Accessessing two networks at home

[americana]

I hope somone can help me.
I have a cable internet access with one network running via powerline modules (TV cable boxes and media streamer) and another using CAT cable (main PC + NAS).
Problem is from PC (cat net) I cannot see powerline net devices incl media streamer, although all devices have access to internet via same cable modem.

Any ideas how I can resolve this so I can see all devices on both networks ?

Thanks

 

[mgmcc]

Are all devices in the same Subnet? In other words, are the first three octets (numbers) of their IP addresses the same,
for example 192.168.1.x ?

 

[PeaB4YouGo]

Are all devices in the same Subnet? In other words, are the first three octets (numbers) of their IP addresses the same,
for example 192.168.1.x ?

Ummm...that's not what "subnet" means.

 

[mgmcc]

Ummm...that's not what "subnet" means.

...so if my question is wrong, what does it mean? Perhaps you could have posted something more helpful.

 

[americana]

mgmcc
Thanks for quick answer. That cat net is IP prefix 192. and the powerline net is IP prefix 81.

So the pc and NAS is on the IP 192 and the media streamer + laptop is on the IP 81. Both nets have open shares homegroup status.

any ideas ?

 

[edwar]

If the Powerline IP starts with 81 then somehow you have it connected directly to the cable modem and it is getting a Public IP address. You need to put all the Powerline stuff After your Router.

 

[mgmcc]

Don't understand that. Where is the Laptop getting its IP address from because it appears to have an internet address, rather than an address within your Local Area Network? Obviously to communicate, all of the devices need to have LAN IP addresses.

 

[americana]

edwar + mgmmc
Tks for input. Fact is after cable modem providing internet plus tv cable channels, (via 2 x tv boxes)I have installed switch into which both nets are plugged in. So both have same origin i.e. the same switch just behind cable modem. Thereafter, router sits on cat Lan into which I have PC connected via cat.

I fear if I move powerline lan behind router I will lose all cable tv connectivity. Furthermore it would not suit physical layout in house.

I realise an interesting puzzle and appreciate your assistance with ideas for resolution.

 

[edwar]

You need to post the make and model of the cable modem and any other Ethernet device you have connected. Could be what you are calling a switch is really a router. If what you are calling a switch is really a router then you have Split the LAN into 2 segments. One from the cable modem router and the second from the other router you are using.

 

[americana]

edwar - thanks for the clue. I disconnected router between cat cable and pc (sit next to each other) and now I see devices on the powerline connection. Not sure why this makes difference but it does. Success -in part .

Problem now is how do I configure router as I use to enable wifi (for Iphone) and also as a switch to plug in NAS via cat. Where can I plug it in where it does not cause a conflict ?

ideas welcome

 

[edwar]

If the modem is "ALSO" a "ROUTER" with built in WiFi then you need a SWITCH only. You can turn that second router into just a switch by not using the Internet/WAN port on it and turning off the DHCP server on it. You then connect from the cable modem/router to one of the LAN ports of the second router. That turns it into a switch only.

 

[americana]

edwar - You are spot on. As suggested disabled DHCP (+ NAT) on my cisco router and it now behaves as a switch.
I now have full visibility devices on both lan's as well as wireless connectivity. Perfect !!!!

Thanks for your help.

 

[edwar]

Right Now they are not 2 separate LANs. They are all one. Glad I could help.

Also change the IP addrees of the Cisco router to be in the same range as your modem and also out of the modem/router DHCP server range. So if the modem/router is 192.168.x.1 or 254 change the cisco to 192.168.x.2 or 253 and make sure the modem/router is not set to hand out either of those addresses. That way you can get to the Cisco when and if needed. you might have to connect one PC directly to it, without any other device connected to it, and assign a static IP to that one PC to make these changes now that the Cisco DHCP server has been turned off.