jkfishking
05-23-2009, 11:04 AM
While working to setup a couple of new Tivo’s I was trying to determine Tivo-to-Tivo transfer speeds using both wireless (Tivo wireless G adapter) and wired (direct to router). Unfortunately, I couldn’t find this online – all my searches only turned up old data or information on Tivo to PC transfer speeds that I didn’t need.
The maximum hard-wired transfer speed for wired Ethernet is 100MB/s, wireless B is 11MB/s, and wireless G is 54MB/s. Tivo units seem to be processor bound and will never reach these maximum transfer speeds no matter what. Also, when you factor in wireless connection quality, network traffic, etc. it’s hard to know what to expect. So, I had to do my own testing and thought I would pass this along in case it’s helpful to someone else. My primary motivation in doing this was to determine if wireless G would work for transferring HD shows from room to room or if there would be a significant performance improvement by running Cat5 upstairs. For each test I transferred 3-5 shows (minimum) of various lengths/file sizes. Here are my results:
Test: Tivo HD to Tivo HD. One Tivo connected via Ethernet, one connected via Tivo wireless G adapter. Wireless signal strength = 45% - 55%
Result: 15-19MB/s
Test: Tivo HD to Tivo HD. Both Tivo’s connected via Ethernet
Result: 24-26MB/s for most tests, did reach 31MB/s on one test
Test: Series 2 Tivo to Tivo HD and Tivo HD to Series 2 Tivo (same results for both). For this test the Series 2 is connected via wireless (100% signal, it’s five feet from the router). My test results were the same for both the wired and wireless HD Tivo’s
Result: 4-5MB/s. The Series 2 seems to be seriously processor bound to these slower transfer speeds.
In an effort to boost the signal strength upstairs to the wireless Tivo, I also tried using a Linksys WRE54G network expander. The idea for this unit is that it will extend a wireless network for further access from the router. Good in theory, pretty crappy in practice. This unit boosted my signal strength to the Tivo from 45%-55% to 85% and also cut my transfer speeds from 15-19MB/s to 12-14MB/s. Counter intuitive I know, you would think the higher signal strength = better transfers but this was not the case. Evidently the WRE54G throttles down the network speed while extending the signal – fine for web browsing, not so good for Tivo transfers. This is what I like to call and “undocumented feature” of the product!! In short, I get better transfers via wireless at 50% signal strength without the WRE54G than 85% signal with it.
In conclusion, I decided not to run cat5 cable (at least for now) and will be using the wireless G adapter while hoping Tivo releases wireless N support sometime in the next six months. I was hoping to get at least 50MB/s via a wired connection but it just wasn’t meant to be. When I compare getting 15-19MB/s via wireless to the 24-26MB/s speed I averaged via wired the effort to run cat5 cable would only yield an incremental increase in speed.
If anyone else has done similar testing, I’m sure it would be helpful to others to share here. Please no comments on Tivo to PC transfers, there are multiple threads on that topic.
Happy Tivo’ing!
The maximum hard-wired transfer speed for wired Ethernet is 100MB/s, wireless B is 11MB/s, and wireless G is 54MB/s. Tivo units seem to be processor bound and will never reach these maximum transfer speeds no matter what. Also, when you factor in wireless connection quality, network traffic, etc. it’s hard to know what to expect. So, I had to do my own testing and thought I would pass this along in case it’s helpful to someone else. My primary motivation in doing this was to determine if wireless G would work for transferring HD shows from room to room or if there would be a significant performance improvement by running Cat5 upstairs. For each test I transferred 3-5 shows (minimum) of various lengths/file sizes. Here are my results:
Test: Tivo HD to Tivo HD. One Tivo connected via Ethernet, one connected via Tivo wireless G adapter. Wireless signal strength = 45% - 55%
Result: 15-19MB/s
Test: Tivo HD to Tivo HD. Both Tivo’s connected via Ethernet
Result: 24-26MB/s for most tests, did reach 31MB/s on one test
Test: Series 2 Tivo to Tivo HD and Tivo HD to Series 2 Tivo (same results for both). For this test the Series 2 is connected via wireless (100% signal, it’s five feet from the router). My test results were the same for both the wired and wireless HD Tivo’s
Result: 4-5MB/s. The Series 2 seems to be seriously processor bound to these slower transfer speeds.
In an effort to boost the signal strength upstairs to the wireless Tivo, I also tried using a Linksys WRE54G network expander. The idea for this unit is that it will extend a wireless network for further access from the router. Good in theory, pretty crappy in practice. This unit boosted my signal strength to the Tivo from 45%-55% to 85% and also cut my transfer speeds from 15-19MB/s to 12-14MB/s. Counter intuitive I know, you would think the higher signal strength = better transfers but this was not the case. Evidently the WRE54G throttles down the network speed while extending the signal – fine for web browsing, not so good for Tivo transfers. This is what I like to call and “undocumented feature” of the product!! In short, I get better transfers via wireless at 50% signal strength without the WRE54G than 85% signal with it.
In conclusion, I decided not to run cat5 cable (at least for now) and will be using the wireless G adapter while hoping Tivo releases wireless N support sometime in the next six months. I was hoping to get at least 50MB/s via a wired connection but it just wasn’t meant to be. When I compare getting 15-19MB/s via wireless to the 24-26MB/s speed I averaged via wired the effort to run cat5 cable would only yield an incremental increase in speed.
If anyone else has done similar testing, I’m sure it would be helpful to others to share here. Please no comments on Tivo to PC transfers, there are multiple threads on that topic.
Happy Tivo’ing!