HELP! Setting up a WIRED Network

[DannyBoy25]

Hey everyone,

I'm helping a friend set up his new Dell PC to his Series 2 TiVo.

He has a Cable Modem. We've hooked up the cable modem into a Dynex 4-Port 10/100 Ethernet Hub (Best Buy Brand.) We have an Ethernet Cable running to his PC from the Hub. We also have an Ethernet Cable running to an approved Belkin USB/Ethernet adapter, which is in turn connected to the TiVo. All of the individual commonents seem to be working properly. The TiVo even gives me a message which says it detects a network adapter. However, the TiVo can not seem to obtain a DCHP IP address. I get a Message #2 error, which basically advises me to check the ethernet connections.

I cannot for the life of me figure out what to do. I'm thinking that the problem rests in a computer setting - but I'm more of a Mac guy. Any PC guys have any suggestions here? Is there some weird firewall McAfee thing I should disable? Am I skipping something totally basic?

ANY help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

[VagabondSW]

Browse to the Router. I believe the default IP address for the Dynex is 192.168.0.1, so clicking the following link should get you there:

Dynex Router (http://192.168.0.1)

The username is 'admin' and leave the password blank unless you've changed it to something your friend knows.

There should be a tab somewhere that allows you to look at the DHCP leases the Dynex router has made. Assuming your friend only has one computer, there should be two. One for the computer and one for the TiVo. Perhaps this would be under the Advanced or Tools section, I'm not sure on the Dynex.

That list will look something like this:

http://home.san.rr.com/vagabondia/images/tmp/dhcp.gif

You can see my two TiVo units on this list. Open a command prompt (WindowsKey+R-'cmd.exe' or Start-Run-'cmd.exe') and ping the ip address of your friend's TiVo unit. A healthy ping command looks like this:

http://home.san.rr.com/vagabondia/images/tmp/ping.gif

That will test your network connectivity.

[crowfan]

Dynex 4-Port 10/100 Ethernet Hub (Best Buy Brand.)If it's just a hub, it doesn't have DHCP. You need a router.

[DannyBoy25]

If it's just a hub, it doesn't have DHCP. You need a router.

Doesn't the hub simply act as a device to send the signal from the Cable Modem to the TiVo? On TiVo's support setup page for showing how to connect to a Wired Network, it simply uses a "Hub or network gateway"

http://customersupport.tivo.com/knowbase/root/public/tv2009.htm?

Do I need something different?

[VagabondSW]

Do I need something different?
If it is, in fact, only a hub and not a router, then crowfan is absolutely right. You only have one DHCP address on your network and the computer has it. The hub provides physical connectivity between devices but does not perform any network functions, like assigning IP addresses.

[DannyBoy25]

If it is, in fact, only a hub and not a router, then crowfan is absolutely right. You only have one DHCP address on your network and the computer has it. The hub provides physical connectivity between devices but does not perform any network functions, like assigning IP addresses.

So I need an Ethernet Router? Any suggestions for what's a good brand or which I should get? I liked that Dynex brand because it was inexpensive :)

[VagabondSW]

So I need an Ethernet Router? Any suggestions for what's a good brand or which I should get? I liked that Dynex brand because it was inexpensive :)

This is the product I thought you had originally. It is only $40:

Dynex 4-Port Ethernet Broadband Router (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6359353&type=product&productCategoryId=cat01029&id=1077624215034)

You can even return the hub for an exchange if you like. The cablemodem plugs into the WAN port and the PC and TiVo plug into two of the four LAN ports. Turn it on and you will have connectivity... it should be exactly that easy.

[DannyBoy25]

This is the product I thought you had originally. It is only $40:

Dynex 4-Port Ethernet Broadband Router (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6359353&type=product&productCategoryId=cat01029&id=1077624215034)

You can even return the hub for an exchange if you like. The cablemodem plugs into the WAN port and the PC and TiVo plug into two of the four LAN ports. Turn it on and you will have connectivity... it should be exactly that easy.

Right on. Thanks very much for all your help! You think they'll take it back even though it's open?

[VagabondSW]

Yes, if you have the receipt and it is within thirty days of the purchse date. Note: non-defective returns are subject to a 15% restocking fee.