Wi-Fi Antenna for BD Ethernet connections? (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

Still have not received this unit yet thought it shipped a few days
ago.

One more question....

This Netgear print server is being used at the opposite end of
the house. I plan to use it for two inputs: A BD player for BD LIVE
purposes and my TIVO so I can eliminate the slow phone connection.

Question....

Should this print server automatically pick up the wireless signal
in my home?

Since I have WEP security, I take it that both the TIVO and BD PLAYER
will recognize the hardwire ethernet connection and their software will
allow me to enter that security code?

 

[Hank_P]

Yes/No. In the setup of the Wireless Print server (access point), you will just need to enter your WEP SSID and "Passphrase" or SecurityID. This is where the setup will take place. Not on the BD/Tivo gear.

I have a Linksys wireless access point connected to a cheap-o 4pt hub. The hub is connected to my PS3 and Xbox360. No issues with dropping connections or having to reset anything.

The wireless access point is what you need to configure to your wireless network.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Hank,

I will need something to be able to see the setup process.

Let me give you an example....

I am still waiting on the Netgear unit but have no phone line to the
Tivo so now I am relying on an old Linksys Print Server which I am
attaching between the Tivo (ETHERNET) and the Print Server (LAN).

I am guessing to set up the print server to work with the
Tivo I am going to have to use the Tivo software to tell it that I have
an ethernet connection of some sort, and hope that it asks me for
the WEP code.

Sound right?

 

[Hank_P]

Does not sound right. When I setup my access point. I had it 'hard wired' with a ethernet cable from my wireless router (connected to my pc) to the access point. Then I could see/all the setting I needed to apply to the access point via computer monitor. The few access points I have setup have all be "cabled" first for setup, then once configured, you turn it off and turn it back on to apply the new settings (SSID/Password). Now, anything plugged into this access point will be just like it's plugged directly into the router.

To see the setup process, you will be working on your computer monitor. Then, once that is configured, and you plug the ethernet cable from the access point to the Tivo, it should connect right to the internet/network.

I have never seen any Tivo or BD devices have any type of configuration setting for a wireless network. The device would HAVE to HAVE a built-in Wireless card for that to be the case. I'm pretty sure Tivo does not have that ...yet.

stop making it hard.. you are thinking too much A "setup wizard" usually comes with the devices/access point.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

The only problem is, the setup wizards are usually for PC.
I am on a Mac.

Let me make sure I get this right....

I configure the wireless point via my PC (or hopefully MAC) wired.
Once configured, I can disconnect it and place it anywhere in my
home where it will pick up the WiFi signal.

Correct?

 

[Hank_P]

YES.. YES.. OMG.. YES... . (and you should be able to do it with the Mac also)


uh, yep, you got it Tex! See how easy it is

 

[Scott Merryfield]

Ron,

My Netgear arrived today and I successfully got it setup. After downloading the setup wizard from the Netgear website, I plugged my PC directly into one of the ethernet ports of the print server. The setup wizard will walk you through everything.

My home wireless security is normally WPA-PSK with my SSID broadcast turned off. I had to turn on the broadcast of the SSID for the print server to see my DLINK wireless router. Once the configuration was complete, though, I was able to turn off SSID broadcast again and the print server still connected to the network.

The only other issue I had was the Netgear was failing to connect after I entered my WPA passcode during setup. It turned out to be the Windows firewall software I had enabled on the PC -- once I temporarily disabled that, the print server synched up with my wireless network. The error message even states one of the causes could be the firewall.

Remember to add additional DHCP addresses to your scope range, too, if you have that limited. I had mine limited to two addresses initially for the two PCs on our home network. I needed to increase this to five addresses -- one for each of the two PCs, one for the Netgear, one for the Pioneer Elite Receiver, and one for the Sony BDP-S350 BD player.

I do not see a setup wizard for Mac OS on the Netgear website. The support link where I found the wizard is here.

Good luck.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

This is pretty scary that there is no Mac setup software. I may
have needlessly spent my money on this product.

I can log into windows on my Mac. The problem is, it may not
let me configure the Netgear unit. I just had a Fios installer here
the other day who could not setup the Verizon router through my
Virtual PC software on my Mac.

I could be in trouble here.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

Ron,

Do you have access to a laptop you can borrow from someone to run the setup? If not, hopefully the setup wizard will work through the Windows mode on your Mac.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Scott,

Unfortunately, no.

Quick question: Is this Netgear device the same as a print server?
I have an old Linksys print server I could try configuring as well. I
need something to plug into my Tivo at the other end of the house
where there is no phone connection.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

Yes, this Netgear device is actually marketed as a wireless print server. It just happens to have four ethernet switch ports as well as the 802.11b/g wireless LAN and two USB ports. So, it functions as a wireless bridge even though it's intended market is as a wireless print server.

If your Linksys print server has one or more ethernet ports built-in, it should work similarly to the Netgear device.

 

[TonyTone]

Maybe configuring is different with the print server device you have, but wouldn't it perhaps be possible to access the setup screen via a web browser? I'm using an older Linksys WRT54G 4-port wireless-G router reconfigured to function as a wireless bridge using DD-WRT; I was able to access the setup screen by typing in its IP address in my web browser--this of course requires that the device first be connected directly to the PC (or laptop) via wired Ethernet. Alternately, it could be connected directly to your main access point/router (via wired connection)--just make sure that the device is on the same subnet/network as the AP, and that it doesn't share the same IP address (default IP address out of the box is typically 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).

 

[Kevin. W]

Ron, with my D-Link here is the procedure and I would assume its the same for the netgear to setup the print server.

1. Connect to Print server to Wireless router with Ethernet cable
2. Open an internet window and type http://dlinkps-(last six numbers of MAC address.
3. Click on setup to access wireless setup. Select ON
4. Select Wireless network, and Infrastructure(connected to wireless router and Ad-Hoc if connecting to a wireless computer
5. Select security access and enter password.
6. Save settings and exit.
7. Disconnect the Ethernet cable and hook your print server up where you want in the house and hook up the gear.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Tony and Kevin,

You are lifesavers. No need to worry about installing software --
especially for this Mac user.

Questions (Since I am a real novice at this stuff)....

1. How do I find out my MAC address to complete the dlink browser address?

2. Once connected to my main router, I take it that per #4 the
wireless network now in my home should immediately come up?

3. Finally, I am piggybacking my Apple Airport Extreme router off of the
Verizon Fios router (which is the main router). Does it matter which router
I plug the Netgear into to configure? I take it that it's a LAN -> LAN connection?

Thanks again!

 

[Kevin. W]

 

[Kevin. W]

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Okay, first of all, I received the Netgear unit yesterday. Whether
it was posted anywhere or not, this is a REFURB unit. Normally I
would never purchase anything REFURB but for what I am doing here
I suppose it is no major deal.

In any case, per the instructions above I am having difficulty
getting into the Netgear via the browser.

The last 6 digits on the MAC ADDRESS are: A17F3C

So, technically, the browser address should be:

http://dlinkps-a17f3c

Not working.

The official Netgear webpage states the following...


If I use the default IP address of: 192.168.1.1
It brings up the Verizon Router configuration tool, not the Netgear

Anyone wish to help?

Thanks

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

Don't know about using the MAC address for this, but my ancient D-Link wireless router uses 192.168.0.1 for its IP. Did you try that also?

_Man_

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Man,

Does not work...but it should, shouldn't it.

Perhaps it is my connection.

The Verizon is the main router. The Apple Airport Router is piggybacked
on it, so that is the router I plugged it into. The Apple Router also
transmits the wireless (WiFi) signal.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

Ron,

That is a procedure for a dlink print server, yet you bought a Netgear. So I doubt a weblink address starting with http://dlink will work. Maybe try http://netgear instead?