Connectivity Between Wired and Wireless Devices

raze599 · 11 Feb 2021 at 21:00

Hello,

I am having trouble with using my wired network printer over Wi-Fi.

The printer and my main workstation are connected to the router via ethernet. However, I have installed a separate mesh Wi-Fi system (TP-Link Deco S4) which has created its own network separate to the one that the printer and workstation are on - leaving me unable to use my printer from any device connected to the wireless network.

Is there a way to remedy this problem so that the networks can communicate between each other?

If not, would it work if I attached a network switch to one of the ports on the Deco system to plug my workstation and printer into? I'd rather attempt a solution via the software route if possible as this would take more time and effort to re-route my cabling.

Thank you all

BigT · 12 Feb 2021 at 05:57

You’ll need to run the Decos in Access point mode and not router mode, which they do by default. Then the Decos will then rely only your main router for their network addressing, the same as your wired devices, and everything will be able to talk to each other.

raze599 · 12 Feb 2021 at 15:18

Thank you, that did the trick. I couldn't have imagined it being so simple.

BigT · 12 Feb 2021 at 16:30

Mesh systems that can, nearly always default to router mode. It's super annoying because you end up double NAT on your wireless devices and can't communicate with anything wired straight into your main router as you discovered. However having the mesh act as a router lets them enable all sorts of features they can market like parental controls etc. and many people these days I guess don't bother with anything wired and wouldn't notice double NAT. These features won't work if they act as just 'dumb' access points.