TiVo Network Connection Through Mac

[treymiller]

Can anyone provide the proper configuration for using a Mac's ethernet port to share its WiFi network connection with my TiVoHD via the TiVo's ethernet port.

When I first got the TiVoHD, I was able to get this to work. Unfortunately, a couple weeks ago it stopped working (I don't believe anything changed in the configuration of either the TiVo or the Mac), and I never documented the original setup that worked for several months, so I can't tell what may have changed, or what the config should be.

Here's what worked in the past: Mac Mini successfully connects to my home WiFi network. Using an ethernet cable, connect the ethernet port of the TiVo to that of the Mac Mini. On the Mini, go into "Sharing" preferences, and share the AirPort connection via ethernet.

As I said, the above worked for several months.

Currently, the Mac Mini's ethernet profile has a self-assigned IP address on a different subnet than the 192.168.1.xxx of my WiFi. I believe that this is normal behavior. I then have the TiVo using standard DHCP in network setings to get an IP address from (presumably) the Mac, but when it tries to connect to the network, I get an N03 error, and it says it can't find a network connection.

Possibly useful information: if I bring my cable modem upstairs and connect the TiVo directly to the modem, it can get out over the network to receive program info, etc.

I don't know if this is related, but the TiVo doesn't seem to be able to connect over a telephone line. I didn't bother spending a lot of time troubleshooting that, because I don't feel like that would be a long-term solution anyway.

[Ron-retread]

It sounds like network sharing got turned off somehow. In "System Preferences" go to "Sharing", and look at the box "Internet Sharing", it's probably unchecked. Check it and in the "To Compuers using: " either check "Ethernet" or "Ethernet Adapter (en4)" or "Ethernet Adapter (en5", depending which port the TiVo's connected to. Hope this takes care of it for you.

[treymiller]

Thanks, Ron. I checked that and it is still enabled. Maybe disabling and re-enabling it will make a difference...I will try that.

[mr.unnatural]

Are you trying to connect using the Tivo Desktop software? If so, which version of the Mac software are you using? The latest version of Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6) does not play nice with the Tivo Desktop. I believe Roxio posted a workaround beta app on their website, but I couldn't get it working with my Hackintosh running OS X 10.6.1.

[bizzy]

I've never been able to get OSX Internet Sharing to work reliably. If I were you, I'd spring for the Tivo USB Wireless adapter.

[Ron-retread]

Mr.Unnatural, I believe he's just trying to use the mac basically as a router to allow TiVo to connect to the external network thru the mac.

[dnorth12]

Not sure exactly what you are doing, but I noticed that I had lost my connection to my S3 when using tivo transfer. Hadn't used it for several months.

What I found was that the IP address for the S3 had changed, probably due to a restart of the S3 at some point. Used to be XXX.XX.X.2 and when I went to the S3 and checked which IP address it was using it had changed to XXX.XX.X.3. Changing to that it my settings on the mac got it working again.

Hopefully it is that simple for you.

[Ron-retread]

Good update dnorth12, I had thought of an address problem but forgot about it after going thru the sharing stuff. It depends on whether static IP, DHCP or DHCP with static address is selected, since he said internet sharing is on.

[Jimf1234]

Every couple of months I have to shut off sharing and restart it. I use this as a great solution for my setup. I hook a 4 port switch up to my ethernet port on my imac. I then hook 2 series 3 tivos and my apple tv to the switch. I use toast to download programs to my imac and it all works great. It transfers very quickly because the network is wired.