Losing USB connectivity to WiFi adapter.

[osborn4]

We've been using our Series 2 Tivo with a the Tivo branded USB WiFi adapter for a while now with no problems.

Lately, however, (the last month or so), the Tivo will not acknowledge that the adapter is attached. On the adapter, only the power light is lit, not the connectivity light.

We've tried many things, reseting the USB cable (both ends), power cycling our LinkSys router and other various trouble shooting techniques.

The only way that we've found to restore connectivity is to reboot the Tivo. But then, after an hour or so, the Tivo won't acknowledge the WiFi adapter again.

So we've been having to reboot the Tivo once or twice a week and do a manual connect right after the Tivo comes back up.

This works, but is there any hope for a real fix? It seems to me that the USB subsystem is failing.

Are there any other tests I could do to narrow this further?

Thanks.

[osborn4]

Note: I have a Toshiba SD-H400 with a broken DVD drive. :(

[osborn4]

So no ideas?

Over at the Tivo forums, I just got one guy who really thinks it's a radio issue with my router. But if that was the case, why would rebooting the Tivo fix it (for a while)? :confused:

[rocko]

So no ideas?

Over at the Tivo forums, I just got one guy who really thinks it's a radio issue with my router. But if that was the case, why would rebooting the Tivo fix it (for a while)? :confused:

Rebooting the TiVo would force the adapter to reconnect with the router.

If you have a spare router you could swap it out and see if the problem persists. Otherwise, I'd suspect the adapter first - router second - TiVo third. My $ .02.

[osborn4]

I've got my older 802.11b adapter that I used to use before I bought the Tivo branded 802.11g. Perhaps I'll dig that out and see if I have any better luck with that.

[osborn4]

This is really getting old. :mad:

I gotta find a way of fixing this so I don't have to continually reboot the Tivo and then manually connect. :(

[tiassa]

Do you have anything else that connects to the router via Wi-Fi? That would suss out whether the problem is in the Tivo or the router. Something else to consider, are you sure that the Tivo is connecting you YOUR router? You could be connecting to a neighbors Wi-Fi network (especially if you both used the default name for the network). If you left it at the default try changing the network name to something unique (but not personal, to avoid the war driver crowd --I used "Secretariat") and tell the Tivo to access that.

[osborn4]

Thanks.

All our laptops connect to the router fine, as does my sons' Nintendo DSes and Wii.

And yes, it is connecting to my non-default name (perhaps a little too personal, but definitely not default ;) ).

I'm afraid the USB subsystem is going bad on the Tivo.

[tiassa]

Thanks.

All our laptops connect to the router fine, as does my sons' Nintendo DSes and Wii.

And yes, it is connecting to my non-default name (perhaps a little too personal, but definitely not default ;) ).

I'm afraid the USB subsystem is going bad on the Tivo.

Yeah, you may be right, I'd try replacing the adapter first if you can, it'll be cheaper.

[Pitcher23]

Thanks.

All our laptops connect to the router fine, as does my sons' Nintendo DSes and Wii.

And yes, it is connecting to my non-default name (perhaps a little too personal, but definitely not default ;) ).

I'm afraid the USB subsystem is going bad on the Tivo.

I am having the same exact problem. I just have the Series two Tivo and not the one with the dvd (that one unfortunately died on me).

As with you, the only way to reconnect is either by rebooting or by unplugging and plugging back in the Tivo USB adapter.

At first I thought it was because I moved my Wireless router a lot further away from the Tivo, but when it connects it takes about 26 minutes to transfer a one hour show at highest quality.

This problem only occurs when transferring shows to and from the tivo. It never has a problem connecting to update the program guide.

If you already went out to replace the USB adapter I would like to know if it worked.

Thanks.

[osborn4]

No. I just rebooting 2-3 times a week and updating the directory info. Trying to balance the other options.