Any home network experts in?

Why does it need to be a separate wifi network ?

Any reason why you can't just keep it simple and use the Guest network?

Yep - valid questions. I like to be able to work without distractions. Internet = distraction. But sometimes I need it. The faff of having to traipse downstairs to turn on another router means I only do it when I need it, and I can turn it off when I don't. I realise I can turn wifi off on the laptop, but that doesn't have the same faff factor to stop me doing it.

does the 2nd router have a bridge mode. my ADSL router/modem has it's internal wifi switched off, in my shed is an apple airport in bridge mode connected, and in the house a mesh system also in bridge mode.

seems to work most of the time.

I don't think vodafone ones have a bridge mode, sadly. Also, won't that simply extend my first wifi rather than creating a second?

does the 2nd router have a bridge mode. my ADSL router/modem has it’s internal wifi switched off, in my shed is an apple airport in bridge mode connected, and in the house a mesh system also in bridge mode.

Basically any router except the shite Vodafone one should work for this… you must know someone with an unwanted/spare one? I had 2 until they went in the recycling at the tip a couple of weeks ago otherwise could’ve sent you one!

its the talk-talk that needs to operate in bridge mode. ie it gets it connection and IP addresses from the main vodafone router rather than the ADSL connection.

Edit. I see, the talk talk one doesn’t exist anymore.

I use a tp-link powerline adaptor for working in the office.
Should be ok for your use I would think as long as your office is on the same electricity circuit.
I know it's not what you were asking for but.....

One I have is this:

Av600 powerline adaptor

Yeah, I realise it's a pretty weird thing to want to do... Hence not finding an obvious answer!

Perhaps I should reframe the question:
I want some way to switch off internet to only one laptop in my house. The switch must be physically separate from the laptop. The rest of the house internet must continue to work.

If there's an easier way to do that...?

i think it's just the voda router (2) that's your problem - get an old netgear DG or BT router (I know they defo work) and plug into one of the LAN ports on router 1.

think it’s just the voda router (2) that’s your problem

That would make sense - why the talktalk one just worked but the voda one doesn't. Shame - I spent £4 on it.

Unless there's some kind of setting on router 2 I could change?

I'm not 100% sure I've understood the OP correctly but he's asked for a separate network - bridge mode doesn't give him that.

I think what he is asking for is a network that connects the devices in his office to each other, but not to the internet. If he needs internet, he goes and turns on Router 1, which then provides an internet connection.

So Router 2 needs to be able to act as a stand-alone network, which means it needs DHCP on. I'll have a think about what needs to be done about IP range and default gateways in that case.

Edit: just seen the OPs clarification. Powerline adaptors would work, get your internet through those, turn one off when you want to be disconnected - the one furthest away to increase the hassle factor. Hard to get a pair for £4 though.

Which port have you plugged the ethernet into on router 2?

I think what he is asking for is a network that connects the devices in his office to each other, but not to the internet.

I don’t think there’s even any other devices, just the laptop!

Correct.
Network 1, router 1 = rest of the house and all devices
Network 2, router 2 = Office laptop only

Powerline adaptors would work, get your internet through those, turn one off when you want to be disconnected

Yes, that makes sense.
BUT

Hard to get a pair for £4 though.

Which port have you plugged the ethernet into on router 2?

The WAN port - that was what worked on my previous talktalk model.

I am pretty sure that virtually any other router except the Voda one would Just Work.

Sounds like my easiest option might be to spend another £4 on another old router, that's not a vodafone one. Just my luck that my random selection of cheapo old router didn't work...

I want some way to switch off internet to only one laptop in my house. The switch must be physically separate from the laptop. The rest of the house internet must continue to work.

If there’s an easier way to do that…?

The app for my mesh network allows me to freeze internet for a particular device for a set time period, or on a schedule.

I don't think that's going to help you in any way really, but just to highlight that what you want (I think) is a feature of lots of modern routers/access points/mesh systems

The WAN port – that was what worked on my previous talktalk model.

OK, I might be wrong, but I think that would put you outside the built in firewall on router 1 - so your laptop would be open to the internets bad stuff.
Connecting to a LAN port would put you inside the firewall.

Is there a software answer for this? My BT wifi allows me to control individual devices internet connection via an app on my phone...

The bigger question is what sort of work can be done on a laptop with no connection to the internet or any other device on the local network?

If I had no internet I'd be about to do the square root of jack all!

Sounds like the OP wants to turn off internet access and make it a chore* to turn it back on.

*How of a chore walking to the other side of the house/downstairs is, im not sure... 🤔

Op - Are you trying to say you spend too much time on this forum, and you are trying to stop yourself whilst working ?

I think that would put you outside the built in firewall on router 1

No, it's a Router 1 LAN port connected to the WAN port of Router 2 - so Router 2 and anything connected to it have to go through Router 1 to get to the internet.

Are you trying to say you spend too much time on this forum, and you are trying to stop yourself whilst working ?

That's about right!

Work is writing, mostly. So anything is a distraction!

That’s about right!

Work is writing, mostly. So anything is a distraction!

Ahh. Fair enough.

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Problem solved. 😉👍

That’s about right!

So my son is 12. We have a Deco mesh network. I use that to stop his internet connection every night at 9:30pm. Works a treat. Hopefully when he is older he will have worked out that self control 😉

We have a Deco mesh network. I use that to stop his internet connection every night at 9:30pm.

So probably the best way to do this, presuming you don't use a phone that can access your router settings, and you'd have to fire up another device to change any settings on the router, would be to block your laptop from the WiFi from the router settings - then in order to unblock it you'd need to power on a device that can access the router, sign in, and unblock the laptop.

No second network required, just block your laptop from connecting to WiFi. And have the device that can alter router settings be another pc or tablet that you need to power on to make that change.

I see how the internet has rapidly figured out I'm
a) weird
b) tight

Does your laptop stay in the same place while you are working? Can you use wired rather than wifi? Does it have an ethernet port, or do you have a dongle to plug an ethernet cable into the laptop?

If yes, dispense with router 2 and plug the cable from router 1 directly into your laptop. If it needs to be hard to do, unplug it from router 1 also so that when you need to use the internet you have to plug one end of the cable into router1 LAN port and the other end into your laptop.

I suspect it’s to do with the wan authentication settings on router two.

These should be set to dhcp, I suspect they are currently on pppoe, I’m not a vf bb user so I can’t confirm if router two will allow you to change the authentication settings.

If it does you also need to turn back on the dhcp server on the lan side & change the lan side ip range to a different class c as the lan on router 1, so if that is 192.168.0.xxx change router 2 lan to say 192.168.10.xxx.

Alternatively & perhaps simpler if the router 2 setup has the option for access point mode simply use that.

Edit: if router 2 doesn’t allow either options above then look for a sh tp-link, netgear, Linksys etc basically anything not tied to a isp & with a wan port & you should have more luck.

Does your router allow you to set up a schedule per MAC address?

So you could only allow access for the laptop for say 1 hour at lunch and after 5pm.

I was going to suggest running an Ethernet cable from laptop to router and unplugging at router end. However, that won't stop you turning the WiFi on when it's unplugged. Maybe smash the WiFi card in you laptop. Or just grow some self restraint 🤣

He's already got enough self-restraint not to just connect to the Router 1 wifi network. Some deep psychology going on, I think, as that would be a lot easier than going downstairs to turn a router on.

In theory you should be able to get this working, with the devices you have.

Router1 (main family Internet) - leave settings as they are
Router2 (your work router) Cable goes from WAN port of Router2 to any of the eth ports in Router1

Router2 - WAN has DHCP enabled
Wifi enabled, differed SSID & password to Router1
LAN also has DHCP enabled, I would setup Router2 to use a different internal IP range to avoid confusion (e.g. 10.x.x.x)

Without having kit to test, I can't be certain about the exact settings you'll need to configure on Router2 WAN port, but you will want to disable anything like PPPoE and any authentication.

(edit) This is a really hacky and horrible solution involving double NAT, so I would never recommend it... but as you have the kit and have explained exactly what you want, whilst I don't necessarily agree its a good solution, in theory it should work 🙂

No, it’s a Router 1 LAN port

Yeah sorry, typo error on my behalf.... should have put router 1 instead of 2!

This is getting overcomplicated. You don't need a router, just get a wifi access point. Plug it into the existing router, set it up to announce a network called I Have No Self Control[1], join that. Your usual router handles the routing and everyone elses wifi, and the new AP is your special one.

[1] oh the irony that I'm browsing STW whilst I'm meant to be working!

Assuming I've understood you correctly,

Send the router back and stick a Wi-Fi access point in another room on a different SSID? Just throw the switch when you don't want it on.

Jinx.

So my son is 12. We have a Deco mesh network. I use that to stop his internet connection every night at 9:30pm. Works a treat. Hopefully when he is older he will have worked out that self control

I'd be disappointed he hadn't figured out a way round it already...

He’s already got enough self-restraint not to just connect to the Router 1 wifi network

Yeah - I don't know wifi 1 password off the top of my head and it's not saved on the laptop

I just looked up what an access point is. I think that is indeed what I need. And it looks like that will be pretty cheap second hand. Presume that will allow me to have a second wifi network as I want? (Rather than just extend the first)

It's annoying though. It means another bit of kit going to landfill rather than repurposed.

I need something like this:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204182952710?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=cOPoETN-RHe&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=fT4TyhfNQcW&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

see https://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Other-broadband-queries/Setting-up-a-second-vodafone-router-as-an-access-point/td-p/2617499

Someone is asking the same question, this thread say what to do.

Connect the Lan Ports on the two routers with a cable, turn off DHCP on the 2nd router. Set up Wifi on your 2nd router.

The key point is do not use the WAN port on your 2nd router.

I see how the internet has rapidly figured out I’m
a) weird
b) tight

Regardless, I rather like your attitude.

Router2 – WAN has DHCP enabled

You def don't want DHCP {server} enabled on both routers.... Only on the router 1

Did think about a typewriter actually...bit awkward for editing later though.

Tried the settings as per the suggestions...it worked for about 2 minutes. I got very excited. Then sulked again.

SO...I think I need an access point. But thought I'd check before I buy the wrong thing again:

- Anything special I need to look out for. I guess make sure it's 2.4ghz and 5ghz at least? And one with external power supply rather than power over ethernet?

- This will definitely enable me to have a separate wifi network rather than simply extend my home wifi?

Thanks!

see https://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Other-broadband-queries/Setting-up-a-second-vodafone-router-as-an-access-point/td-p/2617499 < Someone is asking the same question, this thread say what to do. Connect the Lan Ports on the two routers with a cable, turn off DHCP on the 2nd router. Set up Wifi on your 2nd router. The key point is do not use the WAN port on your 2nd router.

Have you tried this? I strongly suspect it will work & save landfill. If it hasn’t worked then it’s either faulty or user error so yes it’s either try again, access point or powerline adapter time.

By the way you are not creating a new network with access points but a new ssid, all the devices will be on the same network just different entry points & ssid/password.

Tried the settings as per the suggestions…it worked for about 2 minutes.

What did you try?
If it worked for a couple of minutes then it might be a dhcp issue.

This is my setup in the barn:
Old Netgear DG834G set up with a static IP address and DHCP server switched off
Cat 5 runs from one of the LAN ports
Other end connected to a LAN port on the Sonicwall in my office (which is the router as we're now FTTP)

I think this should work for you:
On Router 2:
Switch off the DHCP server and give it a static IP address outside the DHCP range that's set on your router 1.
Connect it to router 1 at the LAN ports at both ends.
Give it a different SSID and password

On your PC/Laptop:
Get the IP address by DHCP (which will come from router 1)

If that doesn't work then you can try giving it a static IP address, again outside the DHCP range on router 1, and set the gateway to be the IP address you gave to router 2.

I think this will work - will try it later. I'm with Vodafone and have a couple of routers.

Set up first one as normal (DSL cable to telephone socket).

WAN socket on second router is connected to LAN port on first. Leave DHCP etc alone.

You've effectively got two entirely segregated networks. There will be double-NATing on the second network but nothing seems to be particularly worried about that these days. You can't access anything on the primary network via the secondary, or vice-versa. Pro or con, depending on how you look at it.

WAN socket on second router is connected to LAN port on first. Leave DHCP etc alone.

You’ve effectively got two entirely segregated networks

But thats overcomplicating things. He doesn't want a separate network, just wants a seperate wifi access.

It's much easier LAN port - LAN port to keep everything within a single network.

– This will definitely enable me to have a separate wifi network rather than simply extend my home wifi?

It will be the same underlying network with a different name. So you'll connect to "Network B" rather than "Network A" but there won't be any segregation between devices, you'll still see network printers or storage or what have you. If you switch off the AP then "Network B" disappears, so if your laptop only has the password for Network B then you'll be offline when the AP is shut down.

Which is what you want, I think?

Update: Thanks to all of you very helpful people, it does seem to be working... I'm going to try it a bit more and see how stable it is...but good so far. Woot. £4 well spent.

So...just to close this off. The vodafone router worked after a fashion, but was pretty flakey. I looked around for an access point. But for 802.11ac they seemed pretty expensive. So in the end, I ordered another cheapy talktalk router. Plug in. Switch on. Works.

Moral of the story... if it works. Copy it.