[oakwcj]

I've had my HR20's ethernet port connected to my router for about a month. Until the latest update, it didn't communicate with the router and no IP address was assigned. Today, it showed up on the list of attached devices with a MAC address and "DIRECTV-HR20" as its device name. I still can't ping it or telnet to it, but it is reporting itself to the router's DNS server.

 

[brewer4]

I dont have the new software version but mine has been showing up since day 1.

DIRECTV-HR20 192.168.0.13 00-50-94-C4-D3-F0 Ethernet

 

[oakwcj]

Either this is yet another example of different behavior in supposedly identical machines, or your day 1 was after my last check of the HR20's network status.

 

[PoitNarf]

but it is reporting itself to the router's DNS server.

You mean DHCP. I know, I'm nitpicking

 

[jkc120]

You mean DHCP. I know, I'm nitpicking

Has anyone port scanned theirs if it's grabbing a DHCP lease?

 

[RAD]

I dont have the new software version but mine has been showing up since day 1.

DIRECTV-HR20 192.168.0.13 00-50-94-C4-D3-F0 Ethernet

Ditto, both HR20's have been showing up in my DHCP table as being assigned addresses.

 

[RunnerFL]

Mine has been active and grabbing an IP since I had it installed in September.

 

[TonySCV]

Cool!

 

[anthony06]

whats does having it hooked up to the router do or gonna do in the future?

 

[Cyrus]

whats does having it hooked up to the router do or gonna do in the future?

Probably the following feature mentioned in the CNet review of HR20:

Like most of its kind, the HR20 has its share of jacks labeled for future use. These include an Ethernet port, a serial ATA port, and a pair of USB ports--one in front and one in back. The Ethernet port will soon be able to connect with a home network via an Intel Viiv PC, and DirecTV says the first iteration of the networking capability--access to PC-based music and photos--will roll out in December 2006..

 

[Blitz68]

I've had my HR20's ethernet port connected to my router for about a month. Until the latest update, it didn't communicate with the router and no IP address was assigned. Today, it showed up on the list of attached devices with a MAC address and "DIRECTV-HR20" as its device name. I still can't ping it or telnet to it, but it is reporting itself to the router's DNS server.

I will have to check mine. It was installed last weekend and never showed up on my router.

So when I get the software update I will see if I get the same results as you.

 

[billt1111]

Probably the following feature mentioned in the CNet review of HR20:

Like most of its kind, the HR20 has its share of jacks labeled for future use. These include an Ethernet port, a serial ATA port, and a pair of USB ports--one in front and one in back. The Ethernet port will soon be able to connect with a home network via an Intel Viiv PC, and DirecTV says the first iteration of the networking capability--access to PC-based music and photos--will roll out in December 2006..

I will ask a potentially dumb question. What does everyone think "access to PC-based music and photos" mean? Does it mean that you can browse a PC from the HR-20 menu and select a music or video file to send to the HR-20 audio and video outputs?

 

[absolutbob]

I will ask a potentially dumb question. What does everyone think "access to PC-based music and photos" mean? Does it mean that you can browse a PC from the HR-20 menu and select a music or video file to send to the HR-20 audio and video outputs?

That's what I figure it means (except photos, not videos). Basically, the same thing standard TiVos have had for years. You'll be able to browse to your "My Music" or "My Photos" folders (or whatever you call them) and you'll see a bunch of folders and files of music (most likely MP3 and WMA, but hopefully also AAC) and pictures (JPG or GIF) and you'll be able to play them through your audio system or show them on your TV.

The audio part is cool so you can have an alternative to XM. Plus, you can view those vacation pictures with friends without having to crowd around your PC screen.

 

[billt1111]

That's what I figure it means (except photos, not videos). Basically, the same thing standard TiVos have had for years. You'll be able to browse to your "My Music" or "My Photos" folders (or whatever you call them) and you'll see a bunch of folders and files of music (most likely MP3 and WMA, but hopefully also AAC) and pictures (JPG or GIF) and you'll be able to play them through your audio system or show them on your TV.

The audio part is cool so you can have an alternative to XM. Plus, you can view those vacation pictures with friends without having to crowd around your PC screen.

Great. Now I only have to shell out $1500 to $2000 for a ViiV enabled PC as a photo viewer and radio.

 

[LameLefty]

Great. Now I only have to shell out $1500 to $2000 for a ViiV enabled PC as a photo viewer and radio.

Nah, spend a couple hundred on an XBox360 and connect to any Media Center PCs in the house instead.

 

[brewer4]

Nah, spend a couple hundred on an XBox360 and connect to any Media Center PCs in the house instead.

Thats what I've done. It works great. I even use Vista 64 RC2 as my Media Center and its rock solid.

 

[cbearnm]

Nah, spend a couple hundred on an XBox360 and connect to any Media Center PCs in the house instead.

Actually, with the latest software rev, the 360 will do all that with any XP machine with Windows Media Player 11, you no longer even need Media Center.

 

[uscboy]

Wireless USB network adapters would be nice instead of just wired access.

 

[Earl Bonovich]

Wireless USB network adapters would be nice instead of just wired access.

Eventually when the Ethernet connections are enabled for usage, some solution will be there. Even if it might mean to have to use an ethernet bridge.

 

[LameLefty]

Actually, with the latest software rev, the 360 will do all that with any XP machine with Windows Media Player 11, you no longer even need Media Center.

Cool. I've only got one Media Center PC in the house (my son's Dell gaming machine) - the other three PCs are various other flavors of XP.