Can I interchangeably use a router on two different internet connections?

[918]

I have a Netgear WNDR3400. I was wondering if I could use the same router on two separate internet connections without setting it up again? Or do I need to reset it everytime I switch to the separate connection? Thanks for your help.

[efflandt]

It depends what the WAN of the router is connected to. in most cases your router would automatically get an IP address from whatever you connect to and you just need to make sure that the private LAN IP range of you router is a different range than its WAN.

If you connect to a plain cable modem that is not also a router, you may need to either reset the modem (if it has a reset button) or totally power it down (including removing any battery) for it to forget the hardware address of the last device that connected to it and allow your router to connect.

If you connect to a plain DSL bridge modem (or one that was put into bridge mode) you might need to set up PPPoE on the router WAN. But most DSL modems are modem/routers that handle the PPPoE login for you and automatically give you a private IP address.

[Loo]

u

[rowlfe]

The problem is with your connection to your ISP. Your router holds the user id and password for ONE connection. You can NOT use a different connection without using a different user id and password. Your router has no provision to handle more than one account with your ISP. With a cable modem, you COULD add a second cable modem with a different user id and password for a 2nd account with your ISP, because THAT is how cable broadband works, with every user (your neighbors) on the same wire but with different user ids and passwords. Cable broadband is a big party line. You can NOT use a 2nd device with a DSL link. A DSL link can only use ONE DSL device on the phone line because it is a "private" line to your ISP.