can't set it up

[hoff]

i just got a series 2 and i am trying to hook it up and am having a lot of trouble. called tivo, linksys and comcast, and still nothing. Bought a linksys switch ezxs55w the belkin adaptor and belking networking cable. if i dont have a router....will the switch work or do i have to get a router? bought the switch specifically to hook up tivo, it is the only thing in my network and i can't get it to work...all the lights on the switch light up and i get internet service but the tivo won't connect.

i've done all the troubleshooting on the website. Tivo advised me to contact linksys and have them tell me how to make sure the necessary tcp ports and ip addresses are open.

linksys told me that my switch cannot open ports because it is not a router, it is only a plug and play device. since i couldn't open ports she said i could set a static ip. when i went to set the static ip, and enter the numbers she said for the ip, subnet mask, and designated gateway, i didn't understand what to enter for the dns server. so i decided to call my internet provider.

[hoff]

comcast told me that the ip address is constantly changing and the only advice they told me was to turn off my firewall and pop up blockers.. so i tried that and it still doesn't work.

i would call tivo back, but they are now closed so i registered in the forum to see if anyone has some advice..... for some reason i think a switch wont work and i need a router. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[gastrof]

The problem is you came to the forum at midnight eastern time.

The guys who know about getting TiVos hooked into networks and all that fancy stuff aren't here.

You'll have to wait until tomorrow.

Just us simple folk up and around right now. :D

[Amnesia]

I was a little confused by your statement that the TiVo was the only thing on your network. What about your computer?

OK, let's start from the beginning.

Do you have broadband Internet service? With Comcast?

Do you have a cable modem?

Before trying to connect the TiVo, how did you connect your computer to the cable modem?

[hoff]

cable modem>>ehternet cable>>linksys switch
linksys switch>>ethernet cable>>cpu
linksys switch>>14 fth fast cat 5e ethernet cable>>belkin f5d5050 ehternet adaptor>>tivo
i get internet access
on the switch, port 1 is the cpu and port 2 is tivo
the display on the front of the switch has 5 colums 1-5(ports) and 3 rows
row 1...link/act... blinks green on port 1 (cpu) 2(tivo) and 5
row 2...100...is solid green on 1,2,5
row 3...full/col...is solid orange on 1,2,5

[Amnesia]

OK, you have a switch. You need a router.

Basically, you need to setup a LAN in your house. The computers in your house (the TiVo is a computer) also need to talk to the Internet and a router is the device that handles the traffic---it routes local traffic between machines on your LAN and routes Internet traffic through the cable modem to the outside world.

[hoff]

so my switch will not work?
Don't they basically do the same thing? isn't a switch just designed to handle more data.

Is tivo just not designed to handle switches?

any common router will do? will problably stick with linksysBEFSR41 since tivo recomends it and tivo is the reason i am setting up a network

thanks for your help and info

[Amnesia]

A switch is designed to move traffic from one node to another within a given network. A hub is like a switch, but less intelligent.

You need to be able to route traffic from one network to another. That is, you need to be able to distinguish LAN traffic from Internet traffic. Only a router can do that.

It has nothing to do with TiVo. Anyone who has multiple computers in their house (which all need to connect to the Internet via a single cable modem) needs to have a router. (Depending on your LAN, you might also need a switch, but you definitely need a router.)

[Amnesia]

See www.HowStuffWorks.com for a detailed explanation of the difference between switches (http://computer.howstuffworks.com/lan-switch.htm) and routers (http://computer.howstuffworks.com/router.htm).

But you need a router. Really.

[hoff]

thanks again for educating me...and that website you linked me to is great

i am finally getting it, just wish i knew before i ordered my switch from amazon. my mistake, now i know. At least i learned a little something. thanks again Amnesia

[Amnesia]

When you get your router, just connect the marked port from the router to the network cable coming from the cable modem. Then connect your computer to the router.

Then test to make sure that you can see the Internet.

Once you're happy with that, then connect your TiVo to your router and go through the network setup on the TiVo.

Depending on the location of your cable modem vs. your TiVo, you might be better off going with a wireless router and a wireless card for your TiVo...

[usnret]

Also, hang onto the switch. When you get more Tivo's/computers that little booger will come in handy.

[hoff]

End of story

bought a linksys wireless g broadband router (WRT54G)

don't have anything wireless yet, but when i do i can connect it.

set up was easy, once i had the router.

if i knew what i know now, i would have done 2 things different......

1. purchase a 80hr, series 2 DT dvr.....because it can record 2 shows at once and has a built in ethernet port.
i prepaid a year to get my free tivo
for $30 more, i could have gotten a better one
the belkin adaptor cost me $25
No adaptor and the ability to record 2 shows at once for just an extra $5
I would have taken it

2. bought a router and not a switch

thanks again for the help Amnesia