TiVo's Wireless G USB network adapter boosts performance
By Paul Miller 
posted Dec 27th 2005 9:00PM
posted Dec 27th 2005 9:00PM
TiVo is busting out their very own Wireless G USB network adapter to help push those Housewives episodes around the home. Not only does it do the traditional wireless thang, but they've stuck the device with some processing duties usually associated with transferring TiVoToGo vids and Multi-Room Viewing, so you should see some performance enhancement in those activities. You can buy it direct from the ever smiling Mr. Tivo for a mere $50.
Give Tivo Performance Boots!
ahhhh! why isnt this compatible with my DirecTV Tivo Series 2!!!!!!!!!
I know DireTV is makin their own but mine was purchased way before the agreement ended, which DirecTV is still selling.
All TiVos before the "nightlight" versions were USB 1. I suppose it only taken ONE YEAR for an 802.11G adapter to show up.
And to think I had to use that as an example when I shut off my service last week.
Yeah, great, but does it support WPA? I hate having to downgrade my security to support wireless networking for the "network out-of-date TiVo".
JeffC, Tivo Series2 has had usb 802.11G support since Feb '05. D-Link DWL-G120, and Netgear WG111.
Note, that's not to say they were great. In fact, I went from a Linksys WUSB11 (good) to a DWL-G120 (connection issues), and right to a Linksys USB200M 100Mbps RJ45 wired solution (excellent).
Most people also don't seem to be aware that series2's can support USB 2.0. It's a massive difference with a hardwired USB200M.
If you NEED 802.11G, then consider a Linksys USB200M wired to a Linksys WET54G wireless-ethernet bridge. Works great, and speed is the USB2.0 max. (or better yet, use a cheap WRT54G with dd-wrt in bridge mode instead of an expensive WET-54G) Total cost is usually around 70 bucks...
I just ordered two. I have three tivo units (1 is hardwired) Hopefully this will speed things up enought to justify the $100. I was just about ready to run ethernet cable through the attic but this may save me a lot of headache.
So what is a "good" transfer time for these? I have a series 2 with the Netgear 802.11g adapter and I'm getting 2:1 transfers, e.g., a 15 minute show (robot chicken) takes a half hour. Not too bad for adult swim, but Lost, etc. is atrocious.
-p-
Still no WPA support though.... *sigh*
Wireless sucks, and this adapter will only make it a little less sucky. Try wired ethernet intead if possible, or, if not, get the fab Netgear Powerline Ethernet bridge. This is somewhat slow, but very reliable, much more than wireless.
FYI to oneighturbo. I have the directv DVR, it sucks!!! I also have a directv tivo series 1 which I love. if anyone knows how to get one of those boxes, email me!
#3: As far as I know, newer boxes before the nightlight boxes also support USB2.0 in hardware, but not software.
All Series2 units have USB2.0 hardware, except for the very early boxes with model numbers started with 110/130/140. And all TiVo software has had USB2.0 drivers since 7.x. So it is not just the 'nightlight' boxes.
As for DirecTiVos - complain to DirecTV. They're the ones blocking network support. Probably to avoid making their R15 NDS boxes look even shittier than they do already, compared to the TiVo units.
No WPA and $50?! What a joke.
Steven; I bought a 10/100 wired adapter for my 5400 series TiVo and it would only be 10% faster transferring a show to my PC. I forget the adapter name (it was a Dlink and on the supported adapter list) but it was painfully slow to send a show over.
Isn't this just a wireless bridge, of the same variety I and many others have been using for 2+ years? If not, why is it better than a bridge (if it is).
Will this cure the stupid "message 86 error" I seem to get every day with my Linksys Wireless-B adapter attached to my Humax DVD-R Tivo? I reboot it everyday now. :(
tivo doesnt work with direct tv because it sucks, infact TiVo sued direct tv for disableing TiVo, i personially like Cable and ethernet not wireless
useless if it doesn't have wpa. wep is so broken it's not even funny, and the security now podcast on twit taught me that mac address filtering is no security whatsoever (which was a big surprise). i recently removed my tivo from my wireless network and just moved by router to the living room and ran some ethernet cable.
While I would have liked to have seen this about a year ago when they first rolled out Tivo2go, it's a good sign. Looks like good funtionality, easy integration, and ok price. Much cheaper than the Xbox360's close to $100 wireless adapter.
Be aware that only the Linksys USB200M v1.0 is supported. The newer v2.0 (which most stores have in stock now) will not work. Check the TiVo website for details: http://www.tivo.com/network
The internal chipsets of adapters keep changing even though the model numbers do not. That makes it difficult for TiVo to keep up. I'm glad they are now selling their own adapters that will definitely be compatible.
If you want WPA support, you have to get a wired network USB adapter and connect it from the TiVo to a wired-to-wireless bridge (aka gaming adapter). You then configure the bridge to connect to the WPA-encrypted wireless network. A Linksys WRT54G with third party firmware such as DD-WRT can do this as well. http://www.dd-wrt.com .
I am a little frustrated as well. My Hughes DirecTV tivo (silver) receiver has 2 usb ports of which they are not "HOT" is a big dissapointment, I am running the 6.x software which is supposed to enable the usb ports!! SO u have to go looking for a 200 dollar mod to make your ports hot. Ridiculous. just my 2 cents.
I've had huge problems with WiFi signals in my house. It's good to see a products that can handle those issues.
Nice, but you can't buy it in Canada. I've bought three different types/brands of adapter to find one that will work. There are always revisions to the adapters, which the TiVo drivers don't support. The last adapter I bought doesn't have drivers 'cause they weren't ready for the last software release. I have to let it sit here in a box waiting for the next release to use it. I thought TiVo releasing their own would be better, but it seems it'll just have different issues.
They'd better launch in Canada in April when they've said they would 'cause even my zealot-like love for TiVO is tiring out.
Which version of the software will work (and work best) for Wireless? Is there a version that will support 802.11.g on a DirecTivo?
I have been told:
* version 4.0.1 will work with 802.11.b adapters but, is only USB 1.0.
* version 7.1 is best for ethernet but, does not support 802.11.g & will not work with DirecTivo.
Thanks in advance for everyone's advise.
Have a happy New Year.
Regards,
Michael
Up and running with a pair of the new TiVo G adapters. I can now transfer Better quality shows in real time. A tremendous improvement.