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802.11b on your Tivo

Posted by michael on from the look-ma-no-wires dept.

Otto writes: "Those who don't regularly read the Tivo Community Forums may not know that a 802.11b wireless adapter for the Tivo, called AirNet, is in the works. It's being made by jafa, who also created the TurboNet card, a similar device to the TivoNet adapters available at 9thTee but faster. Long story short, he's auctioning off 4 beta boards of the AirNet adapter for the Tivo and giving the proceeds to the Elf Foundation, a group which brings Home Theater to ill children by setting up mini-theaters in children's hospitals nationwide. Good fun techie geek stuff, and for charity too! You can't beat that. The auction is here on ebay." Looks like the guy's home page is silicondust.com.

6 of 120 comments (clear)

  1. Okay, so maybe I'm being stupid but... by darien · · Score: 3, Informative

    Err, why is this such a great thing? I mean, obviously it is - there are people on the forum mentioned above saying that the guy who did this is a "deity" and so forth. But none of them actually seems to have said what they intend to do with wireless, and I have to say it's not obvious to me what a Tivo and a PC could usefully have to say to each other.

    Can anyone who knows a bit more about the Tivo enlighten me?

    1. Re:Okay, so maybe I'm being stupid but... by LoadStar · · Score: 2, Informative

      This guy is considered a deity over there because not only has he managed to produce an 802.11b (good grief, I hate the WiFi brand name) card adapter for the TiVo, he's also managed to produce a 10/100-base-T ethernet card (not just an adapter, an original card from scratch) for the TiVo - all within the span of a few months.

      Adapters for the TiVo existed to allow one to plug an ISA NE-2000 NIC into one's TiVo, but they were only OK because they were a 2 piece unit (adapter and card) which adds an additional point of failure, not to mention they were only 10-base-T and used an NE-2000 driver for that card that only worked so-so.

      I'm pretty sure if you come up with an idea card that can plug into the diagnostic slot on the Series 1 TiVos, and can seriously explain how it could be useful, this guy could make it.

  2. Elf Foundation by Chris+Pimlott · · Score: 4, Informative
    From the Elf Foundation homepage:
    Elf Foundation, a newly-formed non-profit charity organization comprised of consumer and professional electronic dealers, manufacturers, manufacturer's representatives, media and industry organizations, working together for the express purpose of designing and installing entertainment and Internet-based educational systems in Children's Hospitals and ancillary facilities around the country.

    They accept donations here.

    (Because I had no idea what is was either.
  3. Re:Ethernet-802.11b by zaf · · Score: 3, Informative

    That's called an 802.11 bridge, and they've been available since the beginning. They're just a bit expensive, and if you think about it, if you've got a wire and all anyway, why not just run it to the hub?

  4. Re:Ethernet-802.11b by seanadams.com · · Score: 5, Informative

    It used to be the only one was Lucent's Orinoco/EC - very expensive and not in stores.

    There is now a product from Buffalo Technology which does this, call the Airstation Bridge

    A lot of people are using these with our ethernet MP3 player. Everybody says the Airstation works great, and it's only about $160. I can't say I've used one yet, myself.

  5. Extending the RJ45 jack by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    No need to introduce yet-another-interface. Install your favorite RJ45 jack on the back of the tivo. Punch a short length of cat 5 to it and crimp a modular connector to the other end. Plug the modular connector into the one on the Turbonet board. This will maintain the twist. Ribbon cable would not.