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NeilAFCB's avatar
NeilAFCB
Aspirant
Sep 01, 2022

Network issues with Orbi RBK503 and Plex Media Server

Hi,

I have the Netgear Orbi RBK53 unit mesh network (1 x RBR50 router and 2 x RBS50 Satellites). I have the RBR50 connected to my cable modem (which is in 'modem only mode) via ethernet and the RBR50 router is connected via WiFi to my 2 RBS50 Satellites creating my home WiFi Network called AFCB. 

This set up works very well for most of the devices in my home except on one, my Desktop PC. On this PC I have a Plex Media Server that feeds the laptops, tablets and TVs around the house by them connecting to my AFCB WiFi Network. In an attempt to increase the network speeds on my Desktop PC, I have tried connecting it via ethernet cable to the closest RBS50 Satellite and this works very well indeed! 

However, as soon as I connect the ethernet cable to my PC, the network name given to the Ethernet connection is Orbi and this stops any of my laptops, tablets and TVs from connecting to the Plex Media Server on my Desktop PC with those devices reporting that 'Desktop PC' is unavailable. If I remove the ethernet cable and connect the Desktop PC via WiFi, the devices can all find and connect to the Plex Media Server on my Desktop PC.

 

I have tried bridging the Ethernet and Wifi connections on my Windows 10 Desktop PC, but keep getting errors. If I leave the Ethernet and Wifi connections active at the same time, then eventually the WiFi connection drops leaving the ethernet connection running which also prevents connections to my Desktop PC's Plex Media Server. I've reserved IP addresses for all of the Satellites and tablets, laptops and TVs etc, but this hasn't made any difference.

 

Has anyone else been in this situation? Or can anyone provide some guidance to allow me to continue using my faster ethernet connection to one of the satellites instead of the slower WiFi?

 

Thanks in advance,

Neil

2 Replies

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  • plemans's avatar
    plemans
    Guru
    Sep 01, 2022

    When you're changing your connecting to the network from wireless to wired, you'll end up getting a different ip address. 

    Also, if you're running the plex setup on a windows pc, it'll (by default) change you to a public setting on the computer. 

    So you might have to rescan for your plex version on the devices running plex as it'll be on a different ip address as well as you'll need to go into the computer and change it to a private connection on windows. 

    I'm running plex on a computer at my home and frequently switch it from a wired to wireless connection when I'm testing thinks. Usually when I have issues its related to being on a different ip address and the devices using the server needing to rescan for what ip address its on or related to private setting on windows. 

    • NeilAFCB's avatar
      NeilAFCB
      Aspirant
      Sep 01, 2022

      Hi plemans,

       

      I checked my ethernet network in powershell and it is displaying as a Private network, not public. 

      When i've encountered these issues, i've tried the "Retry connection" in my Plex players on the TVs but none of them find the server either on the original WifI private IP address nor the new Ethernet private IP address.

      Does this "Retry connection" effectively do a rescan of local IP address in the same range as the IP of the original Plex server? (i.e. Plex Server on Wifi is 192.168.1.107 and ethernet is 192.168.1.112) 

       

      My issue appears to be that the Ethernet connection is on a Network called 'Orbi' and my LG Tvs with the Plex players are connected via Wifi to my Wifi network which has another name (EsmeFreddy in this instance).