I have a total of four wireless routers. One of them is a DSL modem/router. It has a four port hub and a wireless. I want to connect another wireless router (via a cable) to the modem/router. My intention is to have two parallel networks running with two sets of permissions. The grown up computers will connect to the router with no restrictions. The kid computers will connect to the router with some filtering and time restrictions. Using passwords on the routers and MAC filtering, I intend to control which computers connect to which router. Will this work? Surely someone out there has done this sort of thing.
It will work. Assign the new router a different SSID and set it to a different channel. Best to have at least 5 channels of seperation, but you can get away with fewer. Use WPA and different shared keys on the two networks and you shouldn’t even need to bother with MAC filtering.
Cool. Thanks. That’s the plan. I may not bother with MAC filtering, as it doesn’t seem to really be worth the trouble. Just using to SSID’s and keys should fix it. You said to use WPA, but I usually use WEP. Will it matter?
You’ve got the controls backwards - you need to lock down the Adultnet router, or the kids will just connect to it and bypass any access or time restrictions you’ve set up on Kidsnet.
WiFi systems near each other is not a problem - various tenants in the last apartment building I lived in had seven or so active networks. As Kevbo said, give them unique names (SSIDs) change the channel on one of them to either channel 1 or channel 11 and enforce WPA on both, and you’re good to go.
Speaking of neighbors - there’s really not much you can do to prevent the kids from sniffing the neighborhood to see if there’s an open network nearby, other than hoping that they don’t, and that the neighbors are all securing their networks.
ETA: MAC filtering is barely worth the effort, and will only be annoying if a friend drops by with their laptop and wants to get on the net. Will WPA vs WEP matter? WPA is significantly more secure than WEP. Guess which one I use on my home net. 
Anyone who wants to break into a WPA network can do so. I’m not aware of similar vulnerabilities existing in WPA.
I think you meant to say “Anyone who wants to break into a WEP network can do so. I’m not aware of similar vulnerabilities existing in WPA.”
IIRC, both can be sniffed and hacked, but WPA changes more often making intrusions less problematic to some degree.
Very few people have to worry about hackers war driving their WiFi. There are just way too many unsecured networks out there that require zero effort to log on to.
As to the OP, make sure you are using different channels (as stated previously) and make sure you don’t have any cordless phones or other EMI devices that might interfere with the transmission of data.
If you have XP Pro on all the comps, you might be better off just resetting the permissions through an admin acct. Just a thought.
As I’m sure you know, some ISPs require you to bridge a modem when a router is being used (usually with DSL PPPoE setups).
Good luck, and Happy New Year!
Yeah, I’ve found that MAC filtering is really just a pain in the butt. It only makes it more difficult to add new devices, but otherwise isn’t worth much. I will switch to WPA security.
As far as sniffing the neighbors, we are fortunate to live on a corner. Our only neighbor has wireless DSL, but it is secured. Nothing else is within range while inside our house.
As far as using permission settings in admin accounts and such, that hasn’t been very successful on the computers that we have. I have at least one recent thread asking about how to block MySpace and FaceBook. Those of you with teens at home might be able to understand. I can’t do much about the new computer, but I am hoping to be able at least control the time she spends online. It’s either that or the computer will not be connected at all. However, it may dawn on her that she can just sit at the desktop and connect directly via an ethernet cable. I’m hoping that doesn’t cross her mind. Our latest conflict is about LimeWire downloads.
Both of the networks will be secured – both the kidsnet and the adultnet.
Since Limewire is a potential (and effective) vector for malware, I’m surprised you let the kids use it at all, let alone the potential legal (RIAA) ramifications.
These days when I see someone with both Limewire and MySpaceIM on their desktop, I almost want to ask them if they’re actually trying to get get malware on their system.
The web is dangerous enough as it is with drive-by script attacks, rogues, and various malware that can and will disable even task manager functions, let alone making oneself vulnerable to said programs through the usage of known malware vectors. Firewalls and anti-spy/anti-vir software can only do so much. It usually takes a combination of two or more programs to fix the more tenacious infections.
A vundo infection can be quite the pain in the ass, as can a really nasty rogue.
IMO, the least of your concerns is someone leeching your bandwidth, the solution to that is only a hard reset away. Of much more importance, is the integrity of your network. The best anti-spy/anti-vir software in the world can’t detect a worm that was just written and placed on a popular Limewire feed. Even the most careful of web surfers can get infected, those that interface with apps known to spread infection are almost asking for it.
I suppose if I were in the situation of having a kid that was going to sites of questionable security on a constant basis, and downloading files all the time, I might just inform them that they would be responsible for any and all emergency tech calls I might make, and of course the cost. I would NEVER pay for a geek squad dude to come to my house to fix something, but if I had to do it on someone else’s dime in order to prove a point, I certainly would.
I’m not a parent, so the above is purely hypothetical. I also wish the OP the best of luck in getting all of his issues taken care of, software issues and otherwise.
Letting her use LimeWire is not the issue. It’s realizing that there comes a point where your children make their own choices. I have worked on explaining to my daughter that downloading songs from LimeWire is stealing, same is taking something from a store without paying for it. She has now uninstalled the program from her computer.
I have also successfully set up a new wireless network. It has some better security options than my Westell modem/router has. I have been able to set time restrictions and service restrictions. For example, she cannot go to sites with LimeWire in the name. So far, so good.
I’m going to assume that you’re using Windows. If you want to avoid her being able to install anything at all, set her up with a limited user account and take away installation privileges. I know you are trying to get her to see the light, not control her, but computers are also privileges. I think one of the first times I realized my parents really trusted me was when I came home one day and they had bought me a computer desk and moved the computer from a common area into my room.