Yes, there are a number of devices that can establish their own Wi-Fi network - I mentioned the
AirStash (which I own) which requires an easy to use app on the iPad and reads from SD cards; another is the
Apotop Wi-Reader shown below - has a number of inputs (ethernet, SD, & USB) - setups up a Wi-Fi network also and reads from those 3 inputs mentioned - now I do not own this device to comment. For the OP, the
iPadForums have plenty of comments on both of these Wi-Fi devices (and 2 stickies can be found there).
BUT, the issue still remains as to getting movies onto SD cards or w/ the Apotop device onto USB sticks or an external HD (the latter of course brings in options, such as the Seagate GoFlex). And yet still extracting the films from a DVR and converting each to a format acceptable by the iPad (although w/ the appropriate app streaming would be a choice)?
I'll still be curious about the Apple AirPort routers (or 'base stations') w or w/o storage - if a Wi-Fi network can be setup to communicate w/ an Apple laptop or iDevices w/o an internet connection, what features are really provided? Possibly Time Machine backup - others? Could movies on the Time Capsule really be streamed to an iPad? If so, is AirPlay used or an app required? Dave