Can I connect two modems to one BT line

Hello, hope someone can help?

At home we have a BT broadband connection. My girl friends work pays for it as she needs to get on to the office servers, this is secure thought a modem box and also a firewall box. This is restricted our personal internet access to only certain sites on her work laptop. I myself work for myself and need to access the internet via my laptop (mac), I'm a web designer so rely on the internet.

My question is: If I was to buy an addition wireless modem could I unplug the work configured set-up at the wall, plug in the new one and set it up? I don't need to run the two modems at the same time, so could just swap the plugs as and when required.

Thanks in advance

Paul

Generally the account is assigned to the line, so you would need to use the work ADSL login/pwd for the modem to authenticate.

In theory if work is using for example Zen, and you had your own personal zen account line details from elsewhere it would work.

The simplest answer, is that you need a second line installed so you can have personal internet access too.

In reply to a post by thinkpaul10:

Hello, hope someone can help?

At home we have a BT broadband connection. My girl friends work pays for it as she needs to get on to the office servers, this is secure thought a modem box and also a firewall box. This is restricted our personal internet access to only certain sites on her work laptop. I myself work for myself and need to access the internet via my laptop (mac), I'm a web designer so rely on the internet.

My question is: If I was to buy an addition wireless modem could I unplug the work configured set-up at the wall, plug in the new one and set it up? I don't need to run the two modems at the same time, so could just swap the plugs as and when required.

Thanks in advance

Paul

Hi Paul, yes you can swap around your routers provided you know the username and password for your broadband service with BT. I often swap around my routers for a change, at present using my new Orange Bright Box router, tomorrow I might use my 2Wire BT2700HGV router.

ADSL Basic Settings
VPI: 0
VCI: 38
Encapsulation: PPPoA

Swapping routers if the service is a direct link to the company intranet will achieve nothing

Thank you for this, I'll try this, just a quicky, I'm a mac person so a bit woolie on PC's. Is there a way to find out your BT login details via the PC or do I need to speak to work for the info?

What is the EXACT configuration? What devices and which sockets are connected where?

Hi, thanks for the reply, at work at the mo, bit of a chicken and egg situation as I need to sort this out but cannot do it from home as not allowed on forums as they are blocked.

We have a Belkin modem and a similar looking box that says Firewall on it they are linked in a chain, then via cable to the laptop. My thoughts are that if i unplug the cable from the wall socket and disconnect the current set-up, can I then purchase a new modem and set this one up?

Cheers

Paul

Is the Belkin purely a modem? Or is it a hub which combines modem and router?

DOes the Belkin have more than one RJ45 LAN connector? If so, try plugging in to one of those.

If there is only one LAN output, then try disconnecting the "Firewall" box and plugging your alternate device in.

If that fails - borrow a Hub of some sort and try it before buying your own.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Swapping routers if the service is a direct link to the company intranet will achieve nothing

A direct link to the company intranet from a domestic premises, that would be expensive. Their router is maybe configured for a tunnelled connection this would only be configured with the router provided.

I have come across a couple of situations like this. The second box is basically creates and manages the secure link and that is all.

It was just a case of unplugging the modem and installing a new one. In one case, the employer actually purchased the new hub too! as it was cheaper than installing a second line.

As others have indicated, there are a variety of ways to do what you want, but the technicalities of it are unlikely to be the problem.

Your girlfriend's company pays for the connection and are clearly sensitive about what it is used for, hence the firewall. Should they discover that it is being used for unauthorised purposes, especially in support of another business (ie yours), it's quite likely that they would get more than a little annoyed.

And it would be your girlfriend who would be the target of any action they might take, not you.

The safest course is the one suggested by MrSaffron- get a second line installed for your own account.

Hi Billford, thanks for that, think your right, I'll get in touch with BT and sort a second line out.

Cheers

Who pays for the actual phone line it is installed on? If they don't and have effectively stopped you using it for broadband, then they should also pay the line rental!

You could always call them (or get g/f to) and ask if there is a way you could use the line too.

In reply to a post by MHC:

Who pays for the actual phone line it is installed on? If they don't and have effectively stopped you using it for broadband, then they should also pay the line rental!

Best of luck with that one!

BT have no obligation to provide a broadband service, I doubt it prevents the use of a dial-up service which (I think) they do have to cater for, and the voice side is unaffected.

IOW, the line is still perfectly capable of providing the services it is required to provide.

You could always call them (or get g/f to) and ask if there is a way you could use the line too.

That could be worth a try. Tho' if they went to the trouble and expense of supplying a custom firewall, I wouldn't be optimistic about it.

Edited by billford (Mon 02-Jul-12 11:47:47)

Not suggesting that BT have stopped it ... but the employer. If the employer wants to use that Broadband capability of the line for their use and theirs alone, then it is reasonable to expect them to pay line rental too.

I had a similar issue a few years back - them employer wanted to move us to a new supplier which would have restricted personal use and effectively barred any other business use. As they had taken over my existing Broadband contract - and it included an agreement for personal/wife's business, they then had a choice, leave as it or a new line. They chose the, former.

In reply to a post by MHC:

Not suggesting that BT have stopped it ... but the employer. If the employer wants to use that Broadband capability of the line for their use and theirs alone, then it is reasonable to expect them to pay line rental too.

Debatable... part of it maybe.

But it's simply not worth the hassle. A second line isn't particularly expensive, if the OP has his wits about him he can claim some of it against his business expenses, it provides much more flexibility (as well as possibly a back-up connection) and isn't dependent on the whims of another company's policy changes.

For a purely personal account it might have attractions, but if there is significant business use (as would appear to be the case here) a second line would be a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned.

Your own example is hardly comparable... imho.

Using IPStream and WBC not that expensive that companies don't do it.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Swapping routers if the service is a direct link to the company intranet will achieve nothing

As he says, it's a BT internet connection. Not a leased line direct to the office intranet.

In reply to a post by thinkpaul10:

We have a Belkin modem and a similar looking box that says Firewall on it they are linked in a chain, then via cable to the laptop. My thoughts are that if i unplug the cable from the wall socket and disconnect the current set-up, can I then purchase a new modem and set this one up?

I would be almost certain that the firewall just provides a VPN link to her office over a normal internet connection. If you plug your laptop via a cable directly into the Belkin modem, do you get a working internet connection? If so then that's your solution

In reply to a post by billford:

Your girlfriend's company pays for the connection and are clearly sensitive about what it is used for, hence the firewall. Should they discover that it is being used for unauthorised purposes, especially in support of another business (ie yours), it's quite likely that they would get more than a little annoyed.

Which is why if that is the way they want to control access to their systems then they are the ones who should bear all the expenses for installing and renting a second line for their exclusive use. It is a no-brainer really.

Maybe they do... the OP hasn't said either way.

Some companies/ organisations run their own broadband network, basically acting as their own ISP for their own home/remote workers.
if it is just a VPN over a retail broadband service then bypassing the firewall should possible, but the OP might want to check with their partner that would be acceptable use to their employer.