Two homes are using identical internet plans! How can we increase access points further?
Two homes are using identical internet plans! How can we increase access points further?
The most straightforward approach involves employing a gateway router that supports VLANs, a feature available across all three major third-party firmware initiatives.
Typically, a VLAN is implemented to consolidate several connections onto a single port, necessitating an access point capable of handling this at the receiving end.
Yet the basic concept of VLAN can be achieved by dedicating an entire Ethernet port to a distinct VLAN, allowing you to connect it to any switch or AP present at that location.
Both networks can then reach the internet independently, yet remain isolated from one another—preventing cross-network visibility such as sharing files or printing to printers across homes.
If opting for a standard router, the Guest network functions similarly but is generally restricted to Wi-Fi capabilities.
Employing an AP in wireless client mode to translate back to Ethernet presents its own challenges, which have already been addressed elsewhere.
I should note that VLANs is precisely how those big apartment buildings implement it with managed switches.
With a standard consumer router you’re restricted to four VLANs since those eight-port routers don’t appear to use a nine or ten-port switch chip internally, but rather two five or six-port ones, one of which is unmanaged. However, you could connect internet access to a four-plex directly, giving each unit one Ethernet port and eliminating the need for complex trunking or managed switches, without any double-NAT requirements.
Each tenant can install as many switches and APs as they wish on their LAN, all managed by their own software-based virtual gateway router running on the physical gateway.