Using a wireless access point?

Thanks to both of you guys for your comments, especially that it's hard to
know before you buy. I still stand by a comment I made in another post last
night: TiVo's updates aren't very "up to date." Why in the world would you
come up with an option (TiVo ToGo) with such inadequate 802.11g capability,
when the rest of the world is pretty much "g?" I also read in lots of
forums that using a wireless adapter is frequently impossible, at least for
transfers.

Mark

"Randy S." wrote in message
...
|
| 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.

In article ,
"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?

Only the VERY high end Access Points can act as a Bridge. If they don't
say they can, they can't, and even if they say they can, it may only be
with another Access Point from the same company. Certainly the low end
D-Link and Belkin ones can't. I tried, so I know. I bit the bullet and
got a WET54G Bridge from Linksys when BestBuy was closing them out in
November. Works wonderfully from 2 rooms away.

In article ,
"Mark Rathgeber" wrote:

Thanks to both of you guys for your comments, especially that it's hard to
know before you buy. I still stand by a comment I made in another post last
night: TiVo's updates aren't very "up to date." Why in the world would you
come up with an option (TiVo ToGo) with such inadequate 802.11g capability,
when the rest of the world is pretty much "g?" I also read in lots of
forums that using a wireless adapter is frequently impossible, at least for
transfers.

Works fine for me with the Linksys WET54G Bridge. If one has an 802.11b
setup, and it downshifts speed to maintain a connection, transfer rates
can be abysmal.

In article [email protected],
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? 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?

Here's another take on the topic:

If you're willing to buy a Motorola WAP, why not just pick up a wireless
adapter instead?

I saw the same ad about the Motorola WAP... if you're talking about the
after-rebate price, it may be hard to find a Wireless Adapter for that
price. But if you are going by the pre-rebate price (like you should be,
treating the rebates as frosting on the cake...), it's a lot easier.

Just check the list of supported adapters at
http://customersupport.tivo.com/know...ic/tv2184.htm?

Then go shopping on newegg.com, outpost.com, etc.

I wouldnt recommend NewEgg to my worst enemy. They have a 15% restocking
fee, so if you get DOA stuff, or if what you buy doesnt work for your
setup, you're out shipping charges both ways and 15%.

Also don't expect to get any CompUSA rebates, they have a poor record
for fulfillment. If its the manufacturers rebate maybe you stand in
better stead. I have eventually seen rebates from D-Link and Belkin.

In article ,
"Mark Rathgeber" wrote:

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.

Are you communicating in "G" mode or "B" mode. 802.11b transmission
coverage is much poorer than 802.11g

Thats why a Linksys USB200M and a Linksys WET54G work so good. You can
configure the router for "G" mode only.

In article [email protected],
Lenroc wrote:

On Wed, 09 Mar 2005 03:36:22 +0000, Mark Rathgeber wrote:

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.

First step is to get the TiVo playing nicely with just the Netgear router.
(I assume it has multiple wired ports.)

Try plugging the TiVo into one of the wired ports, and either have your
laptop connect wirelessly to the Netgear router, or plug in either the
laptop or a desktop to the Netgear router temporarily.

Ensure that the TiVo can connect to the PC, and/or vice versa, in this
configuration.

If this works, then it's a non-trivial leap to get the TiVo (connected to
the Netgear) on your larger network. What you need to do is make the
Netgear router a client on the USR router. To do this, you may need to
make the Netgear router stop being a router (turn of DHCP, etc.). This may
be possible, or it may not be. I may have been wrong in my original
followup. I've never actually tried to make a _wireless_ router act as a
hub, but I know it's possible to make a wired router into one.

I may have lead you astray with my original post, and if so I'm sorry.

Maybe you could run a wire from one router to another, through some walls,
perhaps? :-P

Until I got my 802.11g up and and running, I just used a 50' Ethernet
Cable snaked between rooms, and did file transfers over night.

Linksys USB200M at the TiVo to my Router.

I wouldnt recommend NewEgg to my worst enemy. They have a 15% restocking
fee, so if you get DOA stuff, or if what you buy doesnt work for your
setup, you're out shipping charges both ways and 15%.

Also don't expect to get any CompUSA rebates, they have a poor record
for fulfillment. If its the manufacturers rebate maybe you stand in
better stead. I have eventually seen rebates from D-Link and Belkin.

I couldn't disagree more strongly with you about newegg. I've bought
from them for years and have *never* had a problem. Anything DOA is
*immediately* replaced w/ no restocking fee. I can't say for sure right
now, but I think they pay for return shipping in that case as well.
Plus shipping from them is *incredibly* fast, I've received stuff in
under 2 days at times.

Just look at the customer testimonials at their site, I've never seen a
more loyal customer base. Just be prepared to know your stuff, they
don't provide recommendations. I tend to thoroughly investigate what I
want at manufacturer's sites prior to buying.

Randy S.

Thanks to both of you guys for your comments, especially that it's hard to
know before you buy. I still stand by a comment I made in another post last
night: TiVo's updates aren't very "up to date." Why in the world would you
come up with an option (TiVo ToGo) with such inadequate 802.11g capability,
when the rest of the world is pretty much "g?" I also read in lots of
forums that using a wireless adapter is frequently impossible, at least for
transfers.


Works fine for me with the Linksys WET54G Bridge. If one has an 802.11b
setup, and it downshifts speed to maintain a connection, transfer rates
can be abysmal.

Using an 802.11g router in normal or "compatibility" mode to accomodate
..b devices can slow down throughput marginally as compared to
"native-only" or ".g only" modes. However, it's *not* going to slow
them down to "absymal". 802.11g does have slightly better range due to
better error correction (it uses an orthogonal signaling scheme) than
..b, and that may increase connectivity at a given point significantly.
The new MIMO (multiiple input/multiple output) routers improve on this
idea even more (these are pre-release 802.11n routers).

But given good connectivity, the major limiter in TTG transfers is the
Tivo, probably due to DRM issues.

Randy S.

In article ,
says...
In article ,
"Mark Rathgeber" wrote:

Thanks to both of you guys for your comments, especially that it's hard to
know before you buy. I still stand by a comment I made in another post last
night: TiVo's updates aren't very "up to date." Why in the world would you
come up with an option (TiVo ToGo) with such inadequate 802.11g capability,
when the rest of the world is pretty much "g?" I also read in lots of
forums that using a wireless adapter is frequently impossible, at least for
transfers.

Works fine for me with the Linksys WET54G Bridge. If one has an 802.11b
setup, and it downshifts speed to maintain a connection, transfer rates
can be abysmal.

My only objection to using a bridge is that you can't use a bridge to
connect to a WAP, it has to be another bridge. So, if you already have
wireless client(s) using the WAP, that means you need two more pieces of
HW, not one That's why I so badly wanted to use a linksys WAP as a
AP client and bridge some stuff upstairs to it, but not at the expense
of using WEP

"Dan Swartzendruber" wrote in message
. ..
In article ,
says...
In article ,
"Mark Rathgeber" wrote:

Thanks to both of you guys for your comments, especially that it's hard
to
know before you buy. I still stand by a comment I made in another post
last
night: TiVo's updates aren't very "up to date." Why in the world would
you
come up with an option (TiVo ToGo) with such inadequate 802.11g
capability,
when the rest of the world is pretty much "g?" I also read in lots of
forums that using a wireless adapter is frequently impossible, at least
for
transfers.

Works fine for me with the Linksys WET54G Bridge. If one has an 802.11b
setup, and it downshifts speed to maintain a connection, transfer rates
can be abysmal.

My only objection to using a bridge is that you can't use a bridge to
connect to a WAP, it has to be another bridge. So, if you already have
wireless client(s) using the WAP, that means you need two more pieces of
HW, not one That's why I so badly wanted to use a linksys WAP as a
AP client and bridge some stuff upstairs to it, but not at the expense
of using WEP

I don't know if it can connect to another WAP or not as I have never tried,
but a bridge, specifically the Linksys ones, can connect to devices other
than bridges, namely directly to a router. Doesn't have to be bridge to
bridge.