Laptop "loses" printer hard-wired to wireless NIC computer on same network

[Dougmeister]

Two computers running Windows 7: laptop = Home, desktop = Ultimate.
Neither computer has any problems connecting to the Internet.
Laser printer hooked up to the desktop via USB.

I have Verizon FIOS, so I have the stupid 'Actiontec' modem/router. I shut off the radio on that and connected a Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 (WAN port?) to the (LAN port?) of the Actiontec. The Buffalo provides a stronger signal and I like the GUI better. I will switch back to the Actiontec if you think it would help.

The problem is that the laptop has a hard time "seeing" the desktop. I've tried and tried to get the stupid "Homegroup" to work, but to no avail.

1) Where do I even start? Trying to get a folder shared between the two computers?
2) Would a USB Print Server help?

(Edit: the computers are on the same subnet.)

P.S. Old thread here, but I never really got the problem resolved. I am currently unplugging the printer from the desktop and plugging it into the laptop... far from ideal.

 

[gsaldivar]

I would first check to make sure both DHCP and uPnP are turned off on the secondary (Buffalo) router. Then reset everything, and confirm that all your devices are pulling DHCP address from the Verizon router.

 

[Dougmeister]

But does that make sense if the Buffalo has the better signal?

 

[gsaldivar]

As I understand it you're using the Buffalo only for wireless, and the Actiontec only for routing (wireless turned off). A network only needs one DHCP server, in this scenario it should be the Actiontec. So, anything connected to your Buffalo should get an address assigned to it by your Actiontec. If you have two devices serving up two sets of DHCP addresses, it might explain the problems you're having.

Internet > WAN port > Actiontec Router (DHCP ON, Wireless OFF) > LAN Port > Network cable > LAN Port > Buffalo Router (DHCP OFF, uPnP OFF, Wireless ON) > Wireless/LAN to your computers

 

[Dougmeister]

Ok, changing direction on you a *little* bit.

I was in a hurry last night, trying to get outside to mow the stupid grass, and I goofed something up. I didn't write things down, but I *think* I turned off DHCP on the Buffalo. Can't remember if I turned DHCP "on" on the Actiontec. Bottom line is that I lost all Internet connectivity. I panicked and took the Buffalo out of the equation.

I am going to see if the original problem has gone away. I originally added the Buffalo for better signal strength, but the computers have moved since then.

If I want to add the Buffalo back in, how would I do that? I had a buddy come over a few years ago to get it up and running. I would follow your instructions up above, but is there a certain order in which they have to be done?

 

[Brainonska511]

The way I set up my parents FiOS with that crappy actiontec router was:

Coax into Actiontec (wireless off, DHCP on)--> WRT54G set up as a dumb wireless access point (no DHCP). I believe the connection from the Actiontec to the WRT54G is from LAN to LAN, no WAN involved. Hardline connections go straight to the Actiontec. All computers see each other just fine.

The only setting I changed on the Actiontec router was to turn the wireless radio off, since the encryption was WEP only. I think the WRT54G was set to WPA2 (or at least WPA, which should be fine in suburbia where signals don't travel very far out of houses).

Something like this:
http://www.wikihow.com/Convert-Linksys-WRT54G-to-Be-an-Access-Point
Connect your Buffalo to a computer by itself. Input all the appropriate settings for it (give it a new static IP in the same range as your network, but not the same as the Actiontec, turn off DHCP, setup wireless), then connect it to the Actiontec.

 

[Dougmeister]

Can I give the Actiontec 192.168.1.1 and the Buffalo 192.168.1.2 or will that screw things up?

 

[Brainonska511]

Can I give the Actiontec 192.168.1.1 and the Buffalo 192.168.1.2 or will that screw things up?

I don't think you should have a problem if you do that.

 

[JackMDS]

Using a Wireless Router as a switch with an Access Point - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html