Unable to download any On Demand titles. So frustrated!

[jcf2007]

Hi, all. I'm hoping someone on here might have an idea of how to fix my problem, because I'm so frustrated I'm ready to pull my hair out. I wouldn't look good bald, either!

I am unable to download and play any Video On Demand Titles. I have a Hopper 3, and VOD has worked flawlessly until a week or two ago. The change occurred roughly around the same time my Hopper 3 updated to U313, but I am not sure if I can blame the problem on the software or not.

Whenever I try to rent a title On Demand, I get the screen with a progress bar and two buttons: "Watch Now" or "Watch Later." Previously, if I did nothing, the title would start playing on its own. Now, if I do nothing, I am just stuck on this screen for about 5 minutes, before it kicks back to live TV. I am unable to select the "Watch Now" button at all. If I go to my "Rentals" folder in my DVR, and select the title I tried to download, I get a red "Download failed" message. My only option is to delete the title. (See here: https://goo.gl/photos/CTkwcMnDFBgcGdYG6)

My set up: 1 Hopper 3, 1 4K Joey, 2 Wireless Joeys. Comcast Internet that averages 90Mbps down. Motorola modem. Asus RT-AC68U router. On Demand also does not work on any of my Joeys, either. (The same thing happens.)

Here's what I've done so far:

• I've tried multiple titles (TV shows and movies) from several different networks (HBO, History, Disney). They always fail.
• All of my internet-connected apps work (I've tried Netflix, Vevo, and Pandora. They work flawlessly.) I am also able to browse and search On Demand content just fine.
• I've tried resetting the network connection on the Hopper 3.
• I've rebooted my Hopper 3 multiple times (both using the on-screen option in diagnostics and the physical red reset button).
• I've assigned my Hopper 3 a static IP address.
• I've added that IP address to my router's DMZ settings.
• I've set up port forwarding on my router for that IP address on ports 80 and 44, per the advice of DIRT on Facebook.
• I've changed from Google DNS to automatic DNS on my router.
• I've turned bridging off on my Hopper 3.
• I've turned bridging back on on my Hopper 3.

Any ideas? Anything I've missed? HELP!

 

[spoiler1041]

You could try to bridge the modem if that has not already been done.

 

[Psikic]

If all else fails, I suppose you could always issue a factory reset on the Hopper 3?

 

[jcf2007]

You could try to bridge the modem if that has not already been done.

I am at work now but will try that when I get home.

 

[jcf2007]

If all else fails, I suppose you could always issue a factory reset on the Hopper 3?

Unfortunately, that's been done and won't solve the problem. I actually went so far as to get a replacement Hopper 3 sent to my home, and this issue occurs on both Hoppers.

 

[Psikic]

If it was me I would route the network connection from the modem to the Hopper 3 through an unswitched hub, and then monitor the traffic with Wireshark to see if I can see anything. But unless you have experience doing this sort of thing, I wouldn't bother. (You can't hurt anything, but its not exactly easy). No guarantee you would see the problem though.

 

[jcf2007]

If it was me I would route the network connection from the modem to the Hopper 3 through an unswitched hub, and then monitor the traffic with Wireshark to see if I can see anything. But unless you have experience doing this sort of thing, I wouldn't bother. (You can't hurt anything, but its not exactly easy). No guarantee you would see the problem though.

I'm fairly tech savvy, but not that tech savvy. I'm sure I could figure out how to do that with some Googling, but I dunno. Maybe if I get bored this weekend...in the meantime, I'm hoping the problem just goes away on its own, or someone else comes up with a brilliant fix!

 

[Psikic]

Also a long shot, but you could take your Hopper 3 over to someone else's house or connect to an alternate network connection if available and see if it is your modem/router/ISP or if it is your Hopper or Dish. I am not sure but I don't think it would require a satellite connection to be able to download VOD.

 

[jcf2007]

Also a long shot, but you could take your Hopper 3 over to someone else's house or connect to an alternate network connection if available and see if it is your modem/router/ISP or if it is your Hopper or Dish. I am not sure but I don't think it would require a satellite connection to be able to download VOD.

Good idea. I've got a mobile hotspot I could use, and some spare gigs to burn through. I'll see if the Hopper is able to download anything when connecting to that.

 

[broeddog]

Since getting my Hopper 3, I've frequently had to reset my Comcast gateway after getting any new software downloaded.

 

[Psikic]

Good idea. I've got a mobile hotspot I could use, and some spare gigs to burn through. I'll see if the Hopper is able to download anything when connecting to that.

Any luck with the mobile hotspot?

 

[jcf2007]

Any luck with the mobile hotspot?

Yep, it worked with the mobile hotspot. I ended up switching out my router, and voila ... I can download On Demand titles again. Something in my router was blocking VOD for some reason, and for the life of me I can't figure out what it was. But at least it's working now!

 

[Psikic]

Yep, it worked with the mobile hotspot. I ended up switching out my router, and voila ... I can download On Demand titles again. Something in my router was blocking VOD for some reason, and for the life of me I can't figure out what it was. But at least it's working now!

Excellent!