[SOLVED] Connect to two networks...

[mmreagle]

Hi all, hopefully someone can point me in the right direction. Let me paint you a picture...I am a full time RV'er and run into this situation at most sites. Most WiFi setups in the campgrounds have networks where you need to connect to their SSID and then you are prompted through the browser to connect. Often times you are limited to how long you can stay connected so you have to go back to the browser and connect again. I have a desktop, 2 laptops, printer and phone. I want to be able to connect to each of these peripherals in order to sync and access data. I have a Netgear Nighthawk Extender that I connect to the site's Wi-Fi. I also have a router that I connected to the Extender via ethernet. I have connected the router through ethernet to my desktop. I would like to be able to connect all peripherals through the router but I would also like to be able to access the site WI-Fi so that I can ensure connectivity to the internet, in other words be able to go to the browser and reconnect.
I have tried bridging my router with the Wi-Fi but no luck there.
Any ideas what I need to do?
Thanks!

mmreagle...

 

[Ralston18]

Does the following User Manual link match your Netgear extender?

http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/EX7000/EX7000_UM_21dec2014.pdf

What make and model router do you have?

Overall, as I understand the posted concept you are trying to "extend" the site's wifi service.

The extender is intended to extend your own wireless network via your existing router.

And in any case, the extender will not alter the site's requirements for continued log-ins after reaching the site's connection time limit. That function is controlled by the site's router.

Side question: Is part of problem related to not having enough LAN ports on your current router?

 

[bill001g]

You are going to have to make it appear everything is coming from the same mac address.

Your first issue is extenders to run as repeaters need to use a protocol called WDS. This is considered a security issue and many router disable it by default other you must key in mac addresses. You are best off using your extender as a client-bridge. Most have that option. This in effect appears as a nic card connected via ethernet.

So you then connect this to the WAN port of your router. Your router should then treat the RV network as a ISP. Your WAN connection is the wifi to the RV. Your lan and wifi off the router are completely independent of that.

What you should be able to do is authenticate with your PC. After you do that all the other devices will be allowed to pass. The RV see all the traffic coming from the router mac address so it thinks it is all one machine.

If they really wanted to be jerks they can detect that the device is say android rather than windows but it is a lot of effort, Mostly this would be done to prevent you from say reselling the service to other people.

 

[mmreagle]

Thanks for your replies!
Ralston, that is indeed the unit I have. The router is a D-Link DIR-822. I was not using the router with the extender prior to this. Not an issue with ports.
Bill, in checking this extender, it does not appear to have the ability to function as a client bridge so no luck with your proposed solution.

I did try to bridge the internet connection (direct to campground not through extender) and the router but with no success as it would not connect to the internet or allow me to even login to the campground