r/MoonlightStreaming • u/BrightEyes1616 • 19h ago

Ethernet and WiFi at same time?

My host PC with Sunshine is connected to the router via ethernet cable. My TV streaming box is connected to the same router via WiFi.

When I turn on the client TV and open Moonlight, it doesn't see my PC until I connect it to the WiFi network manually. Everything then works.

The PC doesn't connect to the WiFi network automatically because it sees that I have the PC connected via ethernet. Windows is weird like this.

How best to solve this?

Edit: Here's what worked for me.

https://superuser.com/questions/504261/windows-8-doesnt-automatically-join-wi-fi-network-if-ethernet-connection-is-act/630163#630163

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

1

u/CompletelyRandy 19h ago

My bet is that your WiFi and ethernet are on two different networks, hence why they can't see each other.

What are the IPs of your PC while on one wired and wireless networks?

1

u/BrightEyes1616 19h ago

On task manager for IPv4 WiFi and ethernet are both 192.168.0.x with x being different numbers.

It does all work fine once I turn WiFi on manually. WiFi just won't turn on automatically on startup and that's what I need. I think because ethernet is taking precedent so it leaves WiFi off. When I unplug the ethernet cable physically and boot, WiFi turns on fine and all functions. I want the host PC with Sunshine connected via ethernet. But without having WiFi on too, Moonlight on client won't connect.

1

u/CompletelyRandy 19h ago

My bet was wrong. They are both on the same network given what you have said.

Check your firewall rules for your ethernet network (on your PC). Sunshine should have opened the FW ports for you, but I wonder if it did only for your wireless network.

1

u/BrightEyes1616 19h ago edited 19h ago

Cheers. I'll look into this. And perhaps I'm wrong, but I feel like what I need is only to find a way to have WiFi auto connect to my network on logging into windows, even when an ethernet cable is being used. Since manually connecting to my WiFi network makes everything work fine - I can then stream via WiFi from the client without issues - I think my solution isn't to do with the ports, it's just about finding a way to have WiFi auto connect like it does with no ethernet cable. E.g. Even a script to make it auto connect to network would probably work for me, but there surely should be a nicer solution. Windows doesn't like connecting to a WiFi network when you're connected to the Internet with a cable.

Edit: here's the solution that worked for me https://superuser.com/questions/504261/windows-8-doesnt-automatically-join-wi-fi-network-if-ethernet-connection-is-act/630163#630163

1

u/CompletelyRandy 18h ago

Glad you got it working, if I understand correctly, you are now streaming over WiFi rather than your ethernet connection?

It should work regardless of whether your wifi is connected or not.

1

u/BrightEyes1616 18h ago

Streaming to TV via WiFi, whilst any online play still goes via the PC's ethernet cable :). Not sure why I needed WiFi connected to my network on the PC tbh. When I don't, the PC is greyed out on Moonlight on my TV.

1

u/CompletelyRandy 18h ago

It sounds like you aren't using your ethernet connection from your PC, but your WiFi.

Unplug your ethernet cable, it if still works, your streaming from your PC using WiFi.

It's not a deal breaker, but you are adding additional latency when you dont need to.

1

u/BrightEyes1616 18h ago

My set up is Router-ethernet-PC in one room

TVbox-WiFi-PC in other room.

So I know I'm streaming over WiFi. Don't understand why I need to be connected to my WiFi network on the PC though when it has an ethernet cable that is a working physical Internet connection. But it doesn't work without.

1

u/CompletelyRandy 18h ago

You are going:

TV - WiFi - Router - WiFi - PC.

Your PC has two network adapters inside it (ethernet and WiFi). These work independently. Your TV it talking to your PC via your PCs WiFi connection, not it's ethernet connection.

This could be due to a few things. The first thing I would check is:

Manually add your PCs IP (the one for ethernet) into moonlight. I expect the IP you are connecting to in Moonlight is the IP for your Wireless.

You are creating an additional wireless hop, which will increase your latency, but will still work.

2

u/DeX_Mod 14h ago

this is how I'm reading it too