Sharing External Hard Drive Issues (DLNA or two USB connections)

[otisore]

Hello all, it's my first time posting here after years of using the site as an invaluable resource. Here's my situation that I'm frustratingly trying to resolve:

I have a WD external hard drive connected to an Airport Extreme and the hard drive is obviously shared across the network as a result. This has worked perfectly for years and has never been a problem. I just recently bought a Vizio Co Star streaming media box because its specs said it was able to access and play media storage devices shared across a network. My lack of knowledge of networks (but I should've known) has resulted in the Co Star not able to read the shared hard drive because the Airport Extreme is not DLNA compatible. Now, my only option (which I don't mind) is to connect the external hard drive to the Co Star directly via USB cable. However, in doing so, my external hard drive needs to be disconnected from the Airport Extreme and I lose the accessibility to all the shared media across the network.

Any thoughts on solutions? I don't think it's possible, but can a hard drive be connected to two devices with a USB splitter cable? Is there any way to make the Airport Extreme readable from the Co Star?

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[brand]

I don't think it's possible, but can a hard drive be connected to two devices with a USB splitter cable?

No

 

[otisore]

No

I had kinda assumed so, but I appreciate the confirmation. Thank you.