Question about internet sharing in macOS

[hallux]

Background - I have an Asus router that is dropping the 2.4 Ghz band multiple times a day. This probably wouldn't be an issue for most people except I have two devices that will only work on that band. After some run-around with Asus over the last week it's finally been determined they will take responsibility and take care of the issue - by having me send my router to them for repair, leaving me without wireless/internet for 2 weeks!

OK, 2 weeks without internet? HAHA! I use streaming services for TV, that's not really an option. So, I'm trying to find a stop-gap. The option of internet sharing has bubbled up since I have a Mac Mini I can (and do) hard-wire, but will my 2012 Mac Mini support sharing over both 5 Ghz and 2.4 Ghz? Will I need to pick one or the other? I'm just not thrilled with exposing a computer directly to the internet like that.

Worst-case, I still have my WRT54GL someplace but I think I was having trouble with it when I decided to replace it. Could I use the WRT54GL between the modem and the Mini and use the Mac Mini as my WiFi AP?

 

[barbu]

I think you can safely enable Internet sharing on the mini without any further config changes (no need to hang mini directly off the internet). The thing will be that clients connecting to the mini's AP will be double-NATed. This may or may not be a problem, but certainly worth trying as a stop gap measure.
I am pretty sure minis had dual band wifi by 2012 but I haven't checked. It will certainly support at least 2.4 tho, so you should be OK.

 

[hallux]

(no need to hang mini directly off the internet)

Except I'll need to send my Asus router in for service so I'll lose that layer...

 

[barbu]

Except I'll need to send my Asus router in for service so I'll lose that layer...

ah sorry, of course.
Putting the mini on the net should not be a problem. Just make sure all remote services are disabled (unless you know what you're doing). My iMac has been running services exposed to net 24/7 for years, you should be OK.

 

[hallux]

So... 2 months later. The 2.4gHz on the Asus completely failed back at the end of February. I ended up setting up the Mac Mini behind the Asus router and then shared the wired connection through WiFi to get those devices on WiFi. After I left a 1-star review on Amazon Asus had me contact the customer loyalty department, who responded that none of that model were in stock and they could not process an advance replacement and did not know when they would have the stock to do it.

I ended up just replacing the router, bought a Synology RT2600AC and have been happy with it so far. One thing it's allowed me to do is set up a single SSID and the device/router decide which band is used for that device (the Asus was supposed to do this, didn't work so I had to have a 2.4 SSID and a 5 SSID). I need to install a firmware update still, I guess it adds some more features.