Creating a private network with a public WiFi internet connection

[DominikHoffmann]

I just moved into an office suite of a shared office space. While I could order and pay for my own ISP connection I also have access to the building’s free WiFi connection, which supplies internet access through the same ISP at reasonably high speed.

Is there a hardware solution that would allow some router to act like a bridge/switch that would route internet access trough the WiFi network (without double NAT) and provide private LAN connections to only the computers and printer in my office?

 

[techwarrior]

There are a few Travel routers I have seen that can do this, they are intended for connecting to hotel WiFi and then broadcasting your private network. But, they may have limits like number of connections or weak WiFi.

Another way to do it is how I often do on vacations. I connect a Mac to the Hotel WiFi, then use Internet Connection Sharing to an Ethernet port which connects to an Airport Express (but it could be any router capable of running in Access Point mode). It is not elegant, but it works well.

 

[satcomer]

Get a router that can have a VPN Server inside it! That would be the best way not to have your desktop Mac online all the time!

 

[Mikael H]

Is there a hardware solution that would allow some router to act like a bridge/switch that would route internet access trough the WiFi network (without double NAT) and provide private LAN connections to only the computers and printer in my office?

You can’t avoid double NAT if you put yourself behind two NATs. So unless the office WiFi presents all customers with a publicly routable IPv4 address, or it’s IPv6 only, you’re out of luck.
If you accept double NAT, you may be fine for most purposes just using a firewall in front of your gear, but there are some benefits to be had for the price of a separate Internet connection.