Tivo Loses Network on Transfers

[drshame]

Running Mac Pro under 10.4.11 and Tivo Download Mgr 2.1. using my wireless Apple Network and the Tivo 802.11b antenna.

Tivo Series 2 DVD Humax had been working fine for quite a while. But now, when I try a transfer, it usually "hangs" and never finishes the transfers.

I'll try reconnecting, and I'll get a message it can't find the Tivo.

When I check my Tivo Network Connection, I get a failure message that it can't find my DHC server(?)

But when I restart the system, suddenly the TIvo Network connection is re-established and everything is fine until I try a Transfer again.

It's a Tivo Network setting corruption I believe..since it's 100% repeatable and correctable by the restart.

Ideas, suggestions?

[windracer]

I think I've read about this before with people using dynamic IP addresses (sometimes the lease expires and the TiVo drops off the network). Try setting a static IP on your TiVo and see if that helps. You could do this on your router if it supports address reservation and leave the TiVo set to DHCP as well (that's what I do).

[drshame]

I reset the lease to 365 days on my Apple Airport and I get the same problem.

Anyone know how to set a static IP between the Tivo and my Airport?

[msmart]

Could you be experiencing the same issue we have in Windows, cache file buildup? The fix in Windows is to delete all the files in the Cache folder.

[bedelman]

I reset the lease to 365 days on my Apple Airport and I get the same problem.

Anyone know how to set a static IP between the Tivo and my Airport?

You can set up a static IP address in two different ways. One is to do so on the TiVo itself using the network configuration option in the Phone & Network Settings screen. The other way is to use the Airport Utility (if you're using a fairly recent base station) to "reserve" an IP address based on the MAC address of the TiVo (the MAC address appears on the Phone & Network screen)

As far as I know, you should always set static IP addresses outside of your DHCP range. So, if your Airport Base Station is handling addresses up to .200 -- start your static IPs at .201

I'm wondering if you might have some interference on your wireless link. You might want to try running iStumbler on a Airport enabled Macintosh to see if you have any nearby networks -- or could you have any 2.4GHz devices near to either the TiVo or the router?

[drshame]

I just noticed when the Tivo losses connection with my Airport Network...it changes the IP address too. Goes from like 10.0.1.8 to something like 249.544.54.59.
There are some other netowrks in the neighborhood too I'm am able to see on my Tivo.
But why would it go from it's "Restart" settings that work 100% of the time...to losing it's connection and scrambling the IP address on the Tivo?
My connection strength according to TIVO Information is over 90%..sometimes even 100%.
If I don't try any wireless transfers..it stays stable.
I've changed my DHCP Leases to 365 days and it still happens.

[bedelman]

I just noticed when the Tivo losses connection with my Airport Network...it changes the IP address too. Goes from like 10.0.1.8 to something like 249.544.54.59.
There are some other netowrks in the neighborhood too I'm am able to see on my Tivo.
But why would it go from it's "Restart" settings that work 100% of the time...to losing it's connection and scrambling the IP address on the Tivo?
My connection strength according to TIVO Information is over 90%..sometimes even 100%.
If I don't try any wireless transfers..it stays stable.
I've changed my DHCP Leases to 365 days and it still happens.

Is the name of your wireless network unique? If not, the TiVo will join the network with the better signal if the network name is the same. Even if you've made your wireless network name unique (Apple Airports come with a unique pre-assigned network name), it can be that a neighbor has changed their network name to match yours. A neighbor of mine did -- but fortunately they're not using the same case (I use "EdelPort" and they've gone ahead and used "edelport") -- and I have absolutely no clue why they would do this!

The fact that your IP address is changing like that would appear to indicate that it is joining an entirely different network (by the way, 249.544.54.59 is not a valid address -- the "544" is not a valid value). But that number isn't even a valid network IP address for a private network.

By the way, this other IP address wouldn't happen to be the "external" IP address given to your router by your provider, would it? Use google to locate a "JSP snoop page" and go to one and see what shows as the "Remote Address"

- Bob

[drshame]

I've been checking my Airport Utility while my Tivi is online and it shows the signal is fine.
After the Tivo losses the "network info"..the Mac Network information still shows the Tivo signal's technically OK..so at this point I suspect the RTivo software is getting confused by the transfer process and is corrupting itself. Maybe it's a communication-flow problem sending data to the Mac...waiting for some response. It'll going from working fine..to suddenly "hanging" and losing it's network pref settings.
Is there new Tivo software on the way?

Running 9.3.01.2.595

[drshame]

Here's the latest.
The network strength is about 90% or better according to TIVO and it still shows the same adress.
After losing the server..I check my Mac Airport and it still shows the Tivo's Mac Address..and shows it connected.
But when I "check network..it says it can finder the server.
As soon as I "Restart" the system...it finds everything fine...transfers for a while..and then loses it again.
100% repeatable and it always "finds" the network after the restart.

[drshame]

Just wasted an hour on the phone with Non Existent Support.

Tivo support took down all the info...and asked if it was Humax unit. They then told me it was a "Hardware Issue"...and call them.

Humax took down all the info and told me it was a Software issue..call Tivo!

How can these businesses stay open with such HORRIBLE customer support?

[drshame]

Here's the latest:

I moved a speaker from off the top of the TIVo and located my Comcast HD Cable Box further away as well.
The connectivity has improved some, but after a while transferring content...the computer will loose the connection and hang the transfer.

BUT instead of forcing a restart...I have just unpluged my Tivo USB antenna....waited a while while the Tivo usually recycles..and after restaring the Apple Airport Network..it's stayed up long enough to finish my transfers.

STILL a connectivity issue IMHO but it's more manageable and I believe interference from nearby magnetic and electronic devices may have effected the wireless signals into the Tivo.

Or not.

[drshame]

Getting ready to give up.
Toast 8 can transfer other Tivo content..but the app hangs on transfers while it's "waiting" to start.
Toast can query the Tivo's content and display them, but it keeps "waiting" for the start..which never comes.
Another Tivo of mine on the same network across the house....transfers fine...so I don't think it's a network or software issue.
Under OSX 10.5, Tivo Decode Manager can see my main Tivo and try to start transfers on the machine...but they never tyransfer and the app drops them almost immediatly after trying 3 attempts to connect. Looks now like a Humax Wireless Network hardware failure and their customer service folks have been useless so far.

[drshame]

Now both Toast 8 and Tivo Decode Manager can see the Tivo directory and select programs to transfer...but the "Waiting For Tivo" warning comes on and the transfer never actually starts.

What's this now?

[bluedakar]

Same setup for me, same waiting problem. Still looking for an answer....

[drshame]

Do you have multiple Tivos..do you have the same problem with both?
If it's a single problem, does a Restart fix the problem..or pulling the USB cable out of the antenna and forcing a restart?
Is there any other electrical device near your Tivo or antenna?
Does your transfer stall with both Tivo Decode Manager and Toast?
Is your unit a Tivo or Humax?

Under my home network, the Tivos work, but it's the Humax that "losses" the connection during transfers.

I'm now getting better reliability and transfers using Tivos on the other side of the house than the Humax DVD Tivo in the same room.

No real answers, but seperating the Comcast Cable Box further away from the Humax has helped a little.

Did I mention the Restart works 100% of the time to restablish a connection?

[drshame]

Same network failure now popping up on 2nd Tivo in another room.
Same Tivo restart fixes the problem.
Got to be a Tivo software bug...imho. It's as if prolonged wireless network transfers corrupts something inside the Tivo Network preferences.