TivoHD newbie question re phone/broadband

[ferky1]

I apologize if this has been answered before; I didn't see anything in FAQs or my searches.

I have had an HD DirectTivo since they came out years ago and for various reasons (dead phone jack, couldn't port with router when I changed to Vonage. . . ) it hasn't made a successful call in over 1,400 days (is that a record?). The failure to update to new versions has not been a problem for me for the entire 1,400 day period as my service has been flawless.

I will be moving next week and will be changing to Comcast. I bought an HD Tivo and have scheduled the Comcast visit and have requested an M-card. It just occured to me that the location of the Tivo will be very from from both my modem/router (I do not have wireless) and a phone jack. Do I need phone/internet access for initial setup? What are my options here?

Thanks

[lastdeadcat]

You must have some sort of connection to the TiVo service to get any program information or complete the guided setup. Two ways to do that--phone or internet. Internet is by far the most prefered method. The bottom line is that TiVo must connect to the service for program information. It will not get it from just the cable like satellite service gets it from the satellite.

The simplest is a wireless router and a TiVo-branded wireless adapter. A wired router will work, but it needs the Cat 5 ethernet cable to make the connection. Wired is faster for transfering programs between TiVoes or to a computer, but wireless is fine for just getting the necessary program information.

[ThAbtO]

You can hook to your network if you have one, wired or if wireless the tivo need the tivo brand adapter.

The THD will let you use network for guided setup, just set it for network instead of phone before going into guided setup. I had done that.

[RonDawg]

The OP can use a long telephone extension cord, which can be rolled up except when the TiVo needs to connect to the server (about every two weeks). This is what I did with a Series 1 not located near a phone jack.

Another possibility is to use a phone jack extender that uses modules plugged in to the wall sockets, but for that money the OP is better off buying the TiVo Wireless Adapter and a wireless router if he has broadband. If wireless is not feasible/desired, powerline networking (ethernet over house wiring, similar in concept to the telephone jack extender) is also an option.