The crazy IP address is a private IP address that the Rio assigns itself if it can't get an address assigned by the router.

It sounds like you're suffering from the problem that Rios sometimes have connecting to 10/100 mbps switches. Apparently they don't always negotitiate a connection properly, as they are 10 mbps devices. Some people find that they have to connect a 10 mbps hub to a router, then connect the Rio to the hub in order to get the Ethernet connection to work. Another option is to set all devices connected to the switch to run at only 10 mbps (i.e. force the network card in your PC to run at only 10 by changing settings in OS drivers.)

--Judd