Set up peer-to-peer wireless network, but units can't find each other

[jwb95]

So much wisdom here, but can't find an answer to my quandry. Can anyone help? First of all, here are the units I've got:

Tivo A = Tivo HD, with two cable cards from provider (Cablevision)
Tivo B = Series 2, single tuner, non-HD, no cable card

I bought two AGO100 wireless adapters for the purpose of networking my two Tivo units to each other. That's my primary goal; if I can also link them to my laptop and Tivo broadband services, that would be gravy.

When I first connected the wireless adapters, I didn't accomplish do the right thing for setting up a peer-to-peer network; instead, each found my wireless router (mfr = Belkin, speed = G), connected successfully to the Tivo network, etc. All good if that were what I wanted to do.

So I went back, following the instructions here on the page "Creating a wireless peer-to-peer network to connect two DVRs" at support-dot-tivo-dot-com.

I created the network on Tivo A, naming the network "tivo." It assigned itself a ten-digit IP address starting with 169.254. I then went to Tivo B, and it found the wireless network "tivo," and assigned itself as 12-digit IP address also starting with 169.254. They're using channel 11. They showed (and still show) that they're connected to "tivo" with good to excellent signal strength.

But I couldn't see each unit in the other's Now Playing list. (My understanding is that's what's supposed to happen, but I've never seen a screenshot of it.) So i did two more things:

1. Re-started both Tivo units.
2. Waited 24 hours.

Other possibly-relevant info:

1. On Tivo A, the "Network Diagnostics" page indicates that the "Port configuration test:" is "Testing," and that "DNS resolution test: Failed." When I select the Port Configuration Test item, the screen says "The test is still in progress . Please return to the screen once the test completes."

2. The "Network Connection" page on Tivo B looks different from the one on Tivo A in this respct: the fifth line item reads "Test TiVo service connection," whereas on Tivo A it reads "View network diagnostics."

So... Help! What do I need to do differently?

Again, if it's possible to be connected BOTH to Tivo via broadband and to each other, that would be great. But the reason i got these adapters was to be able to transfer programs.

Thanks.

[wmcbrine]

When I first connected the wireless adapters, I didn't accomplish do the right thing for setting up a peer-to-peer network; instead, each found my wireless router (mfr = Belkin, speed = G), connected successfully to the Tivo network, etc. All good if that were what I wanted to do.That is what you want to do.

Again, if it's possible to be connected BOTH to Tivo via broadband and to each other, that would be great.Then let them connect to the router.

It sounds like you've somehow got the idea that they'll only transfer in a peer-to-peer configuration. That's completely wrong. The only reason TiVo even includes that mode is for a routerless setup.

The only use for a peer-to-peer configuration is if you don't have a WAP. You do. Ergo, peer-to-peer is useless, as it is 99.9% of the time.

[jwb95]

Thank you, Mr. McBrine (or Brine)! It worked just as you describe.