When you connect your TiVo DVR to a home network, you get a lot of extra features such as YouTube videos, Rhapsody music, Amazon Video On Demand, and the many new features offered by TiVo Desktop and TiVo Desktop Plus. You can also schedule recordings online with as little as two hours’ notice.

To create a home network, you need the following equipment:

• Cable modem or DSL modem, which is usually supplied by your internet service provider (ISP) when they install the service. “Modem” derives from the terms modulate and demodulate. A modem demodulates the network signals that are coming into your house so that the signals can be used by your other home network equipment, and modulates outgoing network signals for transmission over the internet.
• Router, which directs network traffic from your cable modem or DSL modem to the correct device on your network. For example, when you have a PC and a TiVo DVR on your home network, the router makes sure that the PC receives the web pages you request from your browser and your DVR receives the YouTube videos you request through the DVR.
• Computer, which is needed to install the router software and configure its settings.
• Router installation CD, which contains the software needed to install and configure your router.

Setting up the network

The following illustration shows a simple network setup with a wireless router and a cable or DSL modem. You can also replace the wireless router with a wired router, if the TiVo DVR and your PC are close enough to connect to the router with ethernet cables.

Router setups usually require the router and computer to be connected and powered on in a certain order. These routers include step-by-step instructions on the router setup CD.

To set up the network:

1. Install your router and configure the software, following the instructions on the installation CD. Click one of these links to view a setup example for your brand of router:

Apple Airport
Belkin
D-Link
Linksys
Netgear

2.  After the router is completely set up, connect your TiVo DVR to it using either a wired or wireless connection, and then configure settings on the DVR to connect to your network. For instructions, see How to connect a TiVo DVR to your network.