Wireless Internet Connection?

[jimbo713]

With VOD in the near future, I'd like to hook the HR20 to the internet. Is this possible with a wireless connection out of the HR20 to a hub/router connected to a cable modem?

[Spanky_Partain]

With VOD in the near future, I'd like to hook the HR20 to the internet. Is this possible with a wireless connection out of the HR20 to a hub/router connected to a cable modem?

Careful what you are doing here. It you are actually going to use a hub and connect the wireless device to the hub to try and use multiple devcices connected to the hub for wireless access, then NO that will not work.

Install wireless device to HR20.
Use of a wireless router will work just fine to the cable modem.
If needed an access point can also be included.

[oldschoolecw]

Could some one please tell me what would be the best wireless router to cable modem connection? Or would a second modem work out better, I have cable TV wiring in my living room not being used. My house has cable coming in for my computers internet connection. So all cable wirers are live in all rooms of my home. And DirecTV is on it’s own wiring system.
Thanks

[Spanky_Partain]

Could some one please tell me what would be the best wireless router to cable modem connection? Or would a second modem work out better, I have cable TV wiring in my living room not being used. My house has cable coming in for my computers internet connection. So all cable wirers are live in all rooms of my home. And DirecTV is on it’s own wiring system.
Thanks

It turely is a matter of choice. They all pretty much work the same.

[Darwynz]

I have had alot of success with my cable modem plugged into a linksys 802.11b/g router.... from there I have an ethernet bridge going to the ethernet port on the back of the HR20 which in essence makes it wireless and on the internet... I have looked for and wide and the link below has had the best price and does work nicely.

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=204114826&adid=17662

[Just J]

I have a D-Link DI-624 wireless router with 4 port switch, which is connected to my Cable modem.

I then use D-Link DWL-G820 gaming adapters to connect my home PC and my HR20 to the DI-624 wirelessly.

I was going the LinkSys route, but I couldn't find "V3" of their Ethernet Bridge, which is required to use WPA, my minimum security standard.

[shendley]

I'm pretty new to the world of wireless networking and have what I suspect is a dumb question. I've had a wireless router connected to my internet cable for about a month now so that we can access the internet on a new laptop we have which has the right card to do that. I was thinking of getting one of the usb adapter cards for a second notebook we have in order to get onto the network with the second laptop. Is that the sort of thing I need to get the HR 20 onto the network - a kind of notebook adapter. I think I must be wrong about this.

[Just J]

I'm pretty new to the world of wireless networking and have what I suspect is a dumb question. I've had a wireless router connected to my internet cable for about a month now so that we can access the internet on a new laptop we have which has the right card to do that. I was thinking of getting one of the usb adapter cards for a second notebook we have in order to get onto the network with the second laptop. Is that the sort of thing I need to get the HR 20 onto the network - a kind of notebook adapter. I think I must be wrong about this.

There are three main types of add-on wireless adapter:

PC Card, for use in a laptop
USB, for use in a laptop or other device with appropriate USB port (this does NOT include the HR20).
"Gaming Adapter" or "Ethernet Bridge", for use with any device that has an Ethernet jack on it, including laptops, desktops, game consoles, A/V controllers (e.g., Slingbox), and other devices (this DOES include the HR20).


So what you want is a "Gaming Adapter" or "Ethernet Bridge". It's a module that plugs into the Ethernet port on the back of the HR20 and creates a wireless connection to the router. Per my post above, I am using two of these, one for my HR20 and one for my home PC (replacing a cable that had to snake around the room to get to the modem).

I recommend getting the same brand as your router, just to simplify troubleshooting and technical support.

[houskamp]

bite the bullit and run a cable :) nothing as reliable as a wire :)

[jimbo713]

Wireless must work for me - the cable modem is on the other side of the house. I didn't set up my entertainemnt room with an internet connection as a necessary part of it. In the words of Walt Disney, "Keep Moving Forward!"

[shendley]

There are three main types of add-on wireless adapter:

PC Card, for use in a laptop
USB, for use in a laptop or other device with appropriate USB port (this does NOT include the HR20).
"Gaming Adapter" or "Ethernet Bridge", for use with any device that has an Ethernet jack on it, including laptops, desktops, game consoles, A/V controllers (e.g., Slingbox), and other devices (this DOES include the HR20).


So what you want is a "Gaming Adapter" or "Ethernet Bridge". It's a module that plugs into the Ethernet port on the back of the HR20 and creates a wireless connection to the router. Per my post above, I am using two of these, one for my HR20 and one for my home PC (replacing a cable that had to snake around the room to get to the modem).

I recommend getting the same brand as your router, just to simplify troubleshooting and technical support.

Thanks. That's just what I was looking for.

[islesfan]

I'm using a Linksys game adapter in the HR20 ethernet port to go to a Buffalo Air Station across the house. Instant connection, no problems (just had to hook the game adapter up to the router first via ethernet to set up the WEP key and SSID.

P.S. If you are worried aboout setting up your network properly, go to www.networkmagic.com/download and download their program. It does just about everything network related for you. Really amazing!

[hdtvfan0001]

Instant connection, no problems (just had to hook the game adapter up to the router first via ethernet to set up the WEP key and SSID.

The network connection is easy enough...its the ability to see the game adapter on the network and also the internet connectivity to it that's a major challenge.

[GollyGee]

I read this thread with great interest. We have DSL and a pair of laptops that connect to our wireless router.

After some thought, I realize now that I can simply attach the DSL modem to the same phone line the DirecTV box uses, plug the WiFi router into the DTV box' Ethernet port, and continue to use our laptops wirelessly through the house.

In other words, we don't need to purchase a thing, we just need to move some equipment around.

[romney]

I was faced with a similar dilema. I now have three devices (HR20, Xbox 360 and Slingbox) that needed an internet connection. I already had wireless is the house, but I would have had to purchase 3 gaming adapters ($100x3=~$300) to make everything work. Three plugs. Three individual netowrk devices. The configuration horror. Oh my! The old wireless router was in the office, not in the living room. Could it work as a wireless bridge?

After the purchase of the Slingbox, the old wireless router (Belkin F5D7230) did not support Dynamic DNS. By having the ability of the router to ping the DynDNS.org with my current IP address, It would make my Slingbox life much easier if all I had to do was enter a web address rather than the 24-billion character finder ID. With this as an excuse, I went out and picked up the Linksys WRT54GC.

The Belkin did support wireless bridging, but I was heading into a territory that I knew nothing about. It is important to note that both the Belkin and Linksys router share the same wireless chipset family. If you are thinking about implementing a wireless network like this, I highly recommend staying within the same product family (read brand).

I first setup the Linksys. I noted the DHCP IP range given (i.e. 192.168.1.xxx). I also noted the Submask (255.255.255.0). I wrote down the MAC address. Remember the channel. Remember the security settings and the keyword! What’s the SSID? Whew, I’m tired after all that.

Once the Linksys was setup, I disconnected it and connected the Belkin directly to the PC. I tried to ping it, but two hours later I was pulling hair. What I finally realized is that the Belkin defaults to a different IP range (192.168.0.xxx). Once I manually configured the TCP/IP settings on the PC to match that range I was able to then setup the Belkin as a wireless bridge. Note: Make sure to change the TCP/IP settings on the PC back to the original settings. Otherwise it won’t see the new router when you hook it back up!

I set the Belkin to Static IP withing the range of the new router (192.168.1.2 for me). I made sure the submask, security settings, SSID and channel settings matched the new router exactly. The major caveat here is the you must specify ENABLE ONLY SPECIFIC ACCESS POINTS TO CONNECT. You then must specify the new routers (Linksys) MAC address. The wireless bridge will not work or connect unless you do this!

I then rebooted the Belkin. It didn’t come back after reboot. Why? Because it went from 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.1.2. After I reset the TCP/IP settings on the PC back to the original settings. I was able to connect to it again. I then disconnected it and went back to the liviing room and installed it behind the Plasma. Connected all three devices via CAT-5 cable. And turned it on with all fingers and toes crossed.

Oops, I had forgotten to hook up the new wireless router back in the office. DOH! Once that was up and running (after a whole Saturday and night and into the Sunday morning) everything worked like a charm.

This is not for the technically inept. It takes a lot of networking knowledge. I hope this knowledge either gets you thinking about it or dissuades you from doing it.

Regards,
J

P.S. Last night I thought I would tweak my network to make it go faster. Uh, that was stupid took me four hours to get it back the way I just explained. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.

DISCLAIMER: I in no way take responsibility for you messing up your own home network ;-)

[Spanky_Partain]

^ nice post romney and welcome to the forum...

[shendley]

Okay, the post from Romney has struck fear into my network challenged soul. But, one thing I've noticed in a couple of posts is that if you stick with the same company, things should go smoother. Right now I have a Buffalo router. I see that Buffalo also makes a wireless ethernet connector. Theoretically, do you think this would make the setup easier? I'd really like to be all up and running for VOD when it comes!

[Just J]

Okay, the post from Romney has struck fear into my network challenged soul. But, one thing I've noticed in a couple of posts is that if you stick with the same company, things should go smoother. Right now I have a Buffalo router. I see that Buffalo also makes a wireless ethernet connector. Theoretically, do you think this would make the setup easier? I'd really like to be all up and running for VOD when it comes!

I assume you're talking about this (http://www.buffalotech.com/products/wireless/wireless-g-mimo-performance/wireless-g-mimo-performance-ethernet-converter/).

It should work fine with the Buffalo routers. Keep in mind that you'll be using lowest common denominator protocols. For exampe, if only one side supports N or MIMO, you can't use them.

The trick is to start simple, and take small steps (you may have already done some or all of these).

Step 1 - Put basic security around your router: change the SSID name from the default, turn off SSID broadcast, and change the password. Get everything working.

Step 2 - Add WEP security (or, better, WPA-TKIP if both ends will support it). Pick a nice long pass phrase with mixed case and numerals, like HR20netW0RKingR0ckStheH0USE or CRACKthisY0Uhax0r5CUMbags (note the use of zeros in place of capital-O's, and/or fives in paces of capital-S's). Confirm everything is still working.

(Optional) Step 3 - Turn on MAC address filtering, programming in the MAC address of your HR20 into the router to permit it access. Confirm everything is working.

I found that working through these steps was easier if I used my PC for everything, including testing. I ran a cable from the router over to my PC, and turned off any wireless networking built into the PC. I'd use the cable to reconfigure the router, then I'd unplug the cable from the PC and plug in the Wireless Bridge. I'd configure it to match the router and see if I had connectivity.

If I was feeling brave, I'd do another step (connecting first to the router via the cable, and then going back to the wireless bridge). At some point, with the PC successfully using the wireless bridge, I'd move the WB to the HR20 and leave it there for 24 hours. If I was still connecting to the Internet according to the HR20, I'd take the WB pack to the PC and add an additional layer of security.

[jimbo713]

It looks like I'll try the gaming adapter approach to get that wireless connection to our HR20. VOD is a feature that will make the HR20 (and D*) that much better. And the HR20 has improved SO much over the last 4 months.

[MartyS]

Will this work with any computer, or do I have to have a Viiv connection? Also, will I be able to play music or look at pictures with a standard older XP Home based system or will I need something else?

[Kapeman]

There is no need to buy multiple wireless bridges or gaming adapters.

You can connect multiple devices to a standard router and then connect ONE bridge to the router. The wireless bridge will think the router is one device and all the other devices connected to the router will work.

This setup assumes the devices are all close enough to plug into the router.

[davidord]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833162168

I purchased the Bufalo bridge that has 4 inputs. So, I can use the bridge with up to 4 devices without a problem. After a little difficulty setting up, this works well.

There is no need to buy multiple wireless bridges or gaming adapters.

You can connect multiple devices to a standard router and then connect ONE bridge to the router. The wireless bridge will think the router is one device and all the other devices connected to the router will work.

This setup assumes the devices are all close enough to plug into the router.

[Mike Huss]

Shendly, assuming you have the WHR-G54S like I do, you can just buy another one of them and bridge it to your existing router. Cheaper alternative than buying an ethernet adapter. I had the same questions and a quick conversation via email with their tech support recently confirmed it. FWIW, their tech support responded very quickly and explained everything very clearly to a networking dunce like myself.

[Doug Brott]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833162168

I purchased the Bufalo bridge that has 4 inputs. So, I can use the bridge with up to 4 devices without a problem. After a little difficulty setting up, this works well.


There is no need to buy multiple wireless bridges or gaming adapters.

You can connect multiple devices to a standard router and then connect ONE bridge to the router. The wireless bridge will think the router is one device and all the other devices connected to the router will work.

This setup assumes the devices are all close enough to plug into the router.

A 4-port bridge is a great choice because then you only have to worry about a single power source and a single configuration.

----

Kapeman,

Is a router required? I would expect a switch connected to a bridge to work as well since Bridges a MAC-Address based. routers use IP information which one layer higher.

----

Also, if it's not clear to folks, a "Gaming Adapter" is the sales-marketing term for "Ethernet Bridge." They are one and the same. You can probably assume that a Gaming Adapter is a wireless device - and Ethernet Bridge is not necessarily wireless, but can be.

An example of a wired Ethernet Bridge would be the powerline Ethernet devices that you may have seen. Basically, in those situations, network traffic is routed over the power lines in your house. I would expect the netgear XE104 (http://www.netgear.com/Products/PowerlineNetworking/PowerlineEthernetAdapters/XE104.aspx) powerline device to work in the same manner that the Gaming Adapter works - NOTE: I have not tried this device, but I see no reason why it wouldn't work. For the XE104 or other powerline device, you would, of course need two - one for the router location and one for the HR20 location.

[stblake10]

I might as well put in my question for the day. I checked out some of the threads on how to connect the HR20 to a PC. My clarification question is. Can I connect a cat6 cable from the HR20 to the Linksyss modem? Is that all that I need to do? I realize that I need to go into the HR20 menu and go to network and follow the instructions.

[VLaslow]

Will this work with any computer, or do I have to have a Viiv connection? Also, will I be able to play music or look at pictures with a standard older XP Home based system or will I need something else?


Yes, XP systems work fine in this environment. Although this was designed with ViiV in mind, the system works with other software including Windows Media Player 11.

[VLaslow]

I might as well put in my question for the day. I checked out some of the threads on how to connect the HR20 to a PC. My clarification question is. Can I connect a cat6 cable from the HR20 to the Linksyss modem? Is that all that I need to do? I realize that I need to go into the HR20 menu and go to network and follow the instructions.

That's how I had mine until I purchased my wireless ethernet bridge.

Don't forget the software side of equation; Windows Media Player 11 or others.

[stblake10]

That's how I had mine until I purchased my wireless ethernet bridge.

Don't forget the software side of equation; Windows Media Player 11 or others.
Thank you for answering. I will make sure to update my media player. I want to make sure that when VOD is available that I am up an running. Also I am a bit behind the times on this kinda of stuff. :)

[VLaslow]

Thank you for answering. I will make sure to update my media player. I want to make sure that when VOD is available that I am up an running. Also I am a bit behind the times on this kinda of stuff. :)

I've found that keeping current with the posts on DBSTALK will get one up to speed pretty quickly. There is a lot of talent in this group.

[Kapeman]

----

Kapeman,

Is a router required? I would expect a switch connected to a bridge to work as well since Bridges a MAC-Address based. routers use IP information which one layer higher.



It really depends on the bridge and the switch.

Many of the "gaming adapter" bridges will only work with one MAC address. Thus you need a router that can spoof/clone a MAC address of one of the devices attached to it. So that the adapter only "sees" one MAC addy.

[Doug Brott]

It really depends on the bridge and the switch.

Many of the "gaming adapter" bridges will only work with one MAC address. Thus you need a router that can spoof/clone a MAC address of one of the devices attached to it. So that the adapter only "sees" one MAC addy.

I wondered if that was the case ... Sounds like a case of cripple-ware so that they can sell more adapters :(

[shendley]

Shendly, assuming you have the WHR-G54S like I do, you can just buy another one of them and bridge it to your existing router. Cheaper alternative than buying an ethernet adapter. I had the same questions and a quick conversation via email with their tech support recently confirmed it. FWIW, their tech support responded very quickly and explained everything very clearly to a networking dunce like myself.

I think that's the one I have (I'll have to make sure when I get home from work). If so, what you suggest would be a good way to go. And, I agree with you about Buffalo customer service. Though I did have to wait quite a while to speak with someone when I initially had a couple of problems getting my router up and running, they were very helpful when I got to them.

Thanks for the suggestion!

[hasan]

I just have my HR20 hard wired to my network (via a network switch), and set it up with a static IP like the rest of my network and it works fine. I'm doing media sharing with WMP 11 from my wireless laptop behind the couch.

WMP 11 is clunky, but it works.

[MartyS]

Can I use a Wireless Access Point or do I need a gaming ethernet bridge?

Thanks!

[Kapeman]

Can I use a Wireless Access Point or do I need a gaming ethernet bridge?

Thanks!

A wireless access point assumes there are wireless capable devices out there. The wireless router is actually your access point.

The wireless bridge is what allows a non-wireless device to "become" wireless or to use the wireless network.

An access point would be used where the signal could not get to your wireless router and you would have to backhaul via a cat5 connection to the router.

[jimbo713]

OK - to help clarify any confusion - I have a Linksys wireless router (WRT54G). What Linksys product will do the job connected to the HR20? I came up with Linksys model WGA54G.

I'm trying to nail down a buying decision here.

Thanks!

[MartyS]

A wireless access point assumes there are wireless capable devices out there. The wireless router is actually your access point.

The wireless bridge is what allows a non-wireless device to "become" wireless or to use the wireless network.

An access point would be used where the signal could not get to your wireless router and you would have to backhaul via a cat5 connection to the router.

Thanks for the clarification.... time to get an ethernet bridge!

[romney]

OK - to help clarify any confusion - I have a Linksys wireless router (WRT54G). What Linksys product will do the job connected to the HR20? I came up with Linksys model WGA54G.

The WRT54G can be configured as a wireless bridge. If you search google for "WRT54G wireless bridge" there is an excellent post on AnandTech about how configure it as a wireless bridge.

Good luck,
j

[bigmac94]

Careful what you are doing here. It you are actually going to use a hub and connect the wireless device to the hub to try and use multiple devcices connected to the hub for wireless access, then NO that will not work.

Install wireless device to HR20.
Use of a wireless router will work just fine to the cable modem.
If needed an access point can also be included.

Spanky..
Need to ask you a question.. Do you think multiple Music Bridges, All wireless Might be possible, with multiple HR20 100s. (Same Primary Computer) Know I will need to assign Different Numbers, Might the Computer do It? ,Can this work to get say 3 Different HR20 100s connected to the internet.
Right now I`m using WRT150N Router & WMB54G Music Bridge Connected to my Computer & the Internet. Also have another Computer Hardwired. We are up & running as we speak & have DOD running.
Just upgraded my system with all 3 HR20 100s & one H20 100,And was thinking how I might connect all to the internet with the possible exception of the H20 100
not sure how it might fit in.
Whatcha Think??

[Spanky_Partain]

Spanky..
Need to ask you a question.. Do you think multiple Music Bridges, All wireless Might be possible, with multiple HR20 100s. (Same Primary Computer) Know I will need to assign Different Numbers, Might the Computer do It? ,Can this work to get say 3 Different HR20 100s connected to the internet.
Right now I`m using WRT150N Router & WMB54G Music Bridge Connected to my Computer & the Internet. Also have another Computer Hardwired. We are up & running as we speak & have DOD running.
Just upgraded my system with all 3 HR20 100s & one H20 100,And was thinking how I might connect all to the internet with the possible exception of the H20 100
not sure how it might fit in.
Whatcha Think??

Sure this will work. Just like any other equipment getting added into the internal network it needs a unique IP address for it to come into the shared environment. Things to look for are the amount of DHCP addresses allowed by the DHCP server. In most cases this is the main router that plugs into the DSL/Cable modem. There is an adjustable number of how many DHCP clients are allowed. This may need to be adjusted and need to be considered. Count everything that gets a DHCP address and adjust the number accordingly. Also if you are using Static IP address, make sure all of them are different from each other and none of them are duplicated. You will need a WMB54G Music Bridge for each of the HR20's you want to hook up. You can get some multiple port bridge devices if more thanone will be in the same location.

Take a look at the network help link in my signature. Lots of good info there.

[Kapeman]

Spanky..
Need to ask you a question.. Do you think multiple Music Bridges, All wireless Might be possible, with multiple HR20 100s. (Same Primary Computer) Know I will need to assign Different Numbers, Might the Computer do It? ,Can this work to get say 3 Different HR20 100s connected to the internet.
Right now I`m using WRT150N Router & WMB54G Music Bridge Connected to my Computer & the Internet. Also have another Computer Hardwired. We are up & running as we speak & have DOD running.
Just upgraded my system with all 3 HR20 100s & one H20 100,And was thinking how I might connect all to the internet with the possible exception of the H20 100
not sure how it might fit in.
Whatcha Think??

How close are these devices in physical proximity to each other?

[sNEIRBO]

If this helps anyone . . . I use one of these to connect my Hr20-100, my Xbox and my HD DVD wireless to my Linksys WiFi Router -

http://www.compsource.com/ttechnote.asp?part_no=WHRHPG54&vid=789&src=F

It has four ports on it, and connected as easily as a laptop computer to my WiFi network.

[bigmac94]

How close are these devices in physical proximity to each other?

In Different Rooms of the house.. front ,back not close (practical) enough to run wire,if that was where you were going

[Kapeman]

In Different Rooms of the house.. front ,back not close (practical) enough to run wire,if that was where you were going

I was thinking you could plug a router into the wireless bridge and use that, but that idea is out.