[Hidden-tech] Security and coverage for shared WiFi

[Chris Hart, MyMacTech.com]

the quickest / easiest / cheapest solution would be to have the comcast modem / wireless router unit network used for the in-law apartment

then connect to it (via ethernet) a standalone wireless router (Ideally a 802.11AC equipped model with good range -- Netgear Nighthawk or ASUS RT-AC86U) to the comcast unit and use that wireless network for the rest of the house  (and ideally the comcast modem/router should have a DMZ setting and it should be set to the IP address that you specify in the static WAN IP setting of the third-party router.  this prevents a Double-NAT situation)

the reason for this arrangement is that the firewall in the second router will prevent tenants from seeing into your household wireless network

going with a router with a strong range may fix the range/coverage issues you've had to date (make sure to mount the third-party router as far away from the comcast modem/router as it practical and also mount the third-party router as far away from walls as is practical, as high as is practical, and away from metal and hard/dense objects, as well as away from other electronics)

Chris Hart
     Computer Support & Technology Consulting
        for Connecticut and Western Massachusetts
            Tel: 860-291-9393
                chris at chrishart.net
                    http://www.MyMacTech.com
			

> On Jan 9, 2016, at 8:46 PM, Duane Dale <duane.dale at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Dear H-Techers:
> 
> In advance, forgive me if these are naive questions or have been addressed previously.
> 
> Consider this scenario:
> * A homeowner has a "mother-in-law apartment" which is rented to tenants.
>    Imagine that these parties don't know each other well.
> * The chosen internet option is Comcast.
> * A Comcast-provided cable modem-wireless router is the default option.
> * Because it's nominally a single-family house, Comcast says it's prohibited from providing two separate accounts.
> * Comcast says it could (for an additional fee, of course) install two separate cable modem-routers on the same account.
> 
> The security question: 
> * If the two parties share one WiFi account, is there a security risk?
>   (Assume, of course, that banking and other sensitive use is with https sites.)
> * If there is a security risk, how does it compare to risks at an airport?
>     ... in an apartment building (without shared WiFi access)?
>      ...drive-by "listening" to WiFi activity.
> * Would the second Comcast WiFi "box" reduce security risks?
> * Would hard-wiring a third-party wireless router into a single Comcast box provide a separate log-in? ...and would that reduce security risks?
> 
> The coverage question:
> If the house is large enough to have coverage issues (or has out-buildings where coverage is weak)...
> * Is there a WiFi Extender device that anyone would recommend?
> * Would hard-wiring a third-party wireless router into the Comcast box -- with a long Cat5 cable to take that second box into the weaker zone -- help?
> 
> Thanks!
> Duane Dale
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net
> Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
> 
> You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list.
> If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members   
> page on the Hidden Tech Web site.
> http://www.hidden-tech.net/members

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.hidden-tech.net/pipermail/hidden-discuss/attachments/20160109/b924c261/attachment.html