Sage Server with no internet access, need a creative solution

[_matt_]

I would buy a router that you can put dd-wrt on. Then, I would buy a usb-ethernet adapter. I would use ICS to share Internet on the usb adapter. I would connect the router to the usb-ethernet adapter, place the router on the wall away from the hallway, shut off ssid broadcast, and turn the radio down as far as you can go while still being able to connect to the wireless with the laptop. Then connect the Sage to the router with an ethernet cable. While at her desk with the ethernet and usb plugged in the Sage would be able to update and the only inconvenience to her is also plugging the usb-ethernet adapter in. When she wants to watch tv she can disconnect both wires and watch the Sage wirelessly with the placeshifter. It is possible that it could be detected, but I think that's unlikely and the penalty for first time offense is always just having to say "I'm sorry, I'll never do it again."

[doc]

OK, slap me down in flames here, but having just read all 3 pages of this thread I had a thought, but as usual I may well be missing the point.

You said that...

Originally Posted by wazkaren

I discovered the college limits only one device at a time per ethernet port (and no switches or hubs allowed).

Could you install the client software on both the sage box and the laptop? as long as you only plug one in at a time you haven't broken any rules.

If so, you could connect the sage box once a week or so to update its guide data, and then use the laptop the rest of the time without any hassle.

When she wants to watch TV, she connects the laptop to the sage box, either via a seperate hub or cross-over cable.

[wazkaren]

Here's an update for anyone that interested. I decided to put together something to just make her current setup easy to use. So I bought a manual RJ45 switchbox on ebay for $15. This will make it easier to switch her network port between the laptop and the sage server. And I hacked together a little software to run on the sage server:

-I added a small piece of java code that runs inside the Sage Process (I used Nielms Webserver as the example) and listens to a socket. When it gets a command over the socket it forces an EPG Update (stole the code from Nielms webserver).
-Next I hacked together a small app (running in the SysTray, seperate from Sage) that monitors the network adapter and waits until it detects a network connection. When it detects a connection it sends a command to the java code to kick off the epg update.

So once a week she just has to switch the RJ45 switch box to the sage server. Wait a couple minutes and then switch it back. Not a perfect solution but I think it's improvement.

Greg

[SHS]

Greg I just wondering being she at a college what source is it Analog Air, HD Air or Cable?.

[wazkaren]

It's cable. It looks like Time Warner is the provider and just recording analog. Don't know if any digital is available or not over cable.

Greg

[reggie14]

I'm still curious about the other methods we discussed for hooking these two machines up. I think you should just register both machines, hook up a switch and be done with it. It would probably work fine. I've read help desk pages for colleges that use Campus Manager and they strongly suggest switches will work fine (technically they talk about using a wireless router like switch). If you're nervous about it, call the school's help desk. But, it's not like they're going to kick your daughter off the network for a first offense, particularly one this inane.

[wazkaren]

I will get to one of these other ideas eventually. It's just hard to try these things long distance, especially when it's not my area of expertise. The thing I did with the RJ45 switch is just temporary until I can get up there. It's easy for my daughter to install and I know it works. Plus I've never written Java code before and I was just looking for an excuse.

Greg

[briands]

Originally Posted by wazkaren

I will get to one of these other ideas eventually. It's just hard to try these things long distance, especially when it's not my area of expertise. The thing I did with the RJ45 switch is just temporary until I can get up there. It's easy for my daughter to install and I know it works. Plus I've never written Java code before and I was just looking for an excuse.

Greg

Well, now that you're a veteran, there is a huge thread of Feature requests for you to start tackling...

[wazkaren]

I copied about 10 lines of javacode and got it to work. So I'm ready for anything now, where's that feature list?

[robjen1019]

just plug it in once a week to get guide data. doesn't need to be connected all the time.