[shnerky]

I'm using a Mac (MacPro and MacBookPro) with OS X 10.4.10. They are using a wireless network with an Airport Base Station. In addition I have that Base Station linked to an Airport Express in the living room so that it can stream music to the stereo. I recently bought a Linksys 10/100 Compact USB 2.0 Ethernet adapter to connect my Tivo S2 to the Airport Express.

I've read many of the discussions regarding getting the Tivo on the network once it recognizes it. The problem here is that the Tivo doesn't seem to recognize the network at all. The network seems to be broadcasting fine so that the laptop sees both the Base Station and the Express. Once I've attached the adapter to the USB port of the Tivo and the ethernet port of the Express I've restarted the Tivo. I get no indication that it recognizes the network. I've also gone to the Network setup in the Tivo Settings menu and it shows that it does not recognize the network.

Is there something special I need to do with the Airport setup to tell it to allow the Tivo to address it? I realize that the Linksys adapter may be bad (it is sure cheaply designed) but I wanted to see if I'm missing something in the network setup.

I appreciate any help.

Mark

 

[highwire]

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!

 

[shnerky]

highwire, thanks for the reply. I've already done several of the things you've listed. Here's what I've got.

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

I've plugged it into both USB ports on the back of the Tivo unit. The two outer LED's on the adapter light up for about a 10th of a second.

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:

When I go to the Tivo Central -> Messages & Settings -> Settings -> Phone & Network page the upper right corner says that there is No Network Connection. Thus I don't get any of the above information such as MAC ID, etc.

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.

I have gone through these settings and attempted to let the Tivo unit a) accept a DHCP address handed off by the Airport unit, b) set a static IP address manually. When I do both I get an error that there is no router address. I've tried inputing that in the manual routine to no avail.

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.

- Yes, DHCP is enabled. I do have a fixed number of connections but it is something like 20 (whatever the default number is).
- I told the router to allow any appliance access to the network (it is also WEP protected).
How do you get the MAC address? I assume this is not the same as the Tivo Media Access Key (MAK).


Thanks again. I guess I'm still scratching my head over this one. I've read where folks report that their Tivo just recognizes their network right away...puzzling.

Mark

 

[cnsayre]

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. ;-)

 

[highwire]

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.

 

[bedelman]

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

 

[Puppy76]

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.

 

[shnerky]

Thanks for the replies all. I should probably add that my base station is an Apple Snow Base station, not an Extreme. I wasn't aware that it actually had to have bridge capability to communicate with the Tivo via the Express. If this is the case then I'm probably done at this point. I did try to set up a WDS net using the Express as a remote. That failed so Bob's suggestion may have given the solution. As to the other suggestions:

highwire - it does have 2 usb ports and I tried both. I also went out and got a differrent USB/Ethernet adapter but it doesn't light up either.

Puppy- the Linksys USB adapter I have also has the poorly built plug.

I guess the bottom line is this. Is my Airport Base Station (ala 2000 or 2001) incapable of being used? Will I need to go to a newer base station model in order to use the Tivo on a wireless network?

Thanks again all.

Mark

 

[shnerky]

So, I've ordered an Airport Extreme. Should have it by Monday. Fingers are crossed that this is the solution to the problem. Will post results.

 

[ForrestB]

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.

 

[shnerky]

Thanks ForrestB. I followed the link. It looks like both USB/Ethernet adapters are supported. It was good to check that out. I think, now, that the problem is the older Airport Base Station I'm using as a base to the network. I'll try that path when it arrives.

Mark

 

[blhirsch]

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

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.

 

[shnerky]

I just wanted to let you all know that once I got the Airport Extreme and went through the less-than-intuitive (not-very-Apple-like) process of getting the Extreme/Express network set up it all worked as advertised.

Thanks for your advice. Sorry about the delay, I immediately went out of town for awhile.