[Paul R.]

The setup is that the web feed from my ISP goes into a "fast switch" via a CAT6 cable. Then another of the ethernet connections from the fast switch goes to my desktop machine, and yet another goes to my wireless router, another goes to a PowerLink adapter, and the last one feeds another switch. Those last 3 all connect to "a lot of other stuff".

As noted in my "Body of Thread", I cannot "find" the wireless router from my desktop machine, which is connected via a "fast switch" and ethernet. Windows took out the nice little "map" of one's network back in Windows 10, and neither going into Network Settings or Device Manager locates the wireless router. No address I've tried (obtained through AI web searches) works. If I can't locate the wireless router, obviously I can't log in to it, which I need to do to change it to a range that does not conflict with the Miracast address.

When I connect and power up the Miracast HDMI dongle to the TV, I get a nice entry screen, but can do nothing with it / on it via the TV's remote - because... the dongle is not connecting to the wifi network. That's evidently due to the address conflict.

Is the wireless router being "hidden" from my desktop by the fast switch?

Can I only access the wireless router login via my laptop's wifi connection? Wifey has it with her, but will be back this evening.

I'd take the fast switch out of the network and try connecting the desktop machine directly to the wireless router via ethernet, but, that sort of thing always scrambles my network, connections to printers and such, and is basically another(!) headache I don't need.

The option in Settings to view all network adaptors goes freaking nowhere useful.

Anyone have any ideas?

[Paul R.]

This all got precipitated by Bluetooth “disappearing” from the laptop. Apparently the Bluetooth circuit has failed, or, a MicroSoft update killed it. I’ve attempted several hours of troubleshooting of THAT, and the machine behaves as if there is no Bluetooth adapter in it anymore, even though I made no hardware, software, or settings changes. The Bluetooth failure occurred well before I did anything with Miracast whatsoever. :-(

Disclaimer: I am NOT expert with computer networks, and that all seems to have become worse with every new Windows Version after Win 7 — maybe even XP. :-(

Thanks in advance!

[logi_cal869]

It might be helpful to the geeks - yours truly included - to post a screenshot (may require more than one) of your settings.

If you do a web search for how to access the “CMD” (command prompt) console and display the “ipconfig/all” settings, the results would assist your query at least in part.

[SteveH]

I have nothing like your setup but i sent you some WAG suggestions that you can try anyway if you like via PM. (Either they will work or they will not work.) Good luck...

[logi_cal869]

Re your Bluetooth: Generally speaking, Bluetooth is reserved for peripherals (buds, mice, etc.). I wonder if you’re confusing WiFi & Bluetooth.

Regardless, does your phone pick up any Bluetooth or WiFi in range of your laptop & router?

Just another data point for troubleshooting...

[FreedomPoster]

WTH is a “fast switch” and why isn’t all your gear behind a router, which acts as a firewall?

Screwy setup on the face of it. Who is the ISP?

[EVO X]

I don’t know anything about Miracast but it appears to work with WI-FI only. If your blue tooth isn’t working on your laptop that is indicative of a problem that might bleed over to WI-FI. I would do a blue tooth reset on the laptop. Try to fix the problem you can first identify.

[coffee4me]

Who is your ISP?

Are you using their supplied modem/router? If so what is the name and model number of it? If not what are you using?

How have you configured the wireless router that you have connected to the switch? By that I mean is it acting as a DHCP server? What is it’s name and model number.

Pics of the physical layout are always great.

[SteveH]

see if you have a bluetooth on your desktop and it is turned on. go to settings and then go to bluetooth. if the bluetooth switch is off, toggle the switch to on.

also, move the desktop as close as you can to the TV on which the receiving Miracast dongle is installed so it is within the (short) bluetooth range. Sometimes for me the range is very short. a web search says 5-10 meters but i have experienced fails if it is spanning more than a few feet.

also try connecting the receiving Miracast dongle to your desktop to initialize it. that way it is super close. then after initializing it, switch it to the tv. (i have never done this and i have never messed with miracast so it might not work, or at least not work the way that i am guessing it works).

[Spktyr]

IT consultant here. This sounds like a non-standard configuration, specifically that you have a router behind a router, or that your wireless router is running in bridge mode - in which case you’re going to be hard pressed to find the IP address to talk to it. There are ways to do so.

First of all, we need to verify that the connection is indeed from the ISP to the switch and then to the desktop and router. Second, we need the specific make and model number/name of all the networking equipment - the ISP modem or router, the switches, the wireless router and the “PowerLink.” Third, we need to know what ISP you are using.

This particular setup sounds quite old and you may be handicapping your speed quite badly with it.

[HereInTheHeartland]

Can you guys answer my tech question as well?
2nd Google Nest system in a row malfunctions .
The main point is working, but the other 2 won’t connect anymore

[tarator]

Miracast does not work over wired Ethernet. It uses Wi-Fi Direct. Your laptop must have a WiFi adapter. Bluetooth is irrelevant. Your router is also irrelevant.

[SteveH]

routers will usually feature DHCP out of the box, so if the ethernet connectivity is functional end to end, and the router is selected by configuring the desktop to do so, the desktop’s ARP (ethernet-IP) table entries will be thereafter loaded by the router using the ARP protocol. Or something like that.

[wafflehouse]

not sure what all you got going on here, but your wireless router from your ISP is probably the default gateway for your pc. if you pull up your IPv4 settings it should give you your default gateway IP.

[Pollard]

Can you log into your router admin page? 192.168.1.1 is common but that last 1 could be an 8 or something else. Should be on a label on the router. Default login info might be as well.

Seems to be no shortage of tutorials out there - https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Miracast&ia=web

Best tool for viewing devices on the network -- https://nmap.org/download.html
Command for it -- nmap -sP 192.168.1.1/24

I don't think you want to change your router's IP address. What you probably need is to set up a static IP address for the TV/Dongle. That way your laptop knows where to find it.

The rest of this is probably no help. It's just what I did to be able to play media on my dumb TV and also be able stream it to any other device on the WiFi.

I bought a Beelink Mini PC S12 and made it my HTPC. It runs Linux, has VLC, web browser and Jellyfin. I used to use Plex HTPC but they're getting commercialized and personal data hungry. Both Plex and Jellyfin will organize and play your media files. They will download meta data from IMDB and other places. Pics and info. Then it all gets displayed in a GUI that looks like a Smart TV.

I have a dumb TV which is the way I like it but turned it into my own version of a Smart TV by setting up an HTPC. I use the web browser for the free streaming services like PlutoTV etc, Jellyfin for my own media or if it's something I don't want added to my media library, like a podcast episode, I'll use VLC to play it.

Since it runs Kubuntu, I have KDE Connect installed and also have the KDE Connect app on my phone. KDE Connect allows media controls so the phone works as a remote. I also have an X-Box controller with buttons/toggle mapped to do the same. Those two things won't do everything. It is an actual PC after all so I have a cordless keyboard and mouse.

I also have Samba installed and configured on my laptop and the HTPC. I use qBittorent on my laptop but download the files to the HTPC in folders that Jellyfin uses. That way they get indexed, metadata downloaded and show up in the media library automatically.

$300 mini PC, HDMI cable to TV, Cat5/6 cable to router and the Mini PC shows up on my laptop and phone via WiFi. KDE Connect enhances the connection with things like clipboard sharing, media control, browsing phone files via laptop etc. Jellyfin just showed up with zero configuration, though I can change the default port number from :8096 to whatever I want.

and of course Jellyfin has an app. Might use it when I finally add some music to Jellyfin. Something to listen to in the shop/garden. Maybe I should have a media type called Podcasts so I can listen to them out there. All the big podcasts have imdb pages so metadata should get pulled in. Would be like my own Spotify.

[CodeToad]

In a command prompt windows enter: ipconfig /all

The Default Gateway should be listed and should be the router’s IP address.

[Bullish]

Try power cycling your Beeber. That is if it’s not stuned.

[Clay Moore]

My desktop “lost” the Bluetooth ability and I spent hours trying to get it back before I finally just backed it up and did a full W11 reinstall which solved the problem. Reading on the net, one of the updates killed the Bluetooth on a lot of machines and they never bothered to do anything to undo the problem. If it worked in the past and suddenly quit, my guess is you ran into the same thing.

I could have fixed it a lot quicker by just going straight to backup and full reinstall.

[dennisw]

Buy a long HDMI cable and tuck under the carpet.... Also do Amazon search for - wireless display / HDMI adapter .... Search eBay too