Placeshifter on my system...

[cewtwo]

What is the best layman's checklist for starting up placeshifter?

I got the license but cannot get it to work. The automatic UpaP doesn't seem to work. Everything syas it configures correctly, but when I test Sage does not connect!

I just need a primer on where & how to look!

[Djc208]

If you're testing from within your home network then you may be having issues with a software firewall. If you select the option during install Sage will setup the windows firewall for the ports Sage needs. If you're using an aftermarket firewall product like Norton then you may need to set up the ports manually. After that placeshifter should be able to find the server on your local network.

If you're testing from another network over the internet then on top of the above you'll need to make sure that your router firewall supports Upnp and that it's enabled or you'll need to open the ports manually and set up the port forwarding. The router manual will help you figure that out.
Then you'll need to set up the user on the Sage server and get the ID number Sage generates to find your network address and put that into Placeshifter. Once it finds the server then you'll log in using the name and password you set up on the server.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

[Yooper]

For connecting to my server on my home network, I cannot connect to my server thru the Sage locater - I get an error message. When I start Placeshifter it finds the server and makes a new connection, which I then click to connect. The connection thru the Sage locater does not work for my local network.

It takes a few minutes for Placeshifter to find my server - maybe you need to wait a few minutes.

You do need to carefully configure the ports and make them open - see the manual.

For connecting externally, the only option is thru the Sage locater.

[cewtwo]

I do have placeshifter working through my home LAN. It is amazing software.

I cannot get the placeshifter to connect suring the setup configuration. I tried from work to connect and got probably the same error. See below -

"The SageTV Placeshifter is unable to connect to the specified SageTV Media Center Server. Please make sure that the Placeshifter is configured on your SageTV Media Center and that port forwarding is properly configured for your network. This can be done by going through the Configuration Wizard on the SageTV Media Center and testing the Placeshifter connection."

O, I am getting closer and closer...

[Yooper]

I suggest you do a google search for a port checker to make sure that the necessary ports are open. There are many of these on the internet.

I have a Linux box as my gateway router. I had to configure the ports in one of the startup scripts to get it to work. I also had to configure the ports on the video Windows system. I also configured the router to assign the same IP address to the videoserver and to direct the specific port activity to the video server.

If you have a hardware router, you might need to configure the ports on the router - check you routers documentation.

I use Placeshifter on my laptop and view my cable TV anywhere in the world. It is great for airports. Right now I am in a hotel in Rochester, Minnesota and I can watch any of my cable TV programs, or view videos from my library. Really neat stuff!

[sainswor99]

As others have pointed out, it's either the ports aren't open on your router, or the ports at your office are closed. If the port scan of your home machine indicates that you do have ports open, then see if you can connect to it from another location (most businesses lock down outgoing ports as well as inbound ports these days).

Originally Posted by cewtwo

I do have placeshifter working through my home LAN. It is amazing software.

I cannot get the placeshifter to connect suring the setup configuration. I tried from work to connect and got probably the same error. See below -

"The SageTV Placeshifter is unable to connect to the specified SageTV Media Center Server. Please make sure that the Placeshifter is configured on your SageTV Media Center and that port forwarding is properly configured for your network. This can be done by going through the Configuration Wizard on the SageTV Media Center and testing the Placeshifter connection."

O, I am getting closer and closer...

[cewtwo]

OK, I am still frustrated with the internet connection.

Everytime I use the configuration set up to set up the server, it says that it is successful and gives the information.

When I test it, the software says that the locator ID found the server but was unable to connect due to a port.

I've tried UPnP, manual and even have updated the firmware in the Linksys WRT54G router.

What am I missing and what is a good suggestion to correct it?

Thanks for helping this somewhat needy new SageTV user!

[Conejo]

How many outside locations have you tried?

Also, please list the ports you've opened on your WRT54G router (DO NOT list IP addresses).

[cewtwo]

Frustration is growing. Results are not.

I have only tried from the office. I do not beleive that any ports at the office are currently blocked. I am the one that would do the blocking on ur simple peer-to-peer LAN system.

I have turned windows firewall off. I have set a static address for my SageTV server through TCP on that machine. I have specifically port forwarded ports 31099 and 8018. Not any of the others that the Window firewall showed as open.

I still get the message,
"Testing the Placeshifter connection for Locator ID XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX at port number 31099.

The Locator server connected to the IP address registered for this Locator ID, but could not access the Placeshifter server's port.

Make sure the port is not blocked on your router/firewall and it is forwarded to your SageTV server computer."

I run a port scanner and it does not show port 31099 as open.

Any ideas?

[Conejo]

For testing purposes:

1) Create a 'simple' placeshifter user Detailed Setup->Advanced (User:test Pass:test2)

2) From your home, detect you current 'Internet' IP address [DShield IP detect]

3) Make sure to assign your 'SageTV Server' PC a STATIC IP within your LAN net range (and outside of the DHCP range).

4) For testing only, disable the Firewall on the 'SageTV Server' PC

5) Router: Forward TCP port 31099 to the 'Static LAN IP' of the server

6) Create THREE entries in your placeshifter and configure appropriately:

a) Local LAN
b) Locator ID
c) 'Internet IP' (tick "Connect to this Server Directly by it's hostname or IP address" and enter the IP from #2)

Now test all three entries:

__ Local (should work. It did before)
__ Outside using Locator ID
__ Outside using Direct Internet IP

I know this isn't much different from what you've already tried, except for using the Direct Internet IP.

[sainswor99]

Originally Posted by Conejo

For testing purposes:

1) Create a 'simple' placeshifter user Detailed Setup->Advanced (User:test Pass:test2)

2) From your home, detect you current 'Internet' IP address [DShield IP detect]

3) Make sure to assign your 'SageTV Server' PC a STATIC IP within your LAN net range (and outside of the DHCP range).

4) For testing only, disable the Firewall on the 'SageTV Server' PC

5) Router: Forward TCP port 31099 to the 'Static LAN IP' of the server

6) Create THREE entries in your placeshifter and configure appropriately:

a) Local LAN
b) Locator ID
c) 'Internet IP' (tick "Connect to this Server Directly by it's hostname or IP address" and enter the IP from #2)

Now test all three entries:

__ Local (should work. It did before)
__ Outside using Locator ID
__ Outside using Direct Internet IP

I know this isn't much different from what you've already tried, except for using the Direct Internet IP.

Note that this test may not work if you're using AT&T's DSL service. The Westell Routers they use detect outbound traffic destined to their own address and do not allow it to route; in other words, you can't access your external ip address from within your LAN.

Other than that caveat, this is a good test.

Stu

[Conejo]

Now test all three entries:

__ Local (should work. It did before)
__ Outside using Locator ID
__ Outside using Direct Internet IP

Originally Posted by sainswor99

Note that this test may not work if you're using AT&T's DSL service. The Westell Routers they use detect outbound traffic destined to their own address and do not allow it to route; in other words, you can't access your external ip address from within your LAN.

Sorry, I was trying not to get too wordy. 'Local' should be tested from inside your home, on the same LAN. 'Outside' should be tested from another location, not on your home LAN.

** Oh, even though see I cewtwo doesn't need to be told, I forgot to include 'Locator ID' along with 'Internet IP Address' of things to NEVER post publicly; you may not like what happens.

[cewtwo]

I still just cannot get it to work.

Within my home LAN, it still works fine. I just cannot approach it from the outside (via the internet)...

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by cewtwo

I still just cannot get it to work.

Within my home LAN, it still works fine. I just cannot approach it from the outside (via the internet)...

I'm having the same problem since upgrading to v.6. Did you ever get this to work?

If so, how?