Why doesn't series 3 have built in wireless?

[missiontortilla]

I was just pondering the fact that my Roku Soundbridge which cost 1/3 the price of the S3 has built in wireless. Wouldn't built in wireless have benefited TiVo because they would no longer have needed the complexity of supporting varying hardware? Would it have really increased the hardware cost that much? They already have the technology because they make a standalone adapter.

[TydalForce]

You can get a better signal with an external device
Adding more hardware would have increased the price
Selling an add-on boosts margins
Not everybody needs the wireless so why make it more complex

It also makes it easier to upgrade the wireless, if/when 802.11n finally comes out (or the next big thing)

[joker81]

You can get a better signal with an external device


Especially since if it was internal it would be surrounded by shielded metal.

[missiontortilla]

they could easily have a small antenna in the back

[caddyroger]

My house wired way would have by a wireless router when all i have to do is hook a cable from the tivo to the wall for nothing.

[stevetd]

It also makes it easier to upgrade the wireless, if/when 802.11n finally comes out (or the next big thing)

Isn't it already out?

[TydalForce]

the current 802.11n equipment is "pre-release". The standard hasn't been finalized yet. I've heard that some of the pre-N equipment that's out there won't be upgradable to the final product (apparently it could be more than a firmware update).

[TAsunder]

A) It would be anti-competitive. See Microsoft and IE integration for an example of why this could be bad

B) It would prevent you from choosing the right unit for your network. Like it or not many times it ends up that the brand of router you have works better with certain wireless cards

C) It would prevent future upgrade to range extending / performance enhancing tech (802.11n).

D) More heat inside

E) Dumb looking outside

[stevetd]

the current 802.11n equipment is "pre-release". The standard hasn't been finalized yet. I've heard that some of the pre-N equipment that's out there won't be upgradable to the final product (apparently it could be more than a firmware update).

:eek: Thanks for the heads up!

[sockgap]

Never mind built-in wireless - the series 3 should have had a built-in cable modem. That way it would replace all the useless boxes that Comcast want to rent to me and I wouldn't have to split the cable signal at all.

[RickStrobel]

Because real men have wired networks :p

[kosherbacon]

You can get a better signal with an external device
Adding more hardware would have increased the price
Selling an add-on boosts margins
Not everybody needs the wireless so why make it more complex

It also makes it easier to upgrade the wireless, if/when 802.11n finally comes out (or the next big thing)

Exactly!
Would you have rather spent $850 on your S3?

[Jerry_K]

Wait til the network stuff is enabled, like TTG and MRV, Gigabit will be the way to go. I hope that the internals of the wired solution support gigabit.

[Necro]

For $800 bucks, it should have had built in wireless...

[dianebrat]

I can't begin to fathom why someone would want to leverage a multi-year device with out of date wireless right out of the box.

It's RJ45 is current and darn fast, and the USB port will et you use the WirelessG adapter this year.. and an 802.11n device when they're FINALLY released.. none of this 'pre-n" garbage that's incompatible between manufacturers.

USB expandability and not building in wireless was a very smart move IMNSHO

Diane

[TAsunder]

Never mind built-in wireless - the series 3 should have had a built-in cable modem. That way it would replace all the useless boxes that Comcast want to rent to me and I wouldn't have to split the cable signal at all.

That would be opening up a whole new can of worms. My cable provider requires registering the cable modem you use by visiting a web site using the cable modem and installing an activex control through a browser using the cable modem you are installing. The last thing I want is to make ANOTHER call to the cable company.

[arctanstevo]

I wouldn't want to pay the extra cost of build in wireless - let me choose my own solution

[btl-a4]

Because real men have wired networks :p

:up:

[megazone]

That would be opening up a whole new can of worms.Especially for those who don't want our TiVo to be our *router*. Yeah, that's what I want, my TiVo to be the public facing box on my network. Yay.

It'd also need a firewall and decent router code to be the gateway.

Leave the network gear alone - not everyone uses cable broadband anyway. I have DSL. Other people have FiOS, fixed wireless, etc.

My Linksys WRT54GL flashed with HyperWRT+Thibor is quite good at being my firewall and router. I don't want TiVo trying to be Cisco.

[ashu]

I agree with OP.

While they're at it, TiVo should add the Laundry slot as well, goshdangit!