WPA support for TiVo in the works

[greg_burns]

Noticed this thread in the TiVo Home Media Features & TiVoToGo forum

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=313479
According to this announcement yesterday on PVRWire (http://www.pvrwire.com/2006/08/26/wpa-support-for-tivo-in-the-works/), it looks like the Tivo folks are finally gonna get their heads out and get WPA support rolling.

My question is, based on that and on what people might know, does it look like I could get one of the Tivo Wireless-G adapters now and then be able to use it with WPA when they have this ready? (I have some Tivo Rewards referral points to burn and that seems like the perfect way to do it.)

The vibe I get is that they're gonna build it into a firmware update for that adapter.

Thanks!

:cool:

[classicsat]

Depends how the adapter works, if the firmware is uploaded to the adapter at boot, flashed as needed, or has no variable software.

[crowfan]

Saw this on Gizmodo today...

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/tivo-finally-gets-wireless-adapter-with-wpa-support-197149.php

Looks like it's here pretty quick (although the linked Amazon site might be a pre-order; I couldn't get the sire to load here at work).

So what does this mean for folks like me? I have a Netgear wireless USB adaptor that I use. It supports WPA and WPA2 but I don't use them because of the TiVo. Will this come down as an update to the TiVo which enables WPA on adaptors other than their own?

[petew]

Tracing back to the original source (http://customersupport.tivo.com/knowbase/root/public/tv140304.htm?) through davezatz blog. It sounds like it'll be a Tivo software upgrade that will initially support the Tivo Brand Adapter but may support other adapters eventually.

[davezatz]

Greg still isn't reading my site. ;) I got a tip from a reader who came across a TiVo support note saying:

TiVo is aware that our customers want to be able to use WPA encryption. We are planning to initially support that capability on the TiVo Wireless G adapter with a future software release. Please continue to check tivo.com/support for updates.
http://customersupport.tivo.com/knowbase/root/public/tv140304.htm?

Gizmodo and MacWorld misunderstood and assumed it is out now.

[geekmedic]

I called tech support recently. They told me they are working on it and it's in the testing phases right now, but cannot give me a time period when it will be released. I was told "very soon" and got the impression within a month or so.

I have connected my TiVo to my wireless network with WPA2 security/AES password with a USB-to-Ethernet adapter and a Linksys WET54G Ethernet Bridge. Works flawlessly. Plus, the TiVo doesn't have the burden of processing password resets and such (I have it so my router renegotiates every 10 minutes).

[PaulS]

Or, you could get a Buffalo wireless router for $40 at NewEgg HERE (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833162173) , flash DD-WRT on it, and put it in "client bridge" mode to attach it to an 802.11g WPA-encrypted network. See my post HERE (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=4320468&&#post4320468)

[ashu]

Or, you could get a Buffalo wireless router for $40 at NewEgg HERE (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833162173) , flash DD-WRT on it, and put it in "client bridge" mode to attach it to an 802.11g WPA-encrypted network. See my post HERE (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=4320468&&#post4320468)

Or you could read my signature.

[PaulS]

Or you could read my signature.

Sorry, I have sigs disabled. :)

[shadow64]

Can anyone verify that this will actually work with WPA? I checked the Amazon site and it is the same model that Tivo has had out already and no mention of WPA support. I also checked the Radio Shack site and it is the same model number.

[Turtleboy]

Can anyone verify that this will actually work with WPA? I checked the Amazon site and it is the same model that Tivo has had out already and no mention of WPA support. I also checked the Radio Shack site and it is the same model number.

No one can verify anything yet, b/c it's not out yet. People are just speculating.

[greg_burns]

Can anyone verify that this will actually work with WPA? I checked the Amazon site and it is the same model that Tivo has had out already and no mention of WPA support. I also checked the Radio Shack site and it is the same model number.

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=4320998&&#post4320998
I would take "future software release" to mean the Tivo software as downloaded onto the box itself, an updated device driver for the Tivo adapter. "Future software release" doesn't in any way suggest a new hardware product.

Even if the "future software release" did involve a firmware upragde to the Tivo Adapter I would expect that it would be deployed silently and automatically. Support for one of the 3rd party wireless adapters included a firmware upgrade which was installed with minimal user interaction.

Just to clear, the "update" hasn't happened yet. And we have nothing official to suggest that it will other than one lone KB article hinting at it.

If you need WPA now, you'll need to go the wired USB ethernet adapter+wireless bridge route. Or you can get the Tivo wireless one, use WEP currently, and wait to see what happens.

[TiVoEvan74]

And what does this mean if you have a different wireless connector? One of the recommended TiVo ones but not TiVo's itself?

We'd feel better being on a WPA rather than WEP. (FDR's programs were good ones!) :)

[greg_burns]

And what does this mean if you have a different wireless connector? One of the recommended TiVo ones but not TiVo's itself?

Who knows? But it doesn't look good.

[dmdeane]

We'd feel better being on a WPA rather than WEP. (FDR's programs were good ones!) :)Yes, imagine my disappointment when I clicked on this thread thinking the WPA was going to start building art deco style facilities for TiVo owners! :p

[MediaLivingRoom]

then we'll need 802.11n in 2009

[megazone]

then we'll need 802.11n in 2009TiVo hardware will need to be a lot faster first - 11g is more than fast enough for a TiVo, the box chokes before the network.

So far 802.11n is a trainwreck. I hope no one has wasted any money on the 'Pre-N' crap and the promises of firmware updates to 11n down the road. It is looking increasingly like firmware updates will not be possible, and new silicon will be required for the final spec.

[ZeoTiVo]

TiVo hardware will need to be a lot faster first - 11g is more than fast enough for a TiVo, the box chokes before the network.

So far 802.11n is a trainwreck. I hope no one has wasted any money on the 'Pre-N' crap and the promises of firmware updates to 11n down the road. It is looking increasingly like firmware updates will not be possible, and new silicon will be required for the final spec.

I did not have any wireless in the hosue and tried an 11G and it would not get from my cable access point to my back bonus room where the Kids PC is. the whole point was to eliminate all wires going upstairs so I did not wnat to move the access point around any. I tried a linksys 11n in the same place with a PCI linksys 11n adpater on the PC and full speed ahead. It worked much better than G. I don't expect any easy promise of final spec though, I just needed something that worked well now. I would not dream of putting this in a business setting of any scope larger than my home setup of course. Iwould not want to be the one saying we have to rip out and throw away to get to the actual spec :eek:

as for TiVo - I also added two wireless G TiVo adpaters on a 240 and a SD H400 (basically a 240 in DVD clothing) and on both I get about 3x real time MRV on high quality setting. The G works great for SD type stuff, no need for more oomph there at all. It sounds like the series 3 will not come with MRV out of the gate and indeed HD files would be an order of magnitude greater so no idea if G would be enough for that.

[megazone]

Some of the range advantages come from MIMO, and you can get 11g MIMO systems now too. They give a lot better range than single antenna boxes, in general. MIMO is part of the 11n effort, so you'll get MIMO with any Pre-N stuff too.

[Dan203]

In fact the speed advantage of 11n is actually lost at close range due to the fact that MIMO requires deflection to work properly.

Another alternative is the new HomePlug stuff. The new standard allows wired Ethernet speeds using nothing more then your homes electrical wiring.

Dan

[ZeoTiVo]

In fact the speed advantage of 11n is actually lost at close range due to the fact that MIMO requires deflection to work properly.

Another alternative is the new HomePlug stuff. The new standard allows wired Ethernet speeds using nothing more then your homes electrical wiring.

Dan


yep, my DT and my RS TX20 are wired in to the wireless router and it is the upstairs that uses the wireless. MIMO is a big part but since I was laready going to buy a better router to get MIMO I just went some extra and got the pre N to make sure I would get the coverage with less interference of the phone and microwave etc.. in the bonus room without another trip to the store.

I have a work laptop with a G card in it so definitely wanted wireless at home