Setting up 2 Separate Wireless Networks

[Mason_1]

I today got a new router, i have one that comes with the ISP but i would like to set up 2 seperate routers and wifi connection points. (ex. One in the office and one in the living room). I would like to be able to connect to the other if one fails. I also would like to make the new netwark hidden, Much help would be appreciated.

 

[RaDiKaL_]

If you plan to use 2 routers extra apart from the one your ISP gave you, then yes, it is possible, if you plan to use only the one from the ISP + 1 other router then no, because your only extra router depends on your ISP's router, so no chance of redundancy.

If you have those 2 extra routers, you connect each to your ISP router, each with a different IP subnet in its wireless section, and you disable the SSID Propagation or SSID announcement (exact name varies from router model to router model) so it remains hidden, but since you'll know how its exactly called you will be able to access to it whenever its needed.

 

[Pooneil]

It is pretty easy to set up a second router as an access point in another room. But it does require you to get a non-wireless network connection into that room. Normally with an ethernet cable or with powerline networking. Ethernet is by far the best way while powerline is normally the easiest. See the sticky here. http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/36406-43-convert-wireless-router-wireless-access-point

As far as making the new wifi hidden, that depends on what level of security you desire. You can set up the access point independently of the router with a different SSID and encryption passphrase and only people you give the passphrase to will be able to attach to it. You can make the SSID hidden and that will stop it from showing up to casual users but not provide any real additional security. So if the goal is, say, to keep the non-savvy from noticing it and begging you for access to your connection, then set the SSID to hidden. When it is finally mentioned, you will then know the person is no longer among the non-savvy.

 

[Mason_1]

So if the second router is connected to the the first Router/motem from this ISP Via Ethernet is the only way it will work? What if the first loses power? Will the second still have internet? Thats my main question

 

[bill001g]

You will always have a single point of failure when it comes to the ISP line. There always will be a single device that connects to wire coming in the house from the ISP and if that would fail you will have to manually change it. In some cases...ie cable modems... you must actually call the ISP and give them stuff like the mac address of the new modem.

 

[Pooneil]

So if the second router is connected to the the first Router/motem from this ISP Via Ethernet is the only way it will work? What if the first loses power? Will the second still have internet? Thats my main question

If it is just electric power, you can use a uninterruptable power supply to keep the internet up for some time in the event of a power loss. Or if you are interested in an internet connection that is independent of the power mains and the wired ISP, you could set a smartphone for WiFi tethering or set up a wireless data account with your local mobile phone company and use an LTE modem plugged into a USB port on your computer. Either of these options would be inaccessible from the LAN.