Tivo2Go, Mac OS X, Airport Express

I'm using a TiVo Series 2 with the Linksys wired ethernet adapter as well. I agree the Linksys is really cheaply built!

Make sure the ethernet adapter is properly plugged in to the USB 2.0 port and ensure the LEDs on the adapter light up.

Try this:
Tivo Central -> Messages & Settings -> Settings -> Phone & Network

If you see "Use Network Instead", select it. If you see "Use Phone Instead", then you have already selected to use the network.

If the network is selected as your connection method, when you go to the "Phone & Network" screen, you see a screen with the title "Network Connection".

It should give you the following details:
Type: Wired adapter
IP address: x.x.x.x
MAC ID: xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
Next attempt:
Last attempt:
Last status:

In that screen, you have many options to debug your network: Change Network Settings, which allows you to specify whether your router provides an IP address automatically, or if you need to program a static IP address manually. You can test your network connection, or do a step-by-step network troubleshooting wizard.

There are a couple of other things to check:
- Is DHCP enabled on your router? Have you limited it to a fixed number of connections?
- Do you have MAC filtering enabled on your router? If so, you will need to enter your TiVo's MAC address into the "allowed" list in order for the router to allow it access to the network.


Good luck!

 

It's been a while since I have messed around with my network connections (I used wired through a powerline system... talk about simple), but...

If memory serves, doesn't the Tivo show "Wired Ethernet Adapter..." under that network status screen if one is plugged into the USB port, even if it's not on the network?

In other words, if it's showing a wired ethernet adapter on that screen, that suggests that it's an issue with the express. Have you tried plugging something else into the ethernet jack on it to see if it's an actual issue with the express or if it's just that the Tivo doesn't like it?

If the wired adapter *isn't* showing up on the screen, that suggests that either the Tivo doesn't like the adapter or that particular USB port is broken. Try moving it to the other USB port...

My caveat: I'm at work and all of this is by memory. I reserve the right to be completely and utterly wrong about everything. ;-)

 

Sounds like more in-depth debugging is needed here.

If the LEDs on the adapter aren't staying lit, and the TiVo doesn't indicate that there's an adapter present, then either the ethernet adapter is DOA, or the USB ports aren't working, as cnsayre mentioned already.

My S2 has two USB ports (it's a model 240 - I think the cost-reduced 540 only has one). If yours does too, try the other port. If that doesn't work, exchange the adapter (if possible) to see if the replacement fares any better.

If the replacement doesn't work, it's likely a problem with your USB ports; in that case, your options start to thin out: try to get it fixed or replace the TiVo.

Here in Ottawa, we are lucky because there's a shop run by a bunch of hardware wizards that can fix practically anything, even if they've never seen it before and don't have a schematic. Maybe your city has one of those....

Incidently, my adapter is the Linksys USB200M and it's connected to an Apple Airport Extreme Base Station (the 802.11n version). It can work, if we can figure out what's wrong.

 

Do you have the Airport Express and Extreme set up to be a WDS network? The ethernet port on the Express can only be used as a bridge to the wireless network if the Airport Express is being run as a remote or relay station in a WDS configuration.

I have three Airport Express units and the newer Airport Extreme (although I did have the older Extreme too) -- all set as a WDS network. I'm using two of the Airport Express boxes as bridges to which a TiVo connects to each.

- Bob

 

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but I think there are multiple versions of that USB adapter, and possibly some of them (the newer ones?) don't have drivers. That could be an issue too.

I got one in early 2005, and have a Linksys wired router. Plugged it in and it worked instantly. The physical connection is really poorly built, but I've transfered probably 100's of GB over the years and have never had a real issue with it.

 

Doesn't sound like your USB to Ethernet adapter is supported by Tivo. Go to Tivo Support and type 14-03-03 in the search box to get a list of Tivo supported USB to Ethernet adapters.

 

This is your play. Unless you use the WDS mode, the ethernet port on the AX is disabled.

I have my network set up in WDS mode, and the tivos are bridged via the ethernet port, as bedelman describes.