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Solved
Nighthawk X6 : cannot connect to 2.4G printer when laptop on 5G
I just got a Nighthawk X6. It's got great coverage, but when my laptops are connected via 5G then I cannot print anything. My printer (like all others it seems) can only connect via 2.4g. Wired to ro...
The wireless clients behind the RT-56U cannot see the wireless clients behind the X6 and vice versa. Moreover, the Wired PCs cannot see any wireless clients. Even with wireless disabled, the cable modem is still operating as a router.
My recommendation still stands: convert the X6 and RT-56U to APs. BTW, you could have used cheaper range extenders as APs.
Now, it sounds like you have 3 routers. Let me see if I got this right:
Cable modem/router-----Ethernet-----X6-----Wired PCs
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Powerline Wireless clients
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RT-56U-----Wired PCs
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Wireless clients
With this setup the clients behind the X6 can't see the clients behind the RT-56U and vice versa. You should configure both the RT-56U and the X6 as Access Points. Your cable modem will function as the main router.
An alternative setup is to put the cable modem into bridge mode. This will disable its router function. Then use either the X6 or the RT-56U as your "main" router. I find this to be safer because this place all your devices behind your own router and out of the hands of your ISP. The following example shows the X6 as the main router:
Wired PCs Wired PCs
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Cable modem-----X6-----Ethernet or Powerline-----RT-56U as AP
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Wireless clients Wireless Clients
Cable modem has wireless disabled. This is what it looks like
Cable modem/router-----Ethernet-----X6-----Wireless Clients downstairs
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| Wired PCs
Powerline
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RT-56U-----(Wired PCs-none)
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Wireless clients upstairs (too far from X6)
The wireless clients behind the RT-56U cannot see the wireless clients behind the X6 and vice versa. Moreover, the Wired PCs cannot see any wireless clients. Even with wireless disabled, the cable modem is still operating as a router.
My recommendation still stands: convert the X6 and RT-56U to APs. BTW, you could have used cheaper range extenders as APs.