Im just stumped - wireless networking

[outatouch0]

I've read tons of stuff and by now its all a jumbled mess in my head... can't find answers I am sure I read before.... etc. Please help

I have the latest beta firmware on my PBO with internal hard drive installed. I have a compatible RTL8191SU (Zonet ZEW2546) wireless N dongle. I have managed to get the PBO connected to my Linksys WRT120N "Wireless-N" Home Router in WPA2 mode with correct IP, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway. I can even ping it from the router via my desktop computer which is connected to the router via ethernet cable.

What I can not do is get my desktop to see the PBO nor can I get the PBO to see my computer. I have created a shared folder with an .avi file in it.

I've dug into the Vista settings (network discovery is on etc), the Kaspersky 2010 settings (trusted network), read forums, tips and tricks... not much coverage on this type of device.

I am now to the point in troubleshooting where I need to rule out the PBO and/or my ability to use it correctly as the problem. Can someone give me a step one here?

ps. I have not installed the transcode software. I am hoping to figure out how to do this without it.

[aasoror]

I can even ping it from the router via my desktop computer which is connected to the router via ethernet cable.

If you can ping then every thing is in order, try the following :
- from your PC windows explorer : \\venus or \\x.y.w.z (PBO IP)
- from your PBO try setting up shortcuts for your PCs (make sure you have users on your PCs with the proper login credentials)

[outatouch0]

If you can ping then every thing is in order, try the following :
- from your PC windows explorer : \\venus or \\x.y.w.z (PBO IP)

OMG !!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!!
This works, I can see the internal hard drive on my PBO!!
It comes up Network > Venus
When I go to Network (without typing venus or PBO IP) it comes up blank.

Any Ideas why that is?

- from your PBO try setting up shortcuts for your PCs (make sure you have users on your PCs with the proper login credentials)

This I don't know how to do. I have seen it mentioned in the forums but I don't recall where anyone gave specifics as to how to actually do it.

Any help with this/these is so greatly appreciated. I am starting to get excited about this now.

My next question once over this hurdle will likely be: Okay, now how do I stream a movie/video to play on the PBO from the computer... But I am probably getting ahead of myself

[outatouch0]

Thanks again - you are awesome
I have seen your directions previously but I always stopped at step one because I don't know how to do that or have been unable to figure that one out etc.
Thanks for the boost forward to step 5. I am posting below just in case it helps someone else out and to show what the noob sees when reading it. This might help smart and experienced people speak to the clueless such as myself

No need for "Transcode Server"
1. make sure that the PBO has access to you network (i.e. you can access files on you XP computer using the PBO).
?? I can find pbo from pc but how to find pc from pbo?

i always stopped at 1 here because I couldn't do this
1. make sure that the PBO has access to you network (i.e. you can access files on you XP computer using the PBO).
2. note the IP currently associated to the PBO (going to options -> network) : assuming its w.x.y.z Never understood this to be IP address

?how to do on Vista - and get it to see it without going to step 5?
3. on you XP machine go to "My Network Places"
4. from the side bar click on "Show icons for networked UPnP devices". I guess skip 4 for Vista and Win7?
5. Now check for a new folder appearing with the name "hdd1 on Samba 3.0.23c (Venus)", double click on it and you are done.

If 5 didn't work for you try those alternatives :Yes the above doesn't work but both of the below does!!!
5. from windows explorer type on the address bar : "\\venus\" or "\\venus\hdd1" press enter.
or
5. from windows explorer type on the address bar : "\\w.x.y.z\hdd1" or "\\w.x.y.z" and press enter.

[outatouch0]

I've done a forum search of "Venus" and I might be on to something... As usual in life, as many questions as there are answers...

1) is Venous the device name for the PBO much like a computer name shown on the network?

2) Is the PBO preconfigured to have MYGROUP as the name of its Workgroup as per the WinXP and Vista networking.
2a) Would it help my PC running Vista to see the PBO if I change the name of my workgroup to "MYGROUP" to match the PBO?

thanks

EDIT: the default workgroup name for the PBO is "WORKGROUP"

[aasoror]

Thanks for the boost forward to step 5.

You are welcomed, steps 1-4 are not needed if you can already ping the PBO.

?? I can find pbo from pc but how to find pc from pbo?

Typically you should be able to see your PCs from the Net section in your PBO browser (under the workgroups to which those PCs belong to).
Or using shortcuts : open PBO file browser, go to "Net", go to "Shortcuts", you will find it empty, press the "Options" button on your remote and chose "Add New" then input the machine info and the login credentials.

?how to do on Vista - and get it to see it without going to step 5?

Can't help much there, all my Vista machines were upgraded to Win7.

I've done a forum search of "Venus" and I might be on to something... As usual in life, as many questions as there are answers...

1) is Venous the device name for the PBO much like a computer name shown on the network?

Yes

2) Is the PBO preconfigured to have MYGROUP as the name of its Workgroup as per the WinXP and Vista networking.

Most probably

2a) Would it help my PC running Vista to see the PBO if I change the name of my workgroup to "MYGROUP" to match the PBO?
thanks

Nope, My workgroup name on XP and Win7 is not "MYGROUP" yet I can see the PBO on both machines without a problem (that said, sometimes I can't and only direct access with IP/Machine name works, but that also goes for any other PC on my network).

[outatouch0]

Typically you should be able to see your PCs from the Net section in your PBO browser (under the workgroups to which those PCs belong to).
Or using shortcuts : open PBO file browser, go to "Net", go to "Shortcuts", you will find it empty, press the "Options" button on your remote and chose "Add New" then input the machine info and the login credentials.

the Net section, under workgroups, only has VENUS listed. This of course has my PBO internal HDD. I pushed the option button on the remote. That gave me: Delete, Rename, Return. OK way too scary return!

Under shortcuts, I used option on the remote. user: guest, pw: (leave blank), the four digit address: i entered the last four digits of my computer's IP address via the number keys on the remote. Bottom line has: ok, cancel, details. I went to details which had room for more info. So i typed in the name of my computer just to be thorough (followed case sensitive format just in case).

Logon was sucessful...
It showed every hard drive on my computer, right down to the readyboost flash, in this format C$ D$ etc. Any of these asks you to login which did not work. I continued scrolling down and there was my shared folder i set up. The test file i put there is playing now

I typed all this up in case it might help someone else.
I was thinking I was still way way off until I typed Venus into the explorer bar. I probably had it the whole time!!

[outatouch0]

I did some tweaking today and found out a few interesting things that might help someone else.

I changed my workgroup name on my Vista PC to "WORKGROUP" to match up with the default PBO workgroup name. (Ignore where i said "MYGROUP" above).
This suddenly allowed my to see the PBO (as VENUS) under network on my Vista PC. I can now access the PBO internal hard drive.
Now when I go to NET on the PBO browser both VENUS and (my computer name) show up under WORKGROUP. This accesses my computer shared folder without any type of login setup.

note: While changing things along the way the My Shortcuts thing on the PBO stopped working so I deleted the shortcut. This ended up working out okay though...
I thought I was going to have to type in the WPA2 code again - which took me 25 tries yesterday But, when I went to SETUP, NETWORK, the PBO connected right away.
This may or may not be due to a change I made in my router under DHCP Reservation. Previously, I had tired reserving an IP with the wireless dongle's mac address and it did not work (it disconnected). This time, under Client Name I entered "VENUS" instead of "PBO" and now it works. This is why I asked if VENUS was the device name for the PBO.

[qPBO]

Thanks again - you are awesome
I have seen your directions previously but I always stopped at step one because I don't know how to do that or have been unable to figure that one out etc.
Thanks for the boost forward to step 5. I am posting below just in case it helps someone else out and to show what the noob sees when reading it. This might help smart and experienced people speak to the clueless such as myself

No need for "Transcode Server"
1. make sure that the PBO has access to you network (i.e. you can access files on you XP computer using the PBO).
?? I can find pbo from pc but how to find pc from pbo?

i always stopped at 1 here because I couldn't do this
1. make sure that the PBO has access to you network (i.e. you can access files on you XP computer using the PBO).
2. note the IP currently associated to the PBO (going to options -> network) : assuming its w.x.y.z Never understood this to be IP address

?how to do on Vista - and get it to see it without going to step 5?
3. on you XP machine go to "My Network Places"
4. from the side bar click on "Show icons for networked UPnP devices". I guess skip 4 for Vista and Win7?
5. Now check for a new folder appearing with the name "hdd1 on Samba 3.0.23c (Venus)", double click on it and you are done.

If 5 didn't work for you try those alternatives :Yes the above doesn't work but both of the below does!!!
5. from windows explorer type on the address bar : "\\venus\" or "\\venus\hdd1" press enter.
or
5. from windows explorer type on the address bar : "\\w.x.y.z\hdd1" or "\\w.x.y.z" and press enter.

All of these helps are great, however, with one important missing element!
1 - have the latest firmware (BTW, always power reset after update)
2 - must turn samba on (I did not do this and was only able to ping it) You don't need to do this if you only want to have PBO access other network devices.

Question? Has anyone been able to connect to a hidden wireless AP and it keeps? It would be nice if PBO had a manual AP setup option.

[aasoror]

Question? Has anyone been able to connect to a hidden wireless AP and it keeps? It would be nice if PBO had a manual AP setup option.

Someone reported earlier that he was able to see an "unnamed" wifi on the selection list, which turned out to be his network with hidden SSID. he reported that selection and entering credentials worked to get him connected to the network, but I am not sure if reported that it would be kept after reboots or not.