Botch's Comcast-to-OTA Conversion

[Botch]

I mentioned elsewhere that I'm moving from Comcast to an Internet-only provider, Ooma VOIP phone, Roku, and Simple.TV DVR w/HDD. All the new boxes are here, and the installers just left (there's about a 1'-diameter dish on my roof, and they ran the cable into my den which is actually a better place than the Comcast modem/router is, in the basement.

Before I was using a LinkSys E2000 router, then when Comcast upgraded their combined router/modem I used that and boxed up the LinkSys. Digis doesn't provide a router, so after some digging I found the old LinkSys and they hooked it up; my passwords etc were still in my laptop and my Roku so they both hooked up.

Something's up with the Roku, however. I see they've gone to a "grid" display of my selected channels instead of a single line (I never did reprogram it to see the Comcast router) but the controls on the remote aren't working correctly; I changed batteries but that didn't help. The Roku is receiving up/down/OK commands because its beeping at me, but the selection on the screen isn't corresponding. I would think the software in the Roku already updated itself since I now have the grid, but can't figure out why I can't control what's going on, on-screen. Any hints?

I need to run to Lowe's and get a power strip that'll take a bunch of wall warts. The first thing I'll set up is the Ooma, then once I get that working I'll set up the Simple.TV + HDD + antenna. I'll probably have snags along the way (well, already do with the Roku) so that's why I started this thread. Wish me luck! :think:

 

[Rope]

I've got Roku apps on my tablet and phone so I haven't used the Roku remote for years. Try taking the batteries out of the remote and let it set for 30 minutes, see if it resets.

As for the Linksys E2000 router, update the firmware, you'll think you have a new router.

Rope

 

[Huey]

Maybe repair the remote with the roku itself? Sorry, that's all I got.

 

[Botch]

I've got Roku apps on my tablet and phone so I haven't used the Roku remote for years. Try taking the batteries out of the remote and let it set for 30 minutes, see if it resets.

As for the Linksys E2000 router, update the firmware, you'll think you have a new router.

Rope

I'll give the battery thing a try, I put the new batts in without a 30 minute set. There were no firmware updates for the E2000.

 

[Rope]

I've got Roku apps on my tablet and phone so I haven't used the Roku remote for years. Try taking the batteries out of the remote and let it set for 30 minutes, see if it resets.

As for the Linksys E2000 router, update the firmware, you'll think you have a new router.

Rope

I'll give the battery thing a try, I put the new batts in without a 30 minute set. There were no firmware updates for the E2000.

DD-WRT

Rope

 

[Huey]

Oops, I meant re pair it with the roku, not repair, or is re pare? I don't know, I'm confused. lol Hope you get it working Botch. Isn't there some little button underneath the batteries to do that?

 

[Botch]

I've got Roku apps on my tablet and phone so I haven't used the Roku remote for years. Try taking the batteries out of the remote and let it set for 30 minutes, see if it resets.

As for the Linksys E2000 router, update the firmware, you'll think you have a new router.

Rope

I'll give the battery thing a try, I put the new batts in without a 30 minute set. There were no firmware updates for the E2000.

DD-WRT

Rope

Linksys E2000 - Revision: 1.0

 

[Botch]

Oops, I meant re pair it with the roku, not repair, or is re pare? I don't know, I'm confused. lol Hope you get it working Botch. Isn't there some little button underneath the batteries to do that?

Ah, that's what you meant! :doh: I'll give that a try.

 

[Botch]

Well, the Ooma is up and running. *$&%^! $40 to port over my existing phone number, and it'll take 3 to 4 weeks (during which time I still have to keep my Comcast open, so add another $175-200... :angry-cussingblack:

And yet another trip into town; the Ooma and my Nortel office phone both have standard phone line connectors with four conductors, and yet every single spare phone cord I had were only two conductor; I thought four was standard. Tom Owen, whazzup with that?? :think:

Now to try the re-pairing repair. (<==note the "rapier" like wit :teasing-tease: )

 

[Botch]

Well Rope, I kinda had my doubts about removing the batteries from the remote for 30 minutes, but that seems to have done the trick!
:text-thankyoublue: :text-thankyoublue: :text-thankyoublue:

I went to the Roku website to find the Directions on how to pair the remote and the device, there was nothing there. I googled "Roku remote pairing" and got this link on how to do both soft and hard resets, I'm posting it here for posterity:
http://www.brainchamber.com/2013/06/14/roku-reset-how-to-fix-a-freezing-roku/
It included instructions on how to reset things using the remote, handy as its hard to get to the rear of the Roku in my setup (that's when I noticed they were talking now). bscene-drinkingcheers:

 

[Towen7]

And yet another trip into town; the Ooma and my Nortel office phone both have standard phone line connectors with four conductors, and yet every single spare phone cord I had were only two conductor; I thought four was standard. Tom Owen, whazzup with that?? )

Telephone circuits use 2 conductors per line. A two conductor cord should work as long as you only need one line. You only need a 4 conductor cord if your have two lines of service.

If you're wondering... Line 1 uses the center two conductors and line 2 uses the outer two conductors.

 

[Rope]

Botch -
To be clear: You've flashed your routers ROM with the DD-WRT custom firmware? Not to be confused with the out dated Linksys firmware.

Rope

 

[CMonster]

^I totally didn't get that from what you posted. I just thought your link was a database showing the latest firmware version from the router manufacturer...

 

[Botch]

And yet another trip into town; the Ooma and my Nortel office phone both have standard phone line connectors with four conductors, and yet every single spare phone cord I had were only two conductor; I thought four was standard. Tom Owen, whazzup with that?? )

Telephone circuits use 2 conductors per line. A two conductor cord should work as long as you only need one line. You only need a 4 conductor cord if your have two lines of service.

If you're wondering... Line 1 uses the center two conductors and line 2 uses the outer two conductors.

Ah, thanks!
When I tried the two-conductor cords, my office phone displayed "Extension in Use" and I couldn't get a dial-tone. When I got back home from RadioShack (guess they dropped that "The Shack" moniker disaster) I plugged in the four-conductor, got the same "Extension in Use", but then realized I was plugging into my home's phone wiring with the Ooma in my office, but the Comcast modem was still plugged into the same wiring down in the basement, d'Oh! :doh: I unplugged that phone line and suddenly pretty green lights started coming on everywhere. So now I have a shiny new 4-conductor phone line, excuse me while I fight off the ladies.... :shifty:

Rope, I didn't realize the site you posted was "custom" software for existing routers; for now I'll hold off on trying them because (a) if I have to call a help line for troubleshooting, the custom software will throw them for a loop, and (b) what I have now is working fine, including HD movies on Amazon Prime and a free HD pr0n website that I tried purely for scientific purposes.

 

[Rope]

DD-WRT is a bunch of geeked out router doods who write updated firmware for various routers, much like the folks at XDA developers do with android OS. They post explicit directions on flashing ypur make of router (wiki) and also host a forum if ypu hsve questions.

When you get tired of wireless "dropouts" and want to significanly speed up your WiFi, give them a try. You'll be pissed you didn't do it earlier.

Rope

 

[Botch]

Well, Simple.TV is installed and running. I guess.
:|
Because of the way my den is set up, I spent part of the afternoon building a 4" x 14" x 24" single shelf; its set behind my 4-dwr filing cabinet and supports a power strip, so the wallwarts on it can reach some boxes on top of the filing cabinet, and they can reach the Ooma and phone on my desk, and also the dish internet input further along the wall. Was kind've a pain to get everything plugged and settled in, but its a very neat and hidden solution; I'm happy about that.
I was a bit worried about the Simple.TV box, I powered it up but there were no LEDs lit anywhere on the box. After a shower and supper, I checked the box again, still dark but it was incredibly hot, as was the 2TB Seagate it was sitting on. I remember reading that the TiVo box was an incredible energy hog, even while idle, and was worried this would be the same thing (although I couldn't tell which box was creating the heat). I separated them to learn which, then went to the Simple.TV website to get things going.
This was a cool and simple setup! Plus, the LED on top started lighting up during the Connection phase, so it was alive. The website stepped me through everything, even an idiot could do it and I'm proof. It came back and said, "We've detected an external hard drive connected; make sure everything you wish to save is downloaded and we'll format it when you're ready". Cool, I typed in "Format", and it took over an hour but it finally finished. It then said, "Ready to scan for available OTA, this could take a long time". Egad, I didn't get a "take a long time" warning for formatting the drive, so I plugged in and hit Go. This only took about 3 minutes, however.

This was the disappointing part. It only found 3 stations, all three at the minimum strength and two in spanish (and the third? I just learned "HSN" is "Home Shopping Network" :roll: ). I think I'd posted before that my first OTA antenna, an expensive number mounted on the roof, began deteriorating and gradually was useless; this new antenna is a highly-rated MOHU "Leaf" but is picking up even less.
This has been a long, long two days, its only 7:30 on a Saturday night but I'm crawling into bed. I'll probably have to go with a powered antenna or something, but I'll think about that tomorrow. g'night folks.

 

[Haywood]

How is it going with the SimpleTV solution? I'm trying to decide between getting one and waiting for the Tablo.

 

[Botch]

I'm sorry Haywood, I didn't notice you'd bumped this thread. I got a MOHU "Sky" antenna from Crutchfield but have yet to get it set up, this weekend for sure.

I got a bit of a surprise today, Digis sent me a warning email saying I'm close to going over the 250 GB/month cap I have. First of all, I didn't know there was a data cap (I looked at the original ad, their website, even scanned the legalese "Terms and Conditions") and never saw anything about a data cap. Secondly, how much use should a 250 GB cap allow in a month? I watched the first few minutes of a couple HD movies just to confirm they flowed smoothly (they did), but I haven't yet watched a single full movie with this new system, just a few videos on the Roku, a couple of phone calls, and email/forum posting (which shouldn't take up that much data). Anyone have a feel for this? Do I have something running in the background eating up my allotment that I don't know about? :think:

Any ideas will be appreciated, thanks! (I will be calling Digis Customer Help tomorrow)

 

[Deleted member 133]

Up until this very moment I thought that MattB was the only person capable of surfing 250 GBs of porn in a month - and still be able to walk! You, Herr Botch, are now king!

Jeff

ps. I now have unlimited download capability so I usually don't check, but just for you I just did and the last six months had the following usage (in round numbers): 225, 140, 260, 85, 55, 140. So in a full month with heavy torrenting, netflixing, downloading, uploading, surfing, etc. it is possible to hit 250 GB. But from your description below I would have guessed something like 60-80 GB. Assuming you want to know, I'm sure your provider can break it down to the nth level of detail.

 

[Botch]

bscene-birdiedoublered:

Thanks Jeff, that's what I thought; like I said, no movies yet, just a few videos, no uploading, no netflixing, and I don't even know what torrenting is. I'll see if Digis can break it down for me.

Oh, and Scott: you can buy the device plus one year's net service, or pay more for "lifetime" net service (which is what I did). While double-checking something else on the Simple.TV website, I noticed that the net service is for the lifetime of the device, not MY lifetime. This thing runs incredibly hot, and I wouldn't be surprised that it dies just a few weeks past the warranty period. Just something to be aware of.