Double Lan for Plex computer

lab4 · 23 Jan 2019 at 08:31

Good morning,
I have my Plex media server setup next to a 2nd router in the house. This router then only broadcasts on 5ghz to the tvs in the house for plex. SSID 2

The other routers are on a separate SSID 1 and run everything else, tablets, phones, other computers.

All works well. However, I wish to be able to access the NAS on the home network (Router 1) on the Plex Media Server. Currently I have a network card for plex, and then a USB dongle for accessing the home network.

Is there anyway that this PC can use the network card to keep all of the Plex side, whilst simultaneously using the usb wifi dongle to access the home network on SSID 1 to access the NAS?

Many thanks

lab4 · 23 Jan 2019 at 11:21

Ok yes.

Basic sky router on main socket into house.

Cat5 cable to other side of house to Apple AirPort Extreme. DHCP turned off.

Cat5 from sky router to router (Archer) in home cinema. Logic is, when connected to standard house WiFi, ie SSID from sky router and Apple AirPort Extreme (mirrored extender), cannot deliver high enough bandwidth to Plex app on TV.

Adding the Archer router and allowing it to emit its own SSID on 5ghz only enables 4K playback via Plex app.

When using sky or Apple routers 5ghz signal, bandwidth is not high enough.

The Cat5 cable to the Archer router goes in to a switch, the switch then feeds the Archer router.

The Plex media server is a PC, lan attaches to the Archer router.

The Nas box is cable attached directly to the sky router.

All pcs in the house are hard wired to the sky/Apple routers. They can all see the NAS.

I’ll update with a diagram ASAP. Clearly I’m doing something amiss.

lab4 · 23 Jan 2019 at 11:34

That’s the theory in my head.

So before I had the Archer, I tried the 5ghz on Apple and sky routers to the TVs.

This had bandwidth issues.

For info the home WiFi has 7 tablets, 4 Apple TVs, 3 games consoles, 4 security cameras, 2 Avrs, 3 laptops, then 2 sky q boxes.

Now whilst volume wise the routers can cope, clearly there is a flaw somewhere.

As the master sky q box, the 4K one is under the main tv, this obviously acts as a repeater. Could it be that the sky q connection to the router is not able to handle it? Ie the TVs connect to the strongest signal, which would be the sky box underneath it, not directly to the sky router WiFi.

lab4 · 23 Jan 2019 at 11:43

Hahah, let me get home and do a drawing.

lab4 · 23 Jan 2019 at 15:03

@Avalon because I can't hardwire all the TVs in the house. If I use the plex app, then all of the media info is passed via this. Hardwiring would mean direct access to the PC, not the Plex interface I believe (I could be wrong, this is NOT a snap back at you). Also how would the tvs then access Netflix, Prime etc. 4K over wifi - no issue on 5Ghz, with nothing else interferring.

@Hyburnate I work from home as a designer, so there are 7 PCs for rendering and 3D work, and then numerous testing devices.