UPDATE - See the new Vudu Wireless device at http://forum.vudu.com/showthread.php...light=wireless
Here are my suggestions for a novice at Networking to "go wireless" with Vudu.
Disclaimers:
Please note that Vudu recommends wired connections for best performance -- this is the preferred solution. However, a direct connection is not possible for all Vudu users. If you are one of those, read on.
This post was written by a "novice" at networking, with "novice users" in mind. Experts please post your suggestions and any corrections in this thread.
Step 1:
- Check your wireless network speed (speed test available on the vudu.com website at http://speedtest.vudu.com/cdn1/) at the "destination point" (ultimate location) of your Vudu box to make sure that your speed and signal are sufficient for use with Vudu.
Step 1(a):
- If you don't have sufficient speed/signal but need to go wireless with Vudu, consider:
--> a powerline networking solution (where you send your network signal through your home power outlets) (For more see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powerline_networking)
--> moving to Cable broadband (typically faster than DSL)
--> upgrading your wireless router to one with more power and a better signal* or upgrading your wireless router antenna.
*(The information below about increasing the transmit power of the wireless router through the use of third party firmware on a compatible router may be of use in this regard. Third party firmware, like Tomato, can be used on the "wi-fi" router as well as to convert a router to a wireless ethernet "bridge" or wireless "client". If these terms are unfamiliar, please read the following Wiki posts after reading this entire thread: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Tomato_Firmware and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WRT54G.)
Step 2:
- Buy a wireless bridge. A "wireless bridge" is a device which will "receive" your home wireless signal and transmit it (via an ethernet cable) to your Vudu box, giving your Vudu "wi-fi". (For more on a wireless bridge see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_bridge).
Vudu recommends a Belkin bridge. Contact Vudu customer support for their latest feedback on what works best with the Vudu box.
OR
- Buy a router and convert it to a wireless bridge or a wireless client. This is a technical solution but one even a novice can undertake with patience and care. A "wireless client" is like a wireless bridge, which can send the "incoming" wireless signal to more than one device you may wish to network.
Step 2(a):
- If you are "converting" a router to a bridge or client, consider buying the Linksys WRT54GL router (the "GL" model is essential) and replacing the Linksys software on the modem with third party firmware.
--> Here are the basic steps for setting up a Wireless Bridge: (Note: Wireless bridge mode only support 1 device on the router. This is due to MAC addressing in the 802.11 protocol. Even though the router has 4 ports in this mode you can only support one device - RonV)
** Before performing these steps, and in conjunction with making any of the changes below to your router configuration, consult this useful Wiki guide: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Tomato_Firmware. **
(Also, Google other articles for basic considerations, such as those found here: http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/print.php/3682341)
Now, back to the setup:
If instead of setting up a Wireless Bridge you wish to set up a "Wireless Client" watch this Polarcloud video (keeping in mind the information above): http://www.polarcloud.com/v/scclient.htm
Connect your Vudu to your bridge/client via an Ethernet cable (supplied with your Vudu box).
(If you have set up a router as a bridge, be sure to plug the ethernet cable into the first [marked "1"] position in the back of the router/bridge, and not into the "internet" connection or those marked "2" - "4").
Step 4
Reboot Vudu. Vudu should take you through the setup and be able to "identify" your network connection automatically -- you should be "good to go."
If Vudu does not recognize your network, you can "Manually Configure" your set up in the Vudu set up menu, using the custom IP address you established for your bridge (if you converted a router to a bridge). Because the bridge / client should recognize your home network, this step should not be necessary. Consider calling Vudu customer service.
I do not have the time to answer PMs about networking, but with these resources and reading the various threads on Vudu, most users should be able to set up their Vudu boxes wirelessly.
Here are my suggestions for a novice at Networking to "go wireless" with Vudu.
Disclaimers:
Please note that Vudu recommends wired connections for best performance -- this is the preferred solution. However, a direct connection is not possible for all Vudu users. If you are one of those, read on.
This post was written by a "novice" at networking, with "novice users" in mind. Experts please post your suggestions and any corrections in this thread.
Step 1:
- Check your wireless network speed (speed test available on the vudu.com website at http://speedtest.vudu.com/cdn1/) at the "destination point" (ultimate location) of your Vudu box to make sure that your speed and signal are sufficient for use with Vudu.
Step 1(a):
- If you don't have sufficient speed/signal but need to go wireless with Vudu, consider:
--> a powerline networking solution (where you send your network signal through your home power outlets) (For more see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powerline_networking)
--> moving to Cable broadband (typically faster than DSL)
--> upgrading your wireless router to one with more power and a better signal* or upgrading your wireless router antenna.
*(The information below about increasing the transmit power of the wireless router through the use of third party firmware on a compatible router may be of use in this regard. Third party firmware, like Tomato, can be used on the "wi-fi" router as well as to convert a router to a wireless ethernet "bridge" or wireless "client". If these terms are unfamiliar, please read the following Wiki posts after reading this entire thread: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Tomato_Firmware and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WRT54G.)
Step 2:
- Buy a wireless bridge. A "wireless bridge" is a device which will "receive" your home wireless signal and transmit it (via an ethernet cable) to your Vudu box, giving your Vudu "wi-fi". (For more on a wireless bridge see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_bridge).
Vudu recommends a Belkin bridge. Contact Vudu customer support for their latest feedback on what works best with the Vudu box.
OR
- Buy a router and convert it to a wireless bridge or a wireless client. This is a technical solution but one even a novice can undertake with patience and care. A "wireless client" is like a wireless bridge, which can send the "incoming" wireless signal to more than one device you may wish to network.
Step 2(a):
- If you are "converting" a router to a bridge or client, consider buying the Linksys WRT54GL router (the "GL" model is essential) and replacing the Linksys software on the modem with third party firmware.
--> Here are the basic steps for setting up a Wireless Bridge: (Note: Wireless bridge mode only support 1 device on the router. This is due to MAC addressing in the 802.11 protocol. Even though the router has 4 ports in this mode you can only support one device - RonV)
** Before performing these steps, and in conjunction with making any of the changes below to your router configuration, consult this useful Wiki guide: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Tomato_Firmware. **
(Also, Google other articles for basic considerations, such as those found here: http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/print.php/3682341)
Now, back to the setup:
(i) Buy a WRT54GL router.
(ii) Follow the basic set up instructions
(iii) Download to your computer the Tomato firmware
(available at http://www.polarcloud.com/tomato)
(iv) Follow instructions (reboot your modem and router, etc.) to ensure proper installation
(v) Type in the "router" IP address into your browser (w/ the router plugged in to your computer) to access the Tomato router set up interface (default is 162.198.1.1)
(a picture of this interface is at http://www.polarcloud.com/img/ssbn100.png)
(vi) Make the following changes via the Tomato router management tool under "Basic" / "Network" (in the left hand bar of the Tomato management window):
(a) Set up the security to match your wi-fi router security settings (i.e. WPA, etc.);
(b) In the box to the right of "SSID" type the name of your home network (i.e. what you see when you access your wi-fi network at home, such as "Jones Residence" or "Belkin" etc.);
(c) *Manually* change the last portion of the "Router IP Address" to something new -- for example, 162.198.1.300. (Note: the highest value for a network address is 254...300 is invalid -RonV)
(d) Set the "Wireless Mode" to "Wireless Ethernet Bridge" (Note: in Wireless Bridge you can only connect one device to the router even though the router has 4 ports. This is a limitation of MAC addressing in 802.11-RonV)
(v) Consider making (SEE WARNING BELOW) the following change (also via the Tomato router management tool) under "Advanced" (in the left hand bar of the Tomato management window):Change the power setting
--> Here are the basic steps for setting up a Wireless Client:(e) Consider increasing the transmit power output of your bridge to *no more than* "84" (the default is 42). (Warning: 84 is too high for a non-fan cooled router. The transmitter will burn out. Personal recomendation is to only set the power if signal is lower that 30 db's. If less that 30 db on the root router then increase to no higher that 60 using increments of 2-Ronv)
WARNING: Transmit Power sets the transmit power in milliwatts. High settings may overheat and shorten the life of the transmitter. User feedback suggests "84" will not overheat the transmitter -- although this may have an adverse effect on the life of the transmitter/router.
(vi) REBOOT your wireless modem (i.e. Cable modem) (wait 20+ seconds), reboot your home Wi-Fi router (wait 20+ seconds), and reboot your (now) Wireless Bridge.If instead of setting up a Wireless Bridge you wish to set up a "Wireless Client" watch this Polarcloud video (keeping in mind the information above): http://www.polarcloud.com/v/scclient.htm
Questions about Tomato may be addressed in the following FAQ:
Step 3Connect your Vudu to your bridge/client via an Ethernet cable (supplied with your Vudu box).
(If you have set up a router as a bridge, be sure to plug the ethernet cable into the first [marked "1"] position in the back of the router/bridge, and not into the "internet" connection or those marked "2" - "4").
Step 4
Reboot Vudu. Vudu should take you through the setup and be able to "identify" your network connection automatically -- you should be "good to go."
If Vudu does not recognize your network, you can "Manually Configure" your set up in the Vudu set up menu, using the custom IP address you established for your bridge (if you converted a router to a bridge). Because the bridge / client should recognize your home network, this step should not be necessary. Consider calling Vudu customer service.
I do not have the time to answer PMs about networking, but with these resources and reading the various threads on Vudu, most users should be able to set up their Vudu boxes wirelessly.
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