Transfer Speed - TiVoToGo

[WeKnSmith]

I posted something regarding this a couple of weeks back. I still have not had any success improving transfer speeds, and figured I would post again.

I've got a Humax DRT-400 that is recording shows at High Quality, and that is attached to my Netgear G router via the TiVo G Wireless adapter (WEP is enabled). The signal strength is generally 72%.

Transfer times seem to high. Are these times correct (see included screen shot).

Any suggestions?


Thanks,
Bill

[barbeedoll]

I posted something regarding this a couple of weeks back. I still have not had any success improving transfer speeds, and figured I would post again.

I've got a Humax DRT-400 that is recording shows at High Quality, and that is attached to my Netgear G router via the TiVo G Wireless adapter (WEP is enabled). The signal strength is generally 72%.

Transfer times seem to high. Are these times correct (see included screen shot).

Any suggestions?


Thanks,
Bill
These are about the same speeds I'm seeing from a Linksys Router through a Wireless Adaptor. Sometimes I find, however, that it doesn't actually take as long as it says on the screen.

I've also found by dinking around with it, that if I don't cue up more than one show at a time to transfer -- the actual transfer seems to take a little less time. That could be just my perception, however. I haven't actually timed it.

Barbeedoll

[sm9]

I posted something regarding this a couple of weeks back. I still have not had any success improving transfer speeds, and figured I would post again.

I've got a Humax DRT-400 that is recording shows at High Quality, and that is attached to my Netgear G router via the TiVo G Wireless adapter (WEP is enabled). The signal strength is generally 72%.

Transfer times seem to high. Are these times correct (see included screen shot).

Any suggestions?


Thanks,
Bill
I've got a similar problem (if not the same problem) and posted about it yesterday in The TiVo Help Center. That might not have been the best forum to post it to, as it's gotten lots of views, but no replies. Anyway, here's what I am seeing:

The transfer speed averages 322 kBytes/sec (2 hours to transfer a 2.3 GB show).

My Hardware:
Humax DRT-800 (Series 2 Tivo without built-in Ethernet)
Siemens Speedstream 1001 USB-to-Ethernet adaptor (USB 1.1)
CAT 5 cable to my 10/100 Mbit/sec router
Tivo SW:
8.1-01-2-595
I hooked up another PC to my router to test the connection across the router into my PC and was able to transfer a 1.0 GB file in 111 seconds (9405 kBytes/sec), so it seems the bottleneck is either in the USB-to-Ethernet adaptor or the Tivo.

But I looked up the specs for USB 1.1 and it should be capable of 1500 kBytes/sec. So it seems the bottleneck is in the Tivo itself.

I've tried it with and without a show being recorded - makes no difference in the transfer speed.
Is this consistent with what you are seeing?

If anyone wants to reply to my original post, the URL ends in "showthread.php?t=339399"

[dlfl]

Have you guys tried TivoPlaylist for transferring? (Free program, just Google). It doesn't even use the TiVo beacon server and usually transfers 10% to 20% faster than Desktop.

I have a TiVo brand Series 2, Dual Tuner, connected with wire and a hub. It transfers at the rate of 1.2 GB in 35 minutes using Desktop. I assume rates would depend on every piece of hardware in the loop and how busy your TiVo is. I see rates over 800 KB/sec with TivoPlaylist.

[sm9]

Have you guys tried TivoPlaylist for transferring? (Free program, just Google). It doesn't even use the TiVo beacon server and usually transfers 10% to 20% faster than Desktop.

I have a TiVo brand Series 2, Dual Tuner, connected with wire and a hub. It transfers at the rate of 1.2 GB in 35 minutes using Desktop. I assume rates would depend on every piece of hardware in the loop and how busy your TiVo is. I see rates over 800 KB/sec with TivoPlaylist.
Haven't tried TivoPlaylist.

However, I believe the Dual Tuner models are series 6xx models which have twice as much RAM and a slightly faster processor than the series 5xx models like my Humax.*

That might explain why you see a faster transfer. However, that 800 kBytes/sec is still well below what USB 1.1 is capable of (1500 kBytes/sec), what 10 Mbit/sec Ethernet is capable of (1250 kBytes/sec), what 100 Mbit/sec Ethernet is capable of (12.5 MBytes/sec), and certainly what USB 2.0 is capable of (60 MBytes/sec).

Which port are you using, anyway? And if it is the USB port, is your USB-to-Ethernet adaptor a USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 device?

* I'd post the source URL, but haven't hit the 5 post threshold for including URLs. See here: (replace the spaces with periods) wikipedia org/wiki/TiVo_DVRs#Series2_Standalone

[double_d]

not sure on K per second or anything, but I have the linksys wired adapters on 2 series 2 SA, and a media center PC to archive shows, all running through a linksys router, and between either Tivo or the PC with everything record at the highest quallity I can start a transfer and watch it starting right away, it transfers where I can 30 second skip through without a problem.. seat of the pants guess is it transfers 2 to 3 times real time, so if its an hour show its fully loaded in less that 1/2 hour, I do it all the time with one tivo in the bedroom and one in the living room, so watching shows from one to the other is an everyday thing... Multi room viewing rocks, along with being able to archive all my motorcycle racing to a PC to watch on the off season (gets me through the long winters in Michigan)

DD

[dlfl]

Haven't tried TivoPlaylist.
However, I believe the Dual Tuner models are series 6xx models which have twice as much RAM and a slightly faster processor than the series 5xx models like my Humax.*

Which port are you using, anyway? And if it is the USB port, is your USB-to-Ethernet adaptor a USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 device?

Model 649, using the ethernet connector. All indications are it's the actual rate the TiVo processor serves the port that is the main bottleneck. People say if you pause the TiVo playback, and are not recording anything, it will transfer faster because you've reduced the processor workload.

[sm9]

All indications are it's the actual rate the TiVo processor serves the port that is the main bottleneck. People say if you pause the TiVo playback, and are not recording anything, it will transfer faster because you've reduced the processor workload.
I tested this just now. Both puting the Tivo on the "Tivo Central" page increased the transfer rate as did switching to live tv and pausing it. The average transfer rate went from 322 kBytes/sec to 450 kBytes/sec. I don't understand it, since live TV is still recorded when you pause it. But anyway, it's a signifiant improvement.

[classicsat]

I tested this just now. Both puting the Tivo on the "Tivo Central" page increased the transfer rate as did switching to live tv and pausing it. The average transfer rate went from 322 kBytes/sec to 450 kBytes/sec. I don't understand it, since live TV is still recorded when you pause it. But anyway, it's a signifiant improvement.
Its just not playing it back. Changing to a non-channel or an audio only channel might improve that further.

[CuriousMark]

Tuning channel 0 or 1 to get the deep blue "there is nothing to record" screen gives the largest speedup. Unfortunately as soon as the TiVo needs to record a suggestion or season pass it will change the channel and things will slow back down.

Next fastest is to find a pre-recorded show in now playing, start it, and then pause it. You may need to turn the TV off when doing this to protect it from burn-in due to the static image. This can be combined with the first method, although it doesn't result in further speedup over the first trick. But when the TiVo does change channel and start recording, you will still have this speedup active.

Third fastest is to pause the live TV buffer. Fourth fastest is to place the TiVo in standby.

This relationship holds on 540 and 595 equipment. It may not be the same on 6xx, but I suspect it is.

Between these tricks and using a wired connection, or the TiVo adapter on a wireless connection, you will get the most speed possible. None of these will saturate the connection itself.

Mark

[barbeedoll]

Great tips. This has been a problem for me, too, and I'm off to try these.

Thanks so much.

Barbeedoll

[Semco]

heres one to add to the bunch. My "tivo brand" series 2 is super slow to send. (about 1.5hrs for a 1hr show in medium). but my pioneer dvd tivo can stream at that resolution. also, the desktop does much faster than either. doesn't seem to matter which wifi adapter I have plugged into which tivo (one's a g and ones a b).

I just hope the series 3 will be faster once they enable hmo.

[jlb]

I also found a small performance boost when upping the size of the cache file in TD and the other settings there......

[dwit]

Between the Tivo Wireless G Adapter and the wired Linksys USB200M(usb 2.0), which is faster?

Thanks in advance.

[CuriousMark]

Between the Tivo Wireless G Adapter and the wired Linksys USB200M(usb 2.0), which is faster?

Thanks in advance.
I have seen posts indicating it can go either way. Some people with Pre-N routers claimed the TiVo adapter was faster than wired. Others, not sure what router equipment, got better speed with the wired adapter. There are many factors and your results can't be predicted in advance.

CuriousMark

[dwit]

I have seen posts indicating it can go either way. Some people with Pre-N routers claimed the TiVo adapter was faster than wired. Others, not sure what router equipment, got better speed with the wired adapter. There are many factors and your results can't be predicted in advance.

CuriousMark

Thanks, again.

[dwit]

not sure on K per second or anything, but I have the linksys wired adapters on 2 series 2 SA, and a media center PC to archive shows, all running through a linksys router, and between either Tivo or the PC with everything record at the highest quallity I can start a transfer and watch it starting right away, it transfers where I can 30 second skip through without a problem.. seat of the pants guess is it transfers 2 to 3 times real time, so if its an hour show its fully loaded in less that 1/2 hour, I do it all the time with one tivo in the bedroom and one in the living room, so watching shows from one to the other is an everyday thing... Multi room viewing rocks, along with being able to archive all my motorcycle racing to a PC to watch on the off season (gets me through the long winters in Michigan)

DDWhich adapter (model#) is that?

I guess I have decided to go with the Linksys wired, but was concered about how fragile the usb200m may be. Looks like this may be the best choice speedwise.

[Dan203]

I have a TiVo brand Series 2, Dual Tuner, connected with wire and a hub. It transfers at the rate of 1.2 GB in 35 minutes using Desktop. I assume rates would depend on every piece of hardware in the loop and how busy your TiVo is. I see rates over 800 KB/sec with TivoPlaylist.

The DT units have considerably faster hardware then the older 540 series S2 units, like the Humax. Because of this they are capable of transfering TTG files at much higher rates. The best you'll ever get out of a 540 series S2, even with the best wired adapter, is going to be about 350KB/s. And that's using tricks such as tuning to a blank channel to minimize processor usage. The DT units are nearly 4 times faster then that on their best day.

Dan