LAN setup question

OK, so you have a wireless router connected to your cable (FiOS?) mode but it only has one ethernet jack. You have another cable modem router, but it's not wireless. Is that about right?

What's connected to the Wireless router now?

I would not use the old router. It is possible to set it up as a dumb switch, but it sounds like you don't want to delve too deeply into that arena. Your best bet is to just buy a cheap 8 port switch (about $30). That will allow you to connect everything. I am surprised that your existing WiFi router doesn't have additional ethernet ports. Are you sure it is a router and not a wireless access point for just the PC?

A typical installation is: Fiber Converter's WAN ethernet jack connected to WAN port on WiFi Router. WiFi 1, 2, 3, or 4 Ethernet port connected to Switch giving you 8 ports. I'm thinking that maybe your WiFi is only an access point if it only has one port. If that's the case, you don't have a router at all and you could use your old router.

Perhaps it is best if you post a diagram of your setup, or at least the model #'s of your existing 'router' and your old router.

Lots of easy ways to do this.

A few more details would be helpful.

You said the ethernet cable for the video feed is wired, but where does the cable run from/to? Garage, where the fiber terminates - the location of the single ethernet port on the fiber-to-ethernet converter? So in that location you have 2 ethernet cables there (cable that runs to the PC and cable that runs to the TV), but only one female port on the converter?

Does the new video ethernet cable need to 'arise' from your home network, or can the feed arise from the fiber directly?

If it doesn't need to connect to your home network, a simple 'switch' in the garage (someone said $30 for a multiport switch, I think you can buy it cheaper) should split the incoming ethernet simply.

Buy the switch locally, so you can return it if it doesn't work.

Post your progress, plz.

Having two routers on a single network is tricky as you can't have them both leasing/managing IP addresses. You need to 'dumb' down one.

Here's what I'd do. Move the wireless router in your office to the modem. Connect the WAN port on the fiber converter to the WAN port on the router. Connect E1 to your office PC on one of the wired ports. Connect E2 to your TV to the other. Your 'installer' didn't fully understand your setup if he was recommending another router. Probably didn't realize you already had one.

The problem you're having is that the two routers won't coexist without some configuration modifications. Updated firmware or a different wireless router won't fix it.

I would not install the switch before the router if it could be helped. The router offers hardware firewall protection. If you plug the switch straight into the modem, then your E2 connection is exposed to the internet. Maybe not a problem, since it's a TV. Also, I believe you would need two IP addresses from your ISP for that to work since your E2 connection is not tunnelling through the router to the WAN.

Why can't you move your existing router to the fiber modem?

Is your garage far enough from the house that your wireless won't be useful if you put the wireless router out there? That would be the best option if your wireless still works. Then you can plug E1 and E2 directly into the ports on the wireless router and put your old, non-wifi router back in the attic, unused.

Yes, the switch would work perfectly fine there.

As long as your wireless router is closer to your fiber internet connection than the switch, it will be fine. The router will handle the "sharing" of your internet connection and the switch just allows you to have more ports than what's available on the router. Think of a switch kind of like a power strip that lets you have more outlets in any given location; that's just what you need in your office, right? Good luck!

Here is a simple home network, this from a dumb amateur:

1. Set one wireless router next to the modem. You may need to take the laptop there and tweak it up, or even smarter crimp yourself a nice CAT5 stretch and take it all the way to your office/desk etc where you can hook up the router to the MAIN PC. Set 64 or 128 bit encription. Copy the router's MAC address. This will be your main router. Allow bridging, but only allow certain access points to connect, set MAC addresses of the other routers. If you want, buy a Canon network printer, and give it a fixed address below 100. Set DHCP range to 168.192.2.100-254, so that computers will find your printer with a fixed address easily.

2. Go buy 2-3 $20 Linksys or Belkin routers on the bay, these will become your access points. I have one in the office, one in living room, and one in basement, each with 4 ports. Set them as APs enslaved to your main router. Belkin routers will ask you to enter the main router's MAC address to pair. Always connect to the MAIN ROUTER hardwired into the main PC when programming the ACCESS POINTS/

3. For ease of use, lone desktops and laptops can get PCI and PCMCIA cards (OK if your laptop is ancient, most now have wifi) and they will only need your WEP key, as well as all the ROKUs, Fireballs or whatever media servers you set up. If your desktop is near an AP just wire it in.

This may be weird, but i set up my entire network through experimentation over a few days, what amazed me is how easy it was.

Of course VOIP and unlocked Sipura boxes followed, and when my xxxxxy Suddenlink fails i just plug my Treo 775p via an USB and get 1650kb/120kb EVDO which i clone back into my router, but this is a few years later.

And unless you hardwire your whole house for CAT5, dumb switches are best avoided, use the 4 ports on the back of your routers, ie now your bridged access points.

Keep in mind that failing to set security on a home network can result in credit card fraud and ID theft, they just caught a gang crusing in nice hoods with laptops keylogging people's comms.

As for FIOS, i feel sorry for the mortgage you have to pay

You have lot of options. One is to add an access point in your office if the Wireless modem (now moved to the fiber box) is too far away.

See Option 1 here: Both Wireless can co-exist with same or different SSID's (doesn't really matter)

http://www.box.net/shared/o33ynz3nd5



Or if you have additional devices by your TV (like receivers etc) you can do this:
http://www.box.net/shared/huq0le4yxm

These days, you can't really buy a hub so any switch will work.

Hmm, adding the image didn't work with box.net so I changed it to a URL.

Glad it worked out