x280n questions

[shumiron]

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately I am back to square one. I decided to run a hardwire ethernet cable to the extender to test the functionality without the powerline adapter. Now the extender won't connect to the HTPC again. WMC displays a message when I go to the extender menu that says 'set up but not available'. On the extender I get a message that says unable to connect to the Media Center PC. Last night all was working, I don't know what happened. I am wondering if using the extender is worth it....seems awful flaky.

[shumiron]

Should I uninstall it and start over again? GRRRR!

[cwinfield]

sounds like your uverse modem/router firewall is causing you problems. Did you unplug your powerline? Is the router not assigning it a IP address but listing it's MAC? You could try a hard reboot unplug of your modem/router. Also are you using windows firewall or any other anit virus program? This is the echos port forwarding list as I'm not sure about the x280n:

Firewall Port Settings

Application Protocol/port Direction Network
svchost.exe UDP 1900 In Local Subnet
svchost.exe UDP 1900 In Local Subnet
svchost.exe TCP 2177 Out, In Local Subnet
svchost.exe UDP 2177 Out, In Local Subnet
system TCP 10244 Out, In Local Subnet
ehshell.exe TCP 554 Out, In Local Subnet
ehshell.exe UDP 5004, 5005 Out, In Local Subnet
ehshell.exe TCP 8554-8558 Out, In Local Subnet
ehshell.exe UDP 5004, 5013 Out, In Local Subnet
ehshell.exe UDP 7777-7781 Out, In Local Subnet
mcrmgr.exe Random Out, In Internet
mcx2prov.exe Random Out, In Internet

[cwinfield]

This is from pg. 26 of the hp x280n manual:
Step 3: On Your Computer,
Insert the Installation CD
Use the installation CD
to install the software onto your computer,
and onto each computer on yo
ur network that has media you
want to share with HP MediaSmart Connect. The HP Media
Smart
software supports playback of some files that Windows Med
ia
Player 11 may not; see “Supported Media” on page 103
.
Beginning at your computer
During setup, the Installation CD installs programs onto your
computer that enable HP MediaS
mart Connect to communicate
over the network. Software firewalls installed on your comp
uter
can block this communication
and prevent the HP MediaSmart
Connect from accessing media on the computer.
If your firewall prompts you to allow the installed MediaSmart
software programs to
communicate, choose
Unblock
. The
program names are:

HP MediaSmart Services Gateway

CinemaNow Media Manager
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01487850 manual
http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software1 ... p37583.exe connect software

apparently it uses wmp 11 firewall settings

to share digital media content from Windows Media Player 11 for Windows XP to a digital media receiver, you might need to open the following selected ports on the Windows Live OneCare Firewall (if the ports are not already opened).
Name Protocol Port

Universal Plug and Play – Windows Media Player (TCP 2869)


TCP


2869

Universal Plug and Play – Windows Media Player (UDP 1900)


UDP


1900
http://support.hp.com/us-en/product/HP- ... 73465#AbT1

[shumiron]

Interesting info. Actually I did not install any hp software, and the extender does connect with the HTPC. I can load pictures, play music, etc. I just can't (except once last night) connect with WMC on the HTPC. I did see on a forum from someone who seemed knowledgeable, say do not install hp software on computer. I think he went by 'Barnabas' for his handle.

[shumiron]

Also - the mediasmart does not get an ip address from the router. I had to manually set up network connection. both on the power line adapter and direct ethernet connection from router to mediasmart. DHCP is enabled. All other devices on the LAN have no trouble getting an ip address.

[cwinfield]

Barnabas was permanently exiled from the site. It is unfortunate because he was very knowledgeable but some of his actions warranted him being booted. As far as where your at with the x280n, I've given you all the info I have and am tapped out. The behavior of not being assigned a IP I would say is unusual. I'm not a fan of ISP supplied equipment. Specifically their firewalls can be very temperamental and generally not user friendly.

[shumiron]

I thank you very very much for paying attention to my posts, and all the help you have provided. I'll post here if I figure out what is wrong to maybe help others that run into similar issues.

[shumiron]

FYI if you have been following this thread - I did actually install hp software on my HTPC and that solved my problem of not being able to connect the x280n to WMC. The extender is seen by my WMC and seems to work very well. I do get some weird glitches where the live TV seems to freeze or get jumpy. I did need to connect with hardwire network cable from one of my switches, I could not use the power line network adapter.

The only issue I am working on now is that if I turn off the extender then turn it back on, then start WMC (on the x280n) it goes thru a little dance with the black screen displaying "Windows Media Center" and the cycling little dots underneath; then a black screen appears but no WMC logo. The x280n is then frozen and I need to power down and power back up; there is no response to the remote until I recycle power. I had many of these incidents before I was able to get to WMC again. Any idea about why this is happening?