WD Live TV networking issue

silvine

Does anyone here have a WD Live TV that works with their mac? I bought one the other day and have connected it to my router which my mac accesses via aiport. The problem is the WD player says it can't access my media server. Any ideas?

Sad Professor

Have you turned on SMB in network sharing?

It does indeed work. However, if you are on Snow Leopard you will experience some problems. Apple broke SMB in 10.6. It still works, just very slow to connect.

silvine

Yes I have and I've made sure that my movie folder is set up for sharing. I am using Snow Leopard. I might bring the device back if I can't get it working. Disappointing.

Sad Professor

I have mine working okay, so you want to give me more details I'll try and help.

When you go into Network Shares on the WDTV is it recognising the Mac?

silvine

Cheers. Yes it can see the mac and my mac can see the WDTV.However, the WDTV says it can't access the media server and my Mac says the connection has failed when I click on the WDTV.

I've tried clearing my login information on the device and manually inputting my user name and password. I've also tried the auto login option. I've also turned my firewall off just in case it's blocking it.

My WDTV is connected to a Cisco router which appears to be working fine as I can access the internet wirelessly and also stream movies to my Xbox (also connected to the router).

Sad Professor

and my Mac says the connection has failed when I click on the WDTV.

That's normal. Mine is the same.

Are you on Snow Leopard?

Also, on the WDTV when you "check connection" in Network settings is everything reported okay?

silvine

I am using Snow Leopard 10.6.2. The WD device says the network connections are fine and it can access the internet.

Sad Professor

In the WDTV keep trying to connect. I have similar problems trying to connect at first. It always takes a few tries. While doing this, try turning off file sharing in OS X and turning it back on.

Apple screwed up samba in 10.6. The only reason I know OSX is the problem is because I was previously using XBMC and after upgrading to SL I had awful problems connecting.

Are you using the automatic connection mode on the WDTV? Or did you enter your settings manually (IP, DNS, etc)?

silvine

I am using the automatic connection mode. So do I try to connect and at the same time turn on and off file sharing or wait until it's failed before turning it on and off?

Sad Professor

silvine wrote: »

I am using the automatic connection mode. So do I try to connect and at the same time turn on and off file sharing or wait until it's failed before turning it on and off?

Yeah, let it fail. Then turn on/off file sharing and try again. It give it a second first though.

The problem is that OSX's smb sharing isn't working. I found doing this had the effect of kicking smb into activity.

silvine

Doesn't seem to be doing anything. I will email technical support and possibly return the device so. Thanks anyway.

Sad Professor

Sorry I couldn't be of more help. I have mine setup a little differently - connected directly via ethernet to my Mac. But I still have issues due to 10.6. Hopefully Apple will fix it in the next update.

silvine

Ah thanks for the for the help anyway.

silvine

Found an app that sets up the Mac as a sever meaning I don't have to use smb. Playback from Yazsoft. it costs USD15 though.