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Forum Discussion
harropenk
Jan 22, 2021Aspirant
Question using the AC750 to connect WiFi signal to an ethernet device
This question pertains to using the AC750 EX3700 WiFi range extender to connect a single ethernet device. We have a printer which needs to be connected via WiFi and we can't run cables due to where ...
harropenk
Jan 25, 2021Aspirant
Hi,
Thank you for your reply. Perhaps I didn't ask my question correctly, but I think your answer doesn't address my problem:
(1) We wouldn't be using this as a WiFi extender. Instead, we're trying to connect a wired ethernet printer to our corporate wireless network. The netgear unit has an ethernet port, which according to directions/specifications can be used to connect wired devices to wireless. Your answer would only address trying to connect a wireless device via a bridge mode. We've actually tried that with a couple of competing devices, and sure enough - they put the printer in a completely different subnet. And .... because those devices routing capability was so low-end, we couldn't make changes or get it into a pass-through mode. Heck, even connecting to our WiFi was kind of iffy - we usually keep the corporate SSID hidden, but the way to connect to the network required a visible SSID. Easy enough, we made it temporarily visible just to connect this (ultimately not viable) WiFi-to-ethernet converter, but all of that could have been alleviated if they just allowed users to type in the SSID.
(2) So again, if using this device as a WiFi-to-(wired) ethernet converter, does the unit change the subnet or does it maintain the same subnet at the WiFi? Is is a router or a hub/switch in that mode?
plemans
Jan 25, 2021Guru - Experienced User
I understand that you're not using it as an extender.
But in extender mode, it allows you to use the ethernet port as a direct connection in the same subnet.
I don't know what devices you used prior or how you set it up, but whenever I setup a device hardwired into an extender, it pulls the same subnet as my network.
And hiding your ssid doesn't make it any more secure.