Can I hook a legacy Ethernet Printer/Scanner/Copier to Orbi mesh network using a satellite unit?

[SusyH]

Actual Model: Orbi RBK753S-100NAS, satellite:RBS750, AC4200 series (not in your choice menu). I have just ordered the 3 piece Orbi Tri-band and I was hoping that I could order an additonal satellite and connect our large business legacy Ricoh printer/copier/scanner to the satellite to join the network and be used by wireless and wired devices on the network. Right now it can only be accessed if you are connected on the wired part of the network, the wireless devices can't access it even though they are going to the same router(cable modem combo). Inshort the Ricoh has no wireless capabilities, but it does have an Ethernet connections. This is not a inexpensive home printer that is easily replaced, and we need the capabilities of this printer. Any suggestions or information would be helpful. Thank You, SusyH.

[FURRYe38 · Accepted solution]

Glad it's working well now for you. Please mark your thread as solved so others will know. 

Enjoy. 

[CrimpOn]

Can you clarify where the printer is connected? i.e. (a) to one of the LAN ports on the Orbi router or satellite, or (b) to a LAN port on the modem/router that the Orbi is connected to?

And, the wired devices that are able to print.  What are they connected to?

[FURRYe38]

Be sure to visit the Orbi AX Forum for additional help and information.

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-AX/bd-p/en-home-orbi-ax

Yes you can connect wired periferals to the RBS 

Good Luck. 

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@SusyH wrote:

Actual Model: Orbi RBK753S-100NAS, satellite:RBS750, AC4200 series (not in your choice menu). I have just ordered the 3 piece Orbi Tri-band and I was hoping that I could order an additonal satellite and connect our large business legacy Ricoh printer/copier/scanner to the satellite to join the network and be used by wireless and wired devices on the network. Right now it can only be accessed if you are connected on the wired part of the network, the wireless devices can't access it even though they are going to the same router(cable modem combo). Inshort the Ricoh has no wireless capabilities, but it does have an Ethernet connections. This is not a inexpensive home printer that is easily replaced, and we need the capabilities of this printer. Any suggestions or information would be helpful. Thank You, SusyH.

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[Mikey94025]

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@SusyH wrote:

Right now it can only be accessed if you are connected on the wired part of the network, the wireless devices can't access it even though they are going to the same router(cable modem combo).

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Yes, ethernet-only devices should be able to connect to an Orbi satellite and appear to other devices connected to other Orbi satellites or the Orbi base.  It is a single network with connectivity between everything (except when some problemmatic devices are used, like specific switches).

However, please explain why in your current setup your wireless devices cannot access the Ricoh.  If you are using your cable modem+router then anything wired to it should be accessible wireless devices connect to the wifi from your cable modem+router (since it is a single network shared between its wired and wireless devices).  There may be something specific to the Ricoh printer and its config that is preventing your current wireless devices from accessing the printer, even when they are on the same network, and switching to the Orbi will not change that.

[CrimpOn]

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@CrimpOn wrote:

Can you clarify where the printer is connected? i.e. (a) to one of the LAN ports on the Orbi router or satellite, or (b) to a LAN port on the modem/router that the Orbi is connected to?

And, the wired devices that are able to print.  What are they connected to?

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In addition, it would be useful to know the IP address currently assigned to:

• The printer
• Any of the 'wired' devices that is able to access the printer
• Any of the "WiFi" devices that is NOT able to access the printer.

Thanks

[SusyH]

UPDATE:   I was able to get the wired ethernet Ricoh to work on the system, but first I had to change the static IP address to one that is in the Orbi IP address ranges. The Ricoh installer had set it with a static IP address 11 years ago when it was installed (hence a very old but super nice printer, scanner, copier, fast laser that can print double sided, staple and use up  to 11x17 paper.) However the old network that I replaced with the Orbi had a different IP address range. I found the range in the large Netgear manual on the product  (that I downloaded BEFORE I took the network down and printed on the very same printer!) I found the former IP address  on the printer in the properties of the printer software on the computers that used it. Thus I figured out why Orbi was't "talking" to Ricoh printer over the ethernet wiring.

I did call tech support with Netgear when I tried to add the printer to the network, but the young man obviously did not understand about static IP's as he keep yelling at me that the address is assigned by the router - which is true if it is an active, not a static address. What I asked him was about reserving the static address or bank of addresses as I had done in older networks so that the address would not be used in the DHCP server range he became quite agitated. The Netgear manual and the actual software available through the Orbi app (or through a web interface) do not match the instruction manual, hence my query on that point. Needless to say, I did not get an answer about reserving an address, however the number I assigned to the printer is way down in the range and we don't seem to have a problem.

In the meantime I was able to change the IP address in the printer by myself (I am a 73 year old computer Warrior!!!) and the Ricoh printer joined the wired network after a printer re-boot. Yeah to me for figuring all that  out on my own! (Remember these  things didn't exist for me during my college years and I was not formerely trained in networking - have had to learn the hardway.) I then reinstalled the printer with the latest drivers in the computers that use that printer. So it is now working on the ethernet hardwired network.

As for using a non-wifi printer via wifi. I found several add on devices that advertise they can hook to the ethernet outlet (there are others for USB ports) that could work. However, after writing to one company the tech support suggested that I bring the actual ethernet cable  directly to main  Orbi Router (which has 2 extra LAN line RJ45 jacks) rather than run from the switch to the Orbi Router. That, he suggested, should allow me to reach it wirelessly. I haven't tried that as yet as my husband's legacy computer works best on the ethernet connection and so I have to have my computer wired in tothe network to use it. When necessary (if the printer lasts that long), I will try to connect through the wifi signal from the Orbi mesh and see if I have found the solution on my own!

Therefore I would say at this point, unless someone actually has had experience  with this variation that they wish to share, I have a workable method to continue to use our Ricoh printer, abeit through the ethernet cable.

My thanks to  those who took the time to read my question and my responses,

Susan Harris

www.wheelchairs.com

[Mikey94025]

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@SusyH wrote:

In the meantime I was able to change the IP address in the printer by myself (I am a 73 year old computer Warrior!!!) and the Ricoh printer joined the wired network after a printer re-boot.

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Glad you figured out the issue and resolved the problem.  This is why using DHCP instead of static IP addresses for devices is usually preferred and results in less network maintenance, because if changing the router in the future you will not break network connectivity and the device will receive a new, valid IP address.  You can still set a "fixed" DHCP address via your Orbi's DHCP config so that within your Orbi's network your printer will keep receiving the same IP address and you can reference the printer via a fixed IP address (that won't change until your replace your Orbi or completed reconfigure your Orbi's network).

[SusyH]

Thank you for your comment. I think that there was a reason why the Ricoh specialist that installed this machine (11 years ago) set a static IP, but I can't remember it, so  I just changed the address, but you are completely correct. However one day this printer may not be in  service and that will solve the problem. Unfortunately, the same capability printers are still rather pricey. The users (my husband and I) are also  near the end of our  useful working span as we are in our 70's. So at some point, it won't  be  a problem. 🙂 

But for now - I am the Computer Warrior!

Susy

[SusyH]

Final solution to wireless printing to wired only ethernet printer.  As long as my Ethernet printer is hooked to my ethernet via my Cat 6 cable to the wall, which then goes to the "server" room, to a bridge to my Net Gear 24 port switch (1 gig) (stack of 2 switches) from there to the Orbi router, yes it will print. One caveat, this printer also has a static IP address at this time and so I had to make sure that the static IP is within the Orbi range. Previous net work IP address was NOT in the Orbi range. I changed the address in the printer myself and re-booted the printer. Then Orbi "saw" it as a wired  device.

Next I updated my drivers for the printer and reinstalled the software so that it would  "find" the printer on the wired network. The last piece to the puzzle was to have a computer set  only on the WIFI from the Orbi print to the printer. Yes, the printer now prints to the Ricoh in our basement level, wireless from the main level connected to Orbi.

The printer does not have its own WIFI, but luckily we have an outlet near the printer to get to the orbi through the walls, to the switches to the Orbi Router. If we didn't have an outlet near by the solutions would be to get an Orbi satelitte and plug the ethernet cable into it (my orginal question) or there are some devices (on Amazon and other places) that advertise that they will add wifi connection to an ethernet (or in some cases) USB connection printers.

I thank all my responders. All there comments helped me to work through this maze. And behind the scenes: there is an error out problem with the printer itself that the Ricoh repairman is getting (I hope) parts to fix. This was hampering my ablilities to test my connections and do test print pages (plus all the running up and down the stairs).  Now that I am in much better condition after going up and downstairs, I will happily sign off,

Susy, the Computer Warrior

Lives to battle another day.

Thank You kind folks!

[FURRYe38 · Accepted solution]

Glad it's working well now for you. Please mark your thread as solved so others will know. 

Enjoy.