step by step wireless setup help for a novice

[jfolliard]

I've searched a bunch of threads but really couldn't find anything - lots there but seems like everyone is more knowledgeable than the novice level.

Would somebody post a step by step setup instruction for a novice on connecting the hr20 to a wireless network - needed hardware and software, etc.

I have probably the typical vanilla home wireless network - cable modem to wireless router hard wired to PC and running a laptop wirelessly. But my TV/hr20 needs to be connected for media stuff wirelessly.

Is it as simple as connecting a wireless bridge to the Ethernet port on the back of the hr20 and using windows media player 11 software (or something called Twonky)?

I'm sure I will not know how to set everything up on the software/configuration side of things.

much appreciated!!

Jack

[FastEddie]

I too would like some help with this.

[Strejcek]

I've searched a bunch of threads but really couldn't find anything - lots there but seems like everyone is more knowledgeable than the novice level.

Would somebody post a step by step setup instruction for a novice on connecting the hr20 to a wireless network - needed hardware and software, etc.

I have probably the typical vanilla home wireless network - cable modem to wireless router hard wired to PC and running a laptop wirelessly. But my TV/hr20 needs to be connected for media stuff wirelessly.

Is it as simple as connecting a wireless bridge to the Ethernet port on the back of the hr20 and using windows media player 11 software (or something called Twonky)?

I'm sure I will not know how to set everything up on the software/configuration side of things.

much appreciated!!

Jack

In my case it was just that simple. My HR20 is connected to a Linksys wireless game adapter, which connects to my router. My computer is Viiv certified, my laptop is not. Both are running MS Media Center edition of windows and media player 11. HR20 is able to access both computers and play media from both. Just plug in the HR20, connect, and enjoy.

[Milominderbinder2]

The HR20 Networking Tips & Tricks pdf is now posted at:

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=74426

The Networking Tips & Tricks shows how to be able to look at photos and listen to music from your PC. You don't even need a Viiv PC!

Step-by-step instructions will guide you through.

Thank you to Earl, Slip Jigs, and everyone who shared ideas. Without DBSTalk, I would not have ever know these features were there let alone how to use them.

- Craig

[jfolliard]

thanks Milo2!! quick question - is a wireless bridge the same thing as a wireless game adapter?

[jwil3150]

Thanks for the great summary. Can anyone post a similar document for Mac users. If you have been successful, we would like to know the details. Mac intel Macbook. Mac OS 10.
Thanks in advance and Happy Holidays

[yesongs]

I have linksys router, a Yamaha network ready A/V Reciever, and the HR20.

I definitely need to figure out a way to play MP-3's from the PC's in the house through the HR-20

Eddie

[TomF]

My Linksys WRT54G is set up with WPA-2/AES encryption. I read the WGA54AG User Manual online on the Linksys website and it appears that it will only do WEP encryption. I don't want to change my wireless network to WEP just to be able to do this. Any suggestions?

[iacas]

My Linksys WRT54G is set up with WPA-2/AES encryption. I read the WGA54AG User Manual online on the Linksys website and it appears that it will only do WEP encryption. I don't want to change my wireless network to WEP just to be able to do this. Any suggestions?

I second not changing to WEP. WPA has better security.

Solution: buy a different wireless bridge with WPA support?

[Mixer]

cool I am sure if everyopne who has not been able to get thisto work will :read: this post they will have it running in no time.

[jschuman]

I bought the Linksys WGA54AG Wireless Game Adapter that was mentioned in the step by step guide above and am trying to get it working with the hr20. I'm not having much success.

My setup: Verizon DSL with Westell Model 327W DSL modem/Wirelesss router
For now I have WEP set, SSID hidden and Mac address filtering.
I went through the guided setup for the Wireless A/G Game Adapter and set the SSID and WEP password up.

Here are my questions:

- What should the 'switch' be set to in the back? Adhoc A or Adhoc B? I have it set to B.
- For the Mac filtering, which Mac address do I need to allow on my router? The HR20, the game adapter, or both?
- When setting up the Connection on the HR20 do I pick wired or wireless setup (i've been selecting wireless).
- When connected (to the HR20) should the wirelss light on the Game adapter be solid green or steadily blinking? Right now as I am looking at it it is steadily blinking.

Also, I tried removing all the security on my router and connecting again with no luck. Anything else I might be screwing up?

Thanks!

Jeff

[Spanky_Partain]

Instead of Adhoc, is there an infrastructure setting?
Disable cloning mode and set TX rate to auto.

That is what my linksys bridge is set to.

I am using the WET54G and it also has WPA as well. I think WEP is OK as long as you are using the MAC filter list, it is set as good as it can get.

[jschuman]

switching to infra mode seems to have worked. I currently:
- have all my security features disabled
- the hr20 is connected to the game adapter
- when I go through Network Connection on the HR20 it says I am connected to my network/the internet

However, in WMP11 it is NOT seeing the HR20 when I go to the sharing options.

[Spanky_Partain]

I also had difficulty using the WMP11 scenario. It would work then not work. I chose the twonky solution and it has proven very stable and easy to use.

http://www.twonkyvision.de/

Here is one thread of many on twonky...
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=73279

You will also need the three files in the addon plugins. They will need to be put into the c:\program files\twonkyvision\cgi-bin directory, if you go this route.

Other have gotten WMP11 to work for them. I give up on Windows stuff pretty quick. I'm a Linux man myself.

[jschuman]

I finally got it to work with WMP11 (not really sure what I did but it finally showed up in the list of devices to share with).

Of course now when I try to get it connected again with any kind of security I'm having no luck. :( :groan:

[Spanky_Partain]

The security should come up just fine as long as everything is set correctly. Your over the hump now!

Have fun!

[RollTideinHD]

Twonky worked well for me. I have Windows XP and no Viiv. Just installed 30-day trial of Twonky, rebooted HR20 and the "Music & Photos" showed up in the Menu screen of HR20. Although I do have WMP11 on there, I don't think it is being used. I have not enabled any sharing, Twonky seems to be handling all the serving.

[jschuman]

up and running with Twonky! Finally got it working with MAC filtering and WEP (for now I'm not hiding my SSID - I need to get it working with that too, but tonight this is good enough.)

One question - has anyone gotten .mpg or .avi files to play (videos)?

Edit: Well according to this: http://www.dbstalk.com/showpost.php?p=756473&postcount=324
the HR20 doesn't support video playback yet. So I guess that answers my question!

[mecohen]

I connect to the network, but cannot connect to the internet. Any idea why?

[jschuman]

I connect to the network, but cannot connect to the internet. Any idea why?I saw that a bunch of times during my setup and to be honest with you I'm not 100% sure what finally got it working, but here are some random tips that might help:
- Make sure that you can 'see' your wireless adapter from your router. I had to login to my router from my PC and then check the wireless connections to verify this, but at least I knew that the adapter was connected.
- Go into the Network Setup and try a 'Reset Defaults'. Then immediately select the Connect option.
- Do a reset of the HR20 and then follow the above suggestion.

Hope that helps. I spent my entire night last night getting it connected and there's a good bit of witchcraft involved. ;)

[bret4]

The way I connected was to take my 2wire wireless internet modem and plug it into the back of my HR20 with an ethernet cable. Then I setup WMP11 to share files from my wireless laptop. Everything worked realy easy and I didn't have to buy anything. My laptop is a Toshiba Satellite P35 with windows XP Home edition service pack 2.

[mecohen]

Thanks for the suggestions. Tried them all, but still cannot connect to internet. The wireless adapter connected to the HR20 is pingable.
This is driving me nuts. Merry Christmas!

[Milominderbinder2]

With your suggestions on this thread and others, I have made dozens of corrections to post number 4 above. I compiled them into a pdf file here:

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=74426

Any othe ideas for the step-by-step instructions?

[Spanky_Partain]

I vote a "Sticky" on this thread. A lot of questions on this...

Thanks Milominderbinder2!

[Doug Brott]

I second not changing to WEP. WPA has better security.

Solution: buy a different wireless bridge with WPA support?

This Adapter (http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1134692497433&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper) claims to support WPA (in the data sheet), but I have not tried it. The key feature in any wireless adapter that you are looking for should be the Bridging feature. If the device is not a Bridge device or does not support bridging, then it will not work the way you expect it to on your network. A "Gaming Adapter" is an Ethernet Bridge with a fancy marketing name attached, so most (if not all) Gaming Adapters should work just fine.

[JAH]

Thank you for the great info. I was able to get it to work. I'm using Windows XP Professional, no ViiV, WMP 11.

The only issues I'm having are:

1) I can't get any of my videos to play, there is an "X" in the left column next to the name in the HR-20 menu. Any special tricks with videos or only specific formats?

2) Under My Pictures, I have everyone organized in folders. I can't see them. If I click on all photos they come up. If I create a playlist, it works fine.

This is really nice to be able to play my music thru my entertainment system without having to play CDs or hook up my iPOD.

Jim

Jim

[Spanky_Partain]

Videos are not currently supported. Only music and photos. You should be able to highlight the folder and press enter and open it. Patients is required while this is taking place, at least it does using the twonky and I would expect nothing less from WMP11.

Glad you got it going!
Have fun...

[uncrph90]

I have a few questions about this whole process. I guess that I am a bit behind on the entertainment options on my computer. I don't use a MP3 player, and I never got into the file sharing of music or video, so I don't have a lot of "interesting" stuff on my hard drive. I usually just pop a CD into a player when I want to listen. But, if I can access through my HR20, I might join the 21st century. If I load my CD collection onto my hard drive, will I be able to "see" them in the HR20 and select tracks and play them through it? Or would I have to configure some sort of playlist on the computer first and then start it from the HR20? The first option seems exciting, but the second is a bit cumbersome.
Guidance anyone?

[Spanky_Partain]

You can load your music CD's on your computer. I recommend going ahead and doing the upgrade on the Windows Media Player to version 11. Set your WMP11 to record your CD's in MP3 formant, not the default WMA.

When you get the HR20 on the network and setup, it will see ALL your music that you can individually select or use the shuffle selection and it will randomly pick songs from everything that is shared in the WMP11.

Have fun...

[uncrph90]

Have fun...

Thanks for the info--Ok, I'm in--well eventually, lots of cds to load and a game adapter to buy, etc! :D

[jbart1965]

Has anyone tried watching realtime Internet video, delivered by Windows Media Player or RealAudio, over a wireless network connection like this? I want to wirelessly connect my HDTV to my PC to watch live webcasts. Sounds like this setup only allows for viewing photos or listening to music stored on a PC.

[Spanky_Partain]

Has anyone tried watching realtime Internet video, delivered by Windows Media Player or RealAudio, over a wireless network connection like this? I want to wirelessly connect my HDTV to my PC to watch live webcasts. Sounds like this setup only allows for viewing photos or listening to music stored on a PC.

You are correct. Today only music and photos are usable. Video is not usable even though it can see them.

Maybe in the future...

[jschuman]

You are correct. Today only music and photos are usable. Video is not usable even though it can see them.

Maybe in the future...I have to believe that they are 'working' on letting us view videos on the HR20. I mean, why else would they be listing our videos? Unless they just like to tease us. ;)

[Milominderbinder2]

I have to believe that they are 'working' on letting us view videos on the HR20. I mean, why else would they be listing our videos? Unless they just like to tease us. ;)

This is now in the Wish List Survey. Please click the link below to vote for it.

- Craig

[giden]

Does anyone know if a wireless adapter connected to the HR20 via USB will work, or does it have to be ethernet connected? I'm having no luck with USB. Thanks

[jschuman]

Does anyone know if a wireless adapter connected to the HR20 via USB will work, or does it have to be ethernet connected? I'm having no luck with USB. ThanksAccording to Earl in the Networking Guide, USB will not work.

Source: http://www.dbstalk.com/showpost.php?p=750984&postcount=2

[giden]

According to Earl in the Networking Guide, USB will not work.

Source: http://www.dbstalk.com/showpost.php?p=750984&postcount=2

Thanks.

[rm226]

I connect to the network, but cannot connect to the internet. Any idea why?

Did you have any luck in resolving this one? I have the same problem. I'm ethernet from the HR20 to the router and can view/play photos and music using WMP11 but cannot connect to the internet. Also as many have posted I cannot ping the HR-20.

[mooniac]

I also had difficulty using the WMP11 scenario. It would work then not work. I chose the twonky solution and it has proven very stable and easy to use.

http://www.twonkyvision.de/

Here is one thread of many on twonky...
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=73279

You will also need the three files in the addon plugins. They will need to be put into the c:\program files\twonkyvision\cgi-bin directory, if you go this route.

Other have gotten WMP11 to work for them. I give up on Windows stuff pretty quick. I'm a Linux man myself.

I am also a Linux guy and since I don't have a windows machine on my network, I went with Twonky which seems to be up and running but I can't get it to output any audio for the mp3's. The jpegs work great. The mp3's seem to play (the progress bar works) but I don't hear anything. Any idea what could be wrong?

I'm using Fedora Core 6 and Twonky 4.1. I've downloaded both lame and flac plugins into the specified directory. The only thing that looks suspicious is that the Twonky downloads say they were compiled for glibc 2.2.5 and FC6 uses glibc 2.5.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Spanky_Partain]

On anothger thread, I saw that there were not any plugins for some Linux at this time for the audio.

Pester twonky and see if they can get you a lame plugin for Linux.

[uncrph90]

Another quick question--anyone have more than one HR20 networked at a time--any problems with setup?

[Doug Brott]

Another quick question--anyone have more than one HR20 networked at a time--any problems with setup?

I've got two connected and both see the Twonky server that I set up without any problems. I'm getting a VIIV certified computer later today, so I'll just set up the VIIV stuff rather than continue with Twonky. I'll let you know if there are problems.

[uncrph90]

I've got two connected and both see the Twonky server that I set up without any problems. I'm getting a VIIV certified computer later today, so I'll just set up the VIIV stuff rather than continue with Twonky. I'll let you know if there are problems.

Thanks brott! You're ok in my book (for a State guy!)

[giden]

Ok, does anyone have any magic words I can say over this system to get the HR20 to "talk" to my WMP11? Fromt the HR20, the test works well, says i'm connected to the network and internet. However, from the WMP11>Tools>Options>Library, the HR20 does not show up. Any ideas?

[Scotty G.]

Ok, does anyone have any magic words I can say over this system to get the HR20 to "talk" to my WMP11? Fromt the HR20, the test works well, says i'm connected to the network and internet. However, from the WMP11>Tools>Options>Library, the HR20 does not show up. Any ideas?

I'm having the exact same issue. HR20 says it is networked and on the internet; I can "see" the HR20 through my router's config screen (listed as DIRECTV-HR20, with its MAC address and an IP address assigned by the router). However, I can not find the HR20 in "My Network Places" in Win XP. The only difference than some on this thread may be that I have the HR20 connected via wire (vs. wireless) because it is in the same back room as my wireless router (Linksys WRT54G) since that way I should not have to buy another gaming adaptor to connect it.

Thanks for any advice getting this working.

[Rambler]

switching to infra mode seems to have worked. I currently:
- have all my security features disabled
- the hr20 is connected to the game adapter
- when I go through Network Connection on the HR20 it says I am connected to my network/the internet

However, in WMP11 it is NOT seeing the HR20 when I go to the sharing options.
This is where I am with my setup as well. I've even got the 30day trial of Twonky loaded, but still with no luck. If there's any tips you could offer me, it would be greatly appreciated! :) I've got a Windows XP Media Center PC, with a 2Wire DSL/wireless router setup (with AT&T - was SBC).