID and wish to maintain full wireless speed, not halved due to extension.

Thanks,
Joe

coxhaus · Apr 25, 2015

I hope your building runs some type firewall. I would not want to connect to an open internet wireless AP and then base my whole network on it. You don't want to install more wireless in contention with the building wireless. Are you going to be located always in one area of the building? Then maybe a site survey of your area will help to plan your network.

coldwizard · Apr 25, 2015

Do a search for "wireless Internet service provider (WISP) client router"

coxhaus · Apr 25, 2015

I am not up on WISP so I will pass.

sfx2000 · Apr 26, 2015

Joem said:
Hi,
My building now offers Internet via WiFi with AP on every floor to be shared by everybody.
There is no real isolation among residents, and problem connecting to my wireless printer.

As a quick solution I managed to put together a two box setup:
Box1: Wireless client, connects to common WiFi and brige to wired LAN on building subnet.
Box2: Wireless router, WAN is the input from box1, LAN and wireless SSID on different subnet.

Is there a better way? Is there a single box solution with original or modded firmware?
I'll need my own subnet and SSID and wish to maintain full wireless speed, not halved due to extension.

Thanks,
Joe

Sounds like you have a working solution... the Building's wifi network sounds a bit scary if their not using any kind of encryption - as Open WiFi is very vulnerable to sniffing out other people's data.

cHarley · Apr 26, 2015

lisaeliza said:
I would not want to connect to an open internet wireless AP and then base my whole network on it

But if you need to make the best of what you have to work with, I strongly recommend using a VPN service, like PIA (private internet access) for example. I run it full time on all my mobile devices.

Joem · Apr 29, 2015

sfx2000 said:
Sounds like you have a working solution... the Building's wifi network sounds a bit scary if their not using any kind of encryption - as Open WiFi is very vulnerable to sniffing out other people's data.

Thanks. Sorry I did not mention that the building's AP is secure with WPA2 password, but this is known to all residents.

I'll continue using my approach for the time being.

J.

sfx2000 · Apr 29, 2015

Joem said:
Thanks. Sorry I did not mention that the building's AP is secure with WPA2 password, but this is known to all residents.

I'll continue using my approach for the time being.

J.

That's good news at least - with WPA2 everyone on that WLAN at least has some level of privacy - the group key will be the same, but each client (STA) has it's own PairWise key.

I think your approach is probably best - using a bridge to attach to the building network, and then bringing it into your routers as a WAN connection allows you to protect your own wireless devices.

The one risk I see, and it's not really a risk, is that depending on how the building network is set up, you might be in a double-NAT situation, which can impact gaming consoles, VOIP connections (sometimes), and apps that assume one-hop instead of many...

Thread starter	Title	Forum	Replies	Date
M	Need some advice for new router location in parents house	General Wireless Discussion	6	Feb 10, 2024
O	Solved Need help in network design to connect my pellet stove to local network	General Wireless Discussion	7	Jan 27, 2024
	Inconsistent Internet Speeds - Need Help Troubleshooting	General Wireless Discussion	2	Dec 17, 2023
D	Buffalo router vulnerability - need clarification	General Wireless Discussion	11	Sep 20, 2023
J	Plan to extend WiFi 150’ for 1 Ring camera	General Wireless Discussion	20	Sep 12, 2023

Search

Search

Need to extend building wifi into private network on different subnet

Joem

New Around Here

coxhaus

Part of the Furniture

coldwizard

Regular Contributor

coxhaus

Part of the Furniture

sfx2000

Part of the Furniture

cHarley

New Around Here

Joem

New Around Here

sfx2000

Part of the Furniture

Similar threads

Similar threads

Latest threads

Sign Up For SNBForums Daily Digest

Members online