Lou Jacob
07-22-2007, 12:48 PM
This information is a revised and reprinted version of the article published in the DVRplayground archives available here (http://www.dvrplayground.com/article/10149/); originally posted in January, 2006.
This general support information applies to all PTVnet hard drive kits, as well as replacement drives created with our DIY PTVnet software CD. This is not a technical support discussion for the use of our PTVnet DIY software tools; for support discussions on the DIY version of our PTVnet software, please consult this thread (http://www.dvrupgrade.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17).
By default, your unit is configured to exist as a DHCP client on your network. We expect that you understand your home network well enough to ensure that your router/firewall is configured properly, and that you'll have no problems ensuring the a DHCP-server is somewhere on your network and supplying your TiVo with an IP address upon booting. With that said, there is nothing particularly unique about configuring your router for a networked TiVo to happily exist on your home network. Any useful guide, or experienced friend should be able to help you out, even if they don't have any specific TiVo knowledge. Once you've located your unit on your network, changing the settings to use a STATIC IP address are relatively simple; information can be found here (http://www.dvrupgrade.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45&highlight=ptvnet+static).
Your PTVnet kit is configured with USB2.0 drivers which have been tested on several USB wired adapters. If you did not purchase a USB to Ethernet adapter from us (http://www.dvrupgrade.com/forums/../dvr/stores/1/product1.cfm?Category_ID=4&Product_ID=341&ModelID=101&type=Model&page=prod&), we recommend you use one of the adapters already known to work. As of December 21st, 2006, we've begun shipping kits and distributing PTVnet software which supports a wider array of USB Ethernet adapters such as the Linksys USB200M v2, and Airlink ASPHOUSB 101 adapters. Any adapter which uses the same chipset as the aforementioned adapters will do. If you are in doubt, just buy one of the ones we recommend and you will have no problems.
If you are going to use a wireless device, even one we've supplied, we recommend you FIRST connect your unit to your network using a wired connection. Make sure everything works before proceed to configure your wireless connection.
You will need to know your TiVo's IP address to use it with TiVoWebPlus, telnet and FTP. If you do not know how to use your router's administrative functions to determine your TiVo's IP address, take a look at this tutorial (http://www.dvrupgrade.com/forums/../dvr/stores/1/locating.cfm) and it may help you. The screens may be different than your router's, however the concepts are the same. Another alternative for finding your IP address is using the ANGRY IP SCANNER (http://www.snapfiles.com/get/angryip.html) which is a free program to discover devices on your network.
To use TiVoWebPlus, simply type in the IP address of your TiVo into any standard web-browser. If you want to use a hostname, such as "TIVO" instead, look at the end of the aforementioned tutorial on editing your Windows hosts file appropriately. Other applications (eg telnet and ftp) will simply use your IP address / hostname in the same way.
Your unit has been configured to not require a daily phone call. This means that you do not need to plug your unit into a phone line at all. For PPV events, you will need to either schedule them at directv.com or by calling 800-DIRECTV and ordering. If you wish to enable your phone line, it is a very simple process; please consult the discussion thread (http://www.dvrplayground.com/forum/thread/12068/) for information on enabling your phoneline, but be forewarned: if there are any updates to the DirecTV software and your phone line is enabled, they will be downloaded and applied to your unit - this can cause the loss of your PTVnet functionality, and you will need to send your drive to us for a recertification (or you will need to reinstall your DIY software). We recommend you keep your phone disabled unless recommended to do otherwise.
You will need to configure your satellite settings appropriately; this can be done using the system settings menus on your DirecTV TiVo and may require a "repeat guided setup." If you wind up in a situation where you repeat the guided setup and it is required that you test the phone connection or make a call, please do not panic. Simply connect a phone line, and before attempting to dial out, ensure that your phone dialing options (dialing prefix, and caller id prefix) are appropriately configured. Once your unit has made its test call, you do not need to leave your phone line connected, however if you choose to do, it is OK. Starting December 21st, 2006, there is an alternative to using your phone line, even for the test call. You will need to establish a telnet session to your unit to do so. More details can be found in our knowledgebase, here:
Configuring your PTVnet kit to use an Internet Connection Instead of a Phone Line (http://www.dvrupgrade.com/forums/../dvrupgrade-support-center/index.php?x=&mod_id=2&id=111)
You should not ever need to perform a "clear and delete everything" -- your kit as already been configured to work without having to perform this step. However, should you ever peform the "clear and delete step" or end up in a situation where you need to perform a "test call" using the phone line, it is no problem to do so - before making your test call, go to "phone dialing options" and ensure your dialing prefix is correctly setup (no strange characters, call waiting symbols, etc) and that you set up your area code correctly in the configuration menus. Please see the previous section on information for setting up your unit to make a call over the Internet instead of a phone line.We will continue to update this article with as much useful information and links to specialized topics in the forums.
This general support information applies to all PTVnet hard drive kits, as well as replacement drives created with our DIY PTVnet software CD. This is not a technical support discussion for the use of our PTVnet DIY software tools; for support discussions on the DIY version of our PTVnet software, please consult this thread (http://www.dvrupgrade.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17).
By default, your unit is configured to exist as a DHCP client on your network. We expect that you understand your home network well enough to ensure that your router/firewall is configured properly, and that you'll have no problems ensuring the a DHCP-server is somewhere on your network and supplying your TiVo with an IP address upon booting. With that said, there is nothing particularly unique about configuring your router for a networked TiVo to happily exist on your home network. Any useful guide, or experienced friend should be able to help you out, even if they don't have any specific TiVo knowledge. Once you've located your unit on your network, changing the settings to use a STATIC IP address are relatively simple; information can be found here (http://www.dvrupgrade.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45&highlight=ptvnet+static).
Your PTVnet kit is configured with USB2.0 drivers which have been tested on several USB wired adapters. If you did not purchase a USB to Ethernet adapter from us (http://www.dvrupgrade.com/forums/../dvr/stores/1/product1.cfm?Category_ID=4&Product_ID=341&ModelID=101&type=Model&page=prod&), we recommend you use one of the adapters already known to work. As of December 21st, 2006, we've begun shipping kits and distributing PTVnet software which supports a wider array of USB Ethernet adapters such as the Linksys USB200M v2, and Airlink ASPHOUSB 101 adapters. Any adapter which uses the same chipset as the aforementioned adapters will do. If you are in doubt, just buy one of the ones we recommend and you will have no problems.
If you are going to use a wireless device, even one we've supplied, we recommend you FIRST connect your unit to your network using a wired connection. Make sure everything works before proceed to configure your wireless connection.
You will need to know your TiVo's IP address to use it with TiVoWebPlus, telnet and FTP. If you do not know how to use your router's administrative functions to determine your TiVo's IP address, take a look at this tutorial (http://www.dvrupgrade.com/forums/../dvr/stores/1/locating.cfm) and it may help you. The screens may be different than your router's, however the concepts are the same. Another alternative for finding your IP address is using the ANGRY IP SCANNER (http://www.snapfiles.com/get/angryip.html) which is a free program to discover devices on your network.
To use TiVoWebPlus, simply type in the IP address of your TiVo into any standard web-browser. If you want to use a hostname, such as "TIVO" instead, look at the end of the aforementioned tutorial on editing your Windows hosts file appropriately. Other applications (eg telnet and ftp) will simply use your IP address / hostname in the same way.
Your unit has been configured to not require a daily phone call. This means that you do not need to plug your unit into a phone line at all. For PPV events, you will need to either schedule them at directv.com or by calling 800-DIRECTV and ordering. If you wish to enable your phone line, it is a very simple process; please consult the discussion thread (http://www.dvrplayground.com/forum/thread/12068/) for information on enabling your phoneline, but be forewarned: if there are any updates to the DirecTV software and your phone line is enabled, they will be downloaded and applied to your unit - this can cause the loss of your PTVnet functionality, and you will need to send your drive to us for a recertification (or you will need to reinstall your DIY software). We recommend you keep your phone disabled unless recommended to do otherwise.
You will need to configure your satellite settings appropriately; this can be done using the system settings menus on your DirecTV TiVo and may require a "repeat guided setup." If you wind up in a situation where you repeat the guided setup and it is required that you test the phone connection or make a call, please do not panic. Simply connect a phone line, and before attempting to dial out, ensure that your phone dialing options (dialing prefix, and caller id prefix) are appropriately configured. Once your unit has made its test call, you do not need to leave your phone line connected, however if you choose to do, it is OK. Starting December 21st, 2006, there is an alternative to using your phone line, even for the test call. You will need to establish a telnet session to your unit to do so. More details can be found in our knowledgebase, here:
Configuring your PTVnet kit to use an Internet Connection Instead of a Phone Line (http://www.dvrupgrade.com/forums/../dvrupgrade-support-center/index.php?x=&mod_id=2&id=111)
You should not ever need to perform a "clear and delete everything" -- your kit as already been configured to work without having to perform this step. However, should you ever peform the "clear and delete step" or end up in a situation where you need to perform a "test call" using the phone line, it is no problem to do so - before making your test call, go to "phone dialing options" and ensure your dialing prefix is correctly setup (no strange characters, call waiting symbols, etc) and that you set up your area code correctly in the configuration menus. Please see the previous section on information for setting up your unit to make a call over the Internet instead of a phone line.We will continue to update this article with as much useful information and links to specialized topics in the forums.