Help Me Connect Broadband in One Room To Tivo in Another

Is your modem connected directly to your computer? If so, you need a router in addition to everything else.

OK, let me suggest you use similar devices to what I have in my apartment---I have a Linksys WRT54G router. It's a good product that's been around for a while.

You also need something in your main room. I would recommend a wireless bridge. That gets the signal wirelessly from your wireless router and has a switch into which you can connect devices like your TiVo and console. I use the Buffalo Wireless-G Ethernet Converter. Pretty easy to set up/use (as long as you use WPA security). Using a bridge means that you only have one thing that needs to talk wirelessly with your router---your TiVo, etc will think that it connects via a wired connection.

Hope that helps.

 

The alternate to the a single wireless bridge in the main room would be two separate wireless adapters. I'd do a simple cost tradeoff of the two solutions and go with the cheapest unless there might be a need to add future wired devices in the main room in which case I clearly go with the bridge.

 

Nothing beats a TiVo SOAK.

 

Do some math.

Figure the cost of the special TiVo wireless adapter plus an Xbox adapter (which I believe is proprietary also), vs a bridge and a switch, or a router that can be set up as a bridge.

 

Well this made a lightbulb go off in my head.....

I have my TiVo talking to my wireless router via a TiVo-branded adapter. I was thinking of getting a Slingbox and the Slingcatcher when it comes out. I know I would need something like a wireless bridge to connect the slingbox to my router upstairs. The benefit of that is I could take the adapter out of the loop for the TiVo and plug it into the wireless bridge. I could then sell my adapter (though I would likely keep it as a fallback plan).

 

Yall are forgetting one important thing. How does the Tivo connect to the bridge? That's right, the OP will need a wired adapter to connect his S2 to the wireless bridge.
Here's the list of compatible wired adapters
http://customersupport.tivo.com/Lau...-3df2-43a2-b7d5-fb0fae1ea86d&anchor=undefined

 

Of course this is only for S1 or single tuner S2s as the Dual Tuner and the S3 and HD have a built-in ethernet jack. In fact, TiVo's website recommends not using a wired adapter:

http://customersupport.tivo.com/Lau...-3df2-43a2-b7d5-fb0fae1ea86d&anchor=undefined

 

The OP has a "Black Box 80hr" so we can assume it's an S2 and is likely a 140 or 240 model. Therefore, no ethernet connection, which is why I posted the need for the adapter.

 

I don't understand this. You don't mean to use "wireless routers" on both ends, right?

I'm probably wrong, but it's my understanding that you have to get one that is capable of being a *repeater* (an added function that not all have as far as I know) to use one as an adapter. Earlier this week, Fry's had one for about $30. I was thinking of buying it, but it only had one plug, it didn't have a switch in it.

BTW, Fry's has a lower price than buffalo's own search page shows. I have been looking at this one for quite a while (to hook my S3, and now S1 since I just bought a used Turbonet adapter) so I can cancel my upstairs phone -- at least in a few months when my S1's free year of service (from transferring lifetime to the S3) ends. I also just got a $25 credit from my Amazon credit card, so it'll make this Buffalo thing even cheaper.

 

No. The OP has a Tivo and an Xbox. Thus the option of using 2 adapters (not routers), one for the Tivo and one for the Xbox.

 

OP must be rich then! The only semi-inexpensive adapter is the Buffalo one which also has a 4 port switch in it. Heck, I've rarely seen *any* other adapters like this at all.

 

Linksys (and other companies) have so-called "game adapters"...though I believe most if not all require a electrical outlet (that was certainly a concern for me---my home theater area doesn't have a tons of excess outlets...)

 

This is what you should buy...

WRT54G router
WAP54G Acess Point (Configure it as a bridge)
Any brand switch

 

Two BUFFALO WHR-G125 wireless routers from Newegg HERE for $40 a piece.

Flash 'em both with DD-WRT (instructions how to do this are HERE ).

Set one up to be the main access point. Hook it up to your broadband router and PC.

Set one up to be a client bridge (instructions HERE), and hook up the TiVo and XBox to it. Client bridge mode essentially turns your router into a "gaming adapter", which simply connects a wired ethernet device to a wireless network.

I've done this a few times, and it always works out great. It's also cheaper than buying a gaming adapter, which typically are more expensive than routers (I have no idea why).

 

Actually, it turns it unto a "wireless bridge". Yes, many people use bridges for gaming, but that doesn't change the fact that what you're describing is a bridge.

 

Actually, it doesn't. It's not a true transparent bridge, like you'd expect. The client bridge rewrites the source MAC address (like a router would) in going to the WLAN. This is a restriction of the 802.11g standard.

I've done router/switch design and development for quite a long time, and know the difference.