Internet and Internal home network

Hi guys, hope I'm not re-posting an old question; it seems like a common place question but I can't find an answer anywhere.

Recently we had Wind Mobile come into our town, and now the cheapest/fastest internet option available is their mobile hotspot (12Mbps, unlimited downloading, $30). Only problem is that it doesn't (to the best of my knowledge) work with a router. So, is there any way to have the household computers set up to connect to the internet, while still maintaining an internal network for file transfer/wireless printer connections?

kale39 said:

Hi guys, hope I'm not re-posting an old question; it seems like a common place question but I can't find an answer anywhere.

Recently we had Wind Mobile come into our town, and now the cheapest/fastest internet option available is their mobile hotspot (12Mbps, unlimited downloading, $30). Only problem is that it doesn't (to the best of my knowledge) work with a router. So, is there any way to have the household computers set up to connect to the internet, while still maintaining an internal network for file transfer/wireless printer connections?

Hi

I assume that you have a router and that your household computers are connected together at the moment?

If that is the case then I would leave your setup as it is and then follow the instructions in the link below to setup Internet Connection Sharing. (The host PC will be the one with the dongle attached )

Using ICS (Internet Connection Sharing)

Regards
UKMedia

Right now we have a broadband modem with a built in router. At the moment I am just trying to figure out IF this will work before I go out an invest the $$$ dollars in this setup. As near as I can tell, the wireless hotspot doesn't allow file transfer between devices on the same network, hence the need for a secondary network. The real question though is: can I do that without having to switch between the hotspot and the internal network every time I want to do something?

kale39 said:

Right now we have a broadband modem with a built in router. At the moment I am just trying to figure out IF this will work before I go out an invest the $$$ dollars in this setup. As near as I can tell, the wireless hotspot doesn't allow file transfer between devices on the same network, hence the need for a secondary network. The real question though is: can I do that without having to switch between the hotspot and the internal network every time I want to do something?

Hi

If your modem has a built in router that allows the other PC's to connect via a HomeGroup or WorkGroup? Then I would leave the setup as it is and disconnect the broadband conection to your existing modem/router but leave the network cables connected. This should enable your old modem/router to maintain file sharing connectivity between your PC's and the ICS will allow the other PC's to access the Internet.

Regards
UKMedia

The modem's a rental, and is hardwired to only work with an ISP who over charges and under delivers. Hence trying to find a better way to do business.

kale39 said:

The modem's a rental, and is hardwired to only work with an ISP who over charges and under delivers. Hence trying to find a better way to do business.

Hi

Okay, in that case you just need to replace your modem with a switch which will allow your network to continue to share files. Something like this (you can go upto a 24 port switch if you require more connections) :

ZyXEL GS108B 8 port Gigabit Unmanaged Desktop Switch: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

To enable the other PC's to access the internet, you will see need to follow the instructions for ICS.

Regards
UKMedia