Wired or Wireless

falcon26 · 03-27-2010, 05:45 PM

I can't decide if I should go wireless or wired with my new tivo. Which seems to be the more stable and faster of the two? And would waiting for the new wireless N adapter be helpful or is the G just as good really..

innocentfreak · 03-27-2010, 05:48 PM

Wired for me is always the first and best option.

falcon26 · 03-27-2010, 05:51 PM

Aw that's what I thought. Looks like I'll be buying some Ethernet cabling and going under my house and also doing some drilling into the floor :-)

SNJpage1 · 03-27-2010, 05:56 PM

Wired is the best way to go. Takes a little more work but less headaches when you are done.

jfh3 · 03-27-2010, 06:00 PM

Wired is always better. Wireless is for convenience only.

falcon26 · 03-27-2010, 06:04 PM

I figured. I'm assuming CAT5 or CAT6 is best?

jfh3 · 03-27-2010, 06:09 PM

Yes, Cat 6 is best.

aaronwt · 03-27-2010, 06:11 PM

Cat5e or Cat6. Don't use any Cat5.

falcon26 · 03-27-2010, 06:14 PM

Alright looks like I have a project to do tomorrow :-)

innocentfreak · 03-27-2010, 06:20 PM

Also always run more than you think you need especially these days since everything has a Ethernet jack.

gweempose · 03-27-2010, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innocentfreak

Also always run more than you think you need especially these days since everything has a Ethernet jack.

You can say that again. I just counted, and I currently have 33 internet connected devices on my network.

innocentfreak · 03-27-2010, 07:21 PM

When I ran wires, I ran 4 to each TV. 2 to my desk, 1 to the kitchen, 2 to my server, and a couple other singles here and there. I could still run more but wanted to get the main locations finished.

CubsWin · 03-27-2010, 07:26 PM

I'm going wireless because I just re-ran a bunch of TV cables in my crawl space and I'm not about to start another wiring project. I have a Buffalo Wireless-G Ethernet Converter in my entertainment center, so I'll just be plugging into that. I think Wireless-G should be good enough for now, but if I'm wrong and I have any issues then I'll just upgrade to Wireless N rather than going the wired route.

Mike-Mike · 03-27-2010, 07:41 PM

f that, crawl spaces suck... I have a basement with a drop ceiling, so I can easily run wiring... if I had crawlspaces I would hire someone else, or go wireless

eatmyjustice · 03-27-2010, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innocentfreak

Also always run more than you think you need especially these days since everything has a Ethernet jack.

Just remember that ethernet is only spec'd for 100 meters

innocentfreak · 03-27-2010, 08:03 PM

None of my runs are over 100 meters. My central hub is in a closet in the center of my house.

I meant additional lines and not cable length if that is what you were thinking.

Resist · 03-27-2010, 08:05 PM

I had a terrible time getting Netflix to work without it stopping during the movies when my Tivo was wireless (remember it's only 802.11g), but once I went wired then Netflix works great.

eatmyjustice · 03-27-2010, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innocentfreak

None of my runs are over 100 meters. My central hub is in a closet in the center of my house.

I meant additional lines and not cable length if that is what you were thinking.

ahhh... Yeah, I was thinking that you were recommending that falcon26 coil extra cable up under the floor. Which is fine as long as you don't go over 100 meters on a single run. Ethernet can get unstable after that...

innocentfreak · 03-27-2010, 08:22 PM

Yeah I always leave a little slack in case, but if I am running a single line I might as well run two. The less switches I have to deal with the better is my view.

falcon26 · 03-27-2010, 09:06 PM

I'll probably run to Frys tomorrow and get about 15Ft of CAT5E . I probably only need about 10Ft but just to be on the safe side. Its like $5 for 15Ft so that's ok.

tomm1079 · 03-27-2010, 10:29 PM

a few months ago i bought a wireless N hub for my entertainment center. It is a 4 port hub which i have my Tivo HD, PS3 and other things plugged into. Wireless over N is wonderful. It was only about 70 bucks at microcenter.

matguy · 03-27-2010, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innocentfreak

None of my runs are over 100 meters. My central hub is in a closet in the center of my house.

I meant additional lines and not cable length if that is what you were thinking.

Um, I'm not thinking there's a need to really worry about hitting length limitations in a normal personal network cable install in a normal house. Remember that 100 meters is just about a football field in length. While it's good to know the limitations, I certainly wouldn't worry about accidently hitting it by leaving some extra cable coiled underneath the house. Unless you're buying a 500+ foot box and simply terminating both ends and leaving the whole thing down there. Not saying that you shouldn't share the limitations, but to the recipient of the comment, it probably doesn't need to be on the top of your worry list unless you're connecting between multiple buildings. (debate for debate's sake ahead, aka: just for fun, feel free to ignore) Oh, and if you do have to go longer than 100 meters, put a hub/switch in the middle; it's a 100 meters between any active point (after like 5 hub/switches you should start thinking about some other kind of medium, or re-think the idea of running a network over half a kilometer by yourself.)

Now, for the wired/wireless debate. If you're going to have 1 box (no multi room transfters) and don't have an easy way to get a network cable over to the Tivo, I probably wouldn't go through too much trouble to run a new cable. Now, if you're getting 2 (or more) Tivos the wired connection will help with the transfers if they're both wired (sure, one wired and one wireless would probably transfer a bit faster than both wireless, but I wouldn't go through a lot of hassle to get one wired if you're not going to bother with the other.) Of course, the wireless adapters aren't free, but neither is cable and in the long run dealing with the holes in the floor may not be free later on. Wired is certainly better all around (especially if your wireless access point is flakey or your wireless otherwise sucks, such as living next to a radio station, high tension powerlines, Lage Hadron Collider, etc.)

blackngold75 · 03-28-2010, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resist

I had a terrible time getting Netflix to work without it stopping during the movies when my Tivo was wireless (remember it's only 802.11g), but once I went wired then Netflix works great.

I agree that wired is best if you can do it. But, I have no issues with Netflix on my TivoHD using the Tivo wireless "G" adapter.

LoneWolf15 · 03-28-2010, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innocentfreak

Also always run more than you think you need especially these days since everything has a Ethernet jack.

You could also run just one cable, but use an Ethernet switch.

My router has four gig ethernet ports. I have one port routed upstairs to a basic 5-port 10/100 switch --one port goes to my Popcorn Hour C-200 media streamer, and the second goes to my ReplayTV (soon to be my Tivo Premiere XL, on order from Tivo). Only one cable needed, and I just branch out from the switch. I may consider using a USB-to-network adapter for our Nintendo Wii in the future as well, but I haven't been willing to fork over the cash so far.

The Wii also doesn't need the steady stream that video does, although it's rumored that they may enter into an agreement with Netflix someday (which I won't need, having a Tivo).

Kingfish · 03-28-2010, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoneWolf15

You could also run just one cable, but use an Ethernet switch.

That's what I did. I bought the small, 8 port switch from Amazon for only $20.00. It works great.

http://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-Ether...=2BAT1ZNMEEDOP

innocentfreak · 03-28-2010, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoneWolf15

You could also run just one cable, but use an Ethernet switch.

My router has four gig ethernet ports. I have one port routed upstairs to a basic 5-port 10/100 switch --one port goes to my Popcorn Hour C-200 media streamer, and the second goes to my ReplayTV (soon to be my Tivo Premiere XL, on order from Tivo). Only one cable needed, and I just branch out from the switch. I may consider using a USB-to-network adapter for our Nintendo Wii in the future as well, but I haven't been willing to fork over the cash so far.

The Wii also doesn't need the steady stream that video does, although it's rumored that they may enter into an agreement with Netflix someday (which I won't need, having a Tivo).

Yeah I try to avoid that because the more switches thrown into the mix the more you have to troubleshoot when there is a problem. I find it easier just to have one large switch at my hub, because otherwise I would need small switches pretty much everywhere I ran multiple lines. I would also still need another switch back at the main hub which is what I have now without all the little switches.

orangeboy · 03-28-2010, 12:03 PM

Does a switch reduce traffic? Say two TiVos are connect to the same switch, and a MRV transfer is started. Doesn't the switch not forward the packets to the router, and simply "connect" the two ports?

mpf541 · 03-28-2010, 01:09 PM

No if it is a switch it will not slow down as you add more devices

matguy · 03-28-2010, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangeboy

Does a switch reduce traffic? Say two TiVos are connect to the same switch, and a MRV transfer is started. Doesn't the switch not forward the packets to the router, and simply "connect" the two ports?

If your router has multiple LAN ports, it's simply a switch with an extra internal port that connects to the router, you're just seeing the ports on the switch (such as if it has 4 LAN ports it's basically a 5 port switch that connects one to the Router internally.) So, if both Tivos are already plugged in to your router, then you're already using a switch between the Tivos. The traffic between the Tivos should be mostly straight through that internal switch, the router may "see" the traffic depending on how good the switch is with traffic routing (and how much broadcast traffic the Tivo sends,) but it shouldn't have to route it (the exception to that is if you set up the two Tivos on seperate subnets that the router is routing between, but you have to work to make that happen... and don't do it.) Adding a second switch outside the router may (again depending on the switch and broadcast) keep the router from seeing the traffic (again, not that it matters), but the added switch may be of better quality than whatever is built in to your router, not all switches are creaed equal; all things being equal though, it shouldn't make a difference.

Now, if the Tivos are plugged in to seperate switches the traffic passing through multiple switches may slow the data down a bit, but probably not enough to notice as long as both switches are decent (unless the connection between the switches is slow, such as a wireless bridge.)

fyodor · 03-28-2010, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by falcon26

I can't decide if I should go wireless or wired with my new tivo. Which seems to be the more stable and faster of the two? And would waiting for the new wireless N adapter be helpful or is the G just as good really..

You could go with MoCA (Ethernet over coax). It's fast and very stable. If you're comfortable with basic router configuration you can buy some old ActionTec FIOS modems for about $30-$40 per and configure them to work as MoCA bridges.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1145636

Otherwise you can get dedicated MoCA bridges for about $70 per.