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Network switch with usb ports for sharing?

onlinesource

2:07 am on Oct 10, 2014 (gmt 0)

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I work from home and this is my current setup. I have Verizon Fios with a modem/router combo that is installed in my closet where I have a tower rack which houses all of my electronics like my ps3, satellite box, receiver, and someday my nas media storage system. Everything is connected to the modem/router combo and using it's wifi connection.

From port 1 in that modem/router, I am running an Ethernet cable from my closet, through my walls, and out an Ethernet jack in my home office next door.

Out of that Ethernet jack, I run a wireless router which I am using to connect my VOIP phone for work (which needs a physical connection to work and not wifi). The router also has two usb ports, allowing me to share usb devices like printers through it.

The problem is, I currently have two wifi connections with this setup which is causing problems because I also have another Ethernet jack that I need to access in my garage which is connected to port 2 of the modem/router in my closet, but if I am on my office wifi I can't reach the closet wifi connection and vice versa.

Basically, I need a switch so everything uses one wifi connection but I want a switch that also allows for usb connections to share devices like printers, scanners, etc?

Does anybody know of this? Most switches with usb capabilities are really just routers. I been looking on Amazon.

I am new to this sort of setup, so I'm looking for ideas to make my life easier.

lammert

2:48 am on Oct 10, 2014 (gmt 0)

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What you need in your home office is not a wifi router, but a wifi access point. Some routers are capable to function as an access point, so you might want to check in the manual of your home office router to see if it can be configured as an access point.

The main setup will be as follows:

You enable the DHCP server on the router in your closet and give it a fixed internal IP address, for example 192.168.0.1 with netmask 255.255.255.0. The DHCP range of the router must be in this same IP range, for example 192.168.0.100 to 192.168.0.199.
You enable access point mode on the home office wifi router and give it a fixed internal IP address, for example 192.168.0.2 with netmask 255.255.255.0. The DHCP server on this router must be disabled.
On the home office router you set 192.168.0.1 as the gateway address and as the address for DNS resolution.
On both the home office router and the the router in the closet you set the same SSID with the same password.
In the wireless network setting of both routers you select a communication channel manually. Be sure that these channels have a distance of minimal 5 to prevent cross talk. For example if you select 1 as the channel on your closet router, select 6 as the channel on your home office router. This reduces communication errors and optimizes speed. If you want to add a second access point in the future, be sure to select channel 11 on that device.

What you now basically created is a poor mans wifi roaming setup. Whenever a wifi client wants to connect with your network, it uses your SSID and password and practically connects to the router with the strongest signal.

Because both routers are in the same IP address range (192.168.0.0 to 192.168.0.255), communications within this range will go transparently over the ethernet cable between the two routers. This makes it possible for devices on one router to connect to devices on the other router.

Communication on your home office router with other IP addresses will be forwarded to the router in your closet, because that router has been set as your default gateway. Also DNS requests are forwarded to that router.

Because only one DHCP server is active in the network, no IP address conflicts can occur.

I have running this setup with one main wifi router and two slave wifi routers for a few years now and for me it gives all the functionality I need.

J_RaD

1:50 pm on Oct 10, 2014 (gmt 0)

look for access points 1st, they are much cheaper then buying some whole router box combo thing you don't need.

Access points are stupid which makes everything above easy...plug it up, it will either grab and IP from the DHCP or it will need a static, either way it will come with software that will scan the network and find your point...feed it your wireless settings and you are done.. its just an extra antenna now that will broadcast your wifi.

also, one of these router/combo boxes in your house needs to be the boss... if the verizon router is running to another routher in your office, that everything is hooking up to and providing wifi. then don't start crossing stuff up with the verizon unit. All wifi and ethernet need to come from the box in your office.. all your verizon unit is doing is giving that other router internet access, they both have their own addressing etc don't start plugging things up to either or.

onlinesource

7:23 pm on Oct 14, 2014 (gmt 0)

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I gave up on trying to make my current router into an access point. After much discussion with Netgear, I realized it was going to constantly cause problems for me. Well, this is my latest setup.

So, I still have the Verizon Fios modem/router in my closet, but a port out of it is running into my home office where I have a TP-Link switch, that switch connects both my PCs in the office along with my VOIP phone. Everything is working. The PCS are connected to the web and the phone works. Great.

The other port in the Verizon Fios modem/router is going to my garage where it connects to another TP-Link switch, one end of that switch is connected to the Ethernet port of my hp 5550dtn printer and the other will soon be a wireless access point.

The lights on the switch show it is getting a signal from the Verizon Fios modem/router and my printer. Still, neither PC in my home office can connect to the printer in the garage. Why not?

When I run a configuration it says the ip address of my printer is 192.168.2.62, but when I try to ping it, it says "Request Timed Out". The PC can not communicate with it. I also can't ADD A PRINTER via ip address.

I have never added a printer through a modem like this before, and I'm sure I'm doing something really dumb. :)

J_RaD

1:55 am on Oct 18, 2014 (gmt 0)

did you static address your printer? sounds like your printer is still remembering you old routers IP addressing.

stop thinking of that modem as a modem...its just a switch/router/all in one thing... same as your other box.

onlinesource

4:11 am on Oct 19, 2014 (gmt 0)

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I was able to fix it. There was a setting on my printer which told it to use the ethernet connection instead of the printer cable. Once I did that, it noticed the ip address and printed it on the configuration page.

I figured it was something silly. :)