TiVo’s Wireless Adapter Arrives

Dave Zatz has the low-down on the new TiVo-badged 802.11g wireless adpaters. It's already for sale on TiVo's site, and should help those that complain about slow TiVoToGo and Mult-Room transfers.

Many of the comments on Zatz' site mention the new adapter doesn't support WPA wireless security, so if security is your utmost concern, it's probably best to go with a wired adapter, but for most folks with open points or simple WEP, it should work fine.

Comments

[simon]

There is no reason to purchase this because it is expensive and can only funtion with TiVos. Other adaptors such as linksys are much better because they work with tivos as well as your home computers (mac and windows) and are cheaper.

More information here: http://www.skattertech.com/2005/12/tivo-wifi-adaptor/

[Matt Haughey]

Well, simon, on the bright side, everyone I know seems to run into compatibility problems with their wirless adapters and TiVos. I've honestly had friends call me up twice while they were standing in a computer store, asking me to load up the TiVo site listing approved controllers, so I could read the serial numbers to them so they didn't purchase the wrong ones.

With a TiVo-branded device, they can be sure the chipset will never change midstream (like Linksys) and cause support nightmares. If someone just wants a wireless TiVo and doesn't care if the adapter can't be used with other devices, it's a fair price and worth knowing it'll always work with your TiVo.

[Michael]

I really don't understand how a TiVo wireless adapter is going to increase speeds for TiVoToGo. I mean, I'm on a B network, which is certainly find for me, and my signal is always above 90%, and it still transfers slow. So, even on a B network, I'm not using even half the networking capability. I really don't see, even on a G network, how this TiVo adapter will greatly increase speeds.

[MegaZone]

11g is faster than 11b, and even without the TiVo adapter yuou can get faster transfers from a TiVo using 11g.

But the TiVo adapter has improvements. The bottleneck in the TiVo is the CPU. Normally it has to handle all the muxing and encryption chores for TiVoToGo, PLUS handle the network tasks.

The chipset TiVo is using in the TiVo adapter is a full network interface, so this offloads that work from the CPU. That gives the CPU more cycles to use on the muxing and encryption, thereby increasing the transfer throughput.

And that's one reason to buy this adapter - it will outperform all the other WiFi adapters TiVo supports. That's on top of the simple fact that it is a pain in the ass to find a compatible adapter anyway.

And $50 isn't that expensive for an 11g adapter.

[Sam]

Well one problem still remains with using wireless adapter is that you are still stuck with using WEP. Because when you are using wireless I feel more safe using WPA versus WEP.

[Michael]

Thanks for the explanation, MegaZone. Any idea if it'll work with a B router? I'd hate to have to buy everything new. And while maybe this would help my transfer times, I may wait until the TiVo is more compatible with the ipod...I've been wanting to get one anyway, so maybe I'll just make it all in one big purchase later in 2006.

[j saville]

So can you use a wireless router for conecting to TIVO? After reading this I have concerns if it will work??? thanks..

[Lisa]

QUESTION...I have DSL (through Verizon) with a Westell router. All of my other computers run on Linksys adapters. I have G service but it seems like TIVO uses mostly B. I purchased a Linksys USB 10/100 2.0 (recommended on their site) but after some thought and reading the reviews about them breaking, I would rather not run a wire to my computer. I take it that you can use a B adapter if you're on G service but which adapter would be the best choice if I want complete wireless connections?

[Jeff]

I think getting a wireless bridge is still the best way to go. There are lots of cheap ones ($60-$80) on the shelves now designed for video games like PS2 and XBox. The bridge joins your wireless network with whatever protocol you're using (B, G, Pre-N), and the TiVO connects to the bridge with an adapter.

So, as far as the TiVO is concerned, it's just an Ethernet connection and runs at full speed. The bridge device handles all the security and encryption required for wireless.

Mine: US Robotics Game Adapter, which I got for about $62 at Fry's. It works great... (http://www.usr.com/products/networking/wireless-product.asp?sku=USR5430)

[Liz]

I recently just purchased the 80 hour tivo DVR 2 series model. I currently have a linksys wireless router that I got for my laptop? Can I just connect my Tivo to that? Or do I need this adapter thing? Any information is greatly appreciated since I am electronically challenged. Thanks

[Tony]

Liz,
I'm sort of in your boat. From what I'm reading and talking to others about. Buy the TiVo Adapter for wireless (which is backordered) and you should be set.

[ALEXANDER]

HI I HAVE A SERIES 2 PHILIPS TIVO BUT I DONT HAVE A PHONE NETWORK OPTIONS I TRIED TO UPDATE THE TIVO I STILL DONT HAVE IT, I JUST BOUGHT THE TIVO WIRELES G I HAVE THE 6.2 SOFTWARE ON MY LAPTOP AND A LINK ROUTER HOW DO I PUT EVERTHING TOGETHER OR THERES NO WAY THANK YOU

[John]

The adapter is the equivalent of the wireless networking card in your computer. To use your wireless router for TiVo, you will need a wireless adaptor of some kind, Tivo or other brand.

[Todd]

Does this TiVo adapter support WPA wireless security or not? I can't seem to get a straight answer on the matter.