Yeah, that info should in the "Official TivoHD" thread. Unfortunately, I don't see one, all I see is a "TivoHD is here" thread. Perhaps we need an "official" thread.

No need. The TiVoHD is a Series3 device, when you consider that "Series3" denotes a range of products coming from TiVo. In the same way that the Series2 moniker applied to all sorts of different products (DVD burners, single-tuner, dual-tuner, etc), the Series3 label applies to more than just one box.

No need. The TiVoHD is a Series3 device, when you consider that "Series3" denotes a range of products coming from TiVo. In the same way that the Series2 moniker applied to all sorts of different products (DVD burners, single-tuner, dual-tuner, etc), the Series3 label applies to more than just one box.

Sorry Paul, I disagree. The TiVoHD will not get the exact same updates as the S3 will get at the same time, just like Series 1 doesn't get updates that Series 2 gets. Also different issues have already come forward, such as the macroblocking, and also you can't kickstart 62 the eSATA drive on the TiVoHD. At least to the best of my knowledge you can't.

While I admit it is based upon the Series 3 framework, I think it's confusing to talk about both machines on the same thread. Just my opinion and I want the TivoHD people to know that if they don't want to start there own thread I'll respect that decision. Matter of fact if they arn't already TiVo owners I extend a welcome to the TiVo family.

Sorry Paul, I disagree. The TiVoHD will not get the exact same updates as the S3 will get at the same time, just like Series 1 doesn't get updates that Series 2 gets. Also different issues have already come forward, such as the macroblocking, and also you can't kickstart 62 the eSATA drive on the TiVoHD. At least to the best of my knowledge you can't.

While I admit it is based upon the Series 3 framework, I think it's confusing to talk about both machines on the same thread. Just my opinion and I want the TivoHD people to know that if they don't want to start there own thread I'll respect that decision. Matter of fact if they arn't already TiVo owners I extend a welcome to the TiVo family.You can request a moderator to rename the "TivoHD is here" thread to the "Official TivoHD" thread.

Sorry Paul, I disagree. The TiVoHD will not get the exact same updates as the S3 will get at the same time, just like Series 1 doesn't get updates that Series 2 gets. Also different issues have already come forward, such as the macroblocking, and also you can't kickstart 62 the eSATA drive on the TiVoHD. At least to the best of my knowledge you can't.

True, the Series3 (8.3.1) and TiVoHD (8.1.7) operate on different code bases for the near term. Once the TiVo guys get the TiVoHD-specific kinks worked out (most likely entirely chipset support issues), its absolutely certain that the TiVoHD and Series3 will move forward with the same code base.

The near-term divergence we're in right now is purely because TiVo had to pick a point in time to develop the TiVoHD specific features (including new chipset support and what not). This is a fact of life in software development. You have to take snapshots/branches from the current version to do new work, so that the new work doesn't upset anything else. Once things are working well, the code bases are brought back into sync ("merged"), and you're back to a single code base.

Kickstart62 came into being once 8.3 rolled out, if I'm not mistaken. If that's the case, once the TiVoHD gets dragged up to the 8.3 software it's entirely possible that kickstart62 will work there as well.


While I admit it is based upon the Series 3 framework, I think it's confusing to talk about both machines on the same thread. Just my opinion and I want the TivoHD people to know that if they don't want to start there own thread I'll respect that decision. Matter of fact if they arn't already TiVo owners I extend a welcome to the TiVo family.


My point is that the current set of issues concerning the TiVoHD (macroblocking), are very likely to be a very short-term thing. Once things get straightened out there, TiVo will get the S3 and TiVoHD back into sync. From that point forward, the platform dependencies fall away, and all we're left to talk about is generic issues/features.

I guess I'd rather deal with increased TiVoHD-specific stuff here for the short term, and keep all of the HD TiVo platforms discussions in one place. Were we to split out the TiVoHD into a seperate discussion, once the TiVoHD's issues are addressed, we'd end up with duplicate threads discussing essentially the same product.

My point is that the current set of issues concerning the TiVoHD (macroblocking), are very likely to be a very short-term thing. Once things get straightened out there, TiVo will get the S3 and TiVoHD back into sync. From that point forward, the platform dependencies fall away, and all we're left to talk about is generic issues/features.

In an ideal world, that's how software is done. However, as a software consultant in the CE industry, I can assure you that it's rare to find two different pieces of hardware sharing the majority of the code. Copy and paste is very rampant in this industry.

FYI:

My cable modem was acting up and Comcast decided to split from the main incoming line and bypass some other splitters in my house to increase the signal strength to the modem. Coincidentally, this increased the signal strength of the line running to my S3.

The difference in picture quality on SD channels is amazing. I feel like I should demand some money back from Comcast for the crappy picture quality I was getting.

Moral of the story, make sure your S3 is fed correctly.

FYI:

My cable modem was acting up and Comcast decided to split from the main incoming line and bypass some other splitters in my house to increase the signal strength to the modem. Coincidentally, this increased the signal strength of the line running to my S3.

The difference in picture quality on SD channels is amazing. I feel like I should demand some money back from Comcast for the crappy picture quality I was getting.

Moral of the story, make sure your S3 is fed correctly.

I couldn't agree more, that's why I always encourage anyone who gets a a S3 or TiVo HD to make sure the cable company checks all your connections with their equipment to make sure you receive proper signals.

I feel like I should demand some money back from Comcast for the crappy picture quality I was getting.

Good luck with that! ;)

In an ideal world, that's how software is done. However, as a software consultant in the CE industry, I can assure you that it's rare to find two different pieces of hardware sharing the majority of the code. Copy and paste is very rampant in this industry.

As an embedded software engineer in the telco and not-quite-CE spaces myself, I'd say that you're over-exaggerating the point. TiVo has shown themselves to be a competent software delivery company. I have a hard time believing that they're going to maintain separate branches for each platform, given that these two platforms are very similar in nature and composition. Granted, it makes a bit more sense when you've got a very divergent platform (i.e. DirecTiVo, ComcasTiVo, etc), but not in this case...

In an ideal world, that's how software is done. However, as a software consultant in the CE industry, I can assure you that it's rare to find two different pieces of hardware sharing the majority of the code. Copy and paste is very rampant in this industry.I'm an embedded software engineer in the CE industry as well and that certainly hasn't been my experience. New products are built on the codebase of old ones in every company that I've worked for, with modifications to code to drive hardware components which differ and enhancements and additions to applications features. In the case of TiVo, applications enhancements will be common and dynamically field upgradeable. I'd guess that over 90% of TiVo's Series 3 codebase is common, with probably 60-80% in common with Series 2.

Hey guys, just wanted to let you know that my series 3 hd tivo install went PERFECT....couldn't have asked for a better experience.

I have a question regarding the video settings. I have a 1080p hd lcd.........which setting do I use, is it the fixed 1080i one? None of them say 1080p which is why i'm confused. Thanks!!

Also, my hdmi cable is having the volume cut out on the tv. The connection is fine and the cables are not loose. It's a brand new phillips 1080p hd lcd. The 7422 model.

I have comcast btw.

Hey guys, just wanted to let you know that my series 3 hd tivo install went PERFECT....couldn't have asked for a better experience.

I have a question regarding the video settings. I have a 1080p hd lcd.........which setting do I use, is it the fixed 1080i one? None of them say 1080p which is why i'm confused. Thanks!!




Nobody in television broadcasts in 1080p which is why your TiVo doesn't have a setting for it. 1080p can only be used in HD DVR's. As far as what setting to put it on, that varies from user to user. Experiment with it and see what works best for you.

1080p can only be used in HD DVR's.I think that you intended to say "HD video discs" (HD DVDs and Blu-ray). There are also a few console video games for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 which can be rendered at 1080p.

Thanks. Like I said, I have it on fixed 1080i. Seems to look nice. So is 1080i hd television then?

Is anyone else having a problem with Comcast charging $6.95 for the second cable card? They keep trying to charge me for an additional outlet instead of just for an additional card. I continually have to call an re-explain that I don't have two digital outlets.

Comcast really is the most mis-managed company in existence today. I pine for the day when other cable companies are allowed to compete with Comcast.

BTW, the new site is ugly; hard to read.

Is anyone else having a problem with Comcast charging $6.95 for the second cable card? They keep trying to charge me for an additional outlet instead of just for an additional card. I continually have to call an re-explain that I don't have two digital outlets.

Comcast really is the most mis-managed company in existence today. I pine for the day when other cable companies are allowed to compete with Comcast.You might want to refer Comcast to this link:

http://www.comcast.com/customers/faq/FaqDetails.ashx?ID=2651

BTW, the new site is ugly; hard to read.

The first thing I did was to change it to the retro style (bottom left corner of the page).

That update appears to eliminate the last of the pixelization on my TivoHD with Motorola CableCards.

Previously, I was seeing intermittent pixelization about five times per hour (sometimes more, sometimes less) on Verizon FiOS with 2x Motorola S-Cards. In the two hours since the update, I have yet to see any pixelization on any channel.

There is a poll running at TiVo Community Forum about the pixelizing fix for the HD:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=362764

Based on the early results of the poll, the fix seems to have worked well for those with Motorola cards but mostly hasn’t worked for those with SA cards.

I think that you intended to say "HD video discs" (HD DVDs and Blu-ray). There are also a few console video games for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 which can be rendered at 1080p.

Yes, of course. Thanks for the correction.:o

Hey guys, just wanted to let you know that my series 3 hd tivo install went PERFECT....couldn't have asked for a better experience.

I have a question regarding the video settings. I have a 1080p hd lcd.........which setting do I use, is it the fixed 1080i one? None of them say 1080p which is why i'm confused. Thanks!!

Also, my hdmi cable is having the volume cut out on the tv. The connection is fine and the cables are not loose. It's a brand new phillips 1080p hd lcd. The 7422 model.

I found that on my TV which accepts 720p and 1080i that fixing it to 1080i gave a much quicker channel change time.

HTH Cheers

Thanks. Like I said, I have it on fixed 1080i. Seems to look nice. So is 1080i hd television then?

Of course it's HD. Standard definition is either 480i (most cases) or 480p.

Here's a little breakdown to help you understand:

720p= FOX, ESPN, ESPN2, ABC

1080i= Just about everything else including cable HD channels like Universal, Mojo, HDnet. NBC, CBS are also 1080i.

For what it's worth, I use the Native setting and it does take a bit longer to change channels but my TV doesn't take too long to adjust and I prefer seeing the channels as they are broadcast. YMMV. Like I said it's an individual thing.

For what it's worth, I use the Native setting and it does take a bit longer to change channels but my TV doesn't take too long to adjust and I prefer seeing the channels as they are broadcast. YMMV. Like I said it's an individual thing.If a channel isn't in your television's native resolution something has to scale it. You can use TiVo, which can scale it as it decodes the MPEG-2 source, or your television, which will scale the raster produced by TiVo. One may do a better job than the other.

If a channel isn't in your television's native resolution something has to scale it. You can use TiVo, which can scale it as it decodes the MPEG-2 source, or your television, which will scale the raster produced by TiVo. One may do a better job than the other.

Or an outboard scaler to do the heavy lifting of deinterlacing/scaling, feed Native from the S3 and output your display's native resolution from the scaler.

... for a couple thousand dollars to get a good one, but yes, an outboard scaler is your third option. ;)

You can't use OR or AND. But you can use wildcards as noted above.

At one time, there was a code to enable more advanced wislist options, but Tivo disabled it some time ago. When that was available, you could create one entry that specified a specific director, a specific actor, with a specific genre and keyword. You could also forbid results that matched a certain keyword (NOT / WITHOUT).

sigh. I would love to have those options at my wishlisting disposal. I'll make do without them though .. can't really miss something that I never had. Belated "thanks again" for your feedback on these questions. :)

... for a couple thousand dollars to get a good one, but yes, an outboard scaler is your third option. ;)


And the best option, especially if you still watch any SD. My VP50 combined with my HDMI Flea make the broadcast channels look superb from my HDTiVos.

Of course it's HD. Standard definition is either 480i (most cases) or 480p.

Here's a little breakdown to help you understand:

720p= FOX, ESPN, ESPN2, ABC

1080i= Just about everything else including cable HD channels like Universal, Mojo, HDnet. NBC, CBS are also 1080i.

For what it's worth, I use the Native setting and it does take a bit longer to change channels but my TV doesn't take too long to adjust and I prefer seeing the channels as they are broadcast. YMMV. Like I said it's an individual thing.


Right on. I knew 1080i was hd. The question didn't come out right. But most of the cable channels are 480i? I have comcast. 480i on my phillips 42"7422 lcd looks like crap.

And the best option, especially if you still watch any SD. My VP50 combined with my HDMI Flea make the broadcast channels look superb from my HDTiVos.

yes, I had a VP-something model in mind when making my statement about price. I envy your bank account. :cool: I just hope that level of performance will trickle down to lesser cost options 2-3 years from now.

Right on. I knew 1080i was hd. The question didn't come out right. But most of the cable channels are 480i? I have comcast. 480i on my phillips 42"7422 lcd looks like crap.

Guess it could be Comcast.
SD Channels on Verizon FIOS actually seem very decent.

The hdmi still flickers on and off when I change channels. Someone recommended I get a hdmi switch...?

The hdmi still flickers on and off when I change channels. Someone recommended I get a hdmi switch...?

Well, it "flickers" on my set too for just a second or so while it adjust to whatever the new incoming signal is. This is just normal behavoir and I wouldn't worry about it.


Have you tried it on "Native"? It will probably flicker even longer. Point I'm making is you're not going to see a smooth transition as you change channels.

Also if you put it on "Native" that may improve the quality of what you see when watching standard definition channels. Again YMMV.

yes, I had a VP-something model in mind when making my statement about price. I envy your bank account. :cool: I just hope that level of performance will trickle down to lesser cost options 2-3 years from now.

The AVS discount when you purchase from AVS and the DVDO upgrade program really helps.

can the S3 get guide & map QAM channels yet??? i don't want to use cablecards.

can the S3 get guide & map QAM channels yet??? i don't want to use cablecards.

You can get a guide but you won't be able to see any digitally encrypted channels on the guide. You'r guide will show you unencrypted HD stations but it will not have any guide info for you.

If you want guide info for all your programming you will need cable cards.

You can get a guide but you won't be able to see any digitally encrypted channels on the guide. You'r guide will show you unencrypted HD stations but it will not have any guide info for you.Let me rephrase: you will not get any sort of guide for digital channels received over cable without CableCARDs. You will only able to manually record them by entering a specific day/time/channel. No other TiVo features (Season Pass, Wishlist, Swivel Search, etc) will work with them, and nothing will show up in the guide for them.

Wouldn't it be nice if you could use the wishlist on line? I was taking a look at the Futon Critic at the upcoming fall shows and since we are still a few weeks out we can't program many of the new shows. So I was thinking it would be great if we could access the Wishlist on line. You could use the tab browser to look at the Futon Critic and set up a Wishlist right from your computer.

At least I don't think you can do that. If I'm missing something, please let me know.:)

Are there any special guidelines for replacing a screwed up cablecard? Comcast is supposed to come out and replace cablecard #2 today and I don't what them here for hours trying to re-pair the cards.

Ok, I'm sick of my flaky SA 8300. Now that Comcast is running things, its even worse.

Will I be happier with a TiVo S3 or HD?

We don't subscribe to any premium channels, but we watch the free HD channels and mostly the SD digital channels like Nick and Disney.

Will the TiVo HD decode all of this?

Thanks,
Ken

Ok, I'm sick of my flaky SA 8300. Now that Comcast is running things, its even worse.

Will I be happier with a TiVo S3 or HD?

We don't subscribe to any premium channels, but we watch the free HD channels and mostly the SD digital channels like Nick and Disney.

Will the TiVo HD decode all of this?Yes. However, you don't want a TivoHD right now. The current version of the TivoHD software has an issue with Scientific Atlanta CableCards that causes pixelization. Tivo says they have a fix in testing now for release in a few weeks.

I would ask again in mid-September. The software update to eliminate the problem should be out by then.

The Tivo Series3 does not have the problem but it costs hundreds more. I don't see any point of paying more now for a Series3 when you can wait two weeks and save $$$ with a TivoHD. Grab a Best Buy 10% off or Circuit City $40-off-$199 coupon from Fatwallet.com.

The Tivo Series3 does not have the problem but it costs hundreds more. I don't see any point of paying more now for a Series3 when you can wait two weeks and save $$$ with a TivoHD. Grab a Best Buy 10% off or Circuit City $40-off-$199 coupon from Fatwallet.com.

You make it sound like that's the only difference between the S3 and TiVo HD. The S3 has a larger hard drive so you can record more on it. The S3 can right now use eSATA, the TiVo HD is going to require you purchase an eSATA drive from TiVo through Best Buy and who knows what they will charge for that. The S3 has an OLED face plate that shows what shows are recording. The S3 also comes with a learning remote, with the TiVoHD you just get a basic remote. Plus the S3 is CERTIFIED to have THX technology, you don't know what you're getting with the HD TiVo.

Thanks bfvd and hookbill!

Picture Quality is extremely important to me so I'll wait for the fix. Although pixelization and dropping lock on channels is the problem I'm having with the SA DVR's.

Are you sure I even need cablecard to get in-the-clear digital sd and hd channels? I know I don't need it for HD, but I'm not sure on the SD digitals.

In general, are picky videophiles happy with the PQ out of the TiVo's?

Thanks!
Ken

Are you sure I even need cablecard to get in-the-clear digital sd and hd channels? I know I don't need it for HD, but I'm not sure on the SD digitals.You generally need them for any channels that aren't included in your system's core basic services tier (the lowest level of service that you can buy, which you must buy to get anything else, typically about 20 channels); by FCC regulations, the cable companies can't encrypt anything in the core basic service tier and all rebroadcast local television has to be positioned in it. In most of the systems I've used, Nickolodeon and Disney have been in optional digital tiers.

The other thing is that if you want full TiVo functionality when using digital channels, encrypted or not, you need to use CableCARDs. CableCARDs provide the mapping of frequency and program number to channel which TiVo needs to put those channels in its guide. Without CableCARDs, you can't tune clear QAM channels using the guide, and you cannot do things like use Season Passes--you have to manually set up repeating recordings using channel numbers, day-of-the-week and time-of-day, like programming a VCR. TiVo won't have any idea what the name of the program you're recording is, so you won't see its name in the Now Playing list (I forget how it does label them).

This isn't TiVo fault--the cable companies can put digital channels anywhere in their signal that they want and can move them on a whim and there's no place for TiVo to find out where they are (other than the map in a CableCARD).

Thanks Mike. Makes sense.

I'm not really interested in recording as much as getting a higher quality box from a more consumer oriented company.

If I get the TivoHD or S3 I'll have it at least a few days before I get the cable card anyway. I'll be able to see what I see.


Ken

Plus the S3 is CERTIFIED to have THX technology, you don't know what you're getting with the HD TiVo.Which means exactly what, btw? HD is mpeg2 and the source encoding/compression quality matters more than anything else. You're not watching HD-DVDs or BluRay on these things. Does it mean that analog SD channels look better?

Smells like marketing to me.

In general, are picky videophiles happy with the PQ out of the TiVo's? The picture quality from the TivoHD is subjectively better than my Motorola DVR in fixed mode, and noticeably better in native mode.

I am having a problem. I have the phillips 42" lcd hd 7422 model along with my series 3 hd tivo. Whenever I hit any button on the tivo remote (volume, info, etc) the volume cuts out and it takes 3-5 seconds to come back. I have everything running through a sony receiver that is dolby digital surround. Do you guys know what is going on? This is really annoying. It doesn't matter if it's live tv or a recorded program.

I am having a problem. I have the phillips 42" lcd hd 7422 model along with my series 3 hd tivo. Whenever I hit any button on the tivo remote (volume, info, etc) the volume cuts out and it takes 3-5 seconds to come back. I have everything running through a sony receiver that is dolby digital surround. Do you guys know what is going on? This is really annoying. It doesn't matter if it's live tv or a recorded program.That's very odd.

You might try turning off Tivo sounds under Settings -> Sounds to see if that has an effect.

That's very odd.

You might try turning off Tivo sounds under Settings -> Sounds to see if that has an effect.

Didn't work. I have one coaxial cable going to my samsung hd dvd player and one digital optical going to my sony receiver.

AH ha. I changed it to dolby digital to pcm. Wonder if I will lose my digital surround then?

Which means exactly what, btw? HD is mpeg2 and the source encoding/compression quality matters more than anything else. You're not watching HD-DVDs or BluRay on these things. Does it mean that analog SD channels look better?

Smells like marketing to me.I don't think so...linky (http://www.thx.com/tivo/index.html)

I don't think so...linky (http://www.thx.com/tivo/index.html)


Thanks bierboy. Nice link.:cool:

It's still marketing. The only reason to have a device THX certified is for marketing purposes: "Our device is good enough to pass THX performance testing for reproduction fidelity." It sells some units to people who care, but what's the actual dollar value to most consumers? As far as I'm concerned, it's a minor footnote in the S3 feature list and can hardly be counted as much of an advantage in comparing the S3 to TiVo HD.

It's still marketing. The only reason to have a device THX certified is for marketing purposes: "Our device is good enough to pass THX performance testing for reproduction fidelity." It sells some units to people who care, but what's the actual dollar value to most consumers? As far as I'm concerned, it's a minor footnote in the S3 feature list and can hardly be counted as much of an advantage in comparing the S3 to TiVo HD.

This is just your opinion, and entitled to it you are. I felt when I first saw that the S3 was THX Certified that it was like getting the equivalent of "The Good Houekeeping Seal" of electronics.

There is a good discussion here (http://www.tivolovers.com/2007/08/27/more-hope-for-sdv-on-tivo-series3-and-tivo-hd/) about a recent submission from the NCTA to the FCC, that describes an SDV workaround that's been in development between NCTA and TiVo. Apparently it's a USB dongle that attaches to the back of the S3 and sits in-line in the cable RF feed, and provides the necessary communication back to the head-end.

Some choice quotes from the FCC submission:

“Tuning Resolver:” For those CE manufacturers who believe that all that UDCPs need for success as a “good” product is the ability to receive switched linear cable channels, we are willing to develop and offer a small set-back tuning resolver (described in Part II) which, together with a firmware update in new UDCPs, can deliver two-way switched linear channels to one-way UDCPs.

Under this approach — arrived at through private discussions outside of regulatory compulsion — a small “Tuning Resolver” adapter could be made available to the UDCP consumer. With only firmware modifications to new UDCP products, and a USB 2.0 connection, properly equipped UDCPs could receive programming offered on SDV channels. Many currently deployed UDCPs, including TiVo DVRs, have one or more USB 2.0 connectors and might even be upgradeable with firmware for SDV.

There is a good discussion here (http://www.tivolovers.com/2007/08/27/more-hope-for-sdv-on-tivo-series3-and-tivo-hd/) about a recent submission from the NCTA to the FCC, that describes an SDV workaround that's been in development between NCTA and TiVo. Apparently it's a USB dongle that attaches to the back of the S3 and sits in-line in the cable RF feed, and provides the necessary communication back to the head-end.

Some choice quotes from the FCC submission:

Good info, Brian...thanks! I finally purchased an S3 and will have my cable cards installed Wednesday. I decided that if SDV became a reality in my market I would just switch to E* and use the S3 for OTA only. Good to know that any decision to move that direction won't necessarily be forced, anyway...

Randy

There is a good discussion here (http://www.tivolovers.com/2007/08/27/more-hope-for-sdv-on-tivo-series3-and-tivo-hd/) about a recent submission from the NCTA to the FCC, that describes an SDV workaround that's been in development between NCTA and TiVo. Apparently it's a USB dongle that attaches to the back of the S3 and sits in-line in the cable RF feed, and provides the necessary communication back to the head-end.



Well, if that doesn't put a smile on my face I don't know what will. I always thought the solution would be on the internet but of course that would only help people who have their S3 hooked up to Internet access. This is really good news and I thank you too Brian.

Now of course the question arrives: when will this be available and will it cost anything? In my area I still don't see SDV for sometime, probably over a year minimum but I would think that the cable company should be the one to provide this at no charge.

Now you can all laugh at me.:D

...I would think that the cable company should be the one to provide this at no charge.

Now you can all laugh at me.:DHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Sorry Hook...couldn't resist.

"cable company" and "no charge" don't even exist in the same universe.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Sorry Hook...couldn't resist.

"cable company" and "no charge" don't even exist in the same universe.

True. However, should the FCC realize that SDV endangers their intended mandate behind the CableCARD initiative, you could see them ask the cableco's to keep the widget's pricing down...

Which means exactly what, btw? HD is mpeg2 and the source encoding/compression quality matters more than anything else. You're not watching HD-DVDs or BluRay on these things. Does it mean that analog SD channels look better?

Smells like marketing to me.

THX is an audio standard. You also need a THX audio receiver to get the full impact of this. As far as how many channels broadcast a THX certified audio stream, that I do not know.

THX is an audio standard. You also need a THX audio receiver to get the full impact of this. As far as how many channels broadcast a THX certified audio stream, that I do not know.It's two different things. THX audio processing has nothing to do with THX certification on the Tivo Series3. There is no THX 'technology' in the Series3.

For a large fee, THX offers to certify that products meet certain levels of A/V performance. Products that are certified can also display a THX logo for an added, per unit fee. That's what Tivo did for the Series3.

Products without the THX logo may perform just as well -- and probably do in most circumstances -- but the logo provides the customer with more assurance of performance. That assurance comes at the expense of added cost.

THX is an audio standard. You also need a THX audio receiver to get the full impact of this. As far as how many channels broadcast a THX certified audio stream, that I do not know.

Did you bother to read the LINK BIERBOY (http://www.thx.com/tivo/index.html) provided? It specifically states audio and video. And as far as THX sound stream, that would depend upon the movie, wouldn't it?

It's two different things. THX audio processing has nothing to do with THX certification on the Tivo Series3. There is no THX 'technology' in the Series3.

For a large fee, THX offers to certify that products meet certain levels of A/V performance. Products that are certified can also display a THX logo for an added, per unit fee. That's what Tivo did for the Series3.

Products without the THX logo may perform just as well -- and probably do in most circumstances -- but the logo provides the customer with more assurance of performance. That assurance comes at the expense of added cost.

First, how do you know there is a fee? Show me a link. Ok, I'll assume you're correct about a fee but that doesn't change the FACT that you have to meet certain standards to get THX certification. Again click on the link in my prior response and you will see what is involved.

THX is an audio standard. You also need a THX audio receiver to get the full impact of this. As far as how many channels broadcast a THX certified audio stream, that I do not know.

...and you need THX certified speakers and a THX certified room to put it all in! THX certification is pretty meaningless to the average home cinema buff. It only really matters if you're willing to spend the mega bucks on a proper home cinema environment. Even then, you'd be hard pushed to notice any real difference unless you crank the volume up with the right source material. :D

Mark

...and you need THX certified speakers and a THX certified room to put it all in! THX certification is pretty meaningless to the average home cinema buff. It only really matters if you're willing to spend the mega bucks on a proper home cinema environment. Even then, you'd be hard pushed to notice any real difference unless you crank the volume up with the right source material. :D

Mark

I feel like I'm talking to a wall here. Are you guys just posting to be posting because what you are saying has nothing to do with this (http://www.thx.com/tivo/index.html).

In case you can't see the hyper link: http://www.thx.com/tivo/index.html

The THX seal for a device playing back recorded digital TV is just a feel-good, nothing more. If you put a Tivo HD and an S3 side-by-side playing back the same digital recordings (either HD or SD) over HDMI then I don't see how you'd notice the difference, because it's just 1's and 0's.

Now if you want to argue how well it encodes/decodes analog SD, then ok. But your HDTV's scaler is going to have MUCH more of an impact on how that looks, and does it matter? It's analog SD fer cryin out loud, it's going to suck anyway.

The THX seal for a device playing back recorded digital TV is just a feel-good, nothing more. If you put a Tivo HD and an S3 side-by-side playing back the same digital recordings (either HD or SD) over HDMI then I don't see how you'd notice the difference, because it's just 1's and 0's.

Now if you want to argue how well it encodes/decodes analog SD, then ok. But your HDTV's scaler is going to have MUCH more of an impact on how that looks, and does it matter? It's analog SD fer cryin out loud, it's going to suck anyway.


I guess you have serious problems with clicking on a link. I'm beginning to think there is something to the tag beneath your name.:rolleyes:

I feel like I'm talking to a wall here. Are you guys just posting to be posting because what you are saying has nothing to do with this (http://www.thx.com/tivo/index.html).

In case you can't see the hyper link: http://www.thx.com/tivo/index.html

Well to be honest, you are talking to a brick wall if you think the THX marketing blurb at the end of your lovely links actually means anything to the average consumer (yes, I think you'll find we've all read it). THX Certification sounds great and is indeed a great thing, but matters very little to most of us who have set up home cinema equipment in our living rooms.

You can't do justice to anything that bears a THX logo unless you build the whole system and environment right. It's simply out of scope for most of us. I defy you to find more than a small handful of people who might actually be able to tell the difference between a THX Certified S3 and a TiVo HD when tested side-by-side in an average home cinema setup.

Mark

Well to be honest, you are talking to a brick wall if you think the THX marketing blurb at the end of your lovely links actually means anything to the average consumer (yes, I think you'll find we've all read it). THX Certification sounds great and is indeed a great thing, but matters very little to most of us who have set up home cinema equipment in our living rooms.

You can't do justice to anything that bears a THX logo unless you build the whole system and environment right. It's simply out of scope for most of us. I defy you to find more than a small handful of people who might actually be able to tell the difference between a THX Certified S3 and a TiVo HD when tested side-by-side in an average home cinema setup.

Mark

I'm referring to the referrence that you and several others made that the THX Certification is for audio only. Not one of you have stepped up and said yes, it is referring to video as well. I could give a damn if you and you're near sighted grandma can't tell the difference, I can't either (and I'm near sighted) but the point I'm trying to make is it is a standard of quality. Nothing more nothing less.

True. However, should the FCC realize that SDV endangers their intended mandate behind the CableCARD initiative, you could see them ask the cableco's to keep the widget's pricing down...The FCC seems to be more interested in increasing cable companies' costs rather than keeping consumer prices low.

The FCC seems to be more interested in increasing cable companies' costs rather than keeping consumer prices low.

You've been at the top of my Ignore List for a long time. I'm going to remove that restriction to make this post, and then put you right back on that List. I feel compelled to post a response to this absolutely skewed version of the reality that the rest of us (save yourself) live in...

The FCC's prime concern in this matter is avoiding marketplace monopolies, and the inequities that those monopolies bring. The FCC wants to bring consumer choice BACK to the table for consumers of television services, rather than have those services determined exclusively by the providers (read : cableco's).

The integration ban, which resulted in the design and implementation of the CableCARDs by CableLabs themselves, is completely about consumer choice. It gives consumers the opportunity to go out and get a set top box of their choice to use, rather than being spoon-fed rock-bottom quality, crap boxes by the cableco's. End of story. No more, no less.

For anyone to be under the misguided impression that the FCC is "out to get" the cablecos (or consumers) shows a severe misunderstanding of the facts, or exposes that person as an agenda-wielding partisan who cares not for the facts.


Now you're going back on my Ignore List. Please try to make more coherent posts in the future. Otherwise, you'd be best advised to simply STFU

Did you bother to read the LINK BIERBOY (http://www.thx.com/tivo/index.html) provided? It specifically states audio and video. And as far as THX sound stream, that would depend upon the movie, wouldn't it?

Nope. Just the material that came with the S3 and my Onkyo receiver.;)

Nope. Just the material that came with the S3 and my Onkyo receiver.;)


So you acknowledge that you're statement:

THX is an audio standard. You also need a THX audio receiver to get the full impact of this. As far as how many channels broadcast a THX certified audio stream, that I do not know.

is inaccurate and that you wern't following the thread, you just smeeked and popped in the middle of the conversation.

I missed the TiVo thread so I posted my experience at the TiVo community here...

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5441486&&#post5441486

Hopefully it will be resolved as I would like to replace one of the Motorola boxes.

So you acknowledge that you're statement:



is inaccurate and that you wern't following the thread, you just smeaked and popped in the middle of the conversation.

Maybe you need to get a life. It's a BBS, not the Vatican!:eek:

Also, you may want to take advantage of that spell check feature if you're going to treat this as gospel.

Maybe you need to get a life. It's a BBS, not the Vatican!:eek:

Also, you may want to take advantage of that spell check feature if you're going to treat this as gospel.

Like you said it's a BBS and spelling shouldn't matter. But you interjecting your two worthless cents of something you knew absolutely nothing about does.

And this is my life. You don't like it, or my spelling then hit the ignore button.

Smeeker.

Hookbill,
I can see why he took offense at your spelling of smeaker. If you follow the wiki link below for smeak you get this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=smeak&go=Go

:)

I guess you have serious problems with clicking on a link. I'm beginning to think there is something to the tag beneath your name.:rolleyes:Oh please, stop with the condescending tone. I read the marketing blurb about THX at that link. However, all you want to do is point to that and not even try to refute the point that digital is digital, and ANY HD DVR is just passing through those bits to the tube and receiver.

Now if you want to talk about A/D conversion (including component HD output or analog SD), then ok. But I repeat, I don't think you will find a difference in output between an S3 and a TivoHD for an HD source sent to HDMI (and digital audio). THX would be irrelevant in this case because there's no conversion.

Oh please, stop with the condescending tone. I read the marketing blurb about THX at that link. However, all you want to do is point to that and not even try to refute the point that digital is digital, and ANY HD DVR is just passing through those bits to the tube and receiver.

Now if you want to talk about A/D conversion (including component HD output or analog SD), then ok. But I repeat, I don't think you will find a difference in output between an S3 and a TivoHD for an HD source sent to HDMI (and digital audio). THX would be irrelevant in this case because there's no conversion.


I'm not being condescending. I'm trying to make a point here which for some reason no ones seems to be able to grab. The point is that the THX Certification is not only for auido it's for video. I wholly agree that you can't see the difference. I'm just saying that for me, it is a sign of quality.

You've been at the top of my Ignore List for a long time. I'm going to remove that restriction to make this post, and then put you right back on that List. In other words, you know that what I type is valuable and important, but you claim you ignore it because you don't like to acknowledge its value. Why didn't you just say that?

The FCC's prime concern in this matter is avoiding marketplace monopolies, and the inequities that those monopolies bring.Actual reality -- what action the FCC actually takes -- disproves this.

Now you're going back on my Ignore List.Hahahahahahah. Okay, I'll believe you. :rolleyes:

I just saw a thread in another forum in which a poster reported that he had just received a letter from Time Warner informing him that ALL of TWC’s HD programming in his market would be shifted to SDV on 1 September. The effect will be that his S3 will be reduced to paperweight status where cable is concerned. Man, that’s dispiriting! I hope that Cox OKC doesn’t follow suit very soon.

I have seen the reports of a possible workaround for one way DVRs via a USB dongle that would allow S3s to receive SDV transmissions but that all sounds like vaporware right now.

If this has all been reported previously, I apologize. I haven’t been following this thread as closely as usual in recent days.

I'm just saying that for me, it is a sign of quality.And we're just saying that it's irrelevant marketing fluff when it applies to the average HDTV broadcast and home theater setup (yes, that means audio AND video).

To each his own.

I just saw a thread in another forum in which a poster reported that he had just received a letter from Time Warner informing him that ALL of TWC’s HD programming in his market would be shifted to SDV on 1 September. The effect will be that his S3 will be reduced to paperweight status where cable is concerned. Man, that’s dispiriting! I hope that Cox OKC doesn’t follow suit very soon.

I have seen the reports of a possible workaround for one way DVRs via a USB dongle that would allow S3s to receive SDV transmissions but that all sounds like vaporware right now.

If this has all been reported previously, I apologize. I haven’t been following this thread as closely as usual in recent days.


I wouldn't believe it unless I saw the actual letter because it doesn't make sense, and as Judge Judy says if it doesn't make sense it's usually not true.

Now I would believe that all of the HD channels that wern't available OTA could go to SDV. That may be possible.

Did that person say what area they were from? In some areas like Austin Texas they already have full blown SDV (sounds like a disease, doesn't it?:))

Anyway if they come up with that new USB device that will solve the SDV problem for the S3.

Here's the letter. I believe it represents the first of many - in the short run.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=11457180&postcount=1471

Here's the letter. I believe it represents the first of many - in the short run.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=11457180&postcount=1471

Yeah, thanks for that link. That's pretty much what I suspected though I was kind of hoping they would leave ESPN and ESPN2 off that list. Still the vast majority of recording I do is on network television so if and when it does hit my area hopefully the new device will be out so I won't have problems with my S3.

I just saw a thread in another forum in which a poster reported that he had just received a letter from Time Warner informing him that ALL of TWC’s HD programming in his market would be shifted to SDV on 1 September. The effect will be that his S3 will be reduced to paperweight status where cable is concerned. Man, that’s dispiriting! I hope that Cox OKC doesn’t follow suit very soon.

I have seen the reports of a possible workaround for one way DVRs via a USB dongle that would allow S3s to receive SDV transmissions but that all sounds like vaporware right now.

If this has all been reported previously, I apologize. I haven’t been following this thread as closely as usual in recent days.


Cox in Fairfax County, Virginia is going SDV on September 10th. We in our area have received a letter to this effect with our bill statement. The next two markets I understand for Cox will be Orange County in California and Phoenix. I imagine that your area is not too far off from the change over. It will indeed create problems for S3 owners and similar one way devices unfortunately.

I saw that Oceanic TWC thread at TiVo Community Forums yesterday. To compare to the list in that letter, you can find the full list of their HD channels here (http://www.oceanic.com/OceanicWebApps/Television/DigitalServices/DCL_Oahu.html). They've eliminated 10 of 17, and as expected, the local DTV rebroadcasts are 4 of the remaining 7 (the poster at TCF said that they don't have any local HD, so they're just SD channels at this point). It's interesting that they chose to leave HBO HD and Showtime HD out of the mix (as well as TNT HD--at least they'll continue to get The Closer in HD). Note that no channels in any digital premium tiers (HBO, Showtime/TMC, Starz!/Encore, Cinemax), HD or standard def, is in that mix. "We're screwing you over but please--don't stop subscribing to our most expensive services" :rolleyes:.

TWC - 50% of systems SDV by year end:

http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/05/time-warner-to-deploy-switched-digital-to-50-of-their-markets-i/

Hopefully the dongle for the S3 will be a simple fix. The problem I see is that at this point in time it is simply a proposal. So it appears there will be a "dark window" for S3 owners in affected markets until the dongle is brought to market.

The Austin SDV channel lineup is the most egregious. I guess it depends on how other systems decide what the SDV lineups will be.

As posted in this forum recently. The Austin lineup with SDV channels noted:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=11457696&postcount=1473

Austin seems (at least in part) actionable. By placing rebroadcast of over the air television in SDV, they're definitely breaking FCC regulations. All rebroadcasts of local television must be available in the basic tier and tunable with consumer equipment. They've put channels in SDV that might be used to transmit detailed information for the Emergency Alert System--it's a national security issue.

Cox in Fairfax County, Virginia is going SDV on September 10th. We in our area have received a letter to this effect with our bill statement. The next two markets I understand for Cox will be Orange County in California and Phoenix. I imagine that your area is not too far off from the change over. It will indeed create problems for S3 owners and similar one way devices unfortunately.
I agree that the switchover to SDV is almost certainly inevitable. Still, it stinks. By the time the smoke cleared, I had spent nearly $900 on my S3 and TiVo’s fee to transfer my lifetime TiVo subscription from my old S1 to my new S3, which I have had for less than nine months. I don’t know whether to feel more victimized or stupid. Come to think of it one is about as sensible as the other.

I have little faith that the USB dongle proposal will result in usable consumer hardware that would very soon render one way devices, such as my S3, capable of two-way communication. Previous experience would suggest that it will be years, not months, before such a device is actually available – if it ever is.

I have little faith that the USB dongle proposal will result in usable consumer hardware that would very soon render one way devices, such as my S3, capable of two-way communication. Previous experience would suggest that it will be years, not months, before such a device is actually available – if it ever is.

C'mon counselor you retired from that negative life.:) Have some faith.

To the best of my knowledge TiVo has never just left their customers hanging there. I have trust in TiVo as a company and that was a large part of the reason why I shelled out the one grand I spent on the S3.

I see the Elephant in the middle of the living room. I just think TiVo's going to give me a weapon to kill the sob.

I saw that Oceanic TWC thread at TiVo Community Forums yesterday. To compare to the list in that letter, you can find the full list of their HD channels here (http://www.oceanic.com/OceanicWebApps/Television/DigitalServices/DCL_Oahu.html). They've eliminated 10 of 17, and as expected, the local DTV rebroadcasts are 4 of the remaining 7 (the poster at TCF said that they don't have any local HD, so they're just SD channels at this point). It's interesting that they chose to leave HBO HD and Showtime HD out of the mix (as well as TNT HD--at least they'll continue to get The Closer in HD). Note that no channels in any digital premium tiers (HBO, Showtime/TMC, Starz!/Encore, Cinemax), HD or standard def, is in that mix. "We're screwing you over but please--don't stop subscribing to our most expensive services" :rolleyes:.

Or better, everyone wants to be kissed before they are f***ed.

SDV conceptually is nothing new. Here's an article from April of 2006 that mentions both Cox and TWC:

http://www.cable360.net/ct/news/ctreports/18481.html

What I find interesting is that Tivo chose to launch a new HD product just as SDV gets ramped up across the country. A product that many people knew could not handle SDV in it's present form. Unfortunately "many" is not "all" and as new Tivo subscribers discover this they may feel a bit violated.

But then this can be mitigated with the quick emergence of the revolver dongle.

SDV conceptually is nothing new. Here's an article from April of 2006 that mentions both Cox and TWC:

http://www.cable360.net/ct/news/ctreports/18481.html

What I find interesting is that Tivo chose to launch a new HD product just as SDV gets ramped up across the country. A product that many people knew could not handle SDV in it's present form. Unfortunately "many" is not "all" and as new Tivo subscribers discover this they may feel a bit violated.

But then this can be mitigated with the quick emergence of the revolver dongle.

TiVo chose the only path that was realistically available to it for an HD DVR.

Satellite was not an option. DirecTV tossed out TiVo to go with home grown crap from NDS. Dish simply stole TiVo's technology in order to go with their own home grown crap.

OTA doesn't present a large enough market to make a strong enough business case.

Their solution had to be cable ready. The only way they could get on that bandwagon was to go with CableCARD, or else they wouldn't be able to tune and record encrypted content. It also had to be unidirectional, or else they might have had to cede control of the GUI over to the cableco's, which defeats TiVo's entire business model.

Two things about SDV kinda caught everyone by surprise :
1) That the cableco's would roll out SDV and willfully attempt to circumvent the FCC's mandated CableCARD solution by rendering unidirectional boxes essentially useless. I guess it's still not surprising, given the cableco's absolute hatred of the CableCARD, but still...

2) SDV is being rolled out more quickly than anyone expected at the time. Sure, it was mentioned in the press at the time, but it was at the conceptual planning phase, or perhaps even in limited lab trials. Perhaps TiVo miscalculated a bit on the window of opportunity that they had before SDV presented a problem for them.

TiVo chose the only path that was realistically available to it for an HD DVR.

Two things about SDV kinda caught everyone by surprise :
1) That the cableco's would roll out SDV and willfully attempt to circumvent the FCC's mandated CableCARD solution by rendering unidirectional boxes essentially useless. I guess it's still not surprising, given the cableco's absolute hatred of the CableCARD, but still...

2) SDV is being rolled out more quickly than anyone expected at the time. Sure, it was mentioned in the press at the time, but it was at the conceptual planning phase, or perhaps even in limited lab trials. Perhaps TiVo miscalculated a bit on the window of opportunity that they had before SDV presented a problem for them.

I'm not even in the business but I was well aware of SDV before I purchased my S3, even before it became available. I find it impossible to believe that TiVo didn't see SDV coming. TW had commited to it quite a while ago.

What nobody saw coming was D*'s commitment to push HD as fast as they want to. The reaction from TW and Comcast was SDV implementation faster.

I weighed MY current cable companies situation into the possibility of SDV being implemented quickly. Fortunately it appears I'm correct.

Perhaps TiVo miscalculated, but I can't believe they didn't think about it before hand. Again the dongle does appear to be a solution, it's just has fast can either they or cable implement it.

Also keep in mind, and I realize that I'm talking about the worlds biggest bunch of theives and liars but the cable companies have said all along that they did intend to work with TiVo and others to help make their equipment work with SDV.

I don't believe the cable company but I have faith in TiVo. It will work out. Maybe not as fast as some of you would like but hopefully before SDV hits my area.;)

I believe it has more to do with this:

http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/08/20/surprise-cable-companies-edging-closer-to-bandwidth-exigency/

The pace has accelerated since satellite began its "hundreds of HD channels campaign". I think the move to SDV is in response to HD channel pressures. Not so much a willful attempt at sabotaging cable cards. I believe many people have understood this for a while. Tivo as well.

Although Tivo is an important service offering I don't think it is enough to move the elephant. The Carmel group pegs Tivo with 4% of the DVR market. With Tivo at 2% of the DVR market by 2010. As much as somebody would like to believe cable's SDV move is primarily related to cable cards I think there is a larger picture here - bandwidth utilization. Unfortunately as a result the unidirectional cable cards are affected.

But again a quick release of the dongle channel resolver will fix the Tivo aspect of the move to SDV.

Has any S-Card user (Tivo HD or Series3) been able to get ESPN2 HD? I am hearing that Time Warner Cincinnati (and some other Time Warner areas) are blocking it. And that the blockage has nothing to do with SDV.

ESPN2 HD is supposed to go live today in CIncinnati and I won't be able to test it for several hours. Just hoping someone can confirm one way or the other...

Has any S-Card user (Tivo HD or Series3) been able to get ESPN2 HD? I am hearing that Time Warner Cincinnati (and some other Time Warner areas) are blocking it. And that the blockage has nothing to do with SDV.Seems as though I've heard this from San Diego TWC subs as well. I'm the the North San Diego County Cox system and I get it (I use it a lot, for tennis).

Has any S-Card user (Tivo HD or Series3) been able to get ESPN2 HD? I am hearing that Time Warner Cincinnati (and some other Time Warner areas) are blocking it. And that the blockage has nothing to do with SDV.

ESPN2 HD is supposed to go live today in CIncinnati and I won't be able to test it for several hours. Just hoping someone can confirm one way or the other...

I live in Northeast Ohio (Cleveland/Akron) and I can receive it just fine with my S3.

Might I suggest you take this question to your local HD thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=306883&page=259&highlight=Cincinnati)?

Like you said it's a BBS and spelling shouldn't matter. But you interjecting your two worthless cents of something you knew absolutely nothing about does.

And this is my life. You don't like it, or my spelling then hit the ignore button.

Smeeker.

Sounds like someone needs a woman. :eek:

Sounds like someone needs a woman. :eek:

Kind of had a bad day yesterday and just got a bit frustrated that no one seemed to be listening to the fact that the link stated audio and video. I didn't mean to take it out on you, sorry.

And thanks, I have a wife.:)

Yeah, thanks for that link. That's pretty much what I suspected though I was kind of hoping they would leave ESPN and ESPN2 off that list. Still the vast majority of recording I do is on network television so if and when it does hit my area hopefully the new device will be out so I won't have problems with my S3.Same here, Hook. I've never lost a wink of sleep over SDV since purchasing my S3 because the only HD I'm interested in is OTA network.

...It will indeed create problems for S3 owners and similar one way devices unfortunately.This is a patently misleading statement. For those S3 users like me who only receive/record OTA HD and analog cable, SDV is no worry at all.

Here's the letter. I believe it represents the first of many - in the short run.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=11457180&postcount=1471The letter is misleading because it states that there is a one way CableCARD.
"Please call 643-2100 to switch out your one way CableCARD(s) to a digital set-top box(es)."

All CableCARDs support two way communication. The host device is responsible for controlling the two way communication. Some host devices like SA and Motorola digital set-top boxes support this, while others like TiVo do not support this.

bierboy - patently misleading? I don't believe that was the intent - to be misleading.

The cable card feature set of both the S3 and the TivoHD are fundamental for Tivo's offering of HD/SD cableco integration - Tivo has stated such. OTA HD and analog cable access are great but I don't believe this was the corner stone for the S3 and TivoHD development.

Without a fully featured and robust cable card integration there should be concern. It is understandable. Which I believe was the intent of the quoted comment.

A rapid deployment of the channel resolver dongle will of course make these concerns moot.

bierboy - patently misleading? I don't believe that was the intent - to be misleading....I stand by my comment. "Patently" means unmistakably, clearly, plainly. The poster made a sweeping, general statement that it would "...create problems for S3 users..." making it sound like it would affect all S3 users which is not true. In specific cases, it may be true, but not in the way he/she stated it. Whether it was the intent or not is beside the point.

Not to speak for hednic. But this is the original quote:

Cox in Fairfax County, Virginia is going SDV on September 10th. We in our area have received a letter to this effect with our bill statement. The next two markets I understand for Cox will be Orange County in California and Phoenix. I imagine that your area is not too far off from the change over. It will indeed create problems for S3 owners and similar one way devices unfortunately.



bierboy - I believe you should reconsider. I believe you are wrong and should admit so.

The OP raised concerns which all S3 and TivoHD users should be aware of. Cableco cable card integration.

If you feel that Tivo can survive with just OTA and analog cable then all I can say is - good luck.

Not to speak for hednic. But this is the original quote:





bierboy - I believe you should reconsider. I believe you are wrong and should admit so.

The OP raised concerns which all S3 and TivoHD users should as well. Cableco cable card integration.

If you feel that Tivo can survive with OTA then all I can say is - good luck.
I could give a rip....all I need it for is OTA and analog cable (as I posted earlier if you had read...or do you know how to read?).

TiVo can not survive with OTA as the only source, no way, they're barely surviving right now. With less than 20% of the country utilizing OTA signals I just don't see OTA-only as a sustainable direction to go for TiVo.

As it is, I believe they have less than 2mil subs, and that's out of over 100mil households.

I could give a rip....all I need it for is OTA and analog cable (as I posted earlier if you had read...or do you know how to read?).

Sure I know how to read. I can also read income statements and balance sheets. Can you? I can also read guidance in financial statements. As well as forward looking statements. Do you know what a forward looking statement is? Or are you too locked into "tivo-ing" Gilligan's Island to care?

Tivo lost their tail in the most recent quarter.

Unfortunately the type of business you provide to Tivo is the type that Tivo has stated it cannot survive with and has no interest in pursuing.

How does it feel to idol worship something that could care less about you?
You are an after thought to most. Especially to Tivo.

I stand by my comment. "Patently" means unmistakably, clearly, plainly. The poster made a sweeping, general statement that it would "...create problems for S3 users..." making it sound like it would affect all S3 users which is not true. In specific cases, it may be true, but not in the way he/she stated it. Whether it was the intent or not is beside the point.

Okay I finally caught up with this post.

bierboy you need to put your two brain cells to better use. The OP's cited quote above "...create problems for S3 users..." is in no way a "patently" false statement. Not a chance. Sorry.

I think "patently" is a word you like to use because you think it makes you sound important. Find a better word.

General statements are allowed in normal discourse without the need to pull the "not true in all cases - patently false" juvenile nonsense.

How does it feel to idol worship something that could care less about you?
You are an after thought to most. Especially to Tivo.

While I love a good on line battle and I think you're a pretty logical person nextoo I don't think you quite get where bierboy is coming from.

Insults aside, he's been around TiVo for a very long time and like myself it is our experience that TiVo does care about it's customers. In any difficulty I've experienced TiVo has helped, including getting involved with my cable company to work on channels I was not receiving.

I don't think TiVo thinks of S3 owners as an after thought and as you have pointed out many times the dongle seems to be an answer.

Like bierboy I have faith in TiVo. And I really don't feel foolish in admitting it.

While I love a good on line battle and I think you're a pretty logical person nextoo I don't think you quite get where bierboy is coming from.

Insults aside, he's been around TiVo for a very long time and like myself it is our experience that TiVo does care about it's customers. In any difficulty I've experienced TiVo has helped, including getting involved with my cable company to work on channels I was not receiving.

I don't think TiVo thinks of S3 owners as an after thought and as you have pointed out many times the dongle seems to be an answer.

Like bierboy I have faith in TiVo. And I really don't feel foolish in admitting it.

I agree 100% about Tivo standing behind its products.

My intent was to point out that unfortunately OTA is often a forgotten bunch. And often percieved as an inferior market segment for expensive CE devices. If 15% of the television viewing is OTA what possible segment of that 15% is using an S3 or TivoHD? It's almost too small to measure. Statistically insignificant - even to Tivo.

Tivo's market is the cableco sub. It is it's stated market segment. It needs to be married to cable in order to survive. It has stated such. And appears to be doing a good job. The TivoHD at less than $300 is ground breaking.

When somebody posts that in certain markets S3 and TivoHD users are going to have problems because of SDV I believe this can be interpreted as a true statement. It may apply to as many as 85% of Tivo users (HD). It is useful information.

A response to the impact of SDV being a problem is then portrayed in a subsequent post as being "patently" false. It is not patently (plainly) false because there are a few OTA users out there that may be unaffected. If I called Tivo customer service and told them that me and most others are having problems because of SDV would Tivo's response be that I am "patently" false in my assertion? I don't think so.

I pointed that out I was was accused of not being able to read.

SDV conceptually is nothing new. Here's an article from April of 2006 that mentions both Cox and TWC:

http://www.cable360.net/ct/news/ctreports/18481.html

What I find interesting is that Tivo chose to launch a new HD product just as SDV gets ramped up across the country. A product that many people knew could not handle SDV in it's present form. Unfortunately "many" is not "all" and as new Tivo subscribers discover this they may feel a bit violated.

But then this can be mitigated with the quick emergence of the revolver dongle.

Remember - Tivo needs CableLabs approval to release a CableCARD device. CL doesn't allow a 2-way device that isn't OCAP complient.

At the moment, it seems the only way out is the tuning resolution dongle. The only good thing is that it seems to me that the dongle has been described in detail that leads me to believe there's actually a working solution somewhere and that this is not a "years away" solution.

My intent was to point out that unfortunately OTA is often a forgotten bunch. And often perceived as an inferior market segment for expensive CE devices. If 15% of the television viewing is OTA what possible segment of that 15% is using an S3 or TivoHD? It's almost too small to measure. Statistically insignificant - even to Tivo.If this were true, TiVo would not have incurred the expense (both NRE and BOM) of including dual ATSC tuners in the S3, along with all the resulting software and guide costs and complexity. And the fact that they didn't drop this support in the cost-constrained TiVo HD further highlights its criticality. Clearly, OTA numbers are large enough to justify such expenses. Also, in defining the market size of those not impacted by SDV, you forgot analog cable subs (both "limited basic" and "expanded"), who by definition are not affected by SDV, and who comprise the majority of cable subs. Such subs are also only interested in OTA-equivalent HD, which they can get on their "limited basic" and "expanded" subscriptions.

I'm not minimizing the SDV impact...I think a workaround is absolutely critical to TiVo's business model going forward. But understating the unaffected market size with terms like "statistically insignificant" is unnecessary.

If this were true, TiVo would not have incurred the expense (both NRE and BOM) of including dual ATSC tuners in the S3, along with all the resulting software and guide costs and complexity. And the fact that they didn't drop this support in the cost-constrained TiVo HD further highlights its criticality. Clearly, OTA numbers are large enough to justify such expenses. Also, in defining the market size of those not impacted by SDV, you forgot analog cable subs (both "limited basic" and "expanded"), who by definition are not affected by SDV, and who comprise the majority of cable subs. Such subs are also only interested in OTA-equivalent HD, which they can get on their "limited basic" and "expanded" subscriptions.

I'm not minimizing the SDV impact...I think a workaround is absolutely critical to TiVo's business model going forward. But understating the unaffected market size with terms like "statistically insignificant" is unnecessary.

?

My comment as to "statistically insignificant" was directed at the OTA market specifically. How'd you come up with unaffected cable subs? And I thought I was speaking to the HD Tivo products (THD & S3).

Okay maybe statistically insignificant was too strong. But I feel comfortable saying that the SDV thing has to sort itself out. And the amount of water the OTA crowd can carry for the success of the Tivo high def business model is insignificant. There's very little "there" there.

Tivo finds itself in an HD world now. If I remember correctly it reported yesterday that it had to write down something like $10MM in SD product inventory. It reported a $17MM loss for the quarter.

It's not the OTA crowd that is going to make the TivoHD product launch successful. As passionate as they may be they don't bring enough dough to the table. They are, okay I'll say it again, - statistically insignificant. A successful HD business model is going to require a relatively painless cable card integration as well as (now) an SDV solution.

And even as it relates to unaffected cable subs. TWC claims it will have half of its properties converted to SDV by year end. That's half of the potential TWC cable subs that are "affected". That's huge. Loosing half of a products market potential inside of 6 months of its launch needs to be addressed. As time goes on the market pool continues to shrink as more SDV becomes deployed. And "unaffected" users become "affected" users - as time marches on.

The cable resolver dongle will of course fix this but it should be developed and introduced in the short run. Otherwise it could get ugly. I hope it doesn't but this SDV thing has wheels. Forget about VOD or PPV. People who buy a product with "HD" in the product name want their HD - all of it.

I am just about to pull the trigger on a new series 3 with lifetime subscription. With all the recent news and issues of SDV is this a smart move?

I am just about to pull the trigger on a new series 3 with lifetime subscription. With all the recent news and issues of SDV is this a smart move?
If you have FiOS, or a Comcast 860MHz system with ~60 or less analog channels, then the answer is probably yes.

On the other hand, if your cable provider is a Time Warner or Brighthouse system with 80+ analog channels, then the answer is probably no. If that describes your situation, then you should probably wait for the "SDV adapter" before buying a Tivo.

The pace has accelerated since satellite began its "hundreds of HD channels campaign". I think the move to SDV is in response to HD channel pressures. Not so much a willful attempt at sabotaging cable cards. I believe many people have understood this for a while. Tivo as well.

Although Tivo is an important service offering I don't think it is enough to move the elephant. The Carmel group pegs Tivo with 4% of the DVR market. With Tivo at 2% of the DVR market by 2010. As much as somebody would like to believe cable's SDV move is primarily related to cable cards I think there is a larger picture here - bandwidth utilization. Unfortunately as a result the unidirectional cable cards are affected.

But again a quick release of the dongle channel resolver will fix the Tivo aspect of the move to SDV.
I agree that the sickeningly sudden (sickening for we S3 owners, that is) move to SDV was, indeed, a response to D*’s and E*’s claims that “We Have More HD Channels than Cable!” SDV was a quick and effective way to reclaim enough bandwidth quickly to allow cable companies to immediately add as much as HD as D* and E* are doing. That’s why I am convinced that SDV will soon become the predominant method by which Cable companies deliver their HD content.

I cannot imagine how anyone could plausibly argue that TiVo is much of a player in the cable capable DVR market. If SDV had threatened to hurt SA’s or Moto’s market share, the cable companies would have had to listen but with TiVo, not so much – as we are seeing.

I suspect that we are at least as likely to see TiVo software generally available on most cable company owned boxes before the proposed dongle solution ships as we are after. I would place the over-under on whichever happens first at about eighteen months. We are in a world of hurt, boys and girls!

I am just about to pull the trigger on a new series 3 with lifetime subscription. With all the recent news and issues of SDV is this a smart move?
Absolutely not! I STRONGLY recommend that you hold off until, not to mention unless, the S3's incompatibility with SDV is resolved. That's too much money to spend for a box that, at the moment at least, appears on its way to becoming a paperweight where reception of HD channels via cable is concerned.

I have been a TiVo owner since 2000 and have absolutely loved my S3 in the eight or nine months I have had it. Nevertheless, this SDV problem is very serious, so buying an S3 at this juncture would, in my opinion at least, be a very bad idea.

P.S.: I should have added that with FIOS you will be all right but if you would have to get your TV services from your local cable company, you should pass.

Suzook - Good question. I don't know. I'm in the same boat.

I am a very happy SA8300HD w/Passport TWC cable subscriber. Passport works very well for me. BUT I know the new TWC Navigator software is right around the corner. I had thought I might move on to Tivo as a result. Now I'm not so sure.

But there is no way that Tivo can't get the SDV thing sorted out. So I guess I'll just keep my eye on things until it does.

If you have FiOS, or a Comcast 860MHz system with ~60 or less analog channels, then the answer is probably yes.

On the other hand, if your cable provider is a Time Warner or Brighthouse system with 80+ analog channels, then the answer is probably no. If that describes your situation, then you should probably wait for the "SDV adapter" before buying a Tivo.

The only true way to answer this persons question is by saying "What is happening in your area now?" Just because you're a TW person doesn't mean SDV is going to invade next week. And just because your a Comcast person doesn't mean you have any less to worry then a TW person, they too have announced conversion to SDV. I have no idea who Brighthouse is.

In my area a switch to S3 with TW lifetime would be a good idea. They have so many problems hooking up the acquitision of Adelphia and Comcast in this area that it just isn't feasable that they can implement SDV, heck they can't even get all the channels on the same lineup. Part of that problem was Adelphia never bothered to when it acquired the smaller cable companies originally. So it's like trying to merge 10 different cable companies.

I'd say check your local HD thread, see what the climate is like on this situation and then make a decision. Asking over here with so many of us in different areas really isn't going to help much.

And here's another thought too since Comcast was mentioned. They are suppose to (sometime) be receiving TiVo based software for their HD boxes. Maybe you want to wait for that if you're a Comcastic Customer.:)

I cannot imagine how anyone could plausibly argue that TiVo is much of a player in the cable capable DVR market. If SDV had threatened to hurt SA’s or Moto’s market share, the cable companies would have had to listen but with TiVo, not so much – as we are seeing.

The only way you could argue that TiVo is currently (as in, today) a major player in the cable DVR market is that they seem to have the ear of the FCC. They've made their case to the FCC on various points, and the commission has agreed with them, for the most part. They're fighting the good fight on behalf of other manufacturers as well as consumers against the monopolist cableco's.

If you have FiOS, or a Comcast 860MHz system with ~60 or less analog channels, then the answer is probably yes.

On the other hand, if your cable provider is a Time Warner or Brighthouse system with 80+ analog channels, then the answer is probably no. If that describes your situation, then you should probably wait for the "SDV adapter" before buying a Tivo.

And at least 85% of what I watch is HD.

My comment as to "statistically insignificant" was directed at the OTA market specifically. How'd you come up with unaffected cable subs?Because your original quote was "If you feel that Tivo can survive with just OTA and analog cable then all I can say is - good luck." And by the way...no one said TiVo could survive with only these customers. Every customer is (equally) important.
And I thought I was speaking to the HD Tivo products (THD & S3).When weren't we? HD can take any of 3 forms: OTA (ATSC), basic analog cable (with network HD rebroadcasts), and encrypted (CableCARD) digital cable. Your dismissal as insignificant of everyone except CableCARD customers is your uninformed opinion, and contradicts the facts.
And the amount of water the OTA crowd can carry for the success of the Tivo high def business model is insignificant. There's very little "there" there.What facts are you basing this on? TiVo makes as much money from an OTA or non-CableCARD cable customer as they do from a CableCARD customer.
bierboy you need to put your two brain cells to better use.Please everyone, let's keep this civil.

Brian Miller - I'm not going to "quote" as efficiently as your recent post.

But it is obvious that you do not understand a recurring charge business model.

A loss of one recurring charge customer requires two new customers for a net gain of one. i.e a growth in top line revenue.

This cannot happen with simply an OTA or an analog cable approach. Period. The recent 10Q from Tivo demonstrates this.

Subs are dropping off as a result of the loss of the satellite deal. Tivo has to replace this erosion with something else. And trust me the answer is not OTA and analog cable.

The answer is getting into bed with with the cablecos. For access to both digital and HD cable tiers.

It really is this simple.

Hijacked from tivolovers.com. From the recent FCC filing:

The pertinent section begins on page 32 under the header “SWITCHED DIGITAL VIDEO MODIFICATIONS”.

II. SWITCHED DIGITAL VIDEO MODIFICATIONS

Switched Digital Video (”SDV”) is a highly efficient bandwidth management technology employed by cable operators to transmit digital channels to customers on an “as-needed” basis. AT&T’s U-Verse video service utilizes SDV to deliver all of its channels throughout its entire footprint. Cable systems traditionally transmitted all channels simultaneously to all customers, requiring the use of bandwidth for all channels even if few — or no — customers were watching a particular channel. By contrast, when a digital customer tunes to an SDV channel, the channel is only sent to those customers that wish to view it. As a result, when an SDV channel is not being viewed, bandwidth is available for other services.

SDV preserves bandwidth so that it can be used for deployment of innovative new services. The recovered bandwidth can be used to deliver more High Definition, Standard Definition and on-demand channels. Indeed, the recovered bandwidth is essential for cable operators to deal with the digital broadcast transition. The bandwidth can also be used to deliver faster “bonded” channels with dramatically improved “wideband” Internet speeds of 100 Mbps; digital voice service; and more interactive two-way services. SDV promotes broadband deployment and adoption and causes less disruption for consumers because SDV, like on-demand service, uses intelligent network management techniques to expand digital capacity without tearing up the streets to install additional fiber.

It is in everyone’s interest for cable operators to use their networks more efficiently, and SDV technology allows the cable operators to do so. Unfortunately, as designed, one-way UDCPs are not capable of accessing SDV channels: SDV channels require two-way device functionality. In order to address this issue, the cable industry has worked with CE companies such as TiVo to arrive at a solution that can provide two-way SDV channels to one-way digital cable products through an external device attachment to the UDCP.

Under this approach — arrived at through private discussions outside of regulatory compulsion — a small “Tuning Resolver” adapter could be made available to the UDCP consumer. With only firmware modifications to new UDCP products, and a USB 2.0 connection, properly equipped UDCPs could receive programming offered on SDV channels. Many currently deployed UDCPs, including TiVo DVRs, have one or more USB 2.0 connectors and might even be upgradeable with firmware for SDV.

Licensing and testing of this optional feature of a UDCP will be provided under the existing DFAST agreement in a manner similar to that submitted to the FCC by various signators (TiVo, Motorola, Digeo, Solekai, Digital Keystone, and ViXS) for the optional M-CARD interface for UDCPs.68 That is, execution of a DFAST addendum, one-time verification testing, and self-verification thereafter.69

68 Nov. 13, 2006 joint submission in this docket by CableLabs, TiVo, Motorola, Solekai, Digeo, Digital Keystone and ViXs to implement Multi-stream CableCARDs for UDCPs.
69 Some verification testing is required, but it is likely to be minimal. For SDV to operate properly, the host must operate correctly with the cable headend when an end user has tuned away from a switched channel, or when the channel has remained unchanged with no evidence of user involvement or interaction (i.e., the user leaves the TV on and tuned to the switched channel, but then walks away from the TV for some extended period of time). Here, the host should act in sync with the headend to notify the end user of the pending switch (for example, display “are you still watching?”) before the reclamation of the channel.

"Some verification testing is required, but it is likely to be minimal." - cool.

Sweeet. Sounds like the end of the evil threat of SDV. Soon we will al be able to use SDV and it won't be a problem. :)

I am interested in the Tivo HD and am in the Raleigh, NC area. I am only interested in the major networks and HD. Would I be better off getting a basic TWC subscription or can I get this stuff OTA? What type of issues might I run into with the programming guide? Does anyone know if I can get CableCards with a basic subscription? Thanks for the help.

Doug

I get network stuff OTA and use cablecards for Digital Cable. WRAL will give you an antenna for free. Mine is in the attic.

http://www.wral.com/wral-tv/story/1180307/

I am interested in the Tivo HD and am in the Raleigh, NC area. I am only interested in the major networks and HD. Would I be better off getting a basic TWC subscription or can I get this stuff OTA? What type of issues might I run into with the programming guide? Does anyone know if I can get CableCards with a basic subscription? Thanks for the help.Good questions Doug. If you can get good reception and are OK with a (possibly unsightly) antenna, then OTA is the way to go. Check www.antennaweb.org to assess your reception quality beforehand. If OTA won't work for you, then you'll probably want to get CableCARDs along with your "analog" (basic or expanded) cable service; without CableCARDs, you won't get any guide data for the local network HD channels on your "analog" cable, thus breaking most of the TiVo features. Unknown if your cable company will allow you to lease CableCARDs without upgrading to a digital programming package; some do, but you'll have to check with them.

-Brian

Soon we will al be able to use SDV and it won't be a problem. :)I didn't see the word "soon" in that recent FCC filing. Furthermore, "soon" is a relative term, and what people consider as "soon" will vary widely.

I'm on Time Warner cable and I purchased a Tivo HD two weeks ago. I was on TWC digital with their lousy DVR. I just moved to this area and had DTV with the HR10-250 before the move. I was spoiled with the Tivo software.

I couldn't handle the TWC DVR, so I purchased the Tivo HD. It has been working great.

I set up the Tivo HD (without cablecards) and a cheap OTA antenna in my attic. I live 17 miles from the antenna farm so I can get all of the networks in HD without an amplifier or rotor.

TWC doesn't offer much in the way of HD yet, and the channels they do offer I wouldn't watch often anyway. So, I turned in my TWC DVR and downgraded to their expanded basic package.

The TIVO HD is working perfectly without some of the issues that have been prevalent with digital. I have all of the guide data for all cable and OTA channels, and the picture quality is superior to the TWC DVR.

Also, I'm saving money using the analog vs. the digital package, almost $30/month with no DVR rental. So that easily pays for the Tivo subscription with money left over. And, as a bonus, I'm getting some premium channels (HBO, Cinemax, etc.) because they are in the clear.

I know that when the plug is pulled on analog in about 18 months that I will need to make some changes, but for now, I'm a happy camper.

I would highly recommend the Tivo HD if you have cable and access to OTA. It works perfectly for me.

When the plug is "Pulled" on analog, that does not include cable just OTA. So unless your TW goes all digital you may have nothing to worry about.

Tivo released a software update today for the TivoHD to address the issues with Scientific Atlanta CableCards.

All customers should get it over the next several days.

Tivo released a software update today to address the issues with Scientific Atlanta CableCards.

All customers should get it over the next several days.


Here's where I have a problem with us talking about two different TiVo's in one thread. Now is this a release for the S3 and HD TiVo or just HD TiVo?

Here's where I have a problem with us talking about two different TiVo's in one thread. Now is this a release for the S3 and HD TiVo or just HD TiVo?My apologies. I've edited the post to fix that.

I am just about to pull the trigger on a new series 3 with lifetime subscription. With all the recent news and issues of SDV is this a smart move?

I assume you are purchasing one in a secondary market (Ebay, classifieds, etc.). In other words, there isn't a new lifetime promo being offered by Tivo now, is there?

My apologies. I've edited the post to fix that.

Thanks for taking the time to do that. :)

Greetings

I have not been reading this thread for a whle so forgive me if this has been addressed

I notice periodic macroblocking/slight breakup of part of the picture, on my Series 3

I have a S/A 3250 box connected to the same feed (via splitter) and the problem does not appear on the 3250

I know the problem has been reported previously: is there a fix for this yet?

Greetings

I have not been reading this thread for a whle so forgive me if this has been addressed

I notice periodic macroblocking/slight breakup of part of the picture, on my Series 3

I have a S/A 3250 box connected to the same feed (via splitter) and the problem does not appear on the 3250

I know the problem has been reported previously: is there a fix for this yet?

To the best of my knowledge there has never been any confirmation that the problem you are describing is related to the S3 itself.

There will be from time to time pixelation, macro blocking on almost any channel. It comes and goes for me, as of late I haven't seen anything. And when you compare this to what my SA 8300 was like it is a world of difference. I actually thought those things were "suppose" to happen until I got the S3.

The first thing I always ask someone when they mention this is "Have you had your cable company come out and run a complete check on all the inputs and splitters running from TiVo to the outside boox (or pole)?" If you haven't then you probably should. Don't rely on what TiVo is telling the signal strength is, it's not that accurate. If you're getting a clear signal on all your connections then you should only see minimal problems. Weather, even good weather can affect HD signals also problems with the broadcasters equipment.

Greetings

I have not been reading this thread for a whle so forgive me if this has been addressed

I notice periodic macroblocking/slight breakup of part of the picture, on my Series 3

I have a S/A 3250 box connected to the same feed (via splitter) and the problem does not appear on the 3250

I know the problem has been reported previously: is there a fix for this yet?
Welcome to the club!!!

No fix.

Tivo has yet to make any statement on this issue. However, as Hook indicated, there are a lot of possible sources of pixelation. Eliminate those first before you take aim at Tivo. You can get a lot of signal quality info from your 3250 (signal strength, Signal to noise ratio, bit error rate etc) debug screens. For my situation, Im aiming at Tivo. Im still a fanboy though!!

I spent some time on this and am sure it is the S3

-checked signal levels with a Sencore signal strength meter on both outputs of the splitter

-both the S/A 3250 and S3 pictures are being displayed on two identical Sharp LC32 displays side by side

The 3250 PQ is rock solid: the S3 PQ shows the breakup every 15-30 minutes or so

Interesting that I read Tivo had a fix for their newer HD unit for a similar complaint

I spent some time on this and am sure it is the S3

-checked signal levels with a Sencore signal strength meter on both outputs of the splitter

-both the S/A 3250 and S3 pictures are being displayed on two identical Sharp LC32 displays side by side

The 3250 PQ is rock solid: the S3 PQ shows the breakup every 15-30 minutes or so

Interesting that I read Tivo had a fix for their newer HD unit for a similar complaint
Yup... Deja Vu. TWC has crawled over mine and finds nothing wrong. Ive changed amps, removed amps, zero splitters, attenuated, amplified, high pass filtered to no avail. Problem occurs (for me) only on encrypted channels. OTA is perfect. I see breakups every 3-7 mins. TWC boxes are rock solid (3250 and 8300HD) (but suck).

I spent some time on this and am sure it is the S3

-checked signal levels with a Sencore signal strength meter on both outputs of the splitter

-both the S/A 3250 and S3 pictures are being displayed on two identical Sharp LC32 displays side by side

The 3250 PQ is rock solid: the S3 PQ shows the breakup every 15-30 minutes or so

Interesting that I read Tivo had a fix for their newer HD unit for a similar complaint

There are sporadic comments on the TiVo Community Forum that reflect your complaints about macroblocking on the S3, but no official word from TiVo about the problem or a solution.

The most recent patches were intended to address the macroblocking in the TiVoHD platform. Last week's release addressed Motorola CableCARD related macroblocking, and yesterday's release targets macroblocking occurring with SA CableCARDs. Comments from users at TCF indicate that these patches are indeed cleaning up a vast majority of the issues that have been seen to date. Of course, this may not fix everyone's problems (read :signal strength, other uncontrollables), but it's looking good so far...

The patches were specific to the TiVoHD platform since it uses a different chipset to interact with the CableCARDs. I would imagine that TiVo has gone to school quite a bit over the past few weeks on CableCARD macroblocking issues, and that any comparable fixes that could be back-ported to the S3 would get done in the near future.

With the latest software update, the TivoHD went from being almost unwatchable (constant pixelization, audio dropouts) with Scientific Atlanta CableCards...to significantly more reliable than the Tivo Series3. Edit: This is definitely an overstatement. Most Series3 users have no problems with their SA CableCards.

Hopefully Tivo can improve the robustness of the Series3 with Scientific Atlanta CableCards. That said, you've got to keep in mind that the TivoHD and Tivo Series3 use entirely different QAM tuners and entirely different OpenCable (CableCard) receivers. While I am sure Tivo working with its hardware vendors to improve the robustness of the Series3 with SA CableCards, the updated driver code for the TivoHD doesn't necessarily help them with that.

Tivo was not happy with the OpenCable (CableCard) receiver support they were getting from the vendor whose solution they used in the Series3, which is one of the reasons why they went with a new company (XCode) for the OpenCable receiver in the TivoHD.

With the latest software update, the TivoHD went from being almost unwatchable (constant pixelization, audio dropouts) with Scientific Atlanta CableCards...to significantly more reliable than the Tivo Series3.What in the hell could you know that would possibly support this statement?

What in the hell could you know that would possibly support this statement?Same signal, same SA CableCards.

Occasional pixelization with the Series3, no pixelization with TivoHD.

"Significantly more reliable" is probably overstating it a bit. But going from 3-5 pixelizations per hour to zero is an improvement.

Same signal, same SA CableCards.

Occasional pixelization with the Series3, no pixelization with TivoHD.

"Significantly more reliable" is probably overstating it a bit. But going from 3-5 pixelizations per hour to zero is an improvement.

I agree, 3 to 5 times per hour is excessive. I use to get that every half an hour with my SA 8300.

I don't know why your S3 does that but mine certainly doesn't. I think I've seen pixelation aboout 2 days ago for a half a second and that's the first time I've seen any in months.

Which begs the question - If my S3 works just fine why doesn't yours?

I've known scsiraid from the TiVo Forum for some time now and I do believe for some reason some people are have pixelation problems with the S3 but for the majority of us that doesn't seem to be the case.

I agree, 3 to 5 times per hour is excessive. I use to get that every half an hour with my SA 8300.

I don't know why your S3 does that but mine certainly doesn't. I think I've seen pixelation aboout 2 days ago for a half a second and that's the first time I've seen any in months.

Which begs the question - If my S3 works just fine why doesn't yours?

I've known scsiraid from the TiVo Forum for some time now and I do believe for some reason some people are have pixelation problems with the S3 but for the majority of us that doesn't seem to be the case.

The question begged... is obviously the one that needs to be answered.

If you turn that same question around... you had 3-5 pixelations per hour with your 8300HD... I have ZERO with my 8300HD. Its enough to drive a person batty. Complete mirror image situations.

For me... There appears to be something in the encrypted cableco stream that the S3 just doesnt like.... Given that it is only with encrypted streams, the cablecard becomes a significant part of the mix. Its not defective hw since a replacement S3 with different cablecards does exactly the same thing. Its not encoding issues since side by side S3's both exhibit pixelation but do so at different times when recording the same show. Signal strength has been eliminated, no splitters, RG6-QS everywhere, replaced amps, coax connectors etc etc etc....

Just shoot me and get it over with quick.....

Same signal, same SA CableCards.

Occasional pixelization with the Series3, no pixelization with TivoHD.

"Significantly more reliable" is probably overstating it a bit. But going from 3-5 pixelizations per hour to zero is an improvement.
I don’t have a THD so I can’t comment on what the software fix for SA CableCARDs may have done to correct its well know pixelizing issues. I can say, though, that pixelizing on my cable channels with my S3 and Cox OKC’s SA cards has increased from virtually nonexistent to a frequent and annoying bug over the past few weeks. Since this has happened in the last few weeks and NEVER happens on my other HD DVR, an SA 8300HD from Cox, I am convinced that it is a TiVo bug.

By the way, the post to which you responded made me wonder whatever happened to common courtesy. This isn’t Usenet but it sure seemed like it. :)

The question begged... is obviously the one that needs to be answered.

If you turn that same question around... you had 3-5 pixelations per hour with your 8300HD... I have ZERO with my 8300HD. Its enough to drive a person batty. Complete mirror image situations.

For me... There appears to be something in the encrypted cableco stream that the S3 just doesnt like.... Given that it is only with encrypted streams, the cablecard becomes a significant part of the mix. Its not defective hw since a replacement S3 with different cablecards does exactly the same thing. Its not encoding issues since side by side S3's both exhibit pixelation but do so at different times when recording the same show. Signal strength has been eliminated, no splitters, RG6-QS everywhere, replaced amps, coax connectors etc etc etc....

Just shoot me and get it over with quick.....


I completely understand your frustration. And I am familiar that many over at the TiVo Forum have complained about this as well. So I know that you're not alone, and I don't think you're crazy.

It's frustrating for me to see people who have said the exact thing you say, that with their old cable company DVR they didn't have problems and when they got the S3 they did. Of course then I wonder why they got the S3 in the first place if their DVR was so darn good.:)

I hope someday you get it figured out. And I'd be happy to shoot you but my wife won't let me have a gun.;)

You know you can always count on Hook.:D

I completely understand your frustration. And I am familiar that many over at the TiVo Forum have complained about this as well. So I know that you're not alone, and I don't think you're crazy.

It's frustrating for me to see people who have said the exact thing you say, that with their old cable company DVR they didn't have problems and when they got the S3 they did. Of course then I wonder why they got the S3 in the first place if their DVR was so darn good.:)

I hope someday you get it figured out. And I'd be happy to shoot you but my wife won't let me have a gun.;)

You know you can always count on Hook.:D

Ill take the S3 and the pixelations over the 8300HD anyday!! :)

interesting

I called Tivo, got a case number, and was told they are aware of the problem and are working on a software update to resolve it: no time line given

interesting

I called Tivo, got a case number, and was told they are aware of the problem and are working on a software update to resolve it: no time line given

Oh I'm sure they are aware of it. I'm pretty sure scsiraid also has a case number and he's been complaining for months.

So how do you fix something that only a handful (relatively speaking) of people are having and not screw everything up for everyone else. I'm sure it's probably on the list of things to do. Maybe the next update will have a fix.

Ill take the S3 and the pixelations over the 8300HD anyday!! :)
Ya think? This is like taking the position that you will accept an all expense paid vaction to Paris as an alternative to paying your own way to Siberia. :)

That the 8300HD doesn't have the problems with pixelizing the S3 has, does not equate to taking a position that the 8300HD (especially if it has the horrible SARA software) is anything but grossly inferior to the S3. If that's wrong, then I wasted $900+ on my S3 and the transfer fee to shift Lifetime from my old S1 to it.

TTG and MRV coming to S3 and THD in Nov, according to TivoPony

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=365225

Hopefully a little more bang for your S3 bucks.

TTG and MRV coming to S3 and THD in Nov, according to TivoPony

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=365225

Hopefully a little more bang for your S3 bucks.

Cool! Is there a clean way to transfer these to Macs? I think Toast Titanium does this, but I would like the ability to send it to my iPod or iPhone cleanly...

TTG and MRV coming to S3 and THD in Nov, according to TivoPony

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=365225

Hopefully a little more bang for your S3 bucks.Subject to the whims of your provider's copy protection settings, of course. And good luck getting them to change it if they screw it up.

Oh I'm sure they are aware of it. I'm pretty sure scsiraid also has a case number and he's been complaining for months.

So how do you fix something that only a handful (relatively speaking) of people are having and not screw everything up for everyone else. I'm sure it's probably on the list of things to do. Maybe the next update will have a fix.

Yup... I have a case number and have been working with them since October.

TTG and MRV coming to S3 and THD in Nov, according to TivoPony

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=365225

Hopefully a little more bang for your S3 bucks.

Heh Heh...my birthday is in November. And I can just see that new TiVo HD replacing my cable companies box in the bedroom.:cool:

problem solved?

Looking through all the recommendations, I added a 3db attenuator at the S3 feed


I have been watching Tennis on CBS HD and it has been solid for 2 hrs

Software is 8.3.1-01-2-648


:)

problem solved?

Looking through all the recommendations, I added a 3db attenuator at the S3 feed


I have been watching Tennis on CBS HD and it has been solid for 2 hrs

Software is 8.3.1-01-2-648


:)

Outstanding news! Well for you anyway. It will take a couple of days to make sure. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

What is the 'best' remote to use with the TivoHD? I'm ready to buy a Harmony 880, but want to make sure it is easy to use with the TivoHD.

What is the 'best' remote to use with the TivoHD? I'm ready to buy a Harmony 880, but want to make sure it is easy to use with the TivoHD.

The 670 is the only Harmony remote that has an even close to reasonable button layout. The transport buttons on their other remotes are clustered together and all feel the same.

Harmony 720 works great.

Also - I have rarely seen any pixelation on the S3 with FIOS input.

Outstanding news! Well for you anyway. It will take a couple of days to make sure. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

just as a baseline:

Firmware is 8.3.1-01-2-648
S/A cards/ Comcast provider

I ended up with 9db of attenuation at the input of the S3!

I would say most of the issue is gone: on some channels, e.g. the Tennis matches, I watched extended periods with no breakups and no audio dropouts: when watching Starz I still see some issues but much less than before: I don't think the cableco techs take as much notice of too strong of a signal as opposed to a weak one

(I recall my Sharp LCD's, when they had cablecards [which I since removed because they were so problematic] were easily overloaded by a strong signal where the cableco boxes could handle the hot signal without problems)

just as a baseline:

Firmware is 8.3.1-01-2-648
S/A cards/ Comcast provider

I ended up with 9db of attenuation at the input of the S3!

I would say most of the issue is gone: on some channels, e.g. the Tennis matches, I watched extended periods with no breakups and no audio dropouts: when watching Starz I still see some issues but much less than before: I don't think the cableco techs take as much notice of too strong of a signal as opposed to a weak one

(I recall my Sharp LCD's, when they had cablecards [which I since removed because they were so problematic] were easily overloaded by a strong signal where the cableco boxes could handle the hot signal without problems)
What signal strength were you reading with your Sencore (with attenuators in place)?

I've noticed something similar, the S3 doesn't seem to like signals that are too "hot". With a Moto booster inline I get strength readings in the high 60's and low 70's, without the booster the numbers go to high 80's low 90's.

Reason I even tried playing with the amp was I was getting issues with a HDHR that is also on the cable feed so I was playing with different hookup combinations to boost the HDHR signal while not damaging the S3 signal.

When my latest round of CableCARDs were installed (it’s a long story) the Cox OKC tech who came to my house for the job also installed a 7dB signal amp. Ever since the signal reading my S3 gives me is ordinarily in the 90-95 range. For example, I am now recording a show on ESPN and another on TNT and the signal strength is running 90 to 95 on each.

As noted in an earlier post, the audio dropouts and pixelizing I have been experiencing in recent weeks have become annoying. The only saving grace is that this problem did not arise until long after Cox installed its signal amp.

When my latest round of CableCARDs were installed (it’s a long story) the Cox OKC tech who came to my house for the job also installed a 7dB signal amp. Ever since the signal reading my S3 gives me is ordinarily in the 90-95 range. For example, I am now recording a show on ESPN and another on TNT and the signal strength is running 90 to 95 on each.

As noted in an earlier post, the audio dropouts and pixelizing I have been experiencing in recent weeks have become annoying. The only saving grace is that this problem did not arise until long after Cox installed its signal amp.


It doesn't matter what TiVo says your signal is. It's what they read on their meter that is important. If your still having problems, call them out again. Too much signal is just as bad as too little.

When my latest round of CableCARDs were installed (it’s a long story) the Cox OKC tech who came to my house for the job also installed a 7dB signal amp. Ever since the signal reading my S3 gives me is ordinarily in the 90-95 range. For example, I am now recording a show on ESPN and another on TNT and the signal strength is running 90 to 95 on each.

As noted in an earlier post, the audio dropouts and pixelizing I have been experiencing in recent weeks have become annoying. The only saving grace is that this problem did not arise until long after Cox installed its signal amp.

Try bypassing the signal amp and see what happens. Or put a splitter in the line post-amp to drop the gain down. I'm guessing you're saying the problems started after the amp was put in?

Try bypassing the signal amp and see what happens. Or put a splitter in the line post-amp to drop the gain down. I'm guessing you're saying the problems started after the amp was put in?

I don't understand why he has to try this. When they came out to my house they checked all signals all the way out to the box to insure I was getting a proprer signal at each junction. People this isn't a guessing game. It's not trial and error. The cable company has the equipment to get it done correctly. And if they don't keep calling until you get a person who is competent enough to do it right.

Been lurkin' on this thread for a bit...

Was a DirecTivo lover for years... wanted HD.

Went HD with Comcast and used their Moto box. Hated it from the very first day, but it was 'free' with the service and the image was outstanding... when it worked. I went through 3 units before one worked well enough to keep. But its remote delays, crashes and idiotic interface was more than the wife and I could bare.:mad:

Called Verizon. FIOS not available in my area... EVER.:mad:
Called ATT - U-verse is not on the horizon in my area. :confused:

Bought a refurb S3 from TiVo (GREAT DEAL!!). Have had it for a week. Got the cable cards on Saturday. Stunning HD image. Better than the Moto box on its best day. It even makes SD look more pleasing (there's obviously just so much you can do).:D

Ahhhh... TiVo. It's so great. It makes sense. Perfect? No, but mighty close. The interface works flawlessly. :D

Thanks to all on this thread for posting good information and keeping it lively.

Cheers.

shane

I don't understand why he has to try this. When they came out to my house they checked all signals all the way out to the box to insure I was getting a proprer signal at each junction. People this isn't a guessing game. It's not trial and error. The cable company has the equipment to get it done correctly. And if they don't keep calling until you get a person who is competent enough to do it right.

I agree, you should have the cableco make sure you have a good signal, but sometimes what the cableco says is a good signal and what the S3 likes can be 2 different things. Theoretically they should be the same thing, but in practice they can be different. Remember, the cableco is probably optimizing for their equipment, the S3, other than the CCs, is not their equipment.

It's a simple thing to try, if it works, great, if not, then he always has the option of having them come out and try and fix it.

Try bypassing the signal amp and see what happens. Or put a splitter in the line post-amp to drop the gain down. I'm guessing you're saying the problems started after the amp was put in?
Actually, I had no pixelizing on cable for quit awhile after Cox installed the signal amp, so long in fact that I became convinced the signal amp was not part of the problem. Further, I am using the amp as a splitter to split the cable signal between my S3 and TV.

Fortunately the audio dropouts and pixelizing I experience on cable are an annoyance, at worst, and don’t prevent me from enjoying the shows I watch. Although the problem is not insignificant, it is mild enough that I am inclined to leave well enough alone with the signal amp.

My relatively mild problems with cable reception are in stark contrast to the pixelizing problems I used to have with OTA channels. At their worst, the audio dropouts and pixelizing on OTA recordings would come with such frequency that the show I had recorded was literally unwatchable. Sometimes TiVo would drop the signal and stop recording altogether. For whatever reason that problem has resolved and these days I rarely, if ever, see it on OTA recordings.

what I observed is changing signal levels from the Comcast feed:

there has been road construction in my area and much of the cableco lines were hit because they were improperly buried (i.e. buried just under the surface: not deep enough according to code)

From week to week as temporary repairs were made, and then new lines installed after construction, I saw signal levels change as much as +/- 15 db

Verizon has prewired my town with fiber and promise service to my street soon: I will switch to FIOS when available in the hope of seeing more stable service

From week to week as temporary repairs were made, and then new lines installed after construction, I saw signal levels change as much as +/- 15 db



This was something else I was going to mention. I've noticed the same thing. The signal levels from the cable feed can fluctuate over time and depending what they are doing upstream. The need for an amp at one point in time may be unnecessary at a later point down the road.

We have pole-mounted lines out here and I've seen differences in signal just from heat on very hot days.

Fortunately the audio dropouts and pixelizing I experience on cable are an annoyance, at worst, and don’t prevent me from enjoying the shows I watch. Although the problem is not insignificant, it is mild enough that I am inclined to leave well enough alone with the signal amp.



Switching the amp in and out of the line should be a simple procedure and might provide the results you want. Personally, the amount of problems you indicate you're having would annoy me significantly enough to do something about it, and now is the time to experiment before the fall TV/recording season starts. :D

Switching the amp in and out of the line should be a simple procedure and might provide the results you want. Personally, the amount of problems you indicate you're having would annoy me significantly enough to do something about it, and now is the time to experiment before the fall TV/recording season starts. :D

I've said this before but I'll say it again because I firmly believe that whenever you have an opportunity to take a shot at the SA 8300, you should.:)

When I had the SA 8300 I use to get drop outs, fragmentation, you name it constantly. It was rare that I watched a program that didn't have it. I blamed it on the broadcaster although I did notice I saw it less in sports events live.

What a treat it was when I got the S3. Not only was it superior in so many more ways then the SA 8300 in user friendlyness (is that a word) but it made me realize just what a pos the SA 8300 was.

Switching the amp in and out of the line should be a simple procedure and might provide the results you want. Personally, the amount of problems you indicate you're having would annoy me significantly enough to do something about it, and now is the time to experiment before the fall TV/recording season starts. :D
OK, you shamed me into it. :)

I disconnected the cable from the wall that was going into the amp and reconnected it to my S3. My impression after nearly an hour of close observation is that it hasn’t done any good. I watched and recorded an old Law & Order on TNT and continued to see pixelizing that was the same as before. TNT has been the worst offender where pixelizing is concerned. I also continue to get sound dropouts on ESPN2, just as I had with the old setup. I’ll let it cook for awhile and report more later.

Just to show that no good deed goes unpunished, I am without a cable connection to my TV’s tuner because I couldn’t find an unpowered splitter around here after I disconnected Cox’s amplified splitter. That’s probably no big deal, though, because it now looks as if I will be hooking up the amp again later today or tomorrow.

You guys probably all know this but I thought I would post anyway. Amazon Unbox is offering 3 NBC pilots for download through your TiVo. This is a good chance to check out some new shows before the new season goes into full swing.

OK, you shamed me into it. :)

I disconnected the cable from the wall that was going into the amp and reconnected it to my S3. My impression after nearly an hour of close observation is that it hasn’t done any good. I watched and recorded an old Law & Order on TNT and continued to see pixelizing that was the same as before. TNT has been the worst offender where pixelizing is concerned. I also continue to get sound dropouts on ESPN2, just as I had with the old setup. I’ll let it cook for awhile and report more later.

Just to show that no good deed goes unpunished, I am without a cable connection to my TV’s tuner because I couldn’t find an unpowered splitter around here after I disconnected Cox’s amplified splitter. That’s probably no big deal, though, because it now looks as if I will be hooking up the amp again later today or tomorrow.
Can you describe or diagram how your cable is distributed from the point at which it enters the house? or at least working backward from the outlet behind the TV. One thing that concerns me is the fact that you have the amp behind the TV.... that is not likely to be of much help to you as the 'damage' to the signal has already been done at that point. You really want any amplification to be as close to the cable entry point to the house as possible where it can counteract any distribution losses. For example, my amp is in the box on the side of the house right where the cable comes out of the ground. From the 'ground', the cable is split once with one leg to the cable modem and the other to the amp. My amp contains an 8 port splitter which drives directly to each room with a cable jack. This results in 0 db gain to each port referenced to the level coming directly from the cable out of the 'ground'.

OK, you shamed me into it. :)

I disconnected the cable from the wall that was going into the amp and reconnected it to my S3. My impression after nearly an hour of close observation is that it hasn’t done any good. I watched and recorded an old Law & Order on TNT and continued to see pixelizing that was the same as before. TNT has been the worst offender where pixelizing is concerned. I also continue to get sound dropouts on ESPN2, just as I had with the old setup. I’ll let it cook for awhile and report more later.

Just to show that no good deed goes unpunished, I am without a cable connection to my TV’s tuner because I couldn’t find an unpowered splitter around here after I disconnected Cox’s amplified splitter. That’s probably no big deal, though, because it now looks as if I will be hooking up the amp again later today or tomorrow.

Did you check any signal strength readings on the S3? Did they vary before and after? That meter is not the most accurate but it is somewhat useful.

It sounds like you're just getting a bad signal and the amp will not help one way or the other in that case.

I sent you a PM BTW.

Can you describe or diagram how your cable is distributed from the point at which it enters the house? or at least working backward from the outlet behind the TV. One thing that concerns me is the fact that you have the amp behind the TV.... that is not likely to be of much help to you as the 'damage' to the signal has already been done at that point. You really want any amplification to be as close to the cable entry point to the house as possible where it can counteract any distribution losses. For example, my amp is in the box on the side of the house right where the cable comes out of the ground. From the 'ground', the cable is split once with one leg to the cable modem and the other to the amp. My amp contains an 8 port splitter which drives directly to each room with a cable jack. This results in 0 db gain to each port referenced to the level coming directly from the cable out of the 'ground'.

Good points. Theoretically, with just 2 outlets the signal coming from the cableco should be sufficient to drive the 2 devices without an amp, but we all know how that goes...it's definitely worth a shot trying the amp in different locations.

You guys probably all know this but I thought I would post anyway. Amazon Unbox is offering 3 NBC pilots for download through your TiVo. This is a good chance to check out some new shows before the new season goes into full swing.

I like the Unbox service, I just wish they would do full 16x9 instead of letterboxing in a 4x3 image.

I like the Unbox service, I just wish they would do full 16x9 instead of letterboxing in a 4x3 image.

Hopefully they are going to add HD selections in the future.

And closed captioning.

I've fallen out of the habit of checking my "System Information" daily. Right now there is a piece of info that says DVR Name - <go to tivo.com and name this DVR> and I understand that many S3's and HD TiVo's are getting this message and TiVo is aware of the problem. So when I looked yesterday and saw a message that said "Cable Card 2 inactive" I ignored it.

So as a result I missed a recording, actually a couple of them but the S3 picked them up on another tuner later. Reboot fixed everything. I'll read about the baseball game I missed on line.

Point is, I think it's a good idea to remember to check this screen daily to kind of see whats going on with your TiVo. Check your temperature, and make sure the darn thing is working properly.

There should be no reason to check the TiVo daily. That is a rare occurance. I've had my Series3 boxes since December and have had no reason to check it daily. They have been flawless so far once the Comcast cable cards were working properly. All 6 Comcast cable cards have been working properly since early January.
Now with my two TiVoHD boxes I have connected with FIOS, I have one cable card that died on me, but that happened a couple of hours after the initial installation. Once I have that replaced I expect them to work without any problems as well. I just need to upgrade them to a Terabyte drive and a 750GB drive.

There should be no reason to check the TiVo daily. That is a rare occurance. I've had my Series3 boxes since December and have had no reason to check it daily. They have been flawless so far once the Comcast cable cards were working properly. All 6 Comcast cable cards have been working properly since early January.
Now with my two TiVoHD boxes I have connected with FIOS, I have one cable card that died on me, but that happened a couple of hours after the initial installation. Once I have that replaced I expect them to work without any problems as well. I just need to upgrade them to a Terabyte drive and a 750GB drive.

To each his own. I've never had to replace a cable card but so far I've had two occasions in one years time when I had to reboot to get either one or both of the cards active.

Since something like this can happen and you never know when it certainly doesn't hurt to look at the system information if not daily at least a few times a week. YMMV

Can you describe or diagram how your cable is distributed from the point at which it enters the house? or at least working backward from the outlet behind the TV. One thing that concerns me is the fact that you have the amp behind the TV.... that is not likely to be of much help to you as the 'damage' to the signal has already been done at that point. You really want any amplification to be as close to the cable entry point to the house as possible where it can counteract any distribution losses. For example, my amp is in the box on the side of the house right where the cable comes out of the ground. From the 'ground', the cable is split once with one leg to the cable modem and the other to the amp. My amp contains an 8 port splitter which drives directly to each room with a cable jack. This results in 0 db gain to each port referenced to the level coming directly from the cable out of the 'ground'.
scsiraid -- My cable comes into a box outside my house. From there, it is split into a signal for my cable modem and another for cable TV. The TV signal is distributed from a central point in my attic to at least eight outlets throughout my house. The distribution network was originally built in the ‘80s to distribute both the signal from my old C-Band dish and an external antenna for OTA. When my IRD died in 2000 I retired my old dish and subscribed to cable with Cox OKC. Cox installed a signal amplifier in my attic at that time and it, or its functional equivalent, has been in use ever since.

Earlier this year, the old coax from the network’s central point in the attic to the DVR in my big room failed and Cox replaced it – I have their wiring insurance, which paid dividends in that instance.

Cox’s signal amplifier that has the subject of discussion here was installed by the Cox tech who put in my latest CableCARDs for my S3 because, she said, her experience had been that CableCARD devices worked better with such an amplifier. That amp is located immediately behind my S3 in my big room.

Yesterday, I took kennan’s advice and disconnected the amplifier from my S3 in order to see if it would improve my pixelizing and audio dropout problem. It didn’t but it didn’t make it any worse, either. After I disconnected the amp, I started getting somewhat higher signal strength and S/N ratio reading from my S3 than I had been getting with the amp. Go figure.

I have modified my setup now in a manner worthy of Rube Goldberg. I have split the cable signal from the wall with a simple, unamplified two-way splitter from Radio Shack. I am sending one leg of it to the S3 and the other to the Cox’s signal amplifier, so that I can use its splitter function to allow me to use the cable tuner built into my TV and a second DVR.

I am going to have to bring the SA 8300HD I rent from Cox into my big room temporarily. It is usually in my kitchen eating area, connected to my other HDTV. I want to bring it into the big room because I have bought the PPV telecast of the Utah State v. Oklahoma football game this Saturday and don’t want to have to watch it in the kitchen. The PPV for the game is interactive, it is still video on demand, although it is not being shown on the OnDemand channel. Thus, CableCARD devices can’t see it. Bummer! Anyway, it looks like that problem will be solved, thanks to my Rube Goldberg fix.

scsiraid -- My cable comes into a box outside my house. From there, it is split into a signal for my cable modem and another for cable TV. The TV signal is distributed from a central point in my attic to at least eight outlets throughout my house. The distribution network was originally built in the ‘80s to distribute both the signal from my old C-Band dish and an external antenna for OTA. When my IRD died in 2000 I retired my old dish and subscribed to cable with Cox OKC. Cox installed a signal amplifier in my attic at that time and it, or its functional equivalent, has been in use ever since.

Earlier this year, the old coax from the network’s central point in the attic to the DVR in my big room failed and Cox replaced it – I have their wiring insurance, which paid dividends in that instance.

Cox’s signal amplifier that has the subject of discussion here was installed by the Cox tech who put in my latest CableCARDs for my S3 because, she said, her experience had been that CableCARD devices worked better with such an amplifier. That amp is located immediately behind my S3 in my big room.

Yesterday, I took kennan’s advice and disconnected the amplifier from my S3 in order to see if it would improve my pixelizing and audio dropout problem. It didn’t but it didn’t make it any worse, either. After I disconnected the amp, I started getting somewhat higher signal strength and S/N ratio reading from my S3 than I had been getting with the amp. Go figure.

I have modified my setup now in a manner worthy of Rube Goldberg. I have split the cable signal from the wall with a simple, unamplified two-way splitter from Radio Shack. I am sending one leg of it to the S3 and the other to the Cox’s signal amplifier, so that I can use its splitter function to allow me to use the cable tuner built into my TV and a second DVR.

I am going to have to bring the SA 8300HD I rent from Cox into my big room temporarily. It is usually in my kitchen eating area, connected to my other HDTV. I want to bring it into the big room because I have bought the PPV telecast of the Utah State v. Oklahoma football game this Saturday and don’t want to have to watch it in the kitchen. The PPV for the game is interactive, it is still video on demand, although it is not being shown on the OnDemand channel. Thus, CableCARD devices can’t see it. Bummer! Anyway, it looks like that problem will be solved, thanks to my Rube Goldberg fix.

So If I understand you correctly, You have an cable input in the attic going to an 8 way splitter feeding 8 lines throught the house. One of these lines is going to your S3 with an amp at the S3. In my opinion, that amp is doing nothing for you in that position. It should be in the attic between the cable from the first splitter and the input of the 8 way splitter. What kind of amplifier is it? Does it have model numbers etc? Does your coax have a type number on it? Is it RG-6 QS (Quad Shield?). Older RG59 coax isnt what you really want to use these days.

So If I understand you correctly, You have an cable input in the attic going to an 8 way splitter feeding 8 lines throught the house. One of these lines is going to your S3 with an amp at the S3. In my opinion, that amp is doing nothing for you in that position. It should be in the attic between the cable from the first splitter and the input of the 8 way splitter. What kind of amplifier is it? Does it have model numbers etc? Does your coax have a type number on it? Is it RG-6 QS (Quad Shield?). Older RG59 coax isnt what you really want to use these days.

Didn't he say that Cox installed a signal amp in the attic, and that is what feeds the 8 legs of the system?

Didn't he say that Cox installed a signal amp in the attic, and that is what feeds the 8 legs of the system?

I think he said the amp is directly behind the S3, so it looks like it is way 'downstream'....


Randy

gwsat said that there is an amp in the attic, and an additional amp immediately before the S3. I mentioned to him in a PM that I don't think that is an ideal situation as the amp/S3 is only going to amplify whatever crap is present in the amplified output of the attic amp.

I suggested he try running a line from the POE direct to the S3(through the window, across the lawn, whatever :p) for diagnostic purposes, at least he'll know if the incoming raw-unamplified signal is good, and if the interior wiring is the culprit.

gwsat said that there is an amp in the attic, and an additional amp immediately before the S3. I mentioned to him in a PM that I don't think that is an ideal situation as the amp/S3 is only going to amplify whatever crap is present in the amplified output of the attic amp.

I suggested he try running a line from the POE direct to the S3(through the window, across the lawn, whatever :p) for diagnostic purposes, at least he'll know if the incoming raw-unamplified signal is good, and if the interior wiring is the culprit.

After re-reading it a couple times, I think that is correct.... two amps... Agree 100% with you.. the second amp behind the S3 is gonna do little good and will increase the noise figure (which is bad) and perhaps overload the S3 tuner. Your suggestion is a good one... eliminate the existing wiring and see if it improves. It is possible that the house is wired with RG59 which could be adding to his problem. I would hope that cox insured that the 8way splitter in the attic was 1Ghz capable.

I agree with kennan’s assessment that the signal amp that Cox in my big room behind my S3 doesn’t help the signal. In fact, it seems to degrade it. At least my S3 gives consistently better signal strength and S/N ratio readings without the second amp in the loop than it does with it.

This whole exercise has been a good news, bad news situation for me because the audio dropouts and pixelizing I have been suffering from have been quite mild, so mild, in fact, they haven’t interfered with my ability to keep up with what is going on onscreen.

gwsat said that there is an amp in the attic, and an additional amp immediately before the S3.

DOH! I missed the one in the attic...oops.

Randy

I'm pretty much married to Cable/TiVo now as I picked up two TiVo HDs the other day. I lived through the CableCARD nightmare and learned a lot about them!

Just today I upgraded both of them to 500 GB drives (extremely easy) and now I can't wait for November's promised software release. I thought of swapping for Series3 units with the coming rebate but decided I rather have the new design and increased hard drive space for less money.

Since Comcast is taking over my cable company starting next year hopefully more HD will be on the way without SDV!

Since Comcast is taking over my cable company starting next year hopefully more HD will be on the way without SDV!

Hate to tell you this but Comcast has announced also that they are going to SDV, and quickly too. Your best hope is for the dongle.

Hate to tell you this but Comcast has announced also that they are going to SDV, and quickly too. Your best hope is for the dongle.That depends on your system. Most Comcast 860MHz systems won't be doing SDV anytime soon. I expect we will see the "Tivo SDV dongle" before most of these systems use SDV.

On the other hand, if you're on a 750MHz Comcast system with 70+ analog channels, SDV probably isn't far off.

Is there an easy way to find out how much recording space is available on the S3? Seems to me I haven't seen that.

How about the tivohd, does it have this info?

Thanks

Is there an easy way to find out how much recording space is available on the S3? Seems to me I haven't seen that.

How about the tivohd, does it have this info?

Thanks

One of the things that all TiVo's do not have is the disk space meter. It's been requested for years, but TiVo has never followed up.

It could be that the disk space meter that you see on Cable DVR's requires pip which is another feature TiVo does not have.

The best way to keep track of your disk space is to watch your "deleted" file. If it starts to empty quickly you know you are running low on disk space. Many people who use TiVo suggestions also use this as a way to check on their disk space.

Pretty soon the TiVo HD should have the eSATA available. When that happens and you add an eSATA you should have little to worry about.

I bet that if TiVo ever did add a disk space meter, then there would be just as many, if not more, complaints about the readings it provide -- either regarding accuracy or the complexity of the information it displays.

That's just it, it is impossible to make it accurate since 1 hour of HD will always vary depending on the resolution and how it was encoded and also how it's broadcast. So it is impossible to predict exactly how much space you have making a free space indicator useless.

I bet that if TiVo ever did add a disk space meter, then there would be just as many, if not more, complaints about the readings it provide -- either regarding accuracy or the complexity of the information it displays.


Knowing TiVo people I'd say you made a highly accurate statement.;)

Really? ReplayTV has had a "remaining time" indicator available since day 1...the series 3 is my first tivo, only got it because of it being hd. But I'm surprised that they can't (won't?) put in a remaining space indicator.

Anyway, thanks...I wanted it to be able to plan things like recording the whole season of 24, which I did last year, so I could watch it all in one week of late nights (fun way to do it - though I had to avoid spoilers during the season!).

Really? ReplayTV has had a "remaining time" indicator available since day 1...the series 3 is my first tivo, only got it because of it being hd. But I'm surprised that they can't (won't?) put in a remaining space indicator.

Anyway, thanks...I wanted it to be able to plan things like recording the whole season of 24, which I did last year, so I could watch it all in one week of late nights (fun way to do it - though I had to avoid spoilers during the season!).

Being an admitted ReplayTV fanboy, I hear what you are saying, but this is a completely different world...with the Replay you could only record analog SD. All the more recent DVRs can record analog SD, digital SD and digital HD, all of which have hugely different storage requirements...personally I would like to have information telling me the % of recording space remaining, but I can understand where that might lead to more confusion with a large part of their user base....

Randy

That's just it, it is impossible to make it accurate since 1 hour of HD will always vary depending on the resolution and how it was encoded and also how it's broadcast. So it is impossible to predict exactly how much space you have making a free space indicator useless.

Well, okay, a (convenient) "disk space used" indicator could be almost as good...then I can make an informed estimate for myself! (easier than going through and adding up the times of the shows I have recorded, would also account for the 30 minute buffers for live shows, etc...)

Really? ReplayTV has had a "remaining time" indicator available since day 1...the series 3 is my first tivo, only got it because of it being hd. But I'm surprised that they can't (won't?) put in a remaining space indicator.

Anyway, thanks...I wanted it to be able to plan things like recording the whole season of 24, which I did last year, so I could watch it all in one week of late nights (fun way to do it - though I had to avoid spoilers during the season!).


With 20 hours of HD recording you would not be able to do that at this time. Once you get eSATA you can add another 750gb or 1tb drive and you'll have plenty of room. That will probably happen before 24 comes on in January.

And I doubt that all but techies would appreciate "disk space remaining". The vast majority of potential customers speak in "hours and minutes" not bits and bytes.

And I doubt that all but techies would appreciate "disk space remaining". The vast majority of potential customers speak in "hours and minutes" not bits and bytes.

On my SA 8300 it was shown as what percentage of disk space was available. That was fine with me. I would just like to know aproximately how much space is left.

Well, okay, a (convenient) "disk space used" indicator could be almost as good...then I can make an informed estimate for myself! (easier than going through and adding up the times of the shows I have recorded, would also account for the 30 minute buffers for live shows, etc...)

FYI, the 30 min buffers don't use the same disk space used for recorded programs.

That depends on your system. Most Comcast 860MHz systems won't be doing SDV anytime soon. I expect we will see the "Tivo SDV dongle" before most of these systems use SDV.

On the other hand, if you're on a 750MHz Comcast system with 70+ analog channels, SDV probably isn't far off.
bfdtv -- In another forum somebody, perhaps it was you, explained that there are a number of ways available to cable companies to obtain more bandwidth for HD and that SDV is only one of them. Further, SDV is the least efficient among them because it doesn’t do much, if anything, to improve bandwidth utilization when it is used on heavily utilized channels.

Cox OKC recently notified me that they are upgrading their system in my neighborhood, which likely means they are going to upgrade to at least 860Mhz. At least I hope that’s what they meant, and not that they are rolling out SDV.

As I noted in a post earlier this week, I am already being victimized by my S3’s inability to handle interactive video. I had to move Cox’s SA 8300HD from my kitchen to my big room and connect it there in order to get ready to watch a PPV football game I ordered for tomorrow on my biggest HDTV. All of Cox OKC’s PPV is interactive these days. Thus, no Cox digital box, no PPV.

With 20 hours of HD recording you would not be able to do that at this time. Once you get eSATA you can add another 750gb or 1tb drive and you'll have plenty of room. That will probably happen before 24 comes on in January.

Oh, sure, I was referring to my series 3 for that example.

Though I do hope they make using the esata drive easy, without having to format it on a pc first...

And I doubt that all but techies would appreciate "disk space remaining". The vast majority of potential customers speak in "hours and minutes" not bits and bytes.

Sorry I wasn't clear - just a disk space remaining percentage would work...I wasn't expecting a bits and bytes display...

FYI, the 30 min buffers don't use the same disk space used for recorded programs.

okay, but are the 30 minute buffers included in the "20 hours of hd" recording spec on the tivohd, for example? I'm going to guess not, so I guess you're right, that the buffers don't have to be accounted for.

Anyway, where's that tivo wish list...I'd like to add a request for "disk space remaining", in a percentage display...or "percent of disk used", perhaps.

Oh, sure, I was referring to my series 3 for that example.

Though I do hope they make using the esata drive easy, without having to format it on a pc first...

I'm confused. I thought you said HD TiVo. For the S3 you can already enable eSATA by using kickstart 62. You are aware of that are you not?

I have an installer in my house today who is bewildered because he came with cable cards and has never installed them in Tivos before. Can anyone point me to a resource to help me/him?

Thanks,

David

I have an installer in my house today who is bewildered because he came with cable cards and has never installed them in Tivos before. Can anyone point me to a resource to help me/him?
Your Tivo came with an installation sheet. If you need another copy: Tivo Series3 CableCard Installation Instructions (http://customersupport.tivo.com/TivoCollection/07e4e622-2e6a-49c7-9885-68fcba4b991a/ins_content.html?cid=b03267a0-be94-4f14-8e2c-8ae7b4eb5249&anchor=undefined).

You may also want to see FAQs #10 through #12 on the CableCARD installation FAQ (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=363797).

I'm confused. I thought you said HD TiVo. For the S3 you can already enable eSATA by using kickstart 62. You are aware of that are you not?

haha...I was talking about both in the original post, asking if there was a way to find the amount of free disk space left...then I used recording a whole season of 24 on the series 3 as an example of why that'd be handy. I have a series 3 now, and am considering adding a tivohd. (Is it officially called a "tivohd" or "hd tivo"? I thought I saw a tivo employee calling it "tivohd".)

I haven't had a problem with the space on the series 3, but NO, I did not know about kickstart 62...guess I need to look into that! Is there a website I can look at for info? I'll see if I can find it with google or searching here.
What I'd like is being able to enable esata on the s3 with a tivo built-in function...though I don't know how simple it is to do with this kickstart 62. I'll look into it - thanks!

Here is a link to TivoCommunity with instructions on how to add the e-SATA to the S3.
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5124019&&#post5124019

Here is a link to TivoCommunity with instructions on how to add the e-SATA to the S3.
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5124019&&#post5124019

Thanks for providing him the link Moxie.

Ron, kickstart 62 is easy. It will "marry" your eSATA to your Tivo hard drive and then you can go to System Information to see how many hours of available recording time you have. I have 98 hours HD and 992 hours SD and that is only with a 500gb eSATA.

Here is a link to TivoCommunity with instructions on how to add the e-SATA to the S3.
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5124019&&#post5124019I was going to wait until TiVo blessed the external drives for my TiVo HDs since you need to marry the two drives currently. Since I had to open the box up I ended up simply installing 750 drives (just swapped out the 500s). It should be quieter and when TiVo blesses external storage maybe we can sneak in remote storage... now that would be cool.

I was going to wait until TiVo blessed the external drives for my TiVo HDs since you need to marry the two drives currently. Since I had to open the box up I ended up simply installing 750 drives (just swapped out the 500s). It should be quieter and when TiVo blesses external storage maybe we can sneak in remote storage... now that would be cool.

Kickstart 62 doesn't work with TiVo HD. So unless you are talking about an S3 you have to wait anyway.

I never did a swap on the HD because I have an extended warranty and opening it would have violated the warranty.

Kickstart 62 doesn't work with TiVo HD. So unless you are talking about an S3 you have to wait anyway.

I never did a swap on the HD because I have an extended warranty and opening it would have violated the warranty.Kickstart doesn't work but the external drive works starting with one of the later releases.

Warranty wise there isn't even a sticker to void. I'm guessing TiVo at worse could figure out you upgraded from their logs but if you throw the old hard drive back in there I seriously doubt the rest of the world would even have a chance.

Anyway the 750 drives ($179) are almost as much as the TiVo HDs by the time Best Buy discounts them and you throw in a few Reward Zone certificates.

Kickstart doesn't work but the external drive works starting with one of the later releases.

Warranty wise there isn't even a sticker to void.Right. With the Series3, you had to remove a sticker to upgrade the internal hard drive. There is no such sticker on the TivoHD.

As I noted in a post earlier this week, I am already being victimized by my S3’s inability to handle interactive video. I had to move Cox’s SA 8300HD from my kitchen to my big room and connect it there in order to get ready to watch a PPV football game I ordered for tomorrow on my biggest HDTV. All of Cox OKC’s PPV is interactive these days. Thus, no Cox digital box, no PPV.

You can't do call-in PPV? That's surprising...

Most places allow you to call; Cox here in San Diego allow you to order it online.

Is there an easy way to find out how much recording space is available on the S3? Seems to me I haven't seen that.

How about the tivohd, does it have this info?

ThanksWhat Hook says...the easiest way is when the disk approaches being full, shows in the deleted items folder begin disappearing (permanently deleted). Looking at how many shows you have in that folder gives you an indication of how much "free space" you have.

You can't do call-in PPV? That's surprising...
I can do call in PPV. Indeed, that was how I ordered the OU v. Utah State PPV telecast. But ordering by phone was redundant because I could have done it interactively with the cable box I rent from Cox OKC.

For the reasons I have described in earlier posts, I watched the PPV telecast of OU v. Utah State on the SA 8300HD, which I rent from Cox OKC, because my S3 couldn’t see the telecast.

I post here to report that the 8300HD’s SARA is even worse than I had remembered. It is HORRIBLE! You can’t check how much time has elapsed on a recording with out stopping it. You can only move forward by using fast forward because there is no 30 second skip feature. Using the thing is like trying to type while wearing boxing gloves. It will come as no surprise that I moved back to my S3 the instant I had seen the end of the telecast on the 8300HD.

Despite its current inability to receive interactive cable channels, I wouldn’t even consider a full refund for my S3 because the only other game in town, the 8300HD with its SARA software, is so awful. Be thankful gang, be very thankful!

I've decided to wait on using an external drive until TiVo releases supported code for it. If it works for you, fine, but having the capacity to save a lot of recordings doesn't help if you eventually end up losing it all due to some problem that you can't even complain to TiVo about.

I have say that is the decision I've made too. If I add eSATA now and it fails to work I've right to complain, if they release an eSATA drive and it fails, at least I can complain to them.

I have say that is the decision I've made too. If I add eSATA now and it fails to work I've right to complain, if they release an eSATA drive and it fails, at least I can complain to them.

I kind of understand feeling this way when the eSATA information first came out but it's been several months now and nothing has happened, nor do I believe anything will happen. Do you realize how many people have added eSATA to the S3? Why would TiVo decide to pull the plug on everyone now? Further, there is no legal reaso to worry as cablecards has given the OK on eSATA for the S3.

Just because TiVo doesn't give it's "blessing" doesn't mean you shouldn't use it. If that's the case then maybe you shouldn't use your 30 second skip and tick either.

Ok that's apples and oranges, before anyone brings it up. But I'll tell you right on out if your worried about TiVo pulling the plug, dude, your paranoid.:)

The fall season is here. There is lots to record. eSATA is available. Use it. If it "fails to work" return it to the store you bought it.

I kind of understand feeling this way when the eSATA information first came out but it's been several months now and nothing has happened, nor do I believe anything will happen. Do you realize how many people have added eSATA to the S3? Why would TiVo decide to pull the plug on everyone now? Further, there is no legal reaso to worry as cablecards has given the OK on eSATA for the S3.

Just because TiVo doesn't give it's "blessing" doesn't mean you shouldn't use it. If that's the case then maybe you shouldn't use your 30 second skip and tick either.

Ok that's apples and oranges, before anyone brings it up. But I'll tell you right on out if your worried about TiVo pulling the plug, dude, your paranoid.:)

The fall season is here. There is lots to record. eSATA is available. Use it. If it "fails to work" return it to the store you bought it.

I have to say, I kind of agree with the "wait for a bit" argument.

This code has very likely been run through it's paces in the test labs, and very likely a round or two of beta as well, so it's gotta be pretty close to stable. IMHO there's just enough reporting of troubles to give me pause, be it eSATA cable related troubles, software flakiness, or what have you.

One of the things that you learn when you write code for a living is that it's nearly impossible to track down all the bugs in a complex system before you ship. You can test until you're blue in the face round the clock, but inevitably some bugs get out there in the field and bite you in the ass. S-it happens...

I'm personally going to wait until the code is officially released, and really gets a beating by the general public. Once the most egregious remaining bugs are squashed, then I'll jump in with both feet.

Yeah--I guess that it's the software engineer viewpoint. When working on a prototype product, if you run into a bug you report it, and if fixing it gets assigned to you, you work on it, but if not, you stop messing with it until you hear that it's been fixed. In this case you can't even report the bug, because its not a supported feature of the product.

hookbill's contention that "if it doesn't work just take the drive back" is all well and good, but in my case I'd been using a drive for a couple of months before it failed and I lost 40+ hours worth of recordings, including some that I hadn't watched yet and which haven't aired again. I have no idea whether it was hardware or software and can't even test the drive with something else, because my computer doesn't have an eSATA interface (I bought the drive to use with an SA8300HD running SARA that I leased immediately before buying the TiVo). It really wasn't worth the risk.

If you are going to try using it, before you purchase a drive be sure to go to the TiVo community forum and study the Series3 eSATA Drive Expansion: FAQ + Discussion (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=350510) thread. Find out what people have had the greatest luck with and buy that.

Thanks for providing him the link Moxie.

Ron, kickstart 62 is easy. It will "marry" your eSATA to your Tivo hard drive and then you can go to System Information to see how many hours of available recording time you have. I have 98 hours HD and 992 hours SD and that is only with a 500gb eSATA.

Great!! Thank you very much for the link, too, Moxie. Hookbill - would you happen to have a link to the correct hard drive to get for this? I'm thinking I'd like to get a 750gb drive, if they're available. (If not, I'll look around in the forum to see if I can find it.)

Thanks for the help.

Well, I have something different to post about...I'm not sure where else to complain about this, and I'm pretty sure I'll have some sympathetic ears here...

I see the listings for the new tv season coming out next week...and I noticed that both CHUCK and JOURNEYMAN do not seem to be in high-def!! At least according to the tivo...and titantv.com also indicates the same thing - though they've been known to miss the hd flag before.

But initial indications (to me) seem to say these shows are not in hd...which personally means I won't be watching them! I'll check the pilots out, to see if maybe they are actually hd, but if they're not, well, then I just don't have time for them! I'm sure I'm in the minority, but I can't believe that any new shows coming out wouldn't be in hd, especially hour-long drama-type shows.

And while I'm at it, what excuse can there be these days for any pro football games to not be in hd?????

Sorry for the rant...

Well, I have something different to post about...I'm not sure where else to complain about this, and I'm pretty sure I'll have some sympathetic ears here...

I see the listings for the new tv season coming out next week...and I noticed that both CHUCK and JOURNEYMAN do not seem to be in high-def!! At least according to the tivo...and titantv.com also indicates the same thing - though they've been known to miss the hd flag before.

But initial indications (to me) seem to say these shows are not in hd...which personally means I won't be watching them! I'll check the pilots out, to see if maybe they are actually hd, but if they're not, well, then I just don't have time for them! I'm sure I'm in the minority, but I can't believe that any new shows coming out wouldn't be in hd, especially hour-long drama-type shows.

And while I'm at it, what excuse can there be these days for any pro football games to not be in hd?????

Sorry for the rant...


Sometimes Zap2it.com gets it wrong on the HD thing. I don't know why but I've seen many incidents in which they don't have the HD indication and the show is in HD. I would bet that the show will be in HD.

I've seen Chuck, my wife liked it more then I did so I set up an SP. I haven't looked at Journeyman yet. The Bionic Woman is great, this should be a big hit provided it gets watched. Excellent show even in SD.

I just looked here (http://www.titantv.com/quickguide/quickguide.aspx) at Titan TV listings and it shows Chuck as HD. :)

Now as far as your other question I just went down to a local electronic store named Micro Center and told them what I wanted. It has to be an eSATA II and have the correct cord. Log on to the Tivo Forum for more info there. Michaelscott provided a link above.

The Bionic Woman is great, this should be a big hit provided it gets watched. Excellent show even in SD.



Doesn't any show need to be watched to be a hit?:D

Doesn't any show need to be watched to be a hit?:D

Of course but you know how it goes. Heck they cancelled Jericho last year and after a write in they are bringing it back for 7 more episodes.

I think NBC was smart getting their new shows out for TiVo users. I'm not sure if you can get them from Amazon Unbox without TiVo but it was a great way to introduce their new shows without having to deal with competitive viewing. That Wednesday 9:00 spot for Bionic Woman has several shows I would like to watch and the fact that Boston Legal is starting at 9:30 when they first air it is going to further complicate viewing problems. Therefore, my comment "if it gets watched." ;)

Interesting feature on the Tivo HD.
Post 100 here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=11645689#post11645689
Does this work on the S3 ?

Interesting feature on the Tivo HD.
Post 100 here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=11645689#post11645689
Does this work on the S3 ?

Yes. Even worked on my Series 1 D-TiVo.:)

Interesting feature on the Tivo HD.
Post 100 here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=11645689#post11645689
Does this work on the S3 ?This is a standard feature called "skip to tick." It skips to the next "tick" on the progress bar.

The actual skip time will depend on the size of the tick. Each 'tick' on a three-hour recording will be much larger than a 'tick' on a one-hour recording.

I've had Tivo's for 6 years(DirecTv S1 and now the S3) and just last week found that if you use skip to tick in either the now playing list or ToDo list it will take you to the beginning or end of the list. On the S1 this sure beats paging. Anyone know if that's been around from day one? I feel like a kid that found an easter egg.:D

I've had Tivo's for 6 years(DirecTv S1 and now the S3) and just last week found that if you use skip to tick in either the now playing list or ToDo list it will take you to the beginning or end of the list. On the S1 this sure beats paging. Anyone know if that's been around from day one? I feel like a kid that found an easter egg.:D

I never knew about that! I'll have to try it.:)

Speaking of the "To Do List" isn't it great to see it filling up with all last years SP's returning?

Sometimes Zap2it.com gets it wrong on the HD thing. I don't know why but I've seen many incidents in which they don't have the HD indication and the show is in HD. I would bet that the show will be in HD.

I've seen Chuck, my wife liked it more then I did so I set up an SP. I haven't looked at Journeyman yet. The Bionic Woman is great, this should be a big hit provided it gets watched. Excellent show even in SD.

I just looked here (http://www.titantv.com/quickguide/quickguide.aspx) at Titan TV listings and it shows Chuck as HD. :)

Now as far as your other question I just went down to a local electronic store named Micro Center and told them what I wanted. It has to be an eSATA II and have the correct cord. Log on to the Tivo Forum for more info there. Michaelscott provided a link above.Bionic Woman was also initially listed as not being HD (I was searching for it using the HD filter and couldn't find it even within the 14 day window). But a day or so after it appeared in the overall search list, it was then listed using the HD filter....go figure...