Networking questions

[joec]

Here is what I have in my office/apartment. I have a wireless office network that is connected to my ISP via a DSL modem. Now on this network is a Win 7 desktop, Win XP security desktop, and DirecTV network. Now this is all connected in the office. Now the apartment has another DSL modem/wireless router combination. Now on this I using with my laptop. Both DSL modems are different phone lines.

OK here is my question. I would like to tie both of these setups together as a self contained (high security) network using Win 7 if possible. I have Internet access on both through the same ISP.

Wireless networks didn't exist when I worked in the field as a system analyst as Novel and 3 Com hard wired systems had just been out a few months. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

 

[joec]

No one has a clue if two wireless networks and two hard wired can be put together as a single Home Network?

 

[Big Dog]

I think most are thinking why 2 internet accesses?

 

[Doc]

I like the idea of a redundant internet connection.

Joe, it sure would help if you could diagram what you are explaining. That would help give me/ us a picture of what you are asking. At this point I'm confused as to what you are attempting.

 

[Adillo303]

First question?
How far apart are the networks?

Second question
As dawg said, why two DSL's in the first place?

Third question
Make and model of the routers, please?

Statement. My stepson just showed me how to crack WEP security in ten minutes. He says WPA would take an hour, but, is still doable. If you want security, you should be wired.

 

[Big Dog]

I like the idea of a redundant internet connection.

From the same supplier??????????

 

[joec]

OK may be this will help. We have two separate phone lines. One we use in the office for data only (so lets call that the Fax Line). Now the second phone line we will call Voice. Windstream is our phone vendor here in Kentucky. Now originally the fax was a dedicated home phone line with only the voice in the office. We had the phone company run new lines give us access to both phones through out the apartment/office.

Office Fax line
Semens Speed Streams 4200 modem, connected to a 4 connection wireless router brand unknown. Wired into this is the office computer (Win 7 Pro), Camera/Gate computer (XP Pro) and DirecTV (gives us Whole Home capability with 1 DVR).

Apt uses the Voice line
It has another 4200 modem connected to the Voice line. Now all that connects to it is my lap top when plugged in directly. I have a Windstream Modem/Wireless router combination now that also has 4 connections.

Now when I have the laptop connected to the modem it works as a LAN. When unplugged it runs on the office wireless system.

Here are my questions.
Can two wireless networks co exist in a 1000 square foot area?
If so can they be networked together?
Can two DSL modems work on a single line like the fax line?

The current setup is a result of the fact our phone system was originally split with one line to the apartment and one to the office only. Hence having 2 separate modems now, which I actually have several as well as routers. This is asked mostly due to my lack of knowledge on networking in general and especially wireless. As I said this didn't exist at a personal level at all when I got my degree in computer science and wireless came around after I had left the field all together.

 

[Doc]

Thanks for explaining it more .....but I have to admit, I do not have a clue if you can do that or not. sorry

 

[joec]

Thanks anyhow Doc it is appreciated regardless. We will have the office closed today due to final redecoration of it. Carpet and setting counter is all that needs to be done. So perhaps I will find out as the office network is running all the time and still connected. I might just connect the wireless modem/router up here in the apartment instead of just the modem and see what happens with my laptop.

 

[jimbo]

Joe, I am no expert, but I see no reason why what you want to do would not work. In my home I have two laptops connected to the network by wireless, and two desktop units hard wired. Two printers, one hard wired and one wireless. In addition, two of my neighbors have wireless networks, both of which are operable in my home, and mine in theirs. One of these is on the same ISP, Comcast, and the other is not.

Mine run XP, Vista, and 7

Sounds like what you want to do, and it works just fine

 

[joec]

Joe, I am no expert, but I see no reason why what you want to do would not work. In my home I have two laptops connected to the network by wireless, and two desktop units hard wired. Two printers, one hard wired and one wireless. In addition, two of my neighbors have wireless networks, both of which are operable in my home, and mine in theirs. One of these is on the same ISP, Comcast, and the other is not.

Mine run XP, Vista, and 7

Sounds like what you want to do, and it works just fine

That is exactly what I'm thinking of doing, Jim. I would like to set up file sharing and printer sharing (2 printers also both net-workable) between the two for my laptop. The only thing I would like to move to the apartment network is the DirecTV and my personal printer. The office would be a win 7 and XP pro computer as well as the office printer. I would like to be able to connect with both from anywhere in the house with my laptop which I don't want to connect as the WiFi works great in it.

Now my main concern is the access security protection on them to stop anyone from getting to the files etc. I have AVG's top package installed on both also.

Thanks for the information Jim.

 

[jimbo]

As I understand it, Joe, and once again, I am no expert, someone getting into your network does not not necessarily mean they can get into your files. The modem allows only access to the internet. A firewall prevents accessing your personal files.

My solution to this problem would be to spend a couple of hundred bucks for an IT specialist to set it up for you. That is what I do.

 

[joec]

As I understand it, Joe, and once again, I am no expert, someone getting into your network does not not necessarily mean they can get into your files. The modem allows only access to the internet. A firewall prevents accessing your personal files.

My solution to this problem would be to spend a couple of hundred bucks for an IT specialist to set it up for you. That is what I do.

So you are no expert but you are an IT specialist. Some how that is funny to me, with all due respect. I sure I can do it myself really as I a retired programmer. I will eventually figure it out but wasn't sure of how the security would work especially with file and printer sharing. I guess I could password it also.

 

[jimbo]

I am most decidedly not an IT specialist. My expertise is limited to telling my IT guy what I want and writing the check.

Generally speaking, when I try to fix my own computer system, I spend a few hours on it and than call the IT guy and write an even larger check.

 

[joec]

Sorry about that i misread it. Old eye as I thought it was a common not a period.

At any rate as far as software goes I can pretty much understand all of it in several different programming languages. Hardware on the new systems is a bit more daunting, since I in all honesty haven't really kept up with it. I will eventually figure it out though I'm sure.

 

[Adillo303]

Joe - Just my two cents, again - Here are a couple videos for you. Wireless is not secure. It is convenient.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvqcKa_8z70"]Sidejacking using Ferret and Hamster 2.0 by w01f - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVutDlIUNOg&feature=related"]Wireshark - Password Stealing - YouTube[/ame]

My take on your questions.

New York City, where I work, is the poster child for how many wireless networks can be crammed into a small space. Yes the networks can both operate that close. I would suggest that you carefully look at the settings and make sure they are on different channels.

An interesting thing that you can do is to shut the wireless transmitter off in the modems, connect them to a fail over router that will use whichever modem is working and switch over automatically if one fails. Then you can use a WAP (Wireless access point) behind the router to run all of your stuff on one wireless network. Anything can share the printers or other things on your net.

Yow will have the same security issues with wireless and unless you use fairly expensive equipment, you will be ruining at a slower network speed than wired. As dawg mentioned kill one of the DSL's and re[lace it with a different provider (cable / FIOS) and you will now have yourself a really neat network.

Final note - Security again

http://tech.blorge.com/Structure: /2007/02/06/i-hacked-my-wireless-network/

If your router (S) will support it set your security to only allow known MAC addresses to connect.

 

[Whynot]

Joe, you can not have two dsl modems on one line...they would knock each other out. If you want to keep two "wan" connections you will need to purchase a dual wan router, which the programming of is above me.

Two wireless networks can co-exist in the same area, the question is how do you want them to work. If you are going to use only one dsl connection then you need to tie the two wireless routers together somehow. I have mine hardwired so that is all I know. These are the steps I followed to get the routers setup http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1575/using_an_old_router_as_a_diy_wireless_access_point/index.html

I had an issue with my iPad not switching from one wireless router to the other so I did name the other wireless connection (ssid) different so I could manually switch to the router with the best signal.

For security I would recommend like Adillo did, to route using your Mac address. This way only the allowed Mac addresses will be allowed on the network

 

[joec]

Joe, you can not have two dsl modems on one line...they would knock each other out. If you want to keep two "wan" connections you will need to purchase a dual wan router, which the programming of is above me.

Two wireless networks can co-exist in the same area, the question is how do you want them to work. If you are going to use only one dsl connection then you need to tie the two wireless routers together somehow. I have mine hardwired so that is all I know. These are the steps I followed to get the routers setup http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1575/using_an_old_router_as_a_diy_wireless_access_point/index.html

I had an issue with my iPad not switching from one wireless router to the other so I did name the other wireless connection (ssid) different so I could manually switch to the router with the best signal.

For security I would recommend like Adillo did, to route using your Mac address. This way only the allowed Mac addresses will be allowed on the network

I have two separate lines with a DSL modem for a few years now. I was asking about setting up wireless networks not hard wired.

Thanks for the site I will check it out as soon as I get it up and running. Thanks for the input also as it is appreciated.

 

[joec]

Joe - Just my two cents, again - Here are a couple videos for you. Wireless is not secure. It is convenient.

My take on your questions.

New York City, where I work, is the poster child for how many wireless networks can be crammed into a small space. Yes the networks can both operate that close. I would suggest that you carefully look at the settings and make sure they are on different channels.

An interesting thing that you can do is to shut the wireless transmitter off in the modems, connect them to a fail over router that will use whichever modem is working and switch over automatically if one fails. Then you can use a WAP (Wireless access point) behind the router to run all of your stuff on one wireless network. Anything can share the printers or other things on your net.

Yow will have the same security issues with wireless and unless you use fairly expensive equipment, you will be ruining at a slower network speed than wired. As dawg mentioned kill one of the DSL's and re[lace it with a different provider (cable / FIOS) and you will now have yourself a really neat network.

Final note - Security again

If your router (S) will support it set your security to only allow known MAC addresses to connect.

Thanks Adillo exactly what I was looking for. I will research it a bit more then perhaps fire up the second setup (home) and see how it goes. I'm not sure about the modem type nor understand what a MAC address connection is. All I know about addresses is what my ISP and router sets up.

 

[Whynot]

I have two separate lines with a DSL modem for a few years now. I was asking about setting up wireless networks not hard wired.

Thanks for the site I will check it out as soon as I get it up and running. Thanks for the input also as it is appreciated.

I wasn't too clear, I have two wireless networks hardwired together. If you want the two wireless networks to be tied together wirelessly, I believe you will need to flash new firmware onto one of your old routers and turn it into a wireless bridge. Here's a link http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-turn-an-old-router-into-a-wireless-bridge/

 

[joec]

Thanks again Whynot. I do want to keep them both wireless and be able to pick which I want to go onto at any given time with my laptop. All the modems and routers are new (less than a year old). Oh and I looked up what a MAC address was as it was confusing when speaking of IPods and such.

 

[Adillo303]

Joe,

Every network device manufactured has a unique "MAC" address. It is a long Hexadecimal number that can be likend to a serial number. Many routers will let you enter the MAC address that you allow or disallow into tables. When enabled only the MAC addresses that you know are your equipment will be allowed to communicate.

 

[joec]

Joe,

Every network device manufactured has a unique "MAC" address. It is a long Hexadecimal number that can be likend to a serial number. Many routers will let you enter the MAC address that you allow or disallow into tables. When enabled only the MAC addresses that you know are your equipment will be allowed to communicate.

The wifi on my computer seems to have it as does my routers software, that is at least the have options labeled MAC addresses. I running hard wired off the modem today due to having workers here putting in carpet (office). Perhaps tomorrow I will jump on it and see what happens. I really do appreciate the input on this as wireless is a for me but learning quickly.