Using a wireless access point?

Instead of using a USB wireless adapter (for TiVo ToGo), I've read where you
can used a wired adapter and a "bridge." Can a wireless access point serve
as a bridge? All of the wireless bridges I've found are kind of expensive,
and I see that CompUSA has a Motorola WAP for a good price this week. Will
this work?

Okay, another question: I have a Netgear router that I have been trying to
configure for this purpose, and haven't been able to get it to work. Tell
me what I need to look for or consider regarding "subnet/forwarding."

My home network is simple: Two desktops, connected (wired) through a US
Robotics 8054 wireless router. The wireless is necessary for a roaming
laptop. I have tried to connect my TiVo, via WiFi, but all of the USB
adapters quit after about 20 minutes or so. Now, I have a wired adapter
connected to a network cable that I string from the living room, where the
TiVo is, to the computer room, but this can't be a permanent solution,
'cause it's really ugly, and dear wife doesn't like it (neither do I). So,
if there's a way to configure the Netgear, I would like to try, but I
haven't had any luck so far. If I don't get it working within few days,
it's going back to Best Buy. The Netgear is a WGR614v5.

Thanks in advance.

Mark

"Lenroc" wrote in message
news:[email protected]
| On Wed, 09 Mar 2005 00:24:26 +0000, Mark Rathgeber wrote:
|
| Instead of using a USB wireless adapter (for TiVo ToGo), I've read where
you
| can used a wired adapter and a "bridge." Can a wireless access point
serve
| as a bridge? All of the wireless bridges I've found are kind of
expensive,
| and I see that CompUSA has a Motorola WAP for a good price this week.
Will
| this work?
|
| If the WAP has wired ports too (not just a single port for a modem), then
| yes that would work. Otherwise, no.
|
| Note that it may or may not work with _another_ router (in addition to the
| new WAP), but that would be a subnet/forwarding issue, not strictly
| related to getting the TiVo networked.
|
| --
| Lenroc

On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 17:26:26 -0700, Lenroc wrote:

On Wed, 09 Mar 2005 00:24:26 +0000, Mark Rathgeber wrote:

Instead of using a USB wireless adapter (for TiVo ToGo), I've read where you
can used a wired adapter and a "bridge." Can a wireless access point serve
as a bridge?

If the WAP has wired ports too (not just a single port for a modem), then
yes that would work. Otherwise, no.

For the record, I should point out that in retrospect, I'm not 100% sure
it would work, even if it had wired ports.

It might work, but it may not be possible to make one wireless router act
as a downstream hub for another wireless router, as I originally (and
possibly incorrectly) assumed.

Sorry.

--
Lenroc

"Mark Rathgeber" wrote in message
. ..
Okay, another question: I have a Netgear router that I have been trying
to
configure for this purpose, and haven't been able to get it to work. Tell
me what I need to look for or consider regarding "subnet/forwarding."

My home network is simple: Two desktops, connected (wired) through a US
Robotics 8054 wireless router. The wireless is necessary for a roaming
laptop. I have tried to connect my TiVo, via WiFi, but all of the USB
adapters quit after about 20 minutes or so. Now, I have a wired adapter
connected to a network cable that I string from the living room, where the
TiVo is, to the computer room, but this can't be a permanent solution,
'cause it's really ugly, and dear wife doesn't like it (neither do I).
So,
if there's a way to configure the Netgear, I would like to try, but I
haven't had any luck so far. If I don't get it working within few days,
it's going back to Best Buy. The Netgear is a WGR614v5.

Thanks in advance.

Mark

Mark,

Generally wireless interfaces support about 255 connections,
so you should have plenty of capability with your Robotics.

I have a Linksys cable modem and a Linksys BEFW11S4
Wireless B Broadband Router. I've got it set up to act
as a DHCP serving IP addresses in the 192.168.2.x
range (x=2 to 10 or so). Each TIVO has a Linksys
WUSB11 something. The print is too small to make out.

Anyway, I set up WEP encryption on both ends using
the same keys and my setup works like a champ.

It's slow, but solid and dependable. It only fails after
the maid has been here and 'cleaned' up around the
WUSB11's. But, I simply unplug them and plug them
back in and they start working again.

What type of adapters were you using that failed
after 20 minutes? You probably mentioned it
in a previous post, but I missed it.

Larry Hazel

Right now, I have a Netgear MA111 which works fine for the TiVo updates.
But, it won't transfer to the PC. It will start, but then it's like the
adapter locks up after about 20 minutes or so. I've also tried this with a
Linksys 802.11b adapter, which TiVo "certified."

So, I read on the TiVo Community Forum that a wired adapter connected to a
wireless bridge would work, and that many routers can be configure to act as
a bridge. But, so far I can't get the Netgear router to work quite right.
I still want to fiddle with it some more before I return it, however.

I have turned off the DHCP, tried to set a separate IP for the Netgear, but
so far no luck. Next, I may try to set the Netgear up with the laptop, like
the above post suggests (hadn't tried that, yet), just to see if it can
communicate. Eventually, if I don't hit on the right combination of
settings, I'm gonna get tired of screwing around with all of this stuff and
run a cable, but that involves moving a big entertainment center to get to
the wall, and that's really low on my list of desireable activities!

I like what TiVo does, but their OS updates don't seem very "up to date."

Mark

"Homer L. Hazel" wrote in message
news:[email protected]
|
| "Mark Rathgeber" wrote in message
| . ..
| Okay, another question: I have a Netgear router that I have been trying
| to
| configure for this purpose, and haven't been able to get it to work.
Tell
| me what I need to look for or consider regarding "subnet/forwarding."
|
| My home network is simple: Two desktops, connected (wired) through a US
| Robotics 8054 wireless router. The wireless is necessary for a roaming
| laptop. I have tried to connect my TiVo, via WiFi, but all of the USB
| adapters quit after about 20 minutes or so. Now, I have a wired adapter
| connected to a network cable that I string from the living room, where
the
| TiVo is, to the computer room, but this can't be a permanent solution,
| 'cause it's really ugly, and dear wife doesn't like it (neither do I).
| So,
| if there's a way to configure the Netgear, I would like to try, but I
| haven't had any luck so far. If I don't get it working within few days,
| it's going back to Best Buy. The Netgear is a WGR614v5.
|
| Thanks in advance.
|
| Mark
|
| Mark,
|
| Generally wireless interfaces support about 255 connections,
| so you should have plenty of capability with your Robotics.
|
| I have a Linksys cable modem and a Linksys BEFW11S4
| Wireless B Broadband Router. I've got it set up to act
| as a DHCP serving IP addresses in the 192.168.2.x
| range (x=2 to 10 or so). Each TIVO has a Linksys
| WUSB11 something. The print is too small to make out.
|
| Anyway, I set up WEP encryption on both ends using
| the same keys and my setup works like a champ.
|
| It's slow, but solid and dependable. It only fails after
| the maid has been here and 'cleaned' up around the
| WUSB11's. But, I simply unplug them and plug them
| back in and they start working again.
|
| What type of adapters were you using that failed
| after 20 minutes? You probably mentioned it
| in a previous post, but I missed it.
|
| Larry Hazel
|
|
|

Mark,

I think I agree with one of LENROC's suggestions that you try a different
wireless USB adapter for the TIVO. If you have the 7.x software, it will
support a couple of the wireless G adapters. I tend to like Linksys since
they always work for me. I've had too much NETGEAR equipment fail.

I think a Wireless G adapter that's compatible with TIVO might cost
less than the wireless Bridge.

Larry Hazel

Sorry for responding another time to the same thread. My head isn't
working right tonight...

The answer is a definitive "no". A "Wireless Access Point" cannot act as a
bridge, because a "Wireless Access Point" does not accept wired clients.

For some reason I got my terminology mixed up, and thought a WAP was a
Wireless Router....


Well, a WAP can be integrated with a switch or hub, just as a wireless
router can be. It's true that you typically don't see it as often.

I think the problem you keep running into Lenroc, is that most (all?)
wireless routers dedicate a wired port as the sole WAN source. In the
configuration you are suggesting (WAN -- Wireless Router 1 -- Wireless
router 2 -- Tivo (using wired port)), the second wireless router would
have to use a *wireless* connection as the WAN port.

Technically, there's no reason this couldn't be done, aside from some
interesting setup configuration dealing with *which* wireless connection
is the WAN one. However most of the consumer hardware won't do that.
There are range extenders, some of which include a wireless port, that
will do that, but you usually have to match brands for them to work, and
for some reason they are often significantly more expensive than the
more typical router.

As I think has been mentioned here before, there are video game WAP's
designed for this type of need (intended for X-boxes and the like), but
they are not very cheap either. See
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/pr...CONTENTID=9752

as an example. Note that it directly mentions use w/ DVR's.

Randy S.

In article [email protected],
says...
On Wed, 09 Mar 2005 00:24:26 +0000, Mark Rathgeber wrote:

Can a wireless access point serve as a bridge?

Sorry for responding another time to the same thread. My head isn't
working right tonight...

The answer is a definitive "no". A "Wireless Access Point" cannot act as a
bridge, because a "Wireless Access Point" does not accept wired clients.

Not necessarily true. Several access points (including linksys) allow
the WAP to be configured as a wireless AP client, and allow bridging a
wired segment that way. My complaint: none of them I've seen so far
support WPA in that mode

As I think has been mentioned here before, there are video game WAP's
designed for this type of need (intended for X-boxes and the like), but
they are not very cheap either. See
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/pr...CONTENTID=9752

as an example. Note that it directly mentions use w/ DVR's.

Randy S.

One further note, I just noticed that the example above uses some sort
of proprietary connection that runs only at 1.5 Mbps, so it's not
optimal for TTG purposes. There are others more suited however.

Randy S.

Not necessarily true. Several access points (including linksys) allow
the WAP to be configured as a wireless AP client, and allow bridging a
wired segment that way. My complaint: none of them I've seen so far
support WPA in that mode


Not only that, they're almost always much more expensive then your
typical consumer oriented router, I don't know why. It's also *really*
hard to figure out which models have the capability before you buy it.

Randy S.