WiFi router & Cable modem question

[Racer X]

Cable modem owned by me, used on Scumcast. Motorola MB7621 24x8

It only has one ethernet connection. I plug in MY wifi router, let's call it Bob to the only e-net port. Can I then plug in my VOIp adapter, my cMP and my kid's WiFi router into the ethernet ports of my wifi router (Bob), and have it all work? My kid's WiFi router should just use my WiFi router as an ethernet pass-through to the cable modem, right? OPtion 2 I suppose is an ethernet switch.

I don't want him to have access to my router as everything on it is set up for file sharing. Don't want him to run across the pics from our nudist conventions with their dad, and his new girlfriend. It might be confusing.

IF I need a gigabit switch, what is a good 8 port switch for a reasonable price?

[John B.]

Qualified answer is “it depends”. Plugging the 2nd WiFi router into the Ethernet port (internal switch port) on your WiFi router puts that 2nd router on your network, not just passing through. If you can configure your main WiFi router to have different network configurations per switch port, you could potentially designate the port the 2nd router is plugged into as a “public Internet” (or similar naming) port, and then it would only allow access upstream to the WAN/cable modem, not to anything else connected to the main router. You could also potentially create a 2nd SSID on the main WiFi router that is “public only”/guest and does the same thing - wireless devices that connect to that SSID would only access the upstream WAN/cable modem. Plus that would eliminate any contention of having 2 wireless routers operating in close proximity.

[Racer X]

sounds like the simplest solution is a e net switch. between the cable modem and the routers. And have the file-shared cMP plugged into my router's e-net port. The VoIp box on the switch as well.

[mattkime]

I'd put your kid's wifi router into wireless access point mode and everything should be good.

(This is the short answer. A longer answer would require full knowledge of your setup and have the possibility of an answer you wouldn't entertain implementing)

[Racer X]

mattkime wrote:
I'd put your kid's wifi router into wireless access point mode and everything should be good.

(This is the short answer. A longer answer would require full knowledge of your setup and have the possibility of an answer you wouldn't entertain implementing)

I will look into the WAP option. It looks like his router can support WAP.

[GGD]

Racer X wrote:
sounds like the simplest solution is a e net switch. between the cable modem and the routers. And have the file-shared cMP plugged into my router's e-net port. The VoIp box on the switch as well.

That probably won't work. The cable modems usually only allow for a single device to be plugged into them and it assigns your WAN IP address to that device.

For the type of separation you want, probably one router plugged into the other router. You'll need to have them set to different LAN ranges, eg they both can't be 192.168.0.xxx. And devices connected to the chained router might have issued trying to determine their WAN IP address.

[space-time]

make a GUEST SSID on your router, and you can hide your private network from the guest network. let the kid use the guest network.

[space-time]

Also your file sharing should be heavily password protected on your private network, anything else is just asking for trouble.

[MrNoBody]

IF I need a gigabit switch, what is a good 8 port switch for a reasonable price?

imho, you can't go wrong with a TP-Link, metal housing preferred.
TL-SG108 is currently $18 @ bezosville.
https://www.amazon.com/Ethernet-Splitter...00A121WN6/

[Racer X]

MrNoBody wrote:
IF I need a gigabit switch, what is a good 8 port switch for a reasonable price?

imho, you can't go wrong with a TP-Link, metal housing preferred.
TL-SG108 is currently $18 @ bezosville.
https://www.amazon.com/Ethernet-Splitter...00A121WN6/

I've already got that one parked in my shopping cart, just in case. Great minds think alike.