HR10-250 Networking Problem

[jkelly2003]

I have an HR10-150 upgraded using the PTVNet Software and I'm using the Linksys USB200M adapter. My network uses the Linksys WRT54G router. When I initially connected the TiVo to the network, it showed up in the DHCP Client Table, although it had a very short expiration time (<100 sec). When I tried to access TivoWeb through my browser, it timed out several timed, but eventually I was able to gain access. However, since then I've not been able to connect. I've looked through the forums but have not found anything directly on point. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!

[Lou Jacob]

I have an HR10-150 upgraded using the PTVNet Software and I'm using the Linksys USB200M adapter. My network uses the Linksys WRT54G router. When I initially connected the TiVo to the network, it showed up in the DHCP Client Table, although it had a very short expiration time (<100 sec). When I tried to access TivoWeb through my browser, it timed out several timed, but eventually I was able to gain access. However, since then I've not been able to connect. I've looked through the forums but have not found anything directly on point. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!

This sounds like it may be a configuration problem with your router as DHCP addresses are assigned and maintained by your router. You won't find much about that here, because it is not really a TiVo-specific issue and its more of a router configuration issue. I'd check the administrative functions your router, perhaps the bulletin boards for Linksys, as well to be sure you've got things set up correctly.

[Rick Travis]

I have an HR10-150 upgraded using the PTVNet Software and I'm using the Linksys USB200M adapter. My network uses the Linksys WRT54G router. When I initially connected the TiVo to the network, it showed up in the DHCP Client Table, although it had a very short expiration time (<100 sec). When I tried to access TivoWeb through my browser, it timed out several timed, but eventually I was able to gain access. However, since then I've not been able to connect. I've looked through the forums but have not found anything directly on point. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!What version of software is your TiVo running and has it recently upgraded over satellite? If it did, did you reinstall PTVnet after the upgrade? did you use a wired connection? PTVnet is not supposed to work with a wireless connection. Did you mean HR10-250 instead of HR10-150 you stated?:confused:

[jkelly2003]

Lou and Richard,

Thanks for your responses. Yes, I did mean HR10-250...sorry for the confusion. The software version is 3.5.1f. There has been no upgrade since I installed PTVNet. I used a wired connection.

I've also had success connecting a different HR10-250 running software version 6.3e. Thus, I don't think the problem is with the network. Unfortunately, that unit died and I'm trying to replace it with this unit.

[Rick Travis]

Lou and Richard,

Thanks for your responses. Yes, I did mean HR10-250...sorry for the confusion. The software version is 3.5.1f. There has been no upgrade since I installed PTVNet. I used a wired connection.

I've also had success connecting a different HR10-250 running software version 6.3e. Thus, I don't think the problem is with the network. Unfortunately, that unit died and I'm trying to replace it with this unit.What part of the unit died? Was it the hard disk? You can purchase a pre set up hard disk from LOU with 6.3e already on it. If it is the hard disk the unit would come back to life, if it is not the hard disk, you could place it in the unit that is not functioning and see if it will function with the new hard disk running 6.3e. If the motherboard is not bad you can replace the motherboard on the bad box and see if it will run on the 3.1f box. I have had one Tivo with a bad motherboard that when I replaced it the network came back to life. The symptoms were I could ping the unit but could not connect. Also the USB and serial port appear to share the same baud rate generator. You have to consider your choices carefully because the HR10-250 is nearing the end of life cycle and you don't want to spend a lot of money on a machine so near to the end of life. you can use it to save some favorites but I believe Directv is scheduled to stop transmitting its schedule sometime in December. The third solution is call Directv, tell them your HR10-250 broke and ask them what they can do for you to prevent them from canceling your HD service(just ask you don't have to do it) maybe you will get a kind CSR who will want to keep you as a customer and offer you a free or very cheap HD-DVR. it is worth a try. good luck :)

[jkelly2003]

Richard,

Thanks for the info. I know it's a bit off topic, but the old unit exhibited what I believe is known as "stuttering." When viewing TV on a delay, the picture would stop and start to the point where it was unwatchable. Interestingly, it displayed recorded programs just fine. It became comical when I tried to watch football games on a delay - I would record the game in 30 minute increments, always watching a recorded rather than delayed version.

After much searching on the various forums, I finally came across a thread dealing with bad access card readers. Sure enough, that seemed to be the problem. I went to an OTA channel, confirmed the stuttering, then removed the access card. Presto, the problem disappeared. Since I was able to get another HR10-250 rather easily (long story), I decided to switch rather than try to fix the access card reader/motherboard. Thus, my current problem where the unit I am using works but I can't access it through my network.

[Lou Jacob]

I have an HR10-150 upgraded using the PTVNet Software and I'm using the Linksys USB200M adapter. My network uses the Linksys WRT54G router. When I initially connected the TiVo to the network, it showed up in the DHCP Client Table, although it had a very short expiration time (<100 sec). When I tried to access TivoWeb through my browser, it timed out several timed, but eventually I was able to gain access. However, since then I've not been able to connect. I've looked through the forums but have not found anything directly on point. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!

If this is still the problem that you are having, then it is most definitely a networking issue. You stated here that you DID see your unit on the network and you WERE able to access TiVoWeb; then it went away.

Again, I'd check everything on your network; especially your router's configuration as having an expiration time of < 100 seconds is NOT normal. Until you've checked these things, I would not consider any other possibility.

[jkelly2003]

First of all, thanks for the responses to my post. I'm finding this is an iterative process, and it's helpful to get feedback.

To recap, I'm having trouble accessing my HR10-250 running version 3.5. When I first hooked it up, I briefly had access then lost it. My previous unit, an HR10-250 running version 6.3e worked just fine on the network.

After Lou's last response, I did some investigating to see if the network was the problem. I got out the 6.3e unit (which only partially works, but works well enough for this experiment), hooked it to the network and was able to access it right away, both with the browser and telnet. I then disconnected the 6.3e unit and attached and rebooted the 3.5 unit. Interestingly, this time it DID show up in the DHCP table, but I was still unable to access it.

Thus, I've concluded the problem is not likely to be the network, since I can access the 6.3e unit. The most obvious difference between the units is the software version. I'm wondering if my best course of action is to update the software then re-install PTVNet. I don't really want to open up the unit and take the drives out, but if that's what it takes, it makes sense to do it. Also, I seem to recall hearing that it can take quite a while to get the 6.3e update. Does anybody know the quickest way to get that update?

Again, thanks for all the advice. I'm finding this forum to be very useful.

[Lou Jacob]

First of all, thanks for the responses to my post. I'm finding this is an iterative process, and it's helpful to get feedback.

To recap, I'm having trouble accessing my HR10-250 running version 3.5. When I first hooked it up, I briefly had access then lost it. My previous unit, an HR10-250 running version 6.3e worked just fine on the network.

After Lou's last response, I did some investigating to see if the network was the problem. I got out the 6.3e unit (which only partially works, but works well enough for this experiment), hooked it to the network and was able to access it right away, both with the browser and telnet. I then disconnected the 6.3e unit and attached and rebooted the 3.5 unit. Interestingly, this time it DID show up in the DHCP table, but I was still unable to access it.

Thus, I've concluded the problem is not likely to be the network, since I can access the 6.3e unit. The most obvious difference between the units is the software version. I'm wondering if my best course of action is to update the software then re-install PTVNet. I don't really want to open up the unit and take the drives out, but if that's what it takes, it makes sense to do it. Also, I seem to recall hearing that it can take quite a while to get the 6.3e update. Does anybody know the quickest way to get that update?

Again, thanks for all the advice. I'm finding this forum to be very useful.

Definitely an iterative approach is the way to go; its good that you are patient.

So let's back-up just a few more steps.

You have two units... one is running 3.1.5, and the other is running 6.3e.

You have used PTVnet on both units, one successfully and one unsuccessfully. Correct?

Let me ask you this... Are you certain you are using the 3.1.5f version of PTVnet? There are different versions depending on what you are running on your TiVo; IE, a version for 3.1.5X systems and a version for 6.3X systems.

[jkelly2003]

Yes, I have used PTVNet on both units. I would say the 6.3e unit was a complete success. (other than the rather inconvenient fact that the unit later died, but that's not a PTVNet issue) The 3.1.5f unit does work - I am able to watch it just fine, I just can't access it through the network.

As for the PTVNet software, I believe I did use the correct versions. I just looked back at the CDs I burned, and I have one that says "PTVNet HD for HR10-250 V.3.5.1".

One other difference I've noted is that the 3.5.1 unit has a red splash screen that says "DVRupgrade", while the 6.3 unit does not. Does that make any sense?

[Lou Jacob]

Yes, I have used PTVNet on both units. I would say the 6.3e unit was a complete success. (other than the rather inconvenient fact that the unit later died, but that's not a PTVNet issue) The 3.1.5f unit does work - I am able to watch it just fine, I just can't access it through the network.

As for the PTVNet software, I believe I did use the correct versions. I just looked back at the CDs I burned, and I have one that says "PTVNet HD for HR10-250 V.3.5.1".

One other difference I've noted is that the 3.5.1 unit has a red splash screen that says "DVRupgrade", while the 6.3 unit does not. Does that make any sense?

It does make sense. But let's make sure we use the version numbers correctly, its actually 3.1.5 (not 3.5.1); there is a 3.5 for a completely different family of TiVo systems, so it is best to keep things straight there.

Now, the 3.1.5 and 6.3 versions of PTVnet are different in many ways.

There are several reasons for that, but the important thing to understand is that success with 3.1.5 shouldn't necessarily be compared to success with 6.3 - they are two different products. So best to just put the 6.3 unit aside for now.

What I would recommend is possibly going back and redoing the install on 3.1.5 to see if you got any errors or warnings when installing it.

It would also be good to know - is this an original drive, or were you using an MFS backup of the drive, InstantCake? Any other details?

[jkelly2003]

Sorry about the confusion on the version numbers. I'll try to keep them straight.

The unit is upgraded with 2 Seagate 500GB drives. I used MFS toosl (from Weaknees, I think) to add the new drives, then used PTVNet.

Is the re-install of PTVNet as simple as just re-running the CD?

[Lou Jacob]

Sorry about the confusion on the version numbers. I'll try to keep them straight.

The unit is upgraded with 2 Seagate 500GB drives. I used MFStools to add the new drives, then used PTVNet.

Is the re-install of PTVNet as simple as just re-running the CD?

It should be "just as simple" but as you know, that is always easier said, then done. I would recommend re-running that install, the same way you did the first time, and taking note of any errors or warnings. My guess is that things did not run as expected. Could be an underlying problem with the software on the drives and it might require the "force" option (please see the official PTVnet support thread for more info).

If all else fails, and you are willing so start totally from scratch, a clean install with PTVnet and InstantCake will most likely solve the problem.

There is one other possibility that could be an issue... if the version of PTVnet you are using was released prior to December 20th of last year, and the Linksys USB 2.0 Ethernet adapter you are using is relatively new, the drivers won't support that, so you could have an issue there -- this doesn't sound likely since you are able to see the adapter however briefly; I'd recommend you read through the release notes, instructions etc, to make sure you have all the right things and version numbers lined up...

[Daffsters]

I'm not sure if this post is still being monitored, but here goes... In 2006, I replaced the original 250 GB drive (we'll refer to this as Drive A) with a new 300 GB (Drive B) created with InstantCake 3.1.5f and PTVNet. At this time, I installed the networking with a static IP address and everything worked as advertised. Since then I have used Slicer to upgrade to 6.2, 6.3 and finally to 6.4a in 2008. About the only thing that didn't work was the phone calll home and the number of messages regarding this that had to be deleted.

In late 2010, I started experiencing stuttering problems while watching any channel and random reboots (sometimes continuously) until I would power off the DVR for some time. The fix at time was suppose to be forcing a call home, but this call failed whether I tried via phone (modem not responding message) or via network. The problem seemed to go away until last month when the same symptoms re-appeared.

I have tried deleting everything on Drive B and going through the Guided Setup again, but now I have no network access and the stuttering/rebooting problem is not resolved. I used my 3.1.5f InstantCake and PTVNet to bake the original Drive A to see if this would help. After many reboots and phone calls home (which work now), the DVR is fully activated but shows up on the network only for a minute or so. Even when it does, I can not telnet nor TivoWebPlus to it.

1. Can I use 3.1.5f PTVNET with the force option on the 6.4a Drive B to try to restore the netwoking and phone call options?
2. Any ideas how to fix the networking on the 3.1.5f Drive A since I can't access the DVR to run Slicer to upgrade to 6.4a? SHould I re-run PTVNet?
3. Any suggestions that I can think of to get up and running again

Thank you!

[pstgh]

Don't laugh, but I'm actually considering upgrading to HD...I've been a happy idiot (for many years) just using my hacked series 2 sammys enjoying life while easily extracting / inserting and mrv'ing videos all around my house.

Now I've had an old Hughes 10-250 mothballed from 4-5 years back when I was thinking of moving to HD in the early days, so I'm wondering if there is use left for that box in the new HD world?

I'm not seeing any proven method of extracting or otherwise networking these newer dtv hd dvrs, and I find that disappointing. Can someone chime in with any up to date pointers on whether I should fool with this old 10-250 box or if there is any way to have HD but also be able to extract for archive purposes?

Thanks