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October 11, 2004

DirecTivo and wireless?

I have DirectTv and have read that they "cripple" some of the features for their receivers - namely you can't use the wireless adapters. I have no phoneline near my receiver - what's the best option receiver wise for using wifi connectivity?

-- matt

October 11, 2004 in DirecTiVo, Networking

Answers

I'm in the same boat as you, having a DirecTiVo box in my living room with no phoneline anywhere nearby. Here's what I do currently: I run a 50ft phone cord into the kitchen in the next room about once every couple months, and force a call to get software updates.

Beyond that, I don't use the phoneline, instead depending on the satellite to get all data (which works fine). This does make pay-per-view not work via the TiVo remote though.

There are ways to enable your USB networking on series 2 DirecTiVo boxes, but they won't use the network for updates. Instead, the networking is used to talk to your tivo directly, through a command prompt.

This is another example of why DirecTiVo owners got left out in the cold when TiVo sold off the satellite receiver business to DirecTV. We're all basically prisoners of whatever DirecTiVo wants to enable on the devices.

Posted by: Matt Haughey at Oct 11, 2004 10:56:15 AM

My in-laws had the same problem when we bought them a Tivo last year, but we solved it with what RCA calls a "Wireless Modem Jack System" (RCA product number RC930). Essentially you plug one end into a phone outlet somewhere in your house and a power outlet, then plug the other end into a power outlet near your tivo, and the tivo into the phone jack on that unit. Works really well, and I'm pretty sure there are some competing/similar products that may be somewhat cheaper than the ~US$40 cost of the RCA units.

Posted by: Nathan Stohlmann at Oct 11, 2004 1:27:37 PM

I can vouch for the RCA wireless jacks. They're around $50 and do the job just fine. I have it set up in my bedroom where the phone jack is on the opposite side of the wall from my DirecTivo.

Can anybody point me to a reference that shows how to enable the USB ports on a DirecTivo? I'd really love to put it on my wireless network to listen to the music on my computer and if possible, to share program data with another DirecTivo unit in the house. Is this at all possible or am I S.O.L.?

Posted by: Steve at Oct 13, 2004 9:26:05 AM

I have my t.v. and tivo box across the room from the phone wall jack, so tivo suggested I purchase a wireless modem jack. Tivo suggested the Phoneex, so I purchased it from tivo directly for $69.99. This was back in Fer. 2004. I haave had continuing problems with the wireless modem jack. It will work for a while and will stop connecting. I have called tivo and they say sometimes they don't work. Their exact words were "Tivo doesn't support wireless modem jacks". My "beef" with tivo is that tivo recommended it to me, I purchased it from tivo, now they are saying they don't support them, and I am out $70.00. I don't yet know what installation of wall jacks cost but I am very disappointed with tivo thus far.

Posted by: Steve Frank at Nov 9, 2004 12:56:05 PM

I have bought the RCA JACKS and unfortunately they worked during my initial tests after that the Directivo has had trouble connecting and can't 95% of the time. What I have had to end up down is connection the Tivo to the kitchen jack every so often and force a connection to get the updates. I don't think that DIRECTV has put code in to disable the jacks it is just that they provide a very noisy line that distrupts the connection.

Posted by: Kevin at Jan 21, 2005 10:47:42 AM

With the wireless phone jacks, you have to hit the reset button on the base unit (the one connected to the phone line) with a pen and hold for 10-15 seconds. Then do the same on the jack that is connected to your Tivo. That should fix the dialing problem.

Posted by: Doug at Feb 28, 2006 12:50:17 PM

I'm tring to set up my Directivo so I can watch recored shows on my PC. Any know how to do this let me know.

Posted by: Kenneth at Jun 8, 2006 4:52:12 PM

I have the same questions as Kenneth - I have a Directv and would like to download the shows/movies I've saved to my Mac. I have USB slots in the back of my machine. Is this possible? and If so, is there a step by step guide to do this? Thanks

Posted by: Greg at Jun 13, 2006 3:29:10 PM

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