Wireless Connection Question

[Irvinraw]

I finally purchased a Series 2 Tivo and purchased the lifetime service given the fact that they were finally terminating it. I 've been using Series 1 for five years and continue to enjoy it.

Since I purchased the Series 2, I would like to upgrade and use the Internet features. I am planning to buy the USB to Wireless Network Adapter from Weaknees. My first question is Weaknees a good company? Or should I purchase this item from someplace else?

I do have a leftover wireless dongle. Will Tivo work with any USB wireless dongle? If it can than I won't have to purchase a new one.

My other question involves the USB to Wireless Network Adapter from Weaknees. In its description of the product it states that its compatible with a WAP Internet Network. I was hoping someone can clarify what this is. Does it deal with encryption? I use WEP, but I thought another type of standard was WPA not WAP.

Thanks in advance

Irv

[direwolf20]

Greetings!

Here is a list of wireless adapters that work. Please we aware, Tivo is VERY sensitive about its wireless USB adapters. For example, on this sheet it lists the Netgear wg111 as working. The "WG111 V2.0" does not work. The "WG111T" does not work. It has to be wg111 exactly.

If you aren't positive, just make sure you buy it from a place that allows you to return things :).

http://customersupport.tivo.com/knowbase/root/public/tv2184.htm?

[mick66]

Greetings!

Here is a list of wireless adapters that work. Please we aware, Tivo is VERY sensitive about its wireless USB adapters. For example, on this sheet it lists the Netgear wg111 as working. The "WG111 V2.0" does not work. The "WG111T" does not work. It has to be wg111 exactly.



That's not at all true.
From the list of compatible adapters:
NETGEAR WG111, WG111NA, or WG111RVNA Only adapters starting with serial numbers WG72 or 130. (TiVo Software Version 7.1 or later required)

[direwolf20]

That's not at all true.
From the list of compatible adapters:

What I meant was that whatever he baught in the store had to match the list exactly. I was only giving an example :).

[mick66]

What I meant was that whatever he baught in the store had to match the list exactly. I was only giving an example :).

An example that you make up on the spot that contradicts the official list isn't very helpful to anyone, so why bother?

[TydalForce]

If you've got an existing wireless adapter, see if its on the list. Regardless of its on the list or not, plug it in and see what happens. You might get lucky ;-}

Weaknees is a TiVo focused company, so if they've got one that says it'll work with TiVo then it probably will. TiVo makes their own wireless adapter too, which performs better than most. I got that one, and haven't had any problems with it.

Encryption: "WAP" might be a typo, or used incorrectly. WAP typically stands for "Wireless Access Point" which is basically the part of your network that has antennas to connect wireless gizmos to the network/Internet

There are two big encryption types these days: WEP and WPA
WEP (Wired Equivalent Protocol) comes in 64-bit and 128-bit, and is the older of the two. Just about every 802.11b/g gizmo out there supports it.
WPA (WiFi Protected Access) is newer, and was designed to deal with the shortcomings of WEP. Its generally more secure. Since its newer, not all the gizmos out there support it (I have some old routers laying around that don't, but my new one does).

WEP is more easily hacked, if you're concerned about such things. It's enough to keep the casual person from hopping onto your network. But, if someone's determined and done a little research, they can probably break it.

WPA, on the other hand, I'd had some connectivity issues when I tried to use it. My laptop was losing connection with the router about every 30-45 minutes. It would eventually come back, but my session was being interrupted quite regularly and that was a little more than annoying. Fortunately, you have to be in my house or in my driveway to catch my signal so I'm not worried about people pulling up in front of my house and hacking my network. So, I'm on 128-bit WEP.

Now that I've totally bored you with too much information, I'll get to the relevant part. TiVo's network software currently only supports WEP. If your wireless network is set up for WPA, the TiVo will not be able to connect to it.

The workaround is to get a USB-Ethernet adaptor for the TiVo, and run an ethernet cable to something like a Wireless Ethernet Bridge which *does* support WPA. Its a bit more expensive, but will give you a more secure connection if you want to use WPA.

I can only assume TiVo is workingn on WPA support, as many people have requested it. If/when it shows up is anybody's guess!