TiVo Community Forums Archives - Use a computer as PPP server using TiVo dial in numbers?

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Use a computer as PPP server using TiVo dial in numbers?
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Posted by: Dan203

OK I have a weird question. The modem on my Sisters TiVo broke, and she wants to try and fix it for as little as possible. So what I want to do is use an old 486 I have as a PPP server and have the TiVo use it's modem to dial out. The problem is she doesn't have an internet account, so it wont work with the traditional PPP methods. What I was wondering is if it would be possible to setup the computer to use the TiVo dial in account that the unit would normally use on it's own, and if so how?

Dan

Posted by: Dan203

bump

Posted by: stormsweeper

The hard thing would be figuring out the password the Tivo sends. I believe it's a munge of the serial # and the time. It could be done, but I'm not sure how reliable it would be.

Posted by: spankspank

Dan,

I think your question might tread on potential service theft. Theft of UUNET Internet service that is. I appologize in advance if this is taboo here.

It is possible to obtain login and password values that Tivo dials in with. They are passed unencrypted once the modem connects. Switching serial port /dev entries to the serial data port on Tivo and simulating responses (OK,OK,CONNECT, login,password) on another system with a TERM program would allow you to capture them.

EDIT:
No need to obtain the login/password like above. This thread explains the UUNET dialin account parameters

As stormsweeper mentioned the system time/date is included. date +'%s' is all you need for that.

date=`date +'%s'`
login=002-0000-xxxx-xxxx.$date@tivo.net
password=$login

I have heard this UUNET dialup PPP account only allows you to connect to Tivo's servers. I have also heard you can connect to any site on the Internet with it.

Another idea:
Didn't someone solve the external modem connected to Tivo serial port? This would be a simpler solution for your sister.

Posted by: Dan203

quote:
Originally posted by spankspank
Didn't someone solve the external modem connected to Tivo serial port? This would be a simpler solution for your sister.

I tried using a Sportster 33.6 I have, but I couldn't even get it to dial. I was all psyched to because I found a program that allowed me to disable the modems flow control, which is what I had heard was the major problem with using an external modem. But sadly after hooking everything up, and entering the ,#319 dial prefix, it just sat there and did nothing. :(

If anyone knows how to make it work, I would much rather use it instead.

As for the theft problem... It would ONLY be used for the TiVo, so I don't think it should be an issue.

Dan

Posted by: spankspank

Did you tell the modem to ignore DTR? Given only 3 pins are connected you'll need that or a special serial cable with 6->20 jumped.

send:
AT&D0&W
to the modem on a system with a real serial cable.

Wile you're there disable flow control in both directions:
AT&H0&I0&W

You may need to ignore RTS:
AT&R1&W

I think these commands are accurate for a sportster, they are for a courier. Good luck.

Posted by: Dan203

Cool, I'll try that tonight and let you know if it works. :)

Thanks,
Dan

Posted by: Dan203

SUCCESS!!!!! Thank you spankspank you are the man! The only changes I had to make to your commands is the Sportster required the end to be "WT" not just W. Other then that I entered the codes exactly as you listed, and the TiVo made a successful daily call using the external modem. :)

Dan

Posted by: spankspank

Glad it worked for you, Dan.

Posted by: ammauer

Dan or SpankSpank, could you please answer a couple of questions for me about the sportster 33.6?
what position should each of the dipswitches be in on the modem?
I have entered the modem strings in, but the modem still does not dial when hooked up to the tivo.
Just to clarify, its the serial cable to the db-9 then to the db-9 ->db-25 adapter then to the modem?
I am extremely frustrated, but i do love my tivo, please help if u can.

Thanks Anthony

Posted by: rsantag

Question: Is there anything you need to do to tell the Tivo to use a modem connected to the serial port vs. using the built-in modem?

Posted by: Otto

rsantag:

The code is ",#3xx". Read about it in the Almost Complete Codes list at the top of the Underground.

Posted by: rsantag

OK, found in a 7/26/02 post in the "almost complete guide" thread a reference to http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-v...threadid=66115. Is this the one you're referring to?

A few posts down into it, it says it only works with 3.0. I am still on 1.3, so am I screwed?

I have PPP between my Tivo and my Linux box working, but I have figured out how to get it to skip the dial and just use the existing PPP connection for Tivo initial setup.

Posted by: rsantag

Oops. Meant to say I HAVEN'T figured out how to get it to skip the dial....

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