Can I connect two TiVos with ethernet cable for transfer?

[crowfan]

I'm not very good with networking stuff, so forgive the simple question.

I performed a search but couldn't find anything useful.

I have two S2 SA TiVos. They both connect wirelessly to my network. Transfers between them are slow.

But the other day I realized that the two TiVos are basically sitting back to back with a wall between them. I was wondering if I could run an ethernet cable (or USB cable) through the wall between the two TiVos to allow them to transfer shows between them on the unused USB port? Or would that confuse the TiVo as far as networking?

Hope this makes sense. Thanks!

[stevel]

Yes, you can. See http://customersupport.tivo.com/subjects.asp?path=4%2C2&#_NetworkConnections

[crowfan]

Thanks Steve.

The page (this one (http://customersupport.tivo.com/knowbase/root/public/tv2046.htm?), which is what I'm looking to do) doesn't say whether it can coexist with the wireless connection to the internet. Can it? If so, how do I ensure that the TiVo is using the wired connection to transfer shows and not the wireless network connection?

[stevel]

You have to configure the TiVo for one or the other. You can't have both active at the same time.

[xnevergiveinx]

my tivos didn't like when i used a crossover cable. even when assigning addresses to them, they flipped out.
it's ok, i sold my other unit anyways

[crowfan]

That's what I thought. :sigh: Oh well, it was a nice thought.

[alansplace]

steve....you can have both by using a hub instead of a crossover cable between the two tivos and then connect the hub to your existing network with an ethernet to wireless bridge. :)
--
Alan :D

[alansplace]

whoops! i meant to be talking to crowfan, sorry. :rolleyes:
--
Alan :D

[tekgeek]

You can do either but in my experience it will not increase your transfer rate. That is a software limitation.

[petew]

You can do either but in my experience it will not increase your transfer rate. That is a software limitation.

If you have both Tivo's connected via wired connections to a switch which is turn is connected to a wireless bridge MRV transfers between the 2 Tivo's should be as fast as an all wired network. Since you don't mention current speeds it's difficult to advise as to whether or not this will be faster.

[tekgeek]

If you have both Tivo's connected via wired connections to a switch which is turn is connected to a wireless bridge MRV transfers between the 2 Tivo's should be as fast as an all wired network. Since you don't mention current speeds it's difficult to advise as to whether or not this will be faster.

I have two tivo's add two computers on the network. All of the tranfer rates are awful. Transfering from one component to another is 45 mins for a 1 hour program. That is around 2.0 gigs per hour. I should be able to transfer 2 gigs in about 7 mins.

Ya know the funny thing is both tivos and one of the computers are hard wired and the one computer that is wireless transfers the fastest.

[petew]

Transfering from one component to another is 45 mins for a 1 hour program. That is around 2.0 gigs per hour. I should be able to transfer 2 gigs in about 7 mins.


I think most people on this forum would consider anything > realtime as good enough. To be able to start the transfer and watch the show while it's transfering without having to pause is all I need. I suspect the OP is complaining about performance much worse than realtime.

[crowfan]

Well, for me actually, it's probably about real time. I was just thinking, since I have the components, maybe I could try to speed it up. For me it's not BAD, I was just hoping to make it great. :)

[petew]

I record most shows at medium, using wired I can start playing immediately and FFW through the comericials without catching up to the transfer.

[annenoe]

I have two tivo's add two computers on the network. All of the tranfer rates are awful. Transfering from one component to another is 45 mins for a 1 hour program. That is around 2.0 gigs per hour. I should be able to transfer 2 gigs in about 7 mins.

Ya know the funny thing is both tivos and one of the computers are hard wired and the one computer that is wireless transfers the fastest.

45 minutes for an hour program!!!!! Holy cow, that's wicked fast ;-)

We have two tivos and two computers on a wireless network. It takes us 36 hours!!!!! to transfer 1 hour program. I am not kidding - 36 freaking hours. All we can do is laugh. it's almost unusable. There is no way to hard wire the computers to tivos (without ripping up all the floors - we live in townhouse with concrete pad), but we might be able to run ethernet from one tivo to the other.

Can someone please repeat, in language for dummies (me), how to get wired and wireless to co-exist? I only need one tivo on wireless (to access photos and music from the two computers) but now wonder if we can hardwire the two tivos so we can transfer. It sounds like it's possible but I didn't understand the solution.

Each tivo is connected via to a Linksys ethernet G wireless bridge. We also connect to both a Mac (for all the photos and music) and a Windows box (to which we can transfer shows).

alansplace, can you point me to something that 'splains it like I'm an idiot (which I sort of am) or maybe repost and pretend you're talking to a 5 year old :-)

[alansplace]

45 minutes for an hour program!!!!! Holy cow, that's wicked fast ;-)

We have two tivos and two computers on a wireless network. It takes us 36 hours!!!!! to transfer 1 hour program. I am not kidding - 36 freaking hours. All we can do is laugh. it's almost unusable.

yeow....that's just awful. :eek: it sounds like there is something basically wrong with your wireless setup. in my experience even 802.11a will transfer a one hour program in an hour and a half to two hours.

Can someone please repeat, in language for dummies (me), how to get wired and wireless to co-exist? I only need one tivo on wireless (to access photos and music from the two computers) but now wonder if we can hardwire the two tivos so we can transfer. It sounds like it's possible but I didn't understand the solution.

Each tivo is connected via to a Linksys ethernet G wireless bridge. We also connect to both a Mac (for all the photos and music) and a Windows box (to which we can transfer shows).

alansplace, can you point me to something that 'splains it like I'm an idiot (which I sort of am) or maybe repost and pretend you're talking to a 5 year old :-)

my hookup consists of two series 2 tivos both connected to a 4 port 10/100 switching hub by cat 5 cable (the tivos are each fitted with a Linksys USB200M v.2 10/100 Ethernet USB adapter that the the cat 5 cable is plugged into). also connected to the hub is a Linksys Wireless G Ethernet Bridge WET54G. the bridge's antenna is 22 feet (line of sight with no intervening walls or obstructions) from the antenna of an access point to the main network.

does that help?
--
Alan :D

[annenoe]

yeow....that's just awful. :eek: it sounds like there is something basically wrong with your wireless setup. in my experience even 802.11a will transfer a one hour program in an hour and a half to two hours.



my hookup consists of two series 2 tivos both connected to a 4 port 10/100 switching hub by cat 5 cable (the tivos are each fitted with a Linksys USB200M v.2 10/100 Ethernet USB adapter that the the cat 5 cable is plugged into). also connected to the hub is a Linksys Wireless G Ethernet Bridge WET54G. the bridge's antenna is 22 feet (line of sight with no intervening walls or obstructions) from the antenna of an access point to the main network.

does that help?
--
Alan :D


Hey Alan, thanks for the response.

yes, we are not good poster children for the "record in one room, watch in another" advertisement. With us, it's more like "record in one room, watch in another week"....

I showed your response to my husband - seems to make sense to him. I will file it away for future reference.

cheers,
anne

[alansplace]

Hey Alan, thanks for the response.

yes, we are not good poster children for the "record in one room, watch in another" advertisement. With us, it's more like "record in one room, watch in another week"....

I showed your response to my husband - seems to make sense to him. I will file it away for future reference.

cheers,
anne ann.....you're welcome. for the record, both of my tivos are in the same location, so i don't watch in any other rooms either.
--
Alan :D