Mixed Media Router?

[jhm]

Please redirect me if this is not the correct forum for this question.
I have a wired LAN with the following elements: a Win7 Laptop, a laser Printer, a TiVo (DVR) and a TV which connect to the internet through a cable modem. The wired LAN also connects to a wireless router which supports a Win 8.1 tablet.

I have a Homegroup which currently has the Laptop, Printer and TiVo as members. I have tried unsuccessfully to join the wireless Tablet to the Homegroup. Disabling the Laptop Ethernet adapter and enabling its wireless adapter allows both the Laptop and the Tablet to join the Homegroup but the wired TiVo and wired Printer are then missing in action.

I've read elsewhere that what I need to enable file and printer sharing between wired and wireless subnets(?) is a Mixed Media Router a.k.a. MMR (and a lot of fiddling). Another article referred to a “bridge” as being required? My search so far for an MMR has turned up routers(?) which allow for file sharing between various video/audio equipment and file types but nothing which allows file, printer and internet sharing between wired and wireless subnets. Thanks, any help appreciated.

 

[thiggins]

If your wireless is being supplied by a router connected to your cable modem (which I assume is your primary router), the wireless device will be on a separate network, separated by a firewall.

Easiest thing to do is use the wireless router's Access Point mode if it has one. If it doesn't follow the instructions here to convert the router to an access point. That will put the wireless device(s) on the same network.

 

[jhm]

thiggins, thank you for your reply.

The system is part of a structure wired installation. The cable modem is wired to a 4 port internet router which feeds to two 5 port switches and the netgear R6300v2 wireless router. I need to maintain the wired system which will be expanded in the near term to include a NAS and additional wired computers. I do wish to allow the wireless Tablet and other future wireless elements to join the wired Homegroup and I am actively searching for a way to make it happen.

 

[thiggins]

Convert the NETGEAR to an AP and you should be all set.

 

[azazel1024]

Convert the NETGEAR to an AP and you should be all set.

Correct. Ensure that the Netgear is connect by LAN port to one of those switches and make sure DHCP is turned off on it and you should be good to go (probably also need to set a static IP address outside of the DHCP range of the modem/router all in one).

I am assuming here that what you have going on is double NAT with the Netgear connected through the WAN port to your switches (and not in AP mode).

 

[jhm]

thank you thiggins and azazel1024,

I let you know how it goes.
JHM