So basically, all the channels I would want to multiroom view including copy shows (scifi/comedy/g4/techtv etc.) may be copy protected? Man.. back to the drawing board for me... gosh I hate cable companies

Mo

So basically, all the channels I would want to multiroom view including copy shows (scifi/comedy/g4/techtv etc.) may be copy protected? Man.. back to the drawing board for me... gosh I hate cable companies It depends on your provider, as noted above.

Verizon FiOS does not copy protect any channels so you can transfer everything with MRV and TiVoToGo. My area Comcast only uses copy protection on the premium movie channels; just about everything else is available for transfer with MRV and TiVoToGo.

Time Warner appears to be the worst 'offender' when it comes to copyright protection. Cox probably ranks second.

The "encoding rules" in the FCC regulations should be amended to disallow the use of the restrictive copy protection modes except where the content provider has explicitly requested it. Right now, use of Copy One Generation is largely at the whim of the local cable provider. HBO/Cinemax and a few other have publicly expressed their intent to use copy protection, but other cable networks probably don't care.

So basically, all the channels I would want to multiroom view including copy shows (scifi/comedy/g4/techtv etc.) may be copy protected? Man.. back to the drawing board for me... gosh I hate cable companies

Mo

No, not necessarily. It would depend if you have HD versions of these channels. Regular digital or analog channels generally arn't copy protected.

So basically, all the channels I would want to multiroom view including copy shows (scifi/comedy/g4/techtv etc.) may be copy protected? Sci Fi and G4 are both completely copy-protected here. I'm not sure if that's Sci Fi's and G4's doing, or Comcast's.

Sci Fi and G4 are both completely copy-protected here. I'm not sure if that's Sci Fi's and G4's doing, or Comcast's.


It's the cable company. They don't have those flags on my system. (TW).

Well, it could go either way: It could be that TW is failing to set the copy protection flag.

Also, it could also be a matter of procedures. I could imagine that those channels want a small amount of their programming protected. You system might decide to incur the cost of switching the flag on and off all the time, while my system might decide that that is too expensive and that if a network wants anything protected than everything gets protected.

So basically, all the channels I would want to multiroom view including copy shows (scifi/comedy/g4/techtv etc.) may be copy protected?With my cable provider (currently Insight - being converted to Comcast at the first of the year) every channel is protected outside of the OTA channels.

So for you the whole tivotogo and multiroom is useless, right? All because of stupid Comcast. Jeez I hate them. I hated them for the past 4 years. Nothing but nuisance. I liked RCN when they were around.

No, not necessarily. It would depend if you have HD versions of these channels. Regular digital or analog channels generally arn't copy protected.As I said before, it depends on the system that you're on. On mine, all the of the digital simulcasts of the analog channels are copy protected, even the simulcast of the analog over-the-air standard definition ones. They're perfectly at rights to do that under the current rule, since the analog versions are the true rebroadcasts and they're on the wire in unencrypted form, not marked with protection. Unfortunately, it's the digital simulcasts that get mapped to CableCARD, so I don't have access to the analog versions. If I record something from the standard def CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, PBS or CW channels to save space because it's not in HD anyway and I don't care about PQ of whatever it is, I can't use TTG to move it off; if I'd recorded it from the corresponding HD channel, I could have moved it. Of course, I'd rarely want to save something like that for posterity, anyway.

If I cared, I could probably complain about the digital simulcasts of the analog OTA channels, but the best I could hope for is that they'd stop mapping them to CableCARDs, giving access to the analog ones. I hear that most systems where they've deployed SDV have converted the digital simulcasts to SDV, giving the analog versions back to CableCARD users.

As for the digital tier stuff, it seems to be hit or miss. I only carry one optional digital tier to get The Tennis Channel; TTC isn't copy protected, and I've checked one or two others in its tier and they don't seem to be either. As might be expected, the SD digital HBO and Showtime tiers are copy protected. The non-OTA HD channels are a mixed bag, with about half of them protected (off the top of my head, I recall that neither Universal HD or MOJO are protected; I know that TNT and the ESPNs are).
So for you the whole tivotogo and multiroom is useless, right? All because of stupid Comcast. Jeez I hate them. I hated them for the past 4 years. Nothing but nuisance. I liked RCN when they were around.I wouldn't call them altogether useless; it depends on what you watch and want to save. I've preserved the entire season of my favorite couple of shows (Heroes, Friday Night Lights) to HDDs on my PC. I plan to get an HD DVD or Blu-ray disc writer so I can save them forever.

I have two really dumb questions that I have tried to search on, but I'm not getting any results. Believe it or not, this is my first tivo and I've been using the thing for six months, but I'm still not totally comfortable with it.

1. Are all the photos with program name and such on the front display of the S3 just mockups? The only time I see the program name on the front of my tivo is when I playback a recording. The only thing I have on my LED display is the clock. Is that all I should have, aside from the recording icon?

2. Is there anyway to get a mini-guide on the screen? I'm slowly getting used to the full screen guide, but I really prefer my old Motorola's two-line grid overlay so I can surf the guide while still watching my program. Does such a thing exist on the tivo?

Thanks.

I have two really dumb questions that I have tried to search on, but I'm not getting any results. Believe it or not, this is my first tivo and I've been using the thing for six months, but I'm still not totally comfortable with it.

1. Are all the photos with program name and such on the front display of the S3 just mockups? The only time I see the program name on the front of my tivo is when I playback a recording. The only thing I have on my LED display is the clock. Is that all I should have, aside from the recording icon?

2. Is there anyway to get a mini-guide on the screen? I'm slowly getting used to the full screen guide, but I really prefer my old Motorola's two-line grid overlay so I can surf the guide while still watching my program. Does such a thing exist on the tivo?No mini-guide--sorry. There's the channel-oriented "TiVo Live Guide" which you can see through and the time-oriented "Grid Guide" which you can only see through the top of (where the selected program description is displayed). Both cover most of the screen.

The S3's display should only show program names when it's making a recording. It shouldn't show the name of the recording that you're watching--try watching a recording and see if it's actually doing that. If so, you've got some unique firmware running on yours :). There's an orange dot on the display that blinks every time it sees a remote control command and a blue dot that illuminates when it's downloading something from the network (TTG, MRV, TiVoCast, Amazon Unbox, etc; the light doesn't seem to come on when it uploads, just on downloads).

Thank you, Michael! Everything's running normally then. :)

I have two really dumb questions that I have tried to search on, but I'm not getting any results. Believe it or not, this is my first tivo and I've been using the thing for six months, but I'm still not totally comfortable with it.

1. Are all the photos with program name and such on the front display of the S3 just mockups? The only time I see the program name on the front of my tivo is when I playback a recording. The only thing I have on my LED display is the clock. Is that all I should have, aside from the recording icon?

2. Is there anyway to get a mini-guide on the screen? I'm slowly getting used to the full screen guide, but I really prefer my old Motorola's two-line grid overlay so I can surf the guide while still watching my program. Does such a thing exist on the tivo?

Thanks.

Not stepping on your toes Michael I was typing you beat me to the punch. Just a little additional info.

1. Assuming you are talking about the front OLED display the name of the show it is recording and the time. Well, it also says READY, SET TIVO when you boot it.

2. No, that requires a pip and TiVo doesn't have that. You can change your guide to the "TV guide" display which is a bit easier to go through. However TiVo is really not designed for surfing and what you are asking for would require a pip. Many people have asked for it but they haven't given any and there is no reason to believe they ever will.

So for you the whole tivotogo and multiroom is useless, right?Not useless, no. Only a few channels are protected here. MRV and TTG works fine for most everything else.

I liked RCN when they were around.Ask yourself why they're no longer around........

not much time left but hope this helps someone get a deal for an large external esata hd for their S3.

$134 total shiped for a Vox 750GB external hard drive with esata and usb connection.

I understand this is not a branded name like WD/Seagate/Hitachi but they are probably using one of those brand names for the internal drive. This is a great deal and should work fine with the S3. an esata cable is also included so it should be pretty much a plug and play operation with a S3 and the current 9.2 software. With the standard internal drive on the S3 and this 750GB drive added through the esata port you should have approx ~131 hours of HD recording space or 1244 hours of SD space at best quality.

http://www.buy.com/prod/vox-v1-750gb...206181448.html

$214.99 and you may use google checkout to get $10 off or use this buy.com coupon to get 5% off

http://www.buy.com/retail/coupon.asp?prid=84773074

free shipping option.

Then there are 2 seperate $35 rebates (yes rebates suck!) but they are what makes this final price a great deal. Print out the rebate forms and send them in. The rebate forms says it requires the original upc barcode for both forms but I've run into this before and never had a problem using a copy for one. Just keep copies.

Vox 750gb ext eSata HD $ 214.99
5% off buy.com coupon -10.75
2 x $35 rebates -70.00
free shipping .00
______
final price $134.24

$134.24/750 = 17.9 cents per gig is a pretty good deal for 750GB with external enclosure and esata connection!

NOTE: This deal is good for Dec 4th and 5th only.

Nice price, but all drives do not work equally well for this purpose. For one thing, many external drives don't restart themselves over power failures (I tried one that didn't).

If you buy one of these be sure to give us a report if it's still working well for you after you've had it for a few months.

dssturbo1, I clicked on your link and got a message saying it's a bad link.:eek:

Seriously I don't know what's up with that but my question to you is did you find out what kind of cable it comes with and is it an eSATAII. eSATA won't work if the cable is incorrect.

You know it's been so long since I installed my eSATA I forgot what the heck it was. I looked at the top of my desk and I saw it's box. I got a Seagate internal hard drive and put it in an external case. Works great.

tried the $299 esata WD my book drive plug and play with 9.2 on tivo3..no go...5 attempts with full reboot following the directions for the offical tivo expansion also using the siig esata2 2meter cable..never showed up in system info or setting page for external storage..looks like build your own..buy official, or apricorn's dvr expander which is now close to $400...WD level 2 tech said that drive won't work..maybe a buffer too small, or the triple interface is stopping it from working

tried the $299 esata WD my book drive plug and play with 9.2 on tivo3..no go...5 attempts with full reboot following the directions for the offical tivo expansion also using the siig esata2 2meter cable..never showed up in system info or setting page for external storage..looks like build your own..buy official, or apricorn's dvr expander which is now close to $400...WD level 2 tech said that drive won't work..maybe a buffer too small, or the triple interface is stopping it from working

Did you try kickstart 62 (http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/04/how-to-use-your-tivo-series3-esata-port-to-add-an-external-driv/2)?

Did you try kickstart 62 (http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/04/how-to-use-your-tivo-series3-esata-port-to-add-an-external-driv/2)?

I thought KS62 had been disabled with the 9.x releases?

I thought KS62 had been disabled with the 9.x releases?

Yup. It has.

I also had a problem marrying a very high-end (rated for 24/7 server usage) Seagate drive to my S3, along with the community recommended Antec MX-1 enclosure with SIIG eSATA cable. No matter what I did, the drive would NOT be recognized by the Series3.

I swapped that Seagate out with a consumer-level Matrox (true Matrox, not rebadged Seagate BTW) and it was plug-n-play. Worked the first time out, no problems at all.

There's got to be some drive info that the S3/TiVoHD tries to key on, which may or may not be present in some drives.

The secondary PBS station in my area (KRWG channel 22 with digital on UHF 23) finally got a tower up on the mountain and broadcasts digitally. I only have OTA reception, no cable or satellite. Tivo carries the guide information for 22-1 which is the National PBS-HD feed and 22-3 which is the Spanish V-Me but neglected to include 22-2 which is the standard definition digital copy of the analog station.

In early November I sent in a report on the Tivo web site and a few days later received a reply from "Amy" that it would be taken care of within 14 days. I called Tivo on November 25th and was told it would go to a supervisor and be promptly resolved. Now I call and get a CSR who states that it it "out of their hands" and they only send a report on to Tribune who actually compiles the guides.

I could understand if this was a completely new channel and the station had to be contacted to determine their programming. In this case it is a very common situation of a PBS station carrying an exact copy of their analog channel on a digital sub-channel.

Yes, I can look at the guide for the analog channel then manually enter the digits to get to 22-2 and even set up a manual recording. This latest CSR told me that I may never get a guide for 22-2 and indicated that OTA customers had less support than cable customers. This is not the level of service I feel I am paying for.

Does anyone know who to contact over such a situation or have similar experiences?

In early November I sent in a report on the Tivo web site and a few days later received a reply from "Amy" that it would be taken care of within 14 days. I called Tivo on November 25th and was told it would go to a supervisor and be promptly resolved. Now I call and get a CSR who states that it it "out of their hands" and they only send a report on to Tribune who actually compiles the guides.

I could understand if this was a completely new channel and the station had to be contacted to determine their programming. In this case it is a very common situation of a PBS station carrying an exact copy of their analog channel on a digital sub-channel.



The CSR is right. Tribune Media is the one that needs to fix this. If you go to www.zap2it.com and enter the information for your reception, you will see that this guide exactly matches what TiVo shows you.

One of the things you can do is go to the "feedback" portion of that page and then follow EXACTLY the procedures to report guide changes. I don't know if that will help you very much but that is the only thing you can do.

I personally have had problems with getting new channels added and in every sense this is a new channel even though it's a copy of the analog version.

One thing you can try to do with TiVo is ask for an email confirmation of the digital channel from the station itself. Upon receipt of that email send it to www.lineup@tivo.com. Make sure they acknowledge receipt, call and ask for a level 3 technician.

The longest time I ever had getting a channel lineup change is 1 month. But I knew these other things so if it didn't happen within a couple weeks I moved forward.

Good luck.

Nice price, but all drives do not work equally well for this purpose. For one thing, many external drives don't restart themselves over power failures (I tried one that didn't).

If you buy one of these be sure to give us a report if it's still working well for you after you've had it for a few months.

yup understand but for the price it's worth a shot. not sure about these "new" $$ dvr specific drives??? I've had a 160gb drive in a replay dvr for over 5 years and has worked great, i think the biggest thing is just make sure they get good ventilation. or i could just take the internal drive out and set it up as the internal on one of my S3s or the Tivo HD. i plan on opening it just to check whcich drive they use anyway. as for a restart that's just one of the reasons i use a large APC UPS for battery backup.

dssturbo1, I clicked on your link and got a message saying it's a bad link.:eek:

Seriously I don't know what's up with that but my question to you is did you find out what kind of cable it comes with and is it an eSATAII. eSATA won't work if the cable is incorrect.

You know it's been so long since I installed my eSATA I forgot what the heck it was. I looked at the top of my desk and I saw it's box. I got a Seagate internal hard drive and put it in an external case. Works great.

hey hook, sorry about the bad link, i posted at tivo forums and copied it here and i thought i checked it to see if it linked ok. it was still on buy.com last night but it's over now and back up to $229

i know there have been some cable issues especially with some of the free agent pro installs. But if the cable doesn't work that is included i will try the trim fix or use some spare esata cables from monoprice.com and other esata enclosures from radio shack i got for $25 on black friday

yup understand but for the price it's worth a shot. not sure about these "new" $$ dvr specific drives???The external Seagate drive that I used eventually failed, dropping about 50 hours of recordings on the floor and I had no one to complain to, since it wasn't supported for the application. You might want to keep that in mind as you experiment--it's not just the cost of the drive that you'll lose if it ultimately doesn't work out.

The external Seagate drive that I used eventually failed, dropping about 50 hours of recordings on the floor and I had no one to complain to, since it wasn't supported for the application. You might want to keep that in mind as you experiment--it's not just the cost of the drive that you'll lose if it ultimately doesn't work out.

You know I've never understood this statement. "Supported." So what will TiVo do to compensate you if it happens with a supported drive. Your programing is lost anyway. And as far as the S3 goes I don't believe there are any "supported" eSATA.

Further if your Seagate eSATA failed you do have a warranty on it so you should have been able to return it. Maybe you just got a bad drive.

"Supported" means that if there is something they did wrong that prevents it from working, they'll fix it so that it works again. "Supported" doesn't mean "invincible".

You know I've never understood this statement. "Supported." So what will TiVo do to compensate you if it happens with a supported drive. Your programing is lost anyway. And as far as the S3 goes I don't believe there are any "supported" eSATA.

Further if your Seagate eSATA failed you do have a warranty on it so you should have been able to return it. Maybe you just got a bad drive."Supported" means that they've checked the unit out and that they've thoroughly tested the feature with the "supported" piece of equipment, both in house and in the field. It means that if it does fail, they'll take a report of the problem and at least make an effort to fix it, possibly restoring your recordings (possibly not :)). "Unsupported" means that they don't want to hear about it; even if the failure was their fault, the assumption will be that it was something that happened in your piece of unknown-quantity hardware.

"Supported" gives me warm fuzzies inside, knowing that I can at least yell at somebody else in case of catastrophic failure, which is some consolation :D.

"Supported" means that they've checked the unit out and that they've thoroughly tested the feature with the "supported" piece of equipment, both in house and in the field. It means that if it does fail, they'll take a report of the problem and at least make an effort to fix it, possibly restoring your recordings (possibly not :)). "Unsupported" means that they don't want to hear about it; even if the failure was their fault, the assumption will be that it was something that happened in your piece of unknown-quantity hardware.

"Supported" gives me warm fuzzies inside, knowing that I can at least yell at somebody else in case of catastrophic failure, which is some consolation :D.

lol....Now that is an honest answer.

Anyone who has had to deal with TiVo customer support knows that it can be quite an experience, depending on your issue. And restoring the recordings? Well, you already answered that.:)

So I'm clear I do understand the difference between supported and unsupported. I'm just willing to bet that the true amount of "support" you would be just them trying to figure out what went wrong.

And calling and yelling at people always makes me feel better.;)

supported means tivo gets a kickback from WD on the high price of the 500gb dvr expander.

some of tivos success has come from the allowed but unsupported use of larger internal and now external drives drives.

The external Seagate drive that I used eventually failed, dropping about 50 hours of recordings on the floor and I had no one to complain to, since it wasn't supported for the application. You might want to keep that in mind as you experiment--it's not just the cost of the drive that you'll lose if it ultimately doesn't work out.

oh i understand, i've had dvr's from replay, tivo, directv and dishnetwork. i've lost drives with 85+ programs and also lost dishnetwork programs just because they sent down "upgrade" software that killed the dvr. yup it was "supported" and they replaced the dvr but the 25+ recorded programs on it were lost.

supported means tivo gets a kickback from WD on the high price of the 500gb dvr expander.

some of tivos success has come from the allowed but unsupported use of larger internal and now external drives drives.

+1:)

me thinks so too.

supported means tivo gets a kickback from WD on the high price of the 500gb dvr expander.True. Supported also means that the TiVo HD will not use any other drive that you plug into it and neither will any future TiVo DVR, so savor your ability to use an inexpensive substitute with the S3.

that's why i just bought the second S3 for $348 after rebate when i could had another tivo hd for $209 with the cc deal.

tivo really should offer larger internal hard drives as an initial purchase option, i mean a 500gb tivo hd could easily be sold for $375-399 or a 750gb for $425-475.

TiVo doesn't really need to. Resellers sell them configured that way. Your numbers are way off though: TiVo 650 Hour SD / 70 Hour HD DVR = $579.00.

tivo sells the tivo hd for $299 and they could easily sell a 500gb model for $399. they would be making money. my numbers are not that far off, it just shows how overpriced weaknees 500gb for $579 pricing is.

It is easy to label a price you don't like as "overpriced". However, the reality is that consumers regularly underestimate what pricing should be.

It is easy to label a price you don't like as "overpriced". However, the reality is that consumers regularly underestimate what pricing should be.

Technically speaking everything is overpriced. It has to be, how else would you make a profit?

Can you do it yourself cheaper? Absolutely but not everyone, myself included is willing to open the box and do it. I'd much prefer paying weeknees.

Check that. I would prefer weeknees if I didn't have my wife who is so high tech she makes my head spin. She considers this childs play.:o

Technically speaking everything is overpriced. It has to be, how else would you make a profit?Yes, very good point.

Can you do it yourself cheaper? Absolutely but not everyone, myself included is willing to open the box and do it. I'd much prefer paying weeknees.Indeed, and it is not even a matter of will, for some of us -- some of us are just really bad with hardware, and are as likely as not to break something as effect the upgrade properly. That's where the value of the price incremental we're talking about stems from -- not from any value provided to folks who can readily and easily upgrade the box themselves, but rather from the value provided to folks who cannot.

In my area they moved channel 40 to channel 186. I was informed of this by TiVo (Cspan2 which I watch, well, never). So I got to channel 186 and I have guide info but also something on the bottom of the screen that says "channel not available."

I take a look at the diagnostic screen and I see nothing. Zip. So I'm guessing this is a TiVo problem.

I reboot. It still doesn't work.

So I call TiVo CS.

I get the Christmas greeting that they are busier then normal (surprise) and that it may take a while. A new menu option is available for TiVo's that are HD. I select that.

Bingo, CSR on the line just that quick. I tell him what's going on and the diagnostic info that I don't see. He sends me to channels to see if it's selected. I'm thinking "idiot that's the first thing I did." So I tell him it is. He then says "repeat guided setup" and I say yeah, OK thinking that ain't gonna fix this.

He tells me to stand by for the survay and for his trouble I slam him.

I then repeat guided set up. And wouldn't you know it fixed the problem. And I slammed the poor dude.

I feel like....subject line.:o

That guy was probably in line for a small Christmas bonus so he could afford to get Tiny Tim a toy for christmas and bring home some decorations and treat his family to a nice dinner. Now he's in his managers office getting a pink slip. ;)

That guy was probably in line for a small Christmas bonus so he could afford to get Tiny Tim a toy for christmas and bring home some decorations and treat his family to a nice dinner. Now he's in his managers office getting a pink slip. ;)

Wow, that makes me feel better. Let me go find a bus to jump in front of.:(

Hey guys, I hate to keep bringing this up, but I am still interested in Tivo. Could you guys please tell me your experience with tivotogo and multiroom with series 3 and Comcast? Anyone in Augusta? I called TIVO, and they said anything I can record, I can use with the two above features, is that true?
Thanks
Mo

Hey guys, I hate to keep bringing this up, but I am still interested in Tivo. Could you guys please tell me your experience with tivotogo and multiroom with series 3 and Comcast? Anyone in Augusta? I called TIVO, and they said anything I can record, I can use with the two above features, is that true?
Thanks
Mo

Mo, I don't have multiple TiVo's (yet) but I do use tivotogo to move programs from my hard drive that I may want to view later to my computer. It works great for that. I really don't think Tivo to go and multiroom have anything to do with a specific cable provider. The only problem you may have with them is the cable cards initial set up, then again if they follow the directions they shouldn't have problems.

One thing and this is important! The S3 will not transfer HD shows to a non HD TiVo. Also many cable companies use copy once on channels like HDnet, even though they are not suppose to. So those shows would not be transferable at all.

If I were to use a series 3 in the bedroom, is there a way to turn off the display so that it doesn't bother me at night?
Thanks
Mo

If I were to use a series 3 in the bedroom, is there a way to turn off the display so that it doesn't bother me at night?I'm a single guy who shares a house and all my HT stuff is in my bedroom (I was willing to share it, but there was nowhere to set it up in the common space; now I'm used to using my 46" 1080p LCD panel as a screen for my laptop, so it's now a permanent bedroom feature :)).

The TiVo S3's front panel display doesn't bother me with the default settings, but there are settings for changing the clock brightness to "Bright", "Regular", "Dim" and "Off" and a setting for disabling the LEDs though you can't stop the LED blink which acknowledges a remote button press. (Of course, if you're pressing remote buttons, you probably won't mind).

If I were to use a series 3 in the bedroom, is there a way to turn off the display so that it doesn't bother me at night?
I would have thought a more pressing question would have been, is there a way to make the S3's HD stop spinning so it doesn't make nearly as much noise each night? (Would setting it on Standby work - and if it was on Standby, would it still record scheduled recordings?)

That's pretty much the only thing keeping me from putting a TiVo in my bedroom.

-- Don

I would have thought a more pressing question would have been, is there a way to make the S3's HD stop spinning so it doesn't make nearly as much noise each night? (Would setting it on Standby work - and if it was on Standby, would it still record scheduled recordings?)

That's pretty much the only thing keeping me from putting a TiVo in my bedroom.

-- Don

Have you tried tuning both tuners to channels you don't receive? That should stop the buffering recordings from happening, I think...haven't tried it in awhile.

Well I did it, I bought a TIVO series 3 (again), and will have Comcast come out Saturday to put in cablecards. They didn't give me such a hastle this time, probably because I filed a complaint with the FCC. Anyway, you guys should have told me that this thing is actually audible! It is almost as noisy as my home theater pc which has 5 "toned down" fans. Does anyone have a TIvo HD ? Is that quieter? I need something for the bedroom.
Thanks
Mo

Well I did it, I bought a TIVO series 3 (again), and will have Comcast come out Saturday to put in cablecards. They didn't give me such a hastle this time, probably because I filed a complaint with the FCC. Anyway, you guys should have told me that this thing is actually audible! It is almost as noisy as my home theater pc which has 5 "toned down" fans. Does anyone have a TIvo HD ? Is that quieter? I need something for the bedroom.
Thanks
Mo

First the TiVo S3 that I own is quiet and I know this is on the board but "you should have told me" is a rather unpolite statement as it reads. Since I don't want another "you should have told me" make sure that when they come out to install your cable cards that they follow the instructions exactly. Remind them that this is your equiptment and if they don't follow instructions you will hold them responsible (only if they start to do something different).

Good luck on your install, I'm sure you will enjoy your S3.

You should have told me not to use "you should have told me"

You should have told me not to use "you should have told me"

hmmmm....where's that ignore button....

Yup, another quiet TiVo S3 here.

My S3 is silent, so far as I can tell. Maybe you have a bad unit.

I have so many other noisy pieces of equipment (the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and even my 46" Mitsubishi LCD panel, which has a mildly faulty PS--common problem for the model--which tends to make a constant scratchy "cricket" noise when displaying images with lot of bright areas, like now, as I use it as a display for my laptop). If I turn off the LCD panel all I can hear is the gentle sound of the fans in the laptop; nothing from the TiVo.

First the TiVo S3 that I own is quiet and I know this is on the board but "you should have told me" is a rather unpolite statement as it reads. Since I don't want another "you should have told me" make sure that when they come out to install your cable cards that they follow the instructions exactly. Remind them that this is your equiptment and if they don't follow instructions you will hold them responsible (only if they start to do something different).

Good luck on your install, I'm sure you will enjoy your S3.

Quiet Tivo here!

Comcast guy came out yesterday with 2 M Cards, spent about 2 hours trying to get it to work even though I told him I thought my signal level was too high. He measured and it averaged out to 19dB so after 2 hours of no joy with the Cablecard he padded the signal and hey presto Cablecard #2 activated, took about 10 more minutes and Cablecard 2 came on line. By the time he left all channels working on both cards.

However! This morning no digital tier no multiplexes and no HD except for unencrypted off-airs. Everyone at Comcast scratching their heads trying to figure it out and they want to send out a tech. Will keep you all updated as the saga progresses.

Quiet S3 here as well.

....you guys should have told me that this thing is actually audible! It is almost as noisy as my home theater pc which has 5 "toned down" fans....I think the reason "us guys" didn't tell you is because of what you're seeing in these responses....our S3s are vewy vewy quiet...including mine....of course, I'm deaf in one ear and can't hear with the other.... Seriously, though, mine is whisper quiet. I cannot hear it from six feet away.

Okay.. okay.. so maybe the thing isnt too loud. Wish me luck tommorow.. I am excited!
Mo!

Don't feel bad, mine is just about a year old and is noisy enough to know it is there.

I didn't also know there is a standby mode. That would be the easiest thing to do to reduce noise and light. i hope in the future they could make a timer for this? So it is up and running when needed, but would go into this standby mode when not in use for a few hours or so..

Mo

I didn't also know there is a standby mode. That would be the easiest thing to do to reduce noise and light. i hope in the future they could make a timer for this? So it is up and running when needed, but would go into this standby mode when not in use for a few hours or so..

Mo

When it is in "stand by" it still continues to record and if you have a recording schedule it will record as it is suppose to. If you take it out of stand by and turn on your TV you will see a green bar indicating it has been recording all along.

Since the hard drive is still running I doubt it will make it any less quiet.

The S3 is exceptionally quiet compared to DVRs I've owned in the past. If you guys are having issues with loud S3s then there is probably an issue with the box.

Or, you may just be a pain in the @$$ customer?! :D If the employees in stores you frequent roll their eyes when they see you coming, good news, your TiVo is OK! :)

Well the comcast guy came out. It took less than 15 minutes to install the cards. Unfortunately when he left, I realized that I was getting channels 2-99 and all the HD channels except for 2, and none of the channels between 100-180. Weird! So I called them back, they are going to call me. Any suggestions?

Tivotogo rocks! Although it is slow, it is worth it!

Mo!

Well the comcast guy came out. It took less than 15 minutes to install the cards. Unfortunately when he left, I realized that I was getting channels 2-99 and all the HD channels except for 2, and none of the channels between 100-180. Weird! So I called them back, they are going to call me. Any suggestions?

Tivotogo rocks! Although it is slow, it is worth it!

Mo!

Suggestions? Your account needs to be 'balanced' and 'hits' resent to the cards.

Well the comcast guy came out. It took less than 15 minutes to install the cards. Unfortunately when he left, I realized that I was getting channels 2-99 and all the HD channels except for 2, and none of the channels between 100-180. Weird! So I called them back, they are going to call me. Any suggestions?

Tivotogo rocks! Although it is slow, it is worth it!

Mo!

Had nearly the same problem. Could get my digital package again afte r a visit last night but my SHO & HBO multiplex and HD channels were still not on until a tech came out this AM and got a senior CS tech on the line to confirm the info was in the right lines in the addressability system. 5 minutes later one good hit and everything is working fine. This is with 2 M cards in the box, but as noted earlier in the thread the M cards look like S cards to the Series 3 anyway.

Hello all,

I'm a Verizon FiOS customer in Tampa and I'm trying to get my Tivo HD up and running. I had a Verizon guy at my house yesterday for 4 hours and he was unable to get the cablecards working. He activated them on his laptop, but the Tivo would never get past the spinning "acquiring channel information" screen. Now Verizon is trying to troubleshoot it as a MOCA problem, and I'm on the verge of pulling my hair out. I've tried telling the guy that the TiVO box isn't MOCA capable, so it shouldn't matter at all. The installer (and his buddy that showed up to help) are trying to say that the issue is my custom router that I use for work and my older NIM100. I tried explaining that VOD and guide updates work just fine on my DVR and the standard def box in the bedroom.

They seem to think that the cablecards need to hit the Moca side to be able to authenticate. This doesn't make any sense whatsoever to me and I'm starting to feel like I've fallen into their black hole.

Does anyone have any suggestions or a number I can call? I refuse to use the Verizon router because I use a special VPN router for work.

I hate being a "know it all" when the techs show up, but it really sucks that we know more on this board than they do.

Help, please!

They are sending the guy back today.. wow, I am actually impressed by the service. Dude.. where has tivo been my whole life. So far, I really like it. The tivotogo works awesome. The recordings are great! Does anyone have experience with two tivos? Can you for example record a show in the living room, go the bedroom, and watch that show, but skip to lets say the last 5 minutes of the show with no problems? Or does it need to download the whole show first?
Thanks
Mo

They are sending the guy back today.. wow, I am actually impressed by the service. Dude.. where has tivo been my whole life. So far, I really like it. The tivotogo works awesome. The recordings are great! Does anyone have experience with two tivos? Can you for example record a show in the living room, go the bedroom, and watch that show, but skip to lets say the last 5 minutes of the show with no problems? Or does it need to download the whole show first?
Thanks
MoMulti-Room Viewing (MRV) works by copying the program from one TiVo to another over your LAN. You can start watching it while it's copying, but you can't skip to the last 5 minutes until it's copied that much of it. Obviously the speed of copying depends on your network; for high-definition content, the copying might not go as fast as realtime, and if you start watching it quickly after you start the copy, you might catch up with the copy and have to wait for more of it to download before you can resume watching.

It's also possible that on your cable system, some content might not be accessible via TTG or MRV. The cable providers are allowed to mark anything that's not part of the core basic tier (the 20 or so channels that you get for the lowest possible price that must include rebroadcasts of local over-the-air stuff) as "Copy One Generation". Content that's marked that way cannot be copied off of the TiVo. It'll show up with a little slashed red circle beside it on TiVo Desktop's "Pick Recordings to Transfer" dialog. What content gets marked this way is completely at the discretion of your cable provider--some don't use it at all and some mark everything that they're allowed to with it. Mine marks a subset of channels--about half of my extended basic channels, HD and SD, are marked that way (for instance, TNT HD is but Universal HD is not) and all of my premium digital channels (HBO and Showtime). They also mark all of the digital simulcasts of the analog channels that way, even the ones whose analog versions can't be protected, so I can't copy recordings of non-digital over-the-air channels.

Right now, out of 30-some-odd recordings, 3 are non-transferrable: episodes of Dexter from HBO HD, Stargate Atlantis from Sci Fi and Explorer from National Geographic HD.

If tivo incorporates a faster ethernet port or streaming so that shows could be streamed and not transferred from one tivo to the other, and they supported streaming from NAS such as divx/xvid/vob/mkv files, TIVO could without a doubt be the one of the strongest contenders when it comes it to whole home media. I believe the whole concept of HTPC would die with that.
What do you guys think? It would definately make things more convenient

If they streamed it you would lose quality. And the TiVo S3 is the best when it comes to home media. In fact it is actually not a DVR but a DVM.

If they streamed it you would lose quality. And the TiVo S3 is the best when it comes to home media. In fact it is actually not a DVR but a DVM.

I haven't played with it lately, but streaming HD captures from a PC to a PS3 look as good as the original, actually, they are the original.

I think the reason you can't stream video to a TiVo is the TiVo converts the file into it's own format. A PS3 plays the standard MPEG file formats.

I haven't played with it lately, but streaming HD captures from a PC to a PS3 look as good as the original, actually, they are the original.

I think the reason you can't stream video to a TiVo is the TiVo converts the file into it's own format. A PS3 plays the standard MPEG file formats.TiVo records MPEG-2 from cable and over-the-air DTV. ".TiVo" is just a wrapper format (like AVI)--it contains the series title and episode information which .MPG files don't have fields for.

TiVo records MPEG-2 from cable and over-the-air DTV. ".TiVo" is just a wrapper format (like AVI)--it contains the series title and episode information which .MPG files don't have fields for.Right, and there are several free utilities to remove the .Tivo wrapper (giving you the MPG), like this one:

TiVo Decoder GUI 1.1 (http://www.gmonweb.com/portal/CodingFun/Downloads/tabid/54/grm2id/6/Default.aspx)

If you have VideoRedo, you can use the AutoProcessor add-on to automatically remove the Tivo wrapper from all recordings downloaded to your PC.

TiVo records MPEG-2 from cable and over-the-air DTV. ".TiVo" is just a wrapper format (like AVI)--it contains the series title and episode information which .MPG files don't have fields for.

No dispute here, but evidently applying that wrapper is what prevents streaming of a signal. I suppose the fact the the TiVo's actually transfer the file from one place to another prevents true streaming as well.

I think mohanman's point was, there's really no reason to physically transfer the file if the TiVo was capable of streaming it from another source. The PS3 works this way, in fact, in can work both ways, you can steam it from a media PC or actually transfer the file. With TiVo everything has to be at least starting to transfer before you can start viewing it. Point being, why move all that data around when they are ways that you don't have to?

It doesn't in any way prevent streaming of the content. A program running on TiVo knows how to open that file and how to get to the MPEG stored in it. TiVo simply chooses not to implement MRV as a streaming protocol. They don't implement TiVoCast or Amazon Unbox content transfers using a streaming protocol either. You can download MPG files to TiVo for playback and they won't stream them either--there just won't be any information available about the program. (Only a certain range of dimensions and bit rates are supported, but you can some MPG files back on TiVo).

It doesn't in any way prevent streaming of the content. A program running on TiVo knows how to open that file and how to get to the MPEG stored in it. TiVo simply chooses not to implement MRV as a streaming protocol. They don't implement TiVoCast or Amazon Unbox content transfers using a streaming protocol either. You can download MPG files to TiVo for playback and they won't stream them either--there just won't be any information available about the program. (Only a certain range of dimensions and bit rates are supported, but you can some MPG files back on TiVo).

"TiVo simply chooses not to implement MRV as a streaming protocol."

That's basically what I'm saying, why don't they? The TiVo could become much more of a media center device if it was capable of handling files like a PS3 does. I believe even audio/music files have to be in a type of MP3 format for the TiVo to use it.

Don't get me wrong, I think the TiVo is easily the best DVR available anywhere, but that's really all it is, with some nice features added. But wouldn't it be nice if it was a true media center, capable of handling/streaming multiple types of formats for both audio and video? It seems they are attempting to do so, but it's not really there yet.

Maybe it's something they'll try in a future product.

It might be nice if TiVo did a bunch of different things, but they don't choose to do them. The device clearly has the potential to do any of the things you mention, but they don't choose to do them. Why? Who knows. I'm sure that the idea of making the device into a general purpose streaming media player has been suggested, the technologies are all well known and easily available to them, but they're not choosing to go that way.

I believe that their support for MP3 playback from your PC is streaming and I'd guess that they're Rhapsody player also streams music. They just don't choose to stream video.

It might be nice if TiVo did a bunch of different things, but they don't choose to do them. The device clearly has the potential to do any of the things you mention, but they don't choose to do them. Why? Who knows. I'm sure that the idea of making the device into a general purpose streaming media player has been suggested, the technologies are all well known and easily available to them, but they're not choosing to go that way.

I believe that their support for MP3 playback from your PC is streaming and I'd guess that they're Rhapsody player also streams music. They just don't choose to stream video.

I believe it is too, but it would be nice if it streamed other audio formats as well, flac would be really nice, mp3 and Rhapsody are of little interest to me for a device connected to a home theater system.

It's always been somewhat of interest to me that the network connection on the TiVo seems to max out at only 30-40%(up to 30mbps for MRV, under 20mbps for anything else) of it's capacity(by that I mean a standard 100mbps connection). I suspect that with everything else the device is doing it simply doesn't have the horsepower to handle much more. It's possibly been scaled down to work with lower bandwidth wireless adapters as well.

Hey, it's basically a wish-list item, now that the price has dropped considerably it's understandable why some of this stuff is not implemented, but at the original $800 price it sure would have been nice. :)

If TIVO somehow managed to put their brains together with SageTV.. all my prayers would be answered:

1) An awesome PVR with dual tuners (in each unit)
2) A media center with videos (streaming, 1080p as the Sagetv extender does now)
3) Pictures
4) Music
5) On-line content
6) Ability to watch recorded shows, or set recordings on any unit in the home (as Sagetv extender does)

Mo!

Other than 1080p doesn't TiVo already do 1-6?

Well yeah..

but no divx/xvid/vob streaming that I know of. Except those transcoders which are useless. It should have a seperate library with thumbnails.

"TiVo simply chooses not to implement MRV as a streaming protocol."

That's basically what I'm saying, why don't they? The TiVo could become much more of a media center device if it was capable of handling files like a PS3 does. I believe even audio/music files have to be in a type of MP3 format for the TiVo to use it.The why they don’t is easy I think. It’s not their market. They have been trying for years to become mainstream and attempting to become a “media center” would only make it more difficult. Not to mention all of the resources they would have to redirect from their core business.

How mainstream are media centers today? By the time the market existed they would be out of business. I see the same complaint about Sonos… why don’t they steam video and offer this and that… again it’s not a techie product.

To exist they need to go mainstream and the less complex the better. Apple’s iPods pretty much proves this theory.

If tivo incorporates a faster ethernet port or streaming so that shows could be streamed and not transferred from one tivo to the other, and they supported streaming from NAS such as divx/xvid/vob/mkv files, TIVO could without a doubt be the one of the strongest contenders when it comes it to whole home media. I believe the whole concept of HTPC would die with that.
What do you guys think? It would definately make things more convenient

There's already MANY ways to stream Divx/Xvid/Mkv to a TiVo. The official TiVo solution would be TiVo Desktop Plus. It costs $25 and works pretty well. I'd argue a better solution is pyTivo, which is free, and supports streaming video, music and very recently pictures from a PC to the TiVo. I use pyTivo all the time, and it's pretty slick. Check it out.

pyTivo homepage (http://pytivo.armooo.net/)

pyTivo discussion on TCF (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=328459)

Other than 1080p doesn't TiVo already do 1-6?

Yes and nobody broadcast in 1080p. So what would be the point? And as pointed out by Paul there are apps to convert these other files.

Mo, I think you really should visit the TiVo Series 3 at the TiVo Forum page and real the frequently asked questions. That would save you a great deal of time and you would get many answers. I would be happy to provide a link but my relationship with them is, to put it in the best context, non existant.

Also look at the TiVo to Go page. Tons of information there.

There's already MANY ways to stream Divx/Xvid/Mkv to a TiVo. The official TiVo solution would be TiVo Desktop Plus. It costs $25 and works pretty well. I'd argue a better solution is pyTivo, which is free, and supports streaming video, music and very recently pictures from a PC to the TiVo. I use pyTivo all the time, and it's pretty slick. Check it out.

pyTivo homepage (http://pytivo.armooo.net/)

pyTivo discussion on TCF (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=328459)How is it "streaming", Paul? TiVo Desktop Plus can transcode various formats into formats that TiVo can play and then copy them onto the TiVo for playback; TiVo can start playing before the file is done, but it's still playing a file, and not a stream. Without some facility running on the TiVo for streaming playback of video, true streaming isn't possible. I stream stuff all the time to my Xbox 360 (I hate the Playstation 3's GUI passionately, so I never use it for the purpose); the same level of convenience is just not there with using TiVo to play media.

On the 360, I navigate to the Media blade and choose "Video"; it shows me a list of folders and/or files available on the last video source that I selected (I can press "X" and choose another source, being any connected storage device or any of a list of UPnP servers that it can see on the LAN). I select a file and press PLAY and it starts playing immediately--I can skip forward to the end immediately without waiting for it to download because it's not downloading it.

How is it "streaming", Paul? TiVo Desktop Plus can transcode various formats into formats that TiVo can play and then copy them onto the TiVo for playback; TiVo can start playing before the file is done, but it's still playing a file, and not a stream. Without some facility running on the TiVo for streaming playback of video, true streaming isn't possible. I stream stuff all the time to my Xbox 360 (I hate the Playstation 3's GUI passionately, so I never use it for the purpose); the same level of convenience is just not there with using TiVo to play media.

On the 360, I navigate to the Media blade and choose "Video"; it shows me a list of folders and/or files available on the last video source that I selected (I can press "X" and choose another source, being any connected storage device or any of a list of UPnP servers that it can see on the LAN). I select a file and press PLAY and it starts playing immediately--I can skip forward to the end immediately without waiting for it to download because it's not downloading it.

pyTivo presents nearly an identical experience. You can navigate to new folder(s) in Now Playing, which show you the videos that reside in that folder on the server (Linux, MacOS, Windows machine running pyTivo). You can select any number of files that exist in that folder, and they will be transcoded and streamed serially to the TiVo. The rate of transcode obviously depends upon the beefiness of your PC. Series3 and TiVoHD get a big help in that those machines can play back nearly any MPEG-2 format that's thrown at it, so transcodes occur in much quicker. Even on my modest Sempron 2.0 GHz machine, MKV encapsulated 720p videos stream in near real time to my Series3.

The only difference is that with pyTivo, you can't jump to the end of the video at the start of the transcode. It must process the file sequentially. This is a repercussion of the transcode occurring on the PC. The behaviour you note on the 360 is likely because the videos is being pulled via CIFS by the 360, and the transcode is occurring on the Xbox, which can seek to the end of the file and begin transcoding there. Other than that, I really don't see much of a difference between what you've described and what happens with pyTivo.

Outside of that, I don't see the significant difference between a "stream" and a "file". It all ends up being a flow of MPEG-2 video data being sent to the TiVo, which the user could play out on-the-fly or at completion. Unless you're referring to internet-sourced streams. No, pyTivo can not currently handle such items, but it's a VERY cool idea that would certainly be possible. I might bring it up on the pyTivo thread to gauge the interest in such a feature.

Does anyone know of a way to automatically have the date stamped into the .tivo file for tivotogo recordings? I have a bunch of recordings, but I can't tell which is which because there is no date at the end of the file, other then of course viewing in the tivo desktop.
Thanks
Mo

The only difference is that with pyTivo, you can't jump to the end of the video at the start of the transcode. It must process the file sequentially. This is a repercussion of the transcode occurring on the PC. The behaviour you note on the 360 is likely because the videos is being pulled via CIFS by the 360, and the transcode is occurring on the Xbox, which can seek to the end of the file and begin transcoding there. Other than that, I really don't see much of a difference between what you've described and what happens with pyTivo.

Outside of that, I don't see the significant difference between a "stream" and a "file". It all ends up being a flow of MPEG-2 video data being sent to the TiVo, which the user could play out on-the-fly or at completion. Unless you're referring to internet-sourced streams. No, pyTivo can not currently handle such items, but it's a VERY cool idea that would certainly be possible. I might bring it up on the pyTivo thread to gauge the interest in such a feature.The ability to randomly access all points in the video in realtime from the start of playback is the essential feature of "streaming". Though it may buffer a little of the video on the disc, real streaming is a special protocol between the player and the source where the player can tell the source to send it a specified portion of the video, now. No whole copy of the video is ever created or needed. All TiVo can do is download the file and let you play it back while it's downloading. Lots of network video sources do the same thing--you end up with a whole copy of the file somewhere in a network file cache on your system. One major advantage of true streaming is that I don't have to have the space to hold the entire video on the streaming playback device in order to watch it through to the end; with TiVo's play-a-file-while-I-download-it method, I do.

The problem with making pyTiVo a streaming video server is that it would require special capability on the TiVo side that's just not there; TiVo is not a streaming video client and it doesn't know the necessary protocols. It'd be nice if TiVo would do streaming from UPnP media servers, like Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and numerous network media player boxes out there; it's certainly within the capabilities of the device. TiVo has simply chosen not to add such a capability at this point.

Does anyone know of a way to automatically have the date stamped into the .tivo file for tivotogo recordings? I have a bunch of recordings, but I can't tell which is which because there is no date at the end of the file, other then of course viewing in the tivo desktop.
Thanks
MoWhen I use TiVo Desktop to copy something from my TiVo onto my PC, the file comes out named:Name of Series - ''Episode Title'' (Recorded MMM DD, YYYY, SSSS).TiVoWhere MMM is a 3-letter month (i.e., "Oct", "Nov", "Dec", etc), DD is the day of the month, YYYY is the year and SSSS is the station call letters. For example:Heroes - ''Four Months Later'' (Recorded Sep 24, 2007, KNSDDT).TiVoThe " - 'Episode Title'" part might be missing if the program is not an episodic series; all the the rest of the fields are always there.

Typically, I edit out that date and add the episode number, so my file is called:Heroes 2.01 - ''Four Months Later''.TiVoIt's cleaner looking and it lexically sorts into proper order.

That is weird, mine are just seem to be random numbers for example a program I recorded yesterday :

.1197791998 ??

I am pretty sure we are in December which would be 12... I don't see one in there?

Thanks
Mo

As far as I know about the whole streaming part.. if Sagetv can stream a video file or recorded program instantly, and i mean skipping around, fast forwarding without even a glitch.. then I think Tivo could stream too, and that is the way it should be.

Mo

Disappointing. Comcast sent another tech out today who had really no clue about cablecards. I still don't get some of the HD channels and digital channels, though I have a few more than I did yesterday.

They are sending out another "special" tech on Friday. Without those channels though, my Tivo experience is wonderful.

The ability to randomly access all points in the video in realtime from the start of playback is the essential feature of "streaming". Though it may buffer a little of the video on the disc, real streaming is a special protocol between the player and the source where the player can tell the source to send it a specified portion of the video, now. No whole copy of the video is ever created or needed. All TiVo can do is download the file and let you play it back while it's downloading. Lots of network video sources do the same thing--you end up with a whole copy of the file somewhere in a network file cache on your system. One major advantage of true streaming is that I don't have to have the space to hold the entire video on the streaming playback device in order to watch it through to the end; with TiVo's play-a-file-while-I-download-it method, I do.

Fine. However, I don't see how this is a huge win/loss. Granted, random I/O is nice, but I can't see how it is "essential". Under what circumstances is it necessary to set your file offset 75% of the way into a file and start playback ? I would think that 98% or more of all playback starts at the beginning, and plays serially to the end of the video.

Also, I've got hundreds of gigabytes in storage available to me, why do I need to worry about trying to optimize storage of a "streamed" video ?


The problem with making pyTiVo a streaming video server is that it would require special capability on the TiVo side that's just not there; TiVo is not a streaming video client and it doesn't know the necessary protocols. It'd be nice if TiVo would do streaming from UPnP media servers, like Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and numerous network media player boxes out there; it's certainly within the capabilities of the device. TiVo has simply chosen not to add such a capability at this point.

Of course there needs to be an API between the client and server to accomplish what you're referring to as "streaming". Under TiVo's current methodology, the TiVo acts as a client and instructs the TiVoDesktop/pyTivo server to begin streaming the video to the TiVo. There is no current convention for the TiVo to set the file pointer at an offset that is not the beginning of the file.

TiVo had to re-write the TTG/TTCB/MRV logic to support copyright restrictions to make the CableLabs guys happy. That's why it took so long for us Series3/TiVoHD guys to get it in the first place. Now that they have this fundamental piece in place, they could choose to extend it if they wish.

Can someone tell me how to disable Tivo from recording its own shows? Its filling up my HD!

Thanks

Can someone tell me how to disable Tivo from recording its own shows? Its filling up my HD!

Thanks

Tivo Central/Messages & Settings/Settings/Recordings/ then select do not record suggestions.

BTW, TiVo will remove suggested recordings if you leave it on to make space for your own recordings. Your request superseed TiVo Suggestions.

I personally do not use TiVo Suggestions, but many like it.

Fine. However, I don't see how this is a huge win/loss. Granted, random I/O is nice, but I can't see how it is "essential". Under what circumstances is it necessary to set your file offset 75% of the way into a file and start playback ? I would think that 98% or more of all playback starts at the beginning, and plays serially to the end of the video.

Also, I've got hundreds of gigabytes in storage available to me, why do I need to worry about trying to optimize storage of a "streamed" video ?

Of course there needs to be an API between the client and server to accomplish what you're referring to as "streaming". Under TiVo's current methodology, the TiVo acts as a client and instructs the TiVoDesktop/pyTivo server to begin streaming the video to the TiVo. There is no current convention for the TiVo to set the file pointer at an offset that is not the beginning of the file.

TiVo had to re-write the TTG/TTCB/MRV logic to support copyright restrictions to make the CableLabs guys happy. That's why it took so long for us Series3/TiVoHD guys to get it in the first place. Now that they have this fundamental piece in place, they could choose to extend it if they wish.Paul, what I refer to as streaming is media streaming and TiVo doesn't do it with video. When TiVo plays back a video clip, it's always just reading a file from its HDD and playing it--that is not streaming, even when you do it while downloading the file, and using the term to describe it is wrong (IMHO, but you go right ahead, if it makes you happy). Streaming video involves receiving network transmitted media and playing it almost immediately--there is usually some buffering to compensate for the bursty nature of networks, but it's minimal; many streaming video playback devices don't have hard drives, and what buffering they do is done in memory.

The point of the streaming playback model is that the media doesn't live on the playback client and you don't have to wait for any significant chunk of it to be downloaded in order to play it and you have random access to the content from the beginning of playback. You may not have a use for this, but there are folks who've ripped every DVD in their collection and stored them in online servers--some have many terabytes of video which they want to be able to access and play at any of multiple locations in their homes instantly. (There's an entire AVS forum for Digital Media Servers & Content Streamers (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=39)). TiVo Desktop and/or pyTiVo coupled with TTCB are not solutions which would satisfy their needs. TiVo could add software to act as a client for the standardized Universal PnP streaming media servers (which would probably make these video hoarding people very happy), but they haven't yet. Who knows? They may someday see a business case for it.

Sorry to keep bothering. Does anyone here use tivotogo with mac? Is there a way to get the programs that are downloaded to automatically convert to lets say divx? Anyone know of a program?

Thanks
Mo

Paul, what I refer to as streaming is media streaming and TiVo doesn't do it with video. When TiVo plays back a video clip, it's always just reading a file from its HDD and playing it--that is not streaming, even when you do it while downloading the file, and using the term to describe it is wrong (IMHO, but you go right ahead, if it makes you happy). Streaming video involves receiving network transmitted media and playing it almost immediately--there is usually some buffering to compensate for the bursty nature of networks, but it's minimal; many streaming video playback devices don't have hard drives, and what buffering they do is done in memory.

The point of the streaming playback model is that the media doesn't live on the playback client and you don't have to wait for any significant chunk of it to be downloaded in order to play it and you have random access to the content from the beginning of playback. You may not have a use for this, but there are folks who've ripped every DVD in their collection and stored them in online servers--some have many terabytes of video which they want to be able to access and play at any of multiple locations in their homes instantly. (There's an entire AVS forum for Digital Media Servers & Content Streamers (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=39)). TiVo Desktop and/or pyTiVo coupled with TTCB are not solutions which would satisfy their needs. TiVo could add software to act as a client for the standardized Universal PnP streaming media servers (which would probably make these video hoarding people very happy), but they haven't yet. Who knows? They may someday see a business case for it.

I'm well aware of the Servers/Streamers stuff that happens here at AVS. I poke in from time to time to see where things are at. BTW, they're not quite ready for prime time, IMHO. The Mvix and Tvix stuff looks interesting, but it's not sufficiently better or different from what my Series3 provides to get me to go and get one.

I'm also aware that people are accumulating VAST libraries of video. However, I don't see how the accumulation of such massive quantities of content warrants or mandates "STREAMING" per se. If I have a reasonably well-equipped PC hosting my files, I can watch content on demand with the TiVo in a manner that's likely to suffice a vast majority of the media hoarders out there. Granted, it's not as generic a solution as hosting the files on a NAS and "STREAMING" them to a streamer box like the Mvix, but it achieves essentially the same thing with non-dedicated hardware.

Should that not be a sufficient enough solution, if you know you're going to watch something, you could queue the transfer a wait a bit to begin your watching. Granted, this is not going to please the attention deficit disorder crowd out there who want it NOW(!!!), but it gets you your random access while watching on the TiVo. When you're done, delete the file, and you have no worries about tapping out your TiVo storage.

To get true "STREAMING" on the TiVo would require a network transport that's currently not bundled with it. Either NFS (fast, but semi-scary and semi-unreliable) or CIFS (network transport is slow, Samba's bloatware, and the protocol itself an always moving target because Microsoft won't release complete specs). Neither option is ideal for a company that strives to make operations exceedingly easy for users.

To get true "STREAMING" on the TiVo would require a network transport that's currently not bundled with it. Either NFS (fast, but semi-scary and semi-unreliable) or CIFS (network transport is slow, Samba's bloatware, and the protocol itself an always moving target because Microsoft won't release complete specs). Neither option is ideal for a company that strives to make operations exceedingly easy for users.Actually, there are specific protocols for streaming defined by the IETF and the UPnP Forum (http://www.upnp.org/) that they'd want to use to create the greatest level of conformance with a plethora of streaming media servers out there. Unlike NFS, these protocols are purpose specific and have nothing to do with providing general purpose access to arbitrary files.

I'm not a big streaming fan myself; the 46" 1080p LCD flatpanel that I view my TiVo S3 through is the screen that I'm viewing IE on while I edit this post, so any video that I have online I can play, instantly, on my PC on a large hi-def flatpanel display. I'm a Netflix subscriber and I sometimes use their "Watch Instantly" feature (true streaming with random access--not so "instant", perhaps, but not bad). There are some high def videos that I've downloaded that my PC (a 1.6 GHz Turion Mobile 64 with 1GB of RAM in a year-old HP laptop) is too wimpy to play back smoothly, so I fire up my Xbox 360 and stream them. (Curiously, the PC can handle playback of HD-resolution .TiVo files without breaking a sweat, but the MPEG-4/AVC codec that it has now is a CPU hogging dog). The 360 video player is a true UPnP streamer and it works great for this purpose over my local wired LAN; not so great over wireless, which is why I tossed my little wireless bridges and ran CAT6 cabling to all of my networked toys.

My point is that whatever your opinion of true media streaming, it does work for some people and that's what they want. They don't want to have to wait before playback and they want to be able to access any scene in any movie that they have online instantly. The things available for this might not be perfect, and though it may serve your needs adequately, what TiVo currently offers doesn't even come close to what these people are looking for. They want snappy, easy-to-navigate, pretty GUIs with cover-art and they don't want to have to download the files for playback and think about deleting them afterward.

My point is that whatever your opinion of true media streaming, it does work for some people and that's what they want. They don't want to have to wait before playback and they want to be able to access any scene in any movie that they have online instantly. The things available for this might not be perfect, and though it may serve your needs adequately, what TiVo currently offers doesn't even come close to what these people are looking for. They want snappy, easy-to-navigate, pretty GUIs with cover-art and they don't want to have to download the files for playback and think about deleting them afterward.

If that's what they want, then they'll have to do it with their dedicated hardware. That is a very niche area to play in, and I'm pretty sure TiVo doesn't think it's worth their while to allocate resources to cater to the lunatic fringe of an already smallish market.

If that's what they want, then they'll have to do it with their dedicated hardware. That is a very niche area to play in, and I'm pretty sure TiVo doesn't think it's worth their while to allocate resources to cater to the lunatic fringe of an already smallish market.Microsoft and Sony don't mind going there--both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 are UPnP streamers, and the 360 has a full-on implementation of Media Center Extender. Microsoft likes to think that all video in the future will be sold online, and that technologies like HD DVD and Blu-ray will fade :).

Whether the addition of video streaming technology will add enough additonal appeal to TiVo to make supporting it worthwhile is a marketing question that I can't answer. It would undoubtably sell some TiVos--enough to justify the effort? I don't know.

To get true "STREAMING" on the TiVo would require a network transport that's currently not bundled with it. Either NFS (fast, but semi-scary and semi-unreliable) or CIFS (network transport is slow, Samba's bloatware, and the protocol itself an always moving target because Microsoft won't release complete specs). Neither option is ideal for a company that strives to make operations exceedingly easy for users.

No, you would use a streaming protocol like RTSP with RTP as the transport. Trying to use a shared file system would be a hack to try to get the current system to work and would be a bad idea.

Microsoft and Sony don't mind going there--both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 are UPnP streamers, and the 360 has a full-on implementation of Media Center Extender. Microsoft likes to think that all video in the future will be sold online, and that technologies like HD DVD and Blu-ray will fade :).

Whether the addition of video streaming technology will add enough additonal appeal to TiVo to make supporting it worthwhile is a marketing question that I can't answer. It would undoubtably sell some TiVos--enough to justify the effort? I don't know.

The PS3 just added DivX and VC-1 (WMV) playback ability yesterday.

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2007/12/17/firmware-update-v210/
PlayStation.Blog » Firmware Update (v2.10)

Microsoft and Sony don't mind going there--both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 are UPnP streamers, and the 360 has a full-on implementation of Media Center Extender.

There's a fundamental difference between the hardware contained in an Xbox360/PS3, and that of a TiVo, which accounts for this difference in philosophy. The "gaming" boxes have HONKING fast CPUs, while the TiVo does not. This allows the "gaming" boxes to take in whatever video stream you'd like, and transcode and scale in on-the-fly within the box. The TiVo, on the other hand, has a very meager CPU and relies on the transcoding and scaling to be done by an external box. Until TiVo rolls out a Series4 or Series5 box that contains a Cell chip, or something similar, that's not going to change.

Microsoft likes to think that all video in the future will be sold online, and that technologies like HD DVD and Blu-ray will fade :).


I happen to agree with them. IMHO Physical formats will eventually go away, and it's simply of a matter of when that will occur. It's not unreasonable to think that once broadband becomes more prevalent, and at moderately higher speeds, that an entity like the iTunes Music Store would flourish for video as well as audio.

However, I don't want Microsoft anywhere near running such an entity. That would be a "bad thing" (tm).

There's a fundamental difference between the hardware contained in an Xbox360/PS3, and that of a TiVo, which accounts for this difference in philosophy. The "gaming" boxes have HONKING fast CPUs, while the TiVo does not. This allows the "gaming" boxes to take in whatever video stream you'd like, and transcode and scale in on-the-fly within the box. The TiVo, on the other hand, has a very meager CPU and relies on the transcoding and scaling to be done by an external box. Until TiVo rolls out a Series4 or Series5 box that contains a Cell chip, or something similar, that's not going to change.True. I have a friend who works on TiVo firmware and he thinks that not only is TiVo limited by the Series3 and HD's processors (the latter is apparently even wimpier, though I think the box has more applications RAM), to this point they've limited the extensions to things that can be done on the Series2. The S2's processor is completely maxed out.
I happen to agree with them. IMHO Physical formats will eventually go away, and it's simply of a matter of when that will occur. It's not unreasonable to think that once broadband becomes more prevalent, and at moderately higher speeds, that an entity like the iTunes Music Store would flourish for video as well as audio.

However, I don't want Microsoft anywhere near running such an entity. That would be a "bad thing" (tm).Microsoft won't "run" it, per se, but they'll be very involved in defining it. Already, Xbox Live Video Marketplace is probably the biggest single online source of HD video for rent and purchase (you can only rent theatrical release films there and you can only purchase television series episodes). Other online video sales/rental sources offer little to no HD, wherease XBLVM is about 20%. I'm sure that there'd be even more, except that the studios are being very cautious. I only wish that they'd encode captions, since I almost always use them when available.

Like Amazon Unbox, XBLVM is a download-then-playback model, with a playback during download allowed, after a large chunk is down, so it's not true streaming either. Over the open Internet you really can't acheive great quality with streaming yet.

Since you can watch a TiVo Cast as it's downloading isn't that considered streaming? Can we maybe put this one to bed?

Since you can watch a TiVo Cast as it's downloading isn't that considered streaming? Can we maybe put this one to bed?
Progressive Download is not streaming. A copy of the Program is being made on your TiVo. However, TiVo is allowing you to view the partial copy as it is being accumulated. For Streaming, a persistent copy wouldnt be placed on the TiVo.

True streaming may pass muster with the Cablecard license requirements and allow content with nonzero CCI (ie protected) to be MRV'd where the current 'make another copy' methodology doesnt.

Since you can watch a TiVo Cast as it's downloading isn't that considered streaming? Can we maybe put this one to bed?

I don't know but all this high tech talk between Michael and Paul sure put me to bed. These dudes are way over my head.:)

True streaming may pass muster with the Cablecard license requirements and allow content with nonzero CCI (ie protected) to be MRV'd where the current 'make another copy' methodology doesnt.

That makes sense since it never hits the HDD, true streaming would seem to be inherently more secure than actually transferring data from one physical location to another.

Progressive Download is not streaming. A copy of the Program is being made on your TiVo. However, TiVo is allowing you to view the partial copy as it is being accumulated. For Streaming, a persistent copy wouldnt be placed on the TiVo.

True streaming may pass muster with the Cablecard license requirements and allow content with nonzero CCI (ie protected) to be MRV'd where the current 'make another copy' methodology doesnt.

That makes sense since it never hits the HDD, true streaming would seem to be inherently more secure than actually transferring data from one physical location to another.

Saying "there's no persistent copy" and "it never hits the hard drive" are not the same.

The current TiVo model ("progressive download") is that the server flings data to the client (TiVo), which writes it to disk. When the transfer is finished, there is a complete copy of the content on disk, which resides there until the user whacks it.

Non-persistent streaming implies that the client maintains a "window" or "buffer" into which is puts the received content, from which it can play out. As data is received, the window slides forward. The window should be sufficiently large to ensure that you're not going to "underflow" and run out of content to play out.

Think of it as what a TiVo does when it buffers live TV. You've got a 30 minute sliding window, in which you can FF, FR and play. As time marches on, the start and end of the window advance as well.

No currently shipping TiVo has enough memory on board to house this buffer. If TiVo were to implement this function, it would have to buffer the content on disk. To make the CableLabs folks happy, TiVo would have to strike that temporary buffer from the disk whenever it was no longer needed.

I don't know but all this high tech talk between Michael and Paul sure put me to bed. These dudes are way over my head.:)
They're over my head, too, It's easy to be humble when you post to AVS Forum, isn't it? :)

Progressive Download is not streaming. A copy of the Program is being made on your TiVo. However, TiVo is allowing you to view the partial copy as it is being accumulated. For Streaming, a persistent copy wouldnt be placed on the TiVo.

True streaming may pass muster with the Cablecard license requirements and allow content with nonzero CCI (ie protected) to be MRV'd where the current 'make another copy' methodology doesnt.Ah, "Progressive Download"--thanks for giving that a formal name. It's very commonly used even in online PC video. It can be very clunky depending upon network conditions (but then, so can streaming) but it has the advantage that it always works independent upon the bitrate of the file. You may have to wait a very long time for a sufficient amount of the file to come down that playback is unlikely to catch up to it, but quality is uncompromised. Many streaming protocol uses on the open Internet will employ a few different versions of the video and dynamically switch to a crappier one if effective bandwidth to the client is compromised by network traffic.

I don't see where streaming has much to do with CableCARD; the purpose of CableCARDs is to protect digital cable video content as received through standard, television-tunable QAM-modulated MPEG Transport Streams from unauthorized use and/or distribution. Data received on DOCSIS channels (also QAM-modulated, but not "tunable" as TV), whether it be video or not, is not my cable provider's concern, beyond their responsibility to get it to me intact and at whatever speed I'm paying them for; if it's "high-value" video, maintaining the security of it is a problem for whoever is transmitting it over the Internet. If you buy a CableCARD compliant PC rig, I'm sure that they remain capable of running all of the common streaming server and client apps.

Ah, "Progressive Download"--thanks for giving that a formal name. It's very commonly used even in online PC video. It can be very clunky depending upon network conditions (but then, so can streaming) but it has the advantage that it always works independent upon the bitrate of the file. You may have to wait a very long time for a sufficient amount of the file to come down that playback is unlikely to catch up to it, but quality is uncompromised. Many streaming protocol uses on the open Internet will employ a few different versions of the video and dynamically switch to a crappier one if effective bandwidth to the client is compromised by network traffic.

I don't see where streaming has much to do with CableCARD; the purpose of CableCARDs is to protect digital cable video content as received through standard, television-tunable QAM-modulated MPEG Transport Streams from unauthorized use and/or distribution. Data received on DOCSIS channels (also QAM-modulated, but not "tunable" as TV), whether it be video or not, is not my cable provider's concern, beyond their responsibility to get it to me intact and at whatever speed I'm paying them for; if it's "high-value" video, maintaining the security of it is a problem for whoever is transmitting it over the Internet. If you buy a CableCARD compliant PC rig, I'm sure that they remain capable of running all of the common streaming server and client apps.

The cablecard angle is relative to MultiRoom Viewing of Encrypted QAM delivered programming with copy once flagging (perhaps not the main topic of the subthread but still applicable).... Currently TiVo cannot MRV content that is 'protected' as the current implementation creates a persistent copy that is accessable at will and violates the 'copy once' flagging of the original material. My hope was that a 'streaming' implementation that doesnt leave a persistent copy on the TiVo would be allowed even though the content was flagged 'copy once'.

Don't feel bad, mine is just about a year old and is noisy enough to know it is there.I have two TiVoHDs and noticed that the outer cases vibrate (at times) and this was the source of most of my noise. I really try to keep things quiet so when I was upgrading their hard drives I put painters tape in the inside of the cover right where they rub against the unit (right next to the mounting slots).

The cover still slid on without any issues and I haven’t heard any vibration noise for months.

Hello,

I'm giving a TiVO HD to my parents for Christmas. They have a Series 1 right now with analog cable. I'm hoping/assuming they can use it just fine as a dual-tuner TiVO without cable cards until they get their HD television with digital cable service, correct?

Thanks,

Jeff

I'm giving a TiVO HD to my parents for Christmas. They have a Series 1 right now with analog cable. I'm hoping/assuming they can use it just fine as a dual-tuner TiVO without cable cards until they get their HD television with digital cable service, correct?They'll be fine until they want any kind of digital cable at all. If their cable system has the local DTV channels, they'll be on the wire without the need to subscribe, but currently TiVo needs CableCARDs installed in order to map those channels and provide guide information for them. If they can figure out where they are they can tune them and even set up manual recordings on them; they just won't show up in the guide.

Does anyone know if you can access encrypted tivo shows on the add on external ESATA drive?
Thanks
Mo

Does anyone know if you can access encrypted tivo shows on the add on external ESATA drive?
Thanks
MoWhat do you mean, "access"? Are you talking about taking the drive off the TiVo and connecting it to your PC and trying to read it? I'm fairly certain that that's not possible. I believe that all content stored by TiVo is encrypted, whether it was encrypted on cable or not, or even recorded OTA. It's decrypted as it's passed via TiVo Desktop.

I'm not sure that if you disconnect an external HDD and reboot TiVo whether you can reconnect that HDD and restore the content on it. You can disconnect it, take it somewhere and later reconnect it as long as you haven't mucked it up, but if TiVo fully boots up without it and you later reconnect it it will destroy anything on the drive as part of adding it to its filesystem.

Does anyone know if you can access encrypted tivo shows on the add on external ESATA drive? The only way to access shows is to download them directly from the Tivo.

http://mysite.verizon.net/~fiosdvr/tivoweb_small.gif (http://mysite.verizon.net/~fiosdvr/tivoweb.png) http://mysite.verizon.net/~fiosdvr/tivodesktoptransfer_small.jpg (http://mysite.verizon.net/~fiosdvr/tivodesktoptransfer.png)

Open https://YourTivoIP/ in your web browser and use 'tivo' as the login with your Media Access Key as the password. If you don't know your TiVo's IP address, you can find it under Settings -> Phone & Network.

I am still trying to decide between the Series 3 and Tivo HD.

I know the "advantages" of the Series 3 include:
1. bigger hard drive
2. THX certification
3. new glo remote
4. ability to use any eSATA hard drive to expand, not just the TiVo certified

Two questions:
1. what disadvantages (aside from Price) would one have in getting the Series 3 which is older, versus the HD which is newer? i.e. if price was about the same, why wouldn't most people get the Series 3?
2. If my receiver is not THX certified (I use the new Onkyo 605) does the Series 3 make any difference in audio versis the HD?

Thanks

Jeff

I am still trying to decide between the Series 3 and Tivo HD.

I know the "advantages" of the Series 3 include:
1. bigger hard drive
2. THX certification
3. new glo remote
4. ability to use any eSATA hard drive to expand, not just the TiVo certified

Two questions:
1. what disadvantages (aside from Price) would one have in getting the Series 3 which is older, versus the HD which is newer? i.e. if price was about the same, why wouldn't most people get the Series 3?
2. If my receiver is not THX certified (I use the new Onkyo 605) does the Series 3 make any difference in audio versis the HD?

Thanks

Jeff

Another difference in the S3 and the TiVo HD is the OLED which tells what shows are being recorded (some say it's difficult to see from a distance) and the overall appearance. The S3 is better looking then the TiVo HD.

May not be a big deal to you but I thought you should know.


Now to answer your questions:

1. Most people want to save money and the S3 is still a bit higher then the TiVo HD.

2. Your HDTV does not have to be THX Certified. That has no difference at all. The THX certification means that the S3 has met a certain level of quality and technical standards.

Now having said that no one knows for sure whether or not the TiVo HD also meets those same standards. It could very well be and it may be that in order to make the TiVo HD less expensive TiVo decided not to have it THX Certified to save money. That is a question of great debate.

My TiVo HD has required 4 re-starts in the last 2 weeks. I've had it for 3-1/2 weeks.
In each case, it lost the ability to see cable programs, but has never lost ability to see antenna programs.

My cable provider is Cox in Tucson, AZ.
I have one M card.
I'm connected via network wireless adapter (TiVo brand)

My happy-it's gone, SA 8300 didn't experience this problem in more than 10 months of operation with the same cable connection.

Any recommendations? Is more information needed?

My TiVo HD has required 4 re-starts in the last 2 weeks. I've had it for 3-1/2 weeks.
In each case, it lost the ability to see cable programs, but has never lost ability to see antenna programs.

My cable provider is Cox in Tucson, AZ.
I have one M card.
I'm connected via network wireless adapter (TiVo brand)

My happy-it's gone, SA 8300 didn't experience this problem in more than 10 months of operation with the same cable connection.

Any recommendations? Is more information needed?

Yes, you're having a problem with your cable cards. Something is not right there. Have your cable company come out and double check everything. Make sure they call headend and verify that they have the correct information for each card in the proper slots.

Thanks Hook.

Only one card ... "M", made by SA, and it's in the slot 1, the one prescribed by the installation instructions. I watched the installation.

Does this change your analysis?

Thanks Hook.

Only one card ... "M", made by SA, and it's in the slot 1, the one prescribed by the installation instructions. I watched the installation.

Does this change your analysis?

Sorry I missed that.

When you say it "required" a restart what exactly happend? When you first get it restarts will occure as the software is upgraded. However you shouldn't lose your programing.

I would still have them switch the card out, you may just have a bad card. If that doesn't work then return the unit for another one.

Sorry I missed that.

When you say it "required" a restart what exactly happend?

The banner describing the program appears, but there is no program content. ALL cable channels. Restart corrects this every time.

None of the antenna channels are affected.

The banner describing the program appears, but there is no program content. ALL cable channels. Restart corrects this every time.

None of the antenna channels are affected.

Did you try a channel rescan?

The banner describing the program appears, but there is no program content. ALL cable channels. Restart corrects this every time.

None of the antenna channels are affected.

I saw this a lot on my Sony DVR. I had to swap the card to keep it from happening again.

Is there something different about the MCARD to be used in a TiVo S3 (or HD)? My cable company (Charter Atlanta) says that they can lease me an MCARD but they "do not offer a digital card for the TiVo.".??!! Sounds like they just refuse to support TiVo. Are they giving me the run around? What questions should I ask? I'd really like to get rid of my cable box and control everything through the TiVo. Thanks!

Is there something different about the MCARD to be used in a TiVo S3 (or HD)? My cable company (Charter Atlanta) says that they can lease me an MCARD but they "do not offer a digital card for the TiVo.".??!! Sounds like they just refuse to support TiVo. Are they giving me the run around? What questions should I ask? I'd really like to get rid of my cable box and control everything through the TiVo. Thanks!

Here is the reply I got:
"The M-Cards we lease are not programmed to work with the Tivo M-Card slot. The M-Card programs we lease works only with Digital Boxes/HD digital boxes As the FCC regulation required. Supporting M-card does not necessary make them work . Dish and satellite Boxes also support M-Cards , but the card program we lease does not work with these boxes, it all about the program not the card slot. I hope this will answer your question."

So... Charter does not offer a HD-DVR and actively blocks me from using one provided by someone else?? Makes no sense. It feels like they are forcing me to switch to satellite. Too bad, I really enjoy the TiVo interface.

Here is the reply I got:
"The M-Cards we lease are not programmed to work with the Tivo M-Card slot. The M-Card programs we lease works only with Digital Boxes/HD digital boxes As the FCC regulation required. Supporting M-card does not necessary make them work . Dish and satellite Boxes also support M-Cards , but the card program we lease does not work with these boxes, it all about the program not the card slot. I hope this will answer your question."

So... Charter does not offer a HD-DVR and actively blocks me from using one provided by someone else?? Makes no sense. It feels like they are forcing me to switch to satellite. Too bad, I really enjoy the TiVo interface.

Thats funny Richardlol I have 2 M Cards from Comcast running in my Series 3. I'll ask a Corporate Engineering Executive friend of mine from Charter to look into your problem.

Thats funny Richardlol I have 2 M Cards from Comcast running in my Series 3. I'll ask a Corporate Engineering Executive friend of mine from Charter to look into your problem.

Thanks! I'd understand if they wanted to lease a HD-DVR to me, but since they don't offer one it makes no sense. Charter cable and TiVo would be a good HD solution for me.

Thats funny Richardlol I have 2 M Cards from Comcast running in my Series 3. I'll ask a Corporate Engineering Executive friend of mine from Charter to look into your problem.

Just to clarify...TiVo HD will work with one M card. S3 still needs two.

Here is the reply I got:
"The M-Cards we lease are not programmed to work with the Tivo M-Card slot. The M-Card programs we lease works only with Digital Boxes/HD digital boxes As the FCC regulation required. Supporting M-card does not necessary make them work . Dish and satellite Boxes also support M-Cards , but the card program we lease does not work with these boxes, it all about the program not the card slot. I hope this will answer your question."

So... Charter does not offer a HD-DVR and actively blocks me from using one provided by someone else?? Makes no sense. It feels like they are forcing me to switch to satellite. Too bad, I really enjoy the TiVo interface.Good, God! What a load of BS. DISH Network and other satellite boxes do not support M-Cards or S-Cards and never will. Period.

Richardlol, if they refuse to cooperate call TiVo, explain the situation and they will do a 3 way call to CS. At that point they will explain the law and it should take care of your problem.

Did you try a channel rescan?


I'll do this next time, but I don't see how this would prevent recurrence. Or are you suggesting this to get more diagnostic information?

I'll do this next time, but I don't see how this would prevent recurrence. Or are you suggesting this to get more diagnostic information?

Put it this way. TiVo sent me a message saying there was a change in my channel line up. One channel had moved from 40 to 186. I went to 186 and although there was guide data there was not picture, sound, nothing on the diagnostic screen. I new this wasn't a cable company problem.

So the CSR I get at TW says "Do a channel rescan." I said, yeah, right like that's going to help.

I did it and it worked. So try it.

I only need 1 more referral to get my TiVo reward prize.

If you or someone you know is signing up for TiVo service on a new box, please PM me. I would like to be your "referral" so I can get a few more points!

Thanks

I only need 1 more referral to get my TiVo reward prize.

If you or someone you know is signing up for TiVo service on a new box, please PM me. I would like to be your "referral" so I can get a few more points!

Thanks

Something about this bothers me. I've referred many people to TiVo, and to the best of my knowledge they are happy campers. I've never requested or ask for points. For me it's personal satisfaction that I turned someone new on to TiVo.

Asking for someone to give you points for something you have nothing to do with doesn't show good intergrity IMHO. And what about the AVS board member who actually knows the person. Shouldn't he/she claim those points?

The only time I've seen this done is on the TiVo boards after Megazone did his FAQ's. To me that seemed appropriate.

Just my thoughts. YMMV

Hey guys. Still lovin' my tivo.. one of the best things that ever happened to me. Is it just me or is the picture quality from my tivo series 3 much, much better than the general motorola comcast dual tuner HD box? I mean, the picture is superb, even in standard def!

Mo!

Hey guys. Still lovin' my tivo.. one of the best things that ever happened to me. Is it just me or is the picture quality from my tivo series 3 much, much better than the general motorola comcast dual tuner HD box? I mean, the picture is superb, even in standard def!

Mo!

THX Certified. Yes it is better. Even standard def.

Mo, did you research anything about this machine before you bought it?

Just to clarify...TiVo HD will work with one M card. S3 still needs two.

Are there any pains associated with using just one card? Nearly everything that we record is available OTA but it would be nice to be able to see the scrambled QAM channels, even if only in the guide.
Is each cable card locked into a specific tuner? If I start recording something OTA and it happens to be using the tuner associated with the S-card, will I be able to swap tuners & view (or record) a QAM channel?

With one S card you will only have one tuner capability.
The ATSC, NTSC, and QAM tuner basically act together as one virtual tuner. To have two tuner capability with cable cards you need either one multistream card or two single stream cards.

Okay this is getting very annoying. Second week in a row, and about the twelfth time in total in the last two months, a recorded program is unwatcheable. It is hard to describe, but it seems like the recording skips into FF for a second, loses audio, of course, gets pixelated, and then returns to normal. Some times this happens only towards the end of a recording. Other times it is all the way through. Once it starts, it recurs; some times just a bit; other times very consistently and frequently (like every 20 seconds), making the recording unwatcheable.

Has anyone else encountered this? What do I do to resolve it?

I've got a TiVo Series 3, running 9.2a.

Okay this is getting very annoying. Second week in a row, and about the twelfth time in total in the last two months, a recorded program is unwatcheable. It is hard to describe, but it seems like the recording skips into FF for a second, loses audio, of course, gets pixelated, and then returns to normal. Some times this happens only towards the end of a recording. Other times it is all the way through. Once it starts, it recurs; some times just a bit; other times very consistently and frequently (like every 20 seconds), making the recording unwatcheable.

Has anyone else encountered this? What do I do to resolve it?

I've got a TiVo Series 3, running 9.2a.

I haven't encountered that but the first thing that comes to my mind is the question "Is it on the same channel?" I think you answer that in your statement by saying how many times it has happened, so your answer is probably no. My next thought is "He's in Massachusetts" (I've been in Burlington) and I know you guys have had a rough stretch of weather over the last couple of weeks as we had in Cleveland area. Could it be weather interferring with the cable company?

I know you won't like this answer but I'd have them come out and check your signals at all connections. Maybe something has changed somewhere since the last time you had that done.

THX Certified. Yes it is better. Even standard def.

Mo, did you research anything about this machine before you bought it?

No I am a spontaneous consumer.

I haven't encountered that but the first thing that comes to my mind is the question "Is it on the same channel?"Mostly, recently, it has been on BBC America. In the past, we seem to remember it happening on FOX HD.

My next thought is "He's in Massachusetts" (I've been in Burlington) and I know you guys have had a rough stretch of weather over the last couple of weeks as we had in Cleveland area. Could it be weather interferring with the cable company?This problem first happened at least two months ago.

I know you won't like this answer but I'd have them come out and check your signals at all connections. Maybe something has changed somewhere since the last time you had that done.Folks on TCF are suggesting that it could be signal strength, but it could be too weak or too strong. I have a signal amp, so that tends to lead me to believe it could be the latter more likely than the former (since otherwise neighbors without an amp would have noticed a problem long before I did -- indeed, maybe they complained, got the signal strength increased, and now that's messing things up).

I really do NOT want to deal with a tech. It is too expensive given too little ROI, in my past experience. Isn't there a way to tell without a tech? This is something we need to do too often for it to be something we cannot learn to do ourselves.

Also, can someone please point me to a "Cable Signal Theory for Dummies" reference? I want to get a comprehensive understanding of the nature of signal, splitters, amplifiers, attenuators, etc.

I really do NOT want to deal with a tech. It is too expensive given too little ROI, in my past experience. Isn't there a way to tell without a tech? This is something we need to do too often for it to be something we cannot learn to do ourselves.



That statement I don't understand. Having a tech come out because you think you may have a signal problem shouldn't cost you anything, at least with my cable company it wouldn't. That's just customer service.

The techs I've had come out have given me real good service and info. I know sometimes you can get a lousy tech, but if he doesn't do a good job refuse to sign the work order and ask for another tech.

My understanding is that if the tech comes out and doesn't find a problem, with anything other than our equipment (i.e., TiVo) then we DO get charged.

I'm not sure I mentioned this earlier: I have both a Comcast DVR and a TiVo S3. When I don't need all four tuners, I have one back-up the other. This problem does not happen on the Comcast DVR. Never. In both these last two cases, I was able to watch the program on the Comcast DVR.

My understanding is that if the tech comes out and doesn't find a problem, with anything other than our equipment (i.e., TiVo) then we DO get charged.

I'm not sure I mentioned this earlier: I have both a Comcast DVR and a TiVo S3. When I don't need all four tuners, I have one back-up the other. This problem does not happen on the Comcast DVR. Never. In both these last two cases, I was able to watch the program on the Comcast DVR.

No, just because it's the TiVo it doesn't mean you get charged. I've had them come out a couple of times for the S3 and haven't been charged. The only time you get charged is on the install of the cable cards. If there is a signal problem then they need to check that regardless of what you are using.

No, just because it's the TiVo it doesn't mean you get charged.Let me try a different wording: I believe they can charge us if we have them come out to address a problem there isn't a problem with their service.

I've had them come out a couple of times for the S3 and haven't been charged.Me too, and indeed they have been generous, pretty often, not charging me for a tech visit even when they found no problem; but I believe they can.

Regardless, that's not the only issue. As I said, I really do NOT want to deal with a tech. It too often provides too little ROI.

I'm really interested in learning how to check this without a tech. This is something we need to do too often for it to be something we cannot learn to do ourselves.

Keep in mind the card is the cable companies property. You shouldn't be charged for swapping the card.

Hi bicker...
Is there any way to take the amp out of the line that goes to the TiVo? Since I don't know where the amp is placed, I don't know if that is possible, but I thought I'd mention it. Another option would be to try an attenuator in the line to bring the signal down some. I've not done that myself, but I have read where some others had to attenuate their OTA signal to resolve some problems. The other thing you might try is swapping the TiVo and Motorola feeds around to see if the problem follows the cable. I believe the TiVo is more sensitive than the Moto box so it might not make a difference, but it could be worth a shot to see if you see any difference. If these suggestions are glaringly obvious, I apologize...just thought I would throw them out there, in case...

Randy

Okay this is getting very annoying. Second week in a row, and about the twelfth time in total in the last two months, a recorded program is unwatcheable. It is hard to describe, but it seems like the recording skips into FF for a second, loses audio, of course, gets pixelated, and then returns to normal. Some times this happens only towards the end of a recording. Other times it is all the way through. Once it starts, it recurs; some times just a bit; other times very consistently and frequently (like every 20 seconds), making the recording unwatcheable.

Has anyone else encountered this? What do I do to resolve it?

I've got a TiVo Series 3, running 9.2a.

I've encountered the same problem, momentary FF with audio dropouts while watching a recording. However, it doesn't recur with any frequency. I just assumed it was a signal issue since I'm strictly OTA. I will keep track of it to see if it occurs on only one channel or across the board. The last instance was while watching Criminal Minds on CBS. Ried shot across the set and then everything was okay. Reminded me of the old Keystone Cops movies.

I've seen the problem every now and then as well (all my recordings of of cable). For some reason, I associate it with NBC, probably because I've most often noticed it during recordings of Heroes. I don't see it often enough to really bother me.

Is there any way to take the amp out of the line that goes to the TiVo?I can definitely play with the routing of the connections. I just don't know if I should. I tried to get to the diagnostics page to check signal strength (is that where it is?) and my TiVo locked up. Grrrrrrrr.

The other thing you might try is swapping the TiVo and Motorola feeds around to see if the problem follows the cable.That I've done... no difference. :(

Okay, I've got signal strength without from the Diagnostics page on the Account Information menu. (I had been looking in the CableCard menu before, when it locked up.)

Channel: 241
Frequency: 759000 KHz
Modulation: QAM 64 (Isn't that strange?)
...
Signal Strength: 94
...
SNR: 34 dB

Anything strange here?

Oh geez... things are getting worse. Now some of my channels aren't working on one of my CableCards. This really sucks.

True, but maybe it is an indicator that one of them is going flaky on you and that could be the root of the problem. I know you want to avoid dealing with a tech (who doesn't, really?), but if it gets things where they should be, maybe it will be worth it...

Randy

No, I'm pretty sure the problem with those channels was due to the hard lock-up I got when I went into TiVo's diagnostics screen. Comcast just sent a hit to the CableCard, and it cleared that problem.

I just checked Signal Strength for 241 on the other tuner; it's 97.

Put it this way. TiVo sent me a message saying there was a change in my channel line up. One channel had moved from 40 to 186. I went to 186 and although there was guide data there was not picture, sound, nothing on the diagnostic screen. I new this wasn't a cable company problem.

So the CSR I get at TW says "Do a channel rescan." I said, yeah, right like that's going to help.

I did it and it worked. So try it.

It croaked again last night, for the fifth time. This time I have more info.

1- Cable channels 721-740: Dead
2- Cable channels 704-713: OK
3- All antenna channels: OK
4- Cable channels 23-172 Dead ... EXCEPT FOR 82, which is OK.

5- I did channel scan: No change.
6- My second TV connected to a basic Charter (SD, no PVR) gets all the channels it always got.

7- TiVo Cable Card diagnostics: All Report: N/A
Also got messages:
Failed to load cableCARD '///apps/diag.HTML'
Failed to load cableCARD '///apps/Cpinfo.HTML'
Failed to load cableCARD '///apps/Davicinfo.HTML'
Failed to load cableCARD '///apps/Ipinfo.HTML'
Failed to load cableCARD '///apps/Cpdiag.HTML'
Failed to load cableCARD '///apps/CaApp.HTML'

8- Did "Test Channels": No channels available for Cable Card 1

9- It recorded a program on one of the now-dead channels at 2:00 AM today, but failed on one at 5:00 AM

10- TiVo still communicates with my desktop via WiFi ... I can view photos.

After submitting this post I'll give Charter a call. They should be receptive to having a Tech look at it since the're scheduled to install a card in my neighbor's TiVo Sunday morning.

I'll appreciate any info. anyone can provide that can help me sort out potential BS from my call to Charter.

I have seen similar issues with charter, it generally has to do with signal strength according to Charter. It has not occured to me recently but, i will have times where I will loose various chunks of digital channels and sometimes tnhey will return for no apparent reason. Never have gotten a real satisfactory explanation from charter as to why. generally can not reproduce the issue when a tech comes out, because a reboot will usually fix this, but charter seems to think it would be ok to sit with no channels for a week until they can get me a scheduled appt, or should i say chiunk of time where they may or may not actually show up.




It croaked again last night, for the fifth time. This time I have more info.

1- Cable channels 721-740: Dead
2- Cable channels 704-713: OK
3- All antenna channels: OK
4- Cable channels 23-172 Dead ... EXCEPT FOR 82, which is OK.

5- I did channel scan: No change.
6- My second TV connected to a basic Charter (SD, no PVR) gets all the channels it always got.

7- TiVo Cable Card diagnostics: All Report: N/A
Also got messages:
Failed to load cableCARD '///apps/diag.HTML'
Failed to load cableCARD '///apps/Cpinfo.HTML'
Failed to load cableCARD '///apps/Davicinfo.HTML'
Failed to load cableCARD '///apps/Ipinfo.HTML'
Failed to load cableCARD '///apps/Cpdiag.HTML'
Failed to load cableCARD '///apps/CaApp.HTML'

8- Did "Test Channels": No channels available for Cable Card 1

9- It recorded a program on one of the now-dead channels at 2:00 AM today, but failed on one at 5:00 AM

10- TiVo still communicates with my desktop via WiFi ... I can view photos.

After submitting this post I'll give Charter a call. They should be receptive to having a Tech look at it since the're scheduled to install a card in my neighbor's TiVo Sunday morning.

I'll appreciate any info. anyone can provide that can help me sort out potential BS from my call to Charter.

laterlag:

This is what I suggest. Have the appointment and have them replace the card. Make sure that the tech gives head end the proper information.

Have the tech stay and go through all the channels you receive.

If it happens again then try to see if you can't reach someone in their head end. How do you do this? It's not easy. Some have done it by faxing the President of the local cable area. Some (like me) pay attention to who the tech is talking to while on the phone and try and get a name. Even a first name. Then you can ask for John in head end.

Hopefully you won't have to do any of this and it's just a bad card. Good luck.

laterlag:

This is what I suggest. Have the appointment and have them replace the card. Make sure that the tech gives head end the proper information.

Have the tech stay and go through all the channels you receive.

If it happens again then try to see if you can't reach someone in their head end. How do you do this? It's not easy. Some have done it by faxing the President of the local cable area. Some (like me) pay attention to who the tech is talking to while on the phone and try and get a name. Even a first name. Then you can ask for John in head end.

Hopefully you won't have to do any of this and it's just a bad card. Good luck.


Thanks again Hook.

I will keep it in it's "croaked" state for the tech to see.
In your judgement, what's the probability it's the card? ____%, or the TiVo unit ?____%

Thanks again Hook.

I will keep it in it's "croaked" state for the tech to see.
In your judgement, what's the probability it's the card? ____%, or the TiVo unit ?____%

I can't honestly tell you. My knowledge of the M card is limited to the idea that in the TiVo HD you only need one. The fact is that sometimes someone gets a bad unit, but what makes me think this isn't the case is because your OTA is working. Just the same, that doesn't mean you don't have a problem with the cable card slot being defective.

From what I've seen most of these type of problems are cable card related.

I called Cox, & reached tech support in less than a minute. Tech support had me tune to a channel that's dead while he clacked away at his keyboard & asked me to report any change. There was none. He scheduled a tech visit for Sunday morning.

I'm impressed with that exchange. He seemed very competent, eager to satisfy me, and no implied threat akin to ..."If it's your TiVo unit, it will cost you".

At this point, I give Cox a "10" for customer support.

I'll report results of tech visit Sunday. Other than "Have you experienced many problems like this?", can anyone think of other questions to ask him?

I called Cox, & reached tech support in less than a minute. Tech support had me tune to a channel that's dead while he clacked away at his keyboard & asked me to report any change. There was none. He scheduled a tech visit for Sunday morning.

I'm impressed with that exchange. He seemed very competent, eager to satisfy me, and no implied threat akin to ..."If it's your TiVo unit, it will cost you".

At this point, I give Cox a "10" for customer support.

I'll report results of tech visit Sunday. Other than "Have you experienced many problems like this?", can anyone think of other questions to ask him?


It won't cost you anything. I would ask him to check all signal levels at every area you have a cable connection clear on out to the poll or box or whatever you have in your area to make sure your signal is correct. And have him stay there while you go through the channels.

The plot has thickened, and I'm not happy.

Turned it on today to show neighbor how it's misbehaving. It now won't play a recording, just shows stills. It will respond to FF, but not rewind.

Same for "Live" TV. Looks like a TiVo problem, eh?

Does anyone have experience with Amazon's warranty/exchange policy? I received the unit on 11/26/07.

Any advice on how to deal with the situation if the TiVo unit is defective?

The plot has thickened, and I'm not happy.

Turned it on today to show neighbor how it's misbehaving. It now won't play a recording, just shows stills. It will respond to FF, but not rewind.

Same for "Live" TV. Looks like a TiVo problem, eh?

Does anyone have experience with Amazon's warranty/exchange policy? I received the unit on 11/26/07.

Any advice on how to deal with the situation if the TiVo unit is defective?

I saw your post last night but I didn't have any time to answer until today. I also was hoping someone else might answer this question.

I'm not sure what you want us to tell you. Didn't you get a warranty card with your TiVo? That should tell you what to do right away.

Anyway because I was curious myself I did a search on "TiVo HD" on Amazon.com and I found that apparently TiVo is not sold directly by Amazon but through Vendors. The one vendor I looked at had a 30 day money back policy, but I think TiVo itself warrantys the machine for 90 days.

If you click here (https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/contact-us/returns-and-refunds.html?ie=UTF8&nodeId=901888&type=&token=#csTop)you should be able to go to a place where Amazon will call you. Click on the phone tab. And they do indeed call, I've used it before.

Otherwise I suppose you will contact TiVo CS and they will tell you how to exchange for another unit.

I saw your post last night but I didn't have any time to answer until today. I also was hoping someone else might answer this question.

I'm not sure what you want us to tell you. Didn't you get a warranty card with your TiVo? That should tell you what to do right away.

Anyway because I was curious myself I did a search on "TiVo HD" on Amazon.com and I found that apparently TiVo is not sold directly by Amazon but through Vendors. The one vendor I looked at had a 30 day money back policy, but I think TiVo itself warrantys the machine for 90 days.

If you click here (https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/contact-us/returns-and-refunds.html?ie=UTF8&nodeId=901888&type=&token=#csTop)you should be able to go to a place where Amazon will call you. Click on the phone tab. And they do indeed call, I've used it before.

Otherwise I suppose you will contact TiVo CS and they will tell you how to exchange for another unit.

This is most likely correct, but sometimes Amazon sells items along with their other vendors, and when they are out of stock only the other vendors show up....so it is possible that the OP purchased directly from Amazon at the time of their purchase. I've seen this with multiple items, so I don't think it is uncommon....I suppose the OP will know for sure, but I thought it might be worth mentioning...

Randy

Has TiVo come up with a resolution to support SDV CATV content?

Has TiVo come up with a resolution to support SDV CATV content?

What difference does it make if it's CATV? The "dongle" which is suppose to coome out in the second quarter of next year is made so that TiVo can be used with cable's SDV.

Were you simply not aware that there was an announcement made?

If you wern't aware, here is a link (http://www.tivoblog.com/archives/2007/11/26/ncta-tivo-announced-sdv-dongle-for-2008/)

What difference does it make if it's CATV?"CATV" is an old term for cable television (it was short for "Community Antenna Television"), so "SDV CATV" is a bit redundant, since SDV is a technology for cable.

What difference does it make if it's CATV? The "dongle" which is suppose to coome out in the second quarter of next year is made so that TiVo can be used with cable's SDV.

Were you simply not aware that there was an announcement made?

If you wern't aware, here is a link (http://www.tivoblog.com/archives/2007/11/26/ncta-tivo-announced-sdv-dongle-for-2008/)Thanks for the link; this puts present as well as future TiVo's back on my list. My cable provider recently added (6) new HD channels w/SDV, which will be their trend for the future.

BTW, I recently had FiOS Internet/phone service installed @ my residence w/FiOS TV projected to arrive during 2008, which may obviate the concern regarding SDV content & uni-directional DCR products (e.g. my TH-50PX50U & PRO-150FD).

"CATV" is an old term for cable television (it was short for "Community Antenna Television")Which shows how far back I go sonny... I'm so old I can remember the days when HBO used Professor Wayne Szalinski's hands-free helmet-cam to provide hours of entertinment riding down a bicycle path. :rolleyes: "SDV CATV" is a bit redundant, since SDV is a technology for cable.Now you're just splitting hairs (http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/17/messages/76.html).

Which shows how far back I go sonny... I'm so old I can remember the days when HBO used Professor Wayne Szalinski's hands-free helmet-cam to provide hours of entertinment riding down a bicycle path. :rolleyes: Now you're just splitting hairs (http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/17/messages/76.html).I did say that it was "a bit" redundant :). The main purpose of my post was to point out that all SDV is cable TV (or CATV, if you prefer).

I'm no spring chicken, myself. I'll be 50 in a couple of months--I vaguely remember my first cable television experience, sometime in my early 20s.

I called Cox, & reached tech support in less than a minute. Tech support had me tune to a channel that's dead while he clacked away at his keyboard & asked me to report any change. There was none. He scheduled a tech visit for Sunday morning.

I'm impressed with that exchange. He seemed very competent, eager to satisfy me, and no implied threat akin to ..."If it's your TiVo unit, it will cost you".

At this point, I give Cox a "10" for customer support.

I'll report results of tech visit Sunday. Other than "Have you experienced many problems like this?", can anyone think of other questions to ask him?


Tech arrived on time and earned another "10" for Cox.

In communicating with his support team, who is able to "look" at my M card, they discovered that the letter "P" for "Provisioned" was not entered in the appropriate space on the computer form at the time of my initial card installation. He said that the card was not "provisioned and locked on the mainframe". Symptoms of this include unpredictable & inconsistent deletions and adds of channels. (Apparently there is a lack of training at the local home office: Some think that the "P" is not required for a cable card, so do not enter it.)

His support team deleted my original M card account, then establishrd a new one, including the "P". Re-started my TiVo, and all is back to normal.

His support team checked signal strength at all my devices. TV & Internet are in the green; telephone outgoing on the edge.

Although it's now corrected, I'm concerned about the unit displaying only still images. It's hard to believe that the M card would cause this. I'll report my experience in about a week, or sooner if it goes back to "still mode".

If there's a TiVo or cable card thread with symptoms > causes, I think the Channel Loss > "Provisioned" issue should be there.

Thanks to all for hanging in there with me.

I did say that it was "a bit" redundant :). The main purpose of my post was to point out that all SDV is cable TV (or CATV, if you prefer).

I'm no spring chicken, myself. I'll be 50 in a couple of months--I vaguely remember my first cable television experience, sometime in my early 20s.
Ahh...me too, I can remember watching the Z Channel in LA back in the 70's, one of the very first "premium cable" services. :D

Ahh...me too, I can remember watching the Z Channel in LA back in the 70's, one of the very first "premium cable" services. :DI'm so old I can remember when there were only (3) stations in my local broadcast area that signed off around 1 AM each morning.

Back in those days... I actually read something called a "book" for entertainment. :D

I'm so old I can remember when there were only (3) stations in my local broadcast area that signed off around 1 AM each morning.

Back in those days... I actually read something called a "book" for entertainment. :D

Yes I remember in the 70's having to reposition our antenna for reception, when we wanted to get the Baltimore stations. Things have really changed, or have they stayed the same?

Yes I remember in the 70's having to reposition our antenna for reception, when we wanted to get the Baltimore stations. Things have really changed, or have they stayed the same?It sure seems like my digital needs cost a whole lot more now then waaaaay back during the 70's.

I'm so old I had a Heathkit H-8 (http://www.retrothing.com/2006/03/heathkit_h8_dig.html) :eek: back in the day.

The first computer that I programmed professionally was the CAI LSI-2 (see photo here (http://www.rogerdmoore.ca/RAWP/BrusselsL.jpg)--amazing what you can dig up on the net :)). I was maintaining and expanding a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data acquisition and analysis system in a university biochemistry department attached to its school of medicine, being primarily used for brain chemistry studies by the psychiatry department. It was a 16-bit, accumlator/index-register architecture with a 32KB address range. In the app that I worked on, it featured a maximum of 2 8KB core planes (memory as little ferrite donuts, strung together with tiny wires). The application was required to be able to run in 8KB; when I took it over, it consisted of some tens of thousands of assembly language instructions, almost completely devoid of comments.

I started that job a couple of years before that Heathkit thing hit the market; the original IBM PC didn't ship until a few years after that.

We should shut down this old-foggies-reminiscing rathole :).

It sure seems like my digital needs cost a whole lot more now then waaaaay back during the 70's.

I'm so old I had a Heathkit H-8 (http://www.retrothing.com/2006/03/heathkit_h8_dig.html) :eek: back in the day.
Wow....memories....I had a Heathkit stereo amplifier that I bought, but a classmate of mine built for me. This was in high school so it would have been between 1964 and 1968. And that sucker is in my parents' basement right now...I haven't tried powering it up in decades. Who knows if it would still work?

I live in a condo and I subscribe to Comcast limited basic. By some act of god, I receive the Comcast expanded service. However, I am currently using the Comcast DVR and when I try to use the DVR to surf the expanded channels I get a message stating that "I do not subscribe to this service". When I plug the cable directly into my Plasma TV with QAM I am able to receive all the unencrypted channels along with the "free" expanded channels.

I am considering getting a Tivo HD and I would like to know if I order CC's for the Tivo HD will the Tivo HD be able to see my normally subscribed channels as well as the expanded channels via the guide? Or will the CC disable my access to the expanded channels?

My work around today is splitting the cable and using my Comcast DVR when I want to watch or record basic cable HD and then switching to the TV tuner when I want to watch expanded channels (i.e. MTV).

Can anyone help?

I live in a condo and I subscribe to Comcast limited basic. By some act of god, I receive the Comcast expanded service. However, I am currently using the Comcast DVR and when I try to use the DVR to surf the expanded channels I get a message stating that "I do not subscribe to this service". When I plug the cable directly into my Plasma TV with QAM I am able to receive all the unencrypted channels along with the "free" expanded channels.

I am considering getting a Tivo HD and I would like to know if I order CC's for the Tivo HD will the Tivo HD be able to see my normally subscribed channels as well as the expanded channels via the guide? Or will the CC disable my access to the expanded channels?

My work around today is splitting the cable and using my Comcast DVR when I want to watch or record basic cable HD and then switching to the TV tuner when I want to watch expanded channels (i.e. MTV).

Can anyone help?


I wrote two paragraphs on this and just deleted them. TiVo HD will pick up unencrypted channels without the cards, but you won't have guide data. Everything would be manual recording. Also in my area I couldn't get FOX HD when I first got my S3. So I can't promise it would work exactly like the qam in your TV.

Now I'm going to tell you why I deleted my first response. It seems to me that you are trying to get something for nothing, and it's not that I have a problem with that but the fact is that if you purchase a TiVo it only works 7 days before you would have to purchase the TiVo service. Which is probably the same amount that you would pay for your digital service. Just purchasing a TiVo won't save you any money. Or not much anyway.

The reason you would want a TiVo HD is because it is a far better DVR then what the cable company offers. So you have to be willing to invest a bit to have that and it doesn't seem like that is what you are looking for.

So I would suggest that if your happy with your current DVR and it's just a matter of paying for expanded services, pay it. If you want the best DVR then you purchase the S3. Cable cards are made to unencrypt digital channels and they cost money as well. But once you see how much better a TiVo DVR is over the cable companies you will see it's worth. But can I guarantee that you will get the same service as your built in qam. No.

You can purchase the HD TiVo, install cable cards, try it 7 days and see what you get. If you don't like what you get, return it before even purchasing TiVo service.

So...I followed the directions here and at tcf for copying files from the s3 and tivohd in hddvd format on dvd...since I started this process here, I'll ask this here first.

I followed the directions, downloaded hd patch, used the trial version of videoredo plus, and bought moviestudio 6. Did this on windows xp pro. Loaded the file from the tivo hd, edited out the commercials using videoredo plus, used hd patch to put it down to 25,000,000, then loaded it into moviestudio 6 (which had patch1 and patch2 loaded), selected hd-dvd, selected the menu, and then clicked on "burn"........and kaboom!

the bottom progress bar went to 99%, the top one said "preparing output" (I think, I'm doing this from memory) and about 60%, it stopped and said "unspecified error".

So then I loaded all of the software on a brand new windows vista machine, since we got a new one for christmas. Nothing else was installed on it, loaded the patches, went through the same process...and KABOOM! again! Same thing, "unspecified error"!

I've searched the corel forums, they had several instances of "unspecifed error", but none of their solutions helped.

ARGH!!!!!! Can anyone help??? PLEASE??? very frustrating...

the bottom progress bar went to 99%, the top one said "preparing output" (I think, I'm doing this from memory) and about 60%, it stopped and said "unspecified error".Moviestudio 6 is a very different program and will not work. Do you mean MovieFactory 6 Plus? I assume you do.

You might try the latest version of VideoRedo TVSuite (http://www.videoredo.net/beta/VideoReDoTVS-3-1-4-551.exe) (14-day free trial), as it has improved TiVo file compatibility. VideoRedo has been doing all their work with the TVSuite version of the program over the past several months. If that doesn't fix the problem, then I would run Quickstream fix and check Enable filters.

Some cable providers use commercial insertion equipment in their HD channels which insert commercials into HD streams using different encoding parameters. For example, some cable providers insert 1440x1080 commercials into a 1920x1080 program stream. This will cause MovieFactory to barf. You said you removed the commercials, but even one of those different resolution frames could cause problems. Running Quickstream Fix with Enable filters in TVSuite should eliminate any frames that aren't in the same resolution as the program.

I've also heard that some antivirus programs cause problems with Ulead MovieFactory. To test that, you might try booting your PC into safe mode -- where antivirus, etc should be disabled -- to see whether you get the same error in the program. Actually, I think I would try that first.

Yes, I definitely meant Plus, sorry for that. I had also tried the quickstream fix, because I saw that somewhere, but it didn't help. I'll have to check if I had "enable filters" checked, I don't remember if that was there.

I also tried this without editing out the commercials, same result.

As far as antivirus, the xp pro machine had micro trend, the vista machine had the norton one that came free with it for the first 60 days, so 2 different vendors. I will try the safe mode thing anyway, and I will try the tvsuite also, and verify "enable filters" is on (I assume that's in the quickstream fix window?).

Thanks for your help! I hope something works...

I've got a bunch of questions this morning.

These questions stem from a realization that we're going to run out of programming this Spring, because of the writers' strike, and the fact that I'm planning on taking reasonable measures now to store up some content for the lean times... my own little Joseph-in-Egypt storing-the-grain-for-famine scenario.

First, I found some viable options: Cold Case, NCIS and Without a Trace all started over from Season 1 in syndication over the past week or two. Along with the original programming that will be presented (Eli Stone, Lost, etc.), all I really need is Cold Case and NCIS to get us through March, but April is another story; we'll need Without a Trace by then. As a backup, we just finished the first season of MI-5 (Spooks) via Netflix, and we'll continue through Season 2 this month, and I suppose we could continue on from there, but I was thinking I'd rather ditch Netflix and stick with an all-TiVo solution if I can.

So, I saw all this hard disk space on my personal computer, and tried TTG. I reoriented my home network so that my TiVo S3 is now hard-wired to the router. Side Question: Is that really better than using the TiVo Wireless Adapter? Anyway, TTG worked fine, transferring programs in slightly less than double real-time, and I can view the HD programs on my personal computer, but they have no Closed Captioning (a known problem), so even if we wanted to pursue that as an option (we don't) my wife couldn't enjoy the programs (she's hearing impaired). The point was to send the programs back to the S3. Which I also tried. Unfortunately, we've encountered some pixelization on playback. This is apparently a known issue, and I'm wondering if anyone has determined a solution, other than switching from the wired connection to a 802.11b wireless adapter. (Apparently, slowing down the transfer rate resolves the pixelization. [?])

Seems strange that TiVo's own 802.11g wireless adapter won't fix the problem either.

So my other option is the DVR Expander. I'm seriously considering that, now, but I wonder if there isn't a way to save the $220 by resolving the TTG issue. Does anyone have a specific reason why they feel one of these two approaches is better than the other?

This is apparently a known issue, and I'm wondering if anyone has determined a solution, other than switching from the wired connection to a 802.11b wireless adapter. (Apparently, slowing down the transfer rate resolves the pixelization. [?]) I don't think this is the case.

I think the TiVo is just very particular about the MPGs that it plays. When you transfer a recording from the TiVo to your PC, it is converted (on the fly) from Tivo's native file format to MPG in a TiVo wrapper. There appears to be an issue with that process, because as you note, some of these MPGs playb ack with hiccups when they are transferred back from computer to TiVo. These same recordings play back fine on a PC, so it's not clear exactly what the problem is.

Some people have resorted to using pyTivo to eliminate this problem. That program re-encodes into on the fly with parameters the TiVo can [evidently] handle.

Side Question: Is that really better than using the TiVo Wireless Adapter?TTG throughput on a stock Series3 is 12-15Mbps, depending on whether you are watching or recording SD or HD channels at the time.

Throughput with the TiVo 802.11g wireless adapter is 16Mbps if you have a good signal, and <10Mbps if you don't.

MRV is the primary beneficiary of wired ethernet (or networking with coax). With MRV, the TiVo Series3 sustains 30-40Mbps with wired ethernet or coax networking, but maxes out at 15-16Mbps with the wireless adapter.

So my other option is the DVR Expander. I'm seriously considering that, now, but I wonder if there isn't a way to save the $220 by resolving the TTG issue. Does anyone have a specific reason why they feel one of these two approaches is better than the other?I find it is much easier just to record everything on the TiVo.

You might want to consider an internal drive upgrade. For about the same amount of money as the 500Gb external drive, you can upgrade the internal drive and get more capacity, as well as eliminating the need for another box.

I used the retail 1Tb Western Digital drive. It makes even less noise than the stock TiVo drive. Best Buy has put these on sale twice for around $260; their current price is $299 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8492026&st=Western+Digital+1Tb&lp=3&type=product&cp=1&id=1186003685416). [Make sure you don't buy the OEM version, you want WD10000CSRTL.]

TiVo Upgrade Instructions
Remove the outer case and existing drive using a torx screwdriver in the T10 size. If you don't have one of appropriate length, you can purchase the Star Driver T10 Ampro (9014713) from Advance Auto Parts for about $4.


Download the latest WinMFS here (http://www.mfslive.org/forums/viewforum.php?f=15).


Shut down Windows, turn off your computer, and connect the TiVo's built-in SATA drive and your new replacement SATA drive. You can open your computer and connect both with SATA cables, or you can connect them externally using a pair of SATA->USB adapters (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812186020). Both drives should be connected to your PC at the same time.

Backups with direct SATA connections are far faster than backups made using USB->SATA adapters.


Turn on your computer and launch WinMFS. If using Windows Vista, you'll want to launch WinMFS by right-clicking on WinMFS.exe and selecting "Run as Administrator."


In WinMFS, click 'Select Drive' to select the two drives you attached. Set 'Drive A' to the original drive and 'Drive B' to the new drive.


In WinMFS, select the 'Backup' option to create a backup. Save the file to your hard drive for backup purposes.

You don't use this now. It's a backup for future use, should anything ever go wrong.


If you want to copy all your settings -- but not recordings -- to the new drive, then select Tools -> Restore. When asked for the backup file, select the file you saved in the previous step. This is the approach I recommend as it takes just 2-3 minutes to complete.


If you want to backup the full contents of your original drive, then select Tools -> Mfscopy to copy the full contents of the old drive to the new.

If you are using SATA connections to your computer, this can take up to an hour depending on how many recordings you have. When using USB->SATA adapters, this copy process can take >6 hours depending on the number of recordings on your original drive. WinMFS does not refresh its GUI during this process, so it may appear to hang, but it is still working as intended.


When WinMFS asks if you would like to expand the drive to use the extra capacity, choose Yes.

If WinMFS did not ask you to expand the drive, then choose Tools -> Mfsadd.


Shutdown your computer and disconnect the drives.


Reinstall the internal drive, replace the outer case, and connect the eSATA drive.


You're done. Store your original TiVo drive in a safe place.

I just tried pyTiVo, and unfortunately, it too transferred the program back with pixelization. Is there any special magic to get the transfer to work using pyTiVo without encountering the pixelization?

I'm thinking about the terabyte drive. My desktop, though, must have cabling for two extra SATA drives, though, right? All I see in my computer is just the one SATA cable, with just one port on it (already used, of course, for my current hard drive). Also, I see only one additional power port available of the new style (?) though I suspect I can use the old style power ports?

Some more issues: I downloaded the linux version of MFSLive and burned it onto a CD using Nero Burning ROM, but the computer will not boot with it in. It still aims for the hard drive (which was disconnected, of course), even though I set the boot configuration so that the CD ROM drive was the first drive, and the only one enabled.

Anything new with TiVo these days? I did not see much being reported @ CES 2008. No TiVo's with M-Card slot to provide "native" two-way support for Switched Digital Video. Seems like TiVo is going the way of Toshiba's ill-fated HD DVD format (i.e. obsolescence).

Anything new with TiVo these days? I did not see much being reported @ CES 2008. No TiVo's with M-Card slot to provide "native" two-way support for Switched Digital Video. Seems like TiVo is going the way of Toshiba's ill-fated HD DVD format (i.e. obsolescence).
The only thing I see on the horizon is the USB dongle to allow the S3 (and the HD) to receive cable companies’ SDV transmissions. Those will be coming from the cable companies, not TiVo, though.

The only thing I see on the horizon is the USB dongle to allow the S3 (and the HD) to receive cable companies’ SDV transmissions. Those will be coming from the cable companies, not TiVo, though.Thanks. IMO post CES 2008, DTV is in a funk these days... $7750 :eek: not so Kuro PRO-150FDs being eclipsed by Pioneer's new concept, totally black, future generation PDPs; with no specific information until May 08'. The demise of HD-DVD format. No evolution with TiVo & Cable TV. At this point it appears the state of HD digital A/V devices will not change much until after 2/17/09.

The only thing I see on the horizon is the USB dongle to allow the S3 (and the HD) to receive cable companies’ SDV transmissions. Those will be coming from the cable companies, not TiVo, though.

They didn't show the "dongle" at CES. We know it's coming in Q2.

What was big for TiVo was a lot of behind the scenes stuff. They showed a DVB-based box which can be used in Australia and Europe. If TiVo can tap that market, they could dramatically increase their subscription count.

To go along with that, they showed that they've abstracted language from the menus. So, now it will be a reasonably simple effort to "port" the TiVo experience to a Spanish-speaking country, or a French-speaking one, or what have you. This goes hand in hand with the first item.

Lastly, they showed something that is really "under the covers" as far as the operation of TiVo goes, but could be a REALLY slick thing to have in the future. They're going to put a XMPP (otherwise known as "jabber") client in the box. Essentially, it's an instant messaging client. TiVo will now be able to IM your box, and vice versa. This has large implications for fine-tuning the TiVo service. When a football game runs long, they would be able to IM your box to extend the recording automatically. Amazon Unbox downloads could happen instantly, rather than within a 15-minute window. The possibilities are endless. It's not a dramatic or eye-popping feature, but it will definitely fine-tune the TiVo service.

I just tried pyTiVo, and unfortunately, it too transferred the program back with pixelization. Is there any special magic to get the transfer to work using pyTiVo without encountering the pixelization?With pyTivo, you define the parameters.

If you want to transfer HD back to the TiVo, you might try these parameters, which converts everything to 720p:

c:\ffmpeg\ffmpeg_mp2.exe -i /ffmpeg/element.ts -vcodec mpeg2video -maxrate 17Mi -bufsize 1024k -qscale 1.2 -s hd720 -acodec ac3 -ab 384k -ar 48000 -f vob OUTPUT.MPG

If your computer is a bit slower, you might try this for 540p:

c:\ffmpeg\ffmpeg_mp2.exe -i /ffmpeg/element.ts -vcodec mpeg2video -maxrate 17Mi -bufsize 1024k -qscale 1.2 -s 960x540 -acodec ac3 -ab 384k -ar 48000 -f vob OUTPUT.MPGBasically, when sending MPGs back to the TiVo, it is important to keep video to 17Mbps max and DD audio to 384k max.

I'm thinking about the terabyte drive. My desktop, though, must have cabling for two extra SATA drives, though, right? All I see in my computer is just the one SATA cable, with just one port on it (already used, of course, for my current hard drive). Also, I see only one additional power port available of the new style (?) though I suspect I can use the old style power ports?Both drives only need to be connected at the same time if you want to completely backup everything, including all existing recordings. If you just want to backup the software and settings (season passes, wishlists, etc), you simply connect the oriignal TiVo drive and select Tools -> Backup. Then you turn off your computer, disconnect the original drive, and connect your new drive; you boot your computer and select Tools -> Restore in WinMFS. That's it. The whole process takes about 10 minutes.

Now, if you want to backup all existing recordings, then you will need a way to connect both drives to the computer at the same time, be it with a SATA->USB adapter, external USB 2.0 drive enclosure, or something else.

Some more issues: I downloaded the linux version of MFSLive and burned it onto a CD using Nero Burning ROM, but the computer will not boot with it in. It still aims for the hard drive (which was disconnected, of course), even though I set the boot configuration so that the CD ROM drive was the first drive, and the only one enabled.WinMFS is a much easier to use as it automates some steps and everything is done by selecting commands such as "Backup" and "Restore" from the menu. Of course, to use it, you need a PC with Windows XP SP2 or Vista, or a Mac with Bootcamp running one of those two operating systems.

Unfortunately, I don't have any recent experience with MFSLive. But if you do need to go that route, then you might try burning the CD with the free ImgBurn (http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/ImgBurn/1128426215/1) application. With many PCs, you've also got to enable the "boot from CD" option in the bios.

They didn't show the "dongle" at CES. We know it's coming in Q2.We know they said it is coming in Q2. :)

Lastly, they showed something that is really "under the covers" as far as the operation of TiVo goes, but could be a REALLY slick thing to have in the future. They're going to put a XMPP (otherwise known as "jabber") client in the box. Essentially, it's an instant messaging client. TiVo will now be able to IM your box, and vice versa. This has large implications for fine-tuning the TiVo service. When a football game runs long, they would be able to IM your box to extend the recording automatically. Amazon Unbox downloads could happen instantly, rather than within a 15-minute window. The possibilities are endless. It's not a dramatic or eye-popping feature, but it will definitely fine-tune the TiVo service.Agreed.

Although this doesn't seem like much, it is a major change in the way the TiVo works. Currently, the TiVo connects to the servers once every 48 hours to download guide data. As indicated above, TiVO also polls servers once every 15 minutes to check for requested Amazon Unbox or TiVoCast (and video Podcasts), as well as any new recordings you setup online with remote scheduling. With the implementation of XMPP protocol, remote scheduling, Amazon Unbox, and TiVoCast requests will take effect within a matter of seconds.

I would not expect to see TiVo update its guide data to reflect overtime sports broadcasts anytime soon -- the infrastructure doesn't exist to do that yet -- but I would expect to see TiVo to use this new capability to send same-day network scheduling changes this year. Same-day series scheduling changes don't happen often, but they do happen, and this would further improve TiVo's reliability in those cases. Example:

Last month, CBS decided ~24 hours before broadcast that it was going to run an older episode of Criminal Minds and not the new episode that was scheduled. If your TiVo hadn't connected to download guide data since the day before, then it thought that was a new episode, and recorded it as such. If your TiVo recorded that old episode as new, then it didn't record the actual new episode when it was shown a few weeks later, because the program information was identical -- recall that TiVo keeps a record of everything recorded in the past 28 days, so it doesn't record the same program twice. This sort of event is rare, but with implementation of XMPP for real-time update capability, it won't happen again.

We know they said it is coming in Q2. :)

Yes, your correct but geeze bicker.:p

If you want to transfer HD back to the TiVo, you might try these parameters, which converts everything to 720p:

c:\ffmpeg\ffmpeg_mp2.exe -i /ffmpeg/element.ts -vcodec mpeg2video -maxrate 17Mi -bufsize 1024k -qscale 1.2 -s hd720 -acodec ac3 -ab 384k -ar 48000 -f vob OUTPUT.MPG

If your computer is a bit slower, you might try this for 540p:

c:\ffmpeg\ffmpeg_mp2.exe -i /ffmpeg/element.ts -vcodec mpeg2video -maxrate 17Mi -bufsize 1024k -qscale 1.2 -s 960x540 -acodec ac3 -ab 384k -ar 48000 -f vob OUTPUT.MPGThanks. I had tried this:

audio_br=448K
video_br=16Mi
width=1920
height=1080
ffmpeg_prams=-vcodec mpeg2video -r 29.97 -b %(video_br)s -maxrate %(max_video_br)s -bufsize %(buff_size)s %(aspect_ratio)s -comment pyTivo.py -acodec ac3 -ab %(audio_br)s -ar 48000 -f vob -So I guess I was way off. However, I'm not sure how to use your code, given I only know the script file way of running this. I'll see if I can figure it out, but if you can provide me some pointers, I'd appreciate it.

EDITED: Yes, okay, I got it working, using this:ffmpeg_prams=-vcodec mpeg2video -maxrate 17Mi -bufsize 1024k -qscale 1.2 -s 960x540 -acodec ac3 -ab 384k -ar 48000 -f vob -... and it was better but still lots of pixelization, too much for my tastes.

Both drives only need to be connected at the same time if you want to completely backup everything, including all existing recordings.That's a major interest right now. I've already started stockpiling.

You can play with the qscale setting. You might try 1.1, although that may require more CPU.

Yes, your correct but geeze bicker.:pMy interest is in precluding casual readers from getting erroneous expectations. Easier to keep people happy by making sure they know what to really expect, than to try to help then correct their expectations later.

You can play with the qscale setting. You might try 1.1, although that may require more CPU.Thanks again. This made it marginally better, though I also switched from wired to wireless for my PC->router leg (which, as I understand it, may also help -- the router->TiVo leg is still wired, which may or may not be helping, from what I've read).

However switching to 1.0 made things worse again (or perhaps the advantage of 1.1 was just natural variation). I'm going to see if I can find some lay-person-UNDERSTANDABLE documentation for these parameters.

Yes, I definitely meant Plus, sorry for that. I had also tried the quickstream fix, because I saw that somewhere, but it didn't help. I'll have to check if I had "enable filters" checked, I don't remember if that was there.

I also tried this without editing out the commercials, same result.

As far as antivirus, the xp pro machine had micro trend, the vista machine had the norton one that came free with it for the first 60 days, so 2 different vendors. I will try the safe mode thing anyway, and I will try the tvsuite also, and verify "enable filters" is on (I assume that's in the quickstream fix window?).

Thanks for your help! I hope something works...

Just a quick update, I only had time to try the one thing I had the most hope in, the "enable filters" fix...it didn't help. :(
I hope to get a chance soon to try the other 2 ideas.

I see that there are 124 pages on this thread and I am sure that this questions has been asked before. However, I do not have time to search throught all 124 pages. I was wondering if you have to pay the monthly fees to record over-the-air programming? We do not have cable service and we were looking for a good DVR for recording OTA HD and DTV broadcast. And the series 3 look's like a nice fit. Thanks

ChiTown Ray

I see that there are 124 pages on this thread and I am sure that this questions has been asked before. However, I do not have time to search throught all 124 pages. I was wondering if you have to pay the monthly fees to record over-the-air programming? We do not have cable service and we were looking for a good DVR for recording OTA HD and DTV broadcast. And the series 3 look's like a nice fit. Thanks

ChiTown Ray

Yes, you have to pay for the guide, updates and other stuff.

TiVo just isn't a DVR. Even if you just hook it up for OTA you still have many other things you can do with it either by wireless network or running it straight to a pc. And the only way to update the guide is either internet or phone.

I see that there are 124 pages on this thread and I am sure that this questions has been asked before. However, I do not have time to search throught all 124 pages. I was wondering if you have to pay the monthly fees to record over-the-air programming? We do not have cable service and we were looking for a good DVR for recording OTA HD and DTV broadcast. And the series 3 look's like a nice fit. Thanks

ChiTown Ray

If you can wait a few months you can check the box discussed here from Echostar. It's not a Tivo but it is supposed to be subscription free.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=972197

Thanks Hook & Moxie For the input (Hook & Moxie Kinda got that Starski & Hutch ring to it) anyway Moxie good find i have been doing some searching for something like this and I definitely can wait I just spent 3600 big ones on sammy 5084 & YAMAHA YSP-4000 so I need to let the wallet's power bar charge up a little bit. Thank's again ChiTown Ray

I know I'm jumping in on the thread very late, but I thought I'd drop a few comments about my Series3 HD experience. So far I'm less than thrilled with my nmew HD Tivo.

I love the ability to record 2 channels and easily switch back and forth. However, the volume on my HD channels is terrible. Everything is so low I have to crank up the volume to hear anything.

I've also experienced some HD playback issues in that the video seems to freeze or skip. The only way to fix it was to restart the Tivo. Very frustrating.

Jeff

I know I'm jumping in on the thread very late, but I thought I'd drop a few comments about my Series3 HD experience. So far I'm less than thrilled with my nmew HD Tivo.

I love the ability to record 2 channels and easily switch back and forth. However, the volume on my HD channels is terrible. Everything is so low I have to crank up the volume to hear anything.

I've also experienced some HD playback issues in that the video seems to freeze or skip. The only way to fix it was to restart the Tivo. Very frustrating.

Jeff

What audio output are you using? HDMI? Optical?
What audio preferences are enabled on the TIVO?

I'm using HDMI Output. I'm unsure what the Output options are for the TIVO. Is there something I should be looking for specifically?

I'm using HDMI Output. I'm unsure what the Output options are for the TIVO. Is there something I should be looking for specifically?

The default on the TiVo S3 is Dolby digital audio. So unless your television is capable of dolby digital 5.1, and I'll be it isn't, you would have poor quality sound. Go to settings, sound, and set it for DOLBY TO PCM. That will probably improve quality on broadcast that are done in 5.1. which most HD broadcast are sent in.

Now I am a bit concerned about the freezing and having to restart during replay. That could be a hard drive issue. I wouldn't hesitate to return the unit for another if you are experiencing that type of problem.

I'm using HDMI Output. I'm unsure what the Output options are for the TIVO. Is there something I should be looking for specifically?Could you be more specific about how you have HDMI hooked up? Are you (like me) running HDMI out of the TiVo HD and into an HDMI-capable AVR and from there into your television or are you running HDMI from the TiVo directly into your television? If the latter, are you listening to the speakers in your television or are you using an AVR with surround sound (5.1 speaker set-up)? If you're using HDMI directly to your television with an AVR, how is sound connected to your AVR?

I'm going HDMI into my HDTV. On normal channels the volume is fine. HD channels it's impossible to hear unless you double the volume.

So, you're running HDMI from the TiVo to your television and listening to the television's speakers. correct? And the volume is low on all the HD channels? Sounds as though your television is having a problem mixing DD5.1 into stereo. Maybe there are some sound settings in your television to deal with a DD5.1 signal, or you can try what hookbill recommended: in the TiVo UI, go to TiVo Central->Messages & Settings->Settings->Audio->Dolby Digital and select "Dolby Digital to PCM".

So, you're running HDMI from the TiVo to your television and listening to the television's speakers. correct? And the volume is low on all the HD channels? Sounds as though your television is having a problem mixing DD5.1 into stereo. Maybe there are some sound settings in your television to deal with a DD5.1 signal, or you can try what hookbill recommended: in the TiVo UI, go to TiVo Central->Messages & Settings->Settings->Audio->Dolby Digital and select "Dolby Digital to PCM".

Yep, because otherwise it's like trying to play a DVD on Dolby 5.1 when you don't have a Dolby 5.1 system. Once you switch to the PCM stream you'll get better sound.

To be honest with you I have to comment that to me having HDTV and no Dolby 5.1 is really like only getting a piece of the pie instead of the whole pie. I'm not trying to tell you how to spend your hard earned money but Dolby 5.1 brings a whole different dimension to your HD viewing pleasure.

But if your happy with your TV's sound system, I understand. My Sony TV has a darn good sound sytem on it even if it isn't capable of Dolby 5.1. I would have to set my TiVo to Dolby to PCM to make it work the way you have it set up.

All good advice, I think that should fix it mate. Thanks for chipping in :)

FWIW- some shows "The Sara Connor Chronicles" for example, are broadcast at very low audio levels. Everyone complains about that particular show.

FWIW- some shows "The Sara Connor Chronicles" for example, are broadcast at very low audio levels. Everyone complains about that particular show.

Carefull when you say "everybody". There's always some idiot out there that will say it isn't.

Having said that, I have no problem with the volume level on that show.:p

I will say that it seems many NBC shows have lower volume levels. CBS on the other hand seems to really crank it up. IMHO they have the best sounding DD 5.1 of the networks, FOX would be second.

Having said that, I have no problem with the volume level on that show.:pNeither do I.

Locally, I would rank Fox best sounding, bar none. KFMB, the local CBS affiliate, just upgraded their equipment to handle DD5.1 about a year ago and the gain in the surrounds is way too high. It does give you a strong sense of being in the midst of a three dimensional sound field, but it's also distracting and annoying.

I think we got a pretty good bunch of guys in this forum who really try to help others. Sometimes we may not give the correct advise but I think many times we do. Usually if we give incorrect information the forum member will come back and say "that didn't work, any other ideas."

So I guess I can "assume" that if we don't hear from someone again who asked a question that they were provided a correct answer, but I sure would like to hear it.

Take jeffczyz and his sound problem. Yes, I know it's only been a day or so but I'm curious if what we said helped and I am even more curious about his playback freeze situation.

This happens a great deal around here and maybe it's just me. It's not like I'm asking for money, though I'll take it if they want to send it.:D I just want to know the outcome.

Does the S3 have variable analog audio output?

Does the S3 have variable analog audio output?

No... Fixed output only.

Yeah CSI Vegas rocks with the 5.1 on CBS.

FWIW- some shows "The Sara Connor Chronicles" for example, are broadcast at very low audio levels. Everyone complains about that particular show.

I don't know how it happened but the first two episodes of this show got recorded on my digital cable channel.

Yes, I knew this when I responded saying "I didn't have a problem."

Yesterday I finally saw an episode in HD Dolby 5.1 and while I wouldn't say it was terribly low the volume was lower then what I usually watch most of my HD Dolby 5.1 shows. I had my stereo at 61 and usually I watch on an average around 57.

Now what might be annoying is that commercials came on at the regular volume, however having an S3 and the 30 second skip and tick that was easily overcome.

Still, I will admit if I am in error and in this case I was. To me however it wasn't any different then the levels I watch many NBC shows, like Law and Order.

I don't know how it happened but the first two episodes of this show got recorded on my digital cable channel.

Yes, I knew this when I responded saying "I didn't have a problem."

Yesterday I finally saw an episode in HD Dolby 5.1 and while I wouldn't say it was terribly low the volume was lower then what I usually watch most of my HD Dolby 5.1 shows. I had my stereo at 61 and usually I watch on an average around 57.

Now what might be annoying is that commercials came on at the regular volume, however having an S3 and the 30 second skip and tick that was easily overcome.

Still, I will admit if I am in error and in this case I was. To me however it wasn't any different then the levels I watch many NBC shows, like Law and Order.

Hookbill,

It's good to see you posting here at AVS. I thought it was ridiculous when you were banned from the TiVo Community Forum. Are you banned for life?

The disparity in audio levels during commercials is annoying to say the least. I find on NBC, FOX and most networks, the volume level of commercials blasts you out of the room. It would be a welcome feature if future TiVo's offered a volume compensation or volume leveling feature that can be disengaged for movies and engaged when needed for TV.

Regards

............Now what might be annoying is that commercials came on at the regular volume, however having an S3 and the 30 second skip and tick that was easily overcome.

Still, I will admit if I am in error and in this case I was. To me however it wasn't any different then the levels I watch many NBC shows, like Law and Order.

I've seen both episodes and I haven't noticed a problem with this new Terminator program either. But then again, I don't go in with a mindset of expectation that volume levels will be similar from one show or one station to the next. I just adjust volume accordingly as I go along, having long ago been beaten down from expecting any better.

The most significant volume difference that sticks out in my mind is watching Letterman. That show is always significantly louder than some of the other late night network channels. This may apply to CBS-DT/HD programming in general, but as I don't watch many of the shows on that network, no other program immediately comes to mind.

.......The disparity in audio levels during commercials is annoying to say the least. I find on NBC, FOX and most networks, the volume level of commercials blasts you out of the room. It would be a welcome feature if future TiVo's offered a volume compensation or volume leveling feature that can be disengaged for movies and engaged when needed for TV.

Regards

Yes, that would be nice (Tivo volume compensation).

Unfortunately, the volume boost for commercials is a sly little workaround of the FCC requirement that commercials not be louder than the surrounding programming. Maximum volume for commercials IS the same as the programming, believe it or not. But what they do is boost the average volume of the commercials (raising the quieter elements of sound within a commercial to match the loudest parts), which has the net effect of making them louder, allowing them to stand out and grab your attention, yet without breaking the FCC maximum volume rule. But it certainly breaks the spirit of the rule.

I think this issue is a perfect analogy for what many people, especially audiophile-inclined music lovers, have been complaining about with respect to mastering of pop/rock cds in the last several years. Volume is raised to the upper limit for every single instrument or effect in a recording, leaving no subtlety, nuance or "quieter parts". The ears don't have a chance to rest, and you can't listen all the way through a whole cd. It's an aural assault, not unlike having someone shout at you for a long period of time. I hate it this effect in commercials and I hate it with many of the cds I own.

It's gotten so bad that there is a growing market of people seeking out much older, non so-called "remastered" cds, or, returning to vinyl albums in order to get away from this all too common and annoying music mastering technique.

Hookbill,

It's good to see you posting here at AVS. I thought it was ridiculous when you were banned from the TiVo Community Forum. Are you banned for life?

The disparity in audio levels during commercials is annoying to say the least. I find on NBC, FOX and most networks, the volume level of commercials blasts you out of the room. It would be a welcome feature if future TiVo's offered a volume compensation or volume leveling feature that can be disengaged for movies and engaged when needed for TV.

Regards
I’m glad to see Hook here, too. The climate at TCF can be decidedly nasty too much of the time. Too many of those folks could do with an attitude adjustment. :)

Telecasts with 5.1 sound characteristically produce less volume at a given dB setting that do those with 2 channel sound. I notice it most on Universal HD. For example, I watched Alfonso Cuarón’s 1998 version of Great Expectations yesterday. I set the volume at a moderately loud but comfortable listening level for the movie but the commercials, which were few in number fortunately, were painfully loud. I have a loudness compensation filter on my Yamaha receiver but I don’t use it because I don’t like what it does to the sound balance most of the time.

FWIW, I find CBS programming considerably louder than the other networks, as well...I pretty much always to have readjust the volume when going to/from that network...

Randy

FWIW, I find CBS programming considerably louder than the other networks, as well...I pretty much always to have readjust the volume when going to/from that network...

Randy

I can't honestly say I don't make some volume adjustments no matter what show I watch. Like I was watching Moonlight or whatever that vampire show is and I had everything set to 0 level. But when Numbers came on I had to lower the back speaker volume.

And so it goes. Every show I put on usually there is some type of adjustment.

Hookbill,

It's good to see you posting here at AVS. I thought it was ridiculous when you were banned from the TiVo Community Forum. Are you banned for life?



David Bott is the admin over here so I got to be a bit careful when I talk about this but truth be known I was only banned when they gave me a second warning. I got a bit upset with Mr. Bott and said some rather unkind things to him and told him to go ahead and ban me for life.

So the real truth is I told them to boot me, and they happily accomodated me.

I have also since apologized to Mr. Bott for my harsh comments to him.

And I meant it. Every word. Really.:)

David Bott is the admin over here so I got to be a bit careful when I talk about this but truth be known I was only banned when they gave me a second warning. I got a bit upset with Mr. Bott and said some rather unkind things to him and told him to go ahead and ban me for life.

So the real truth is I told them to boot me, and they happily accomodated me.

I have also since apologized to Mr. Bott for my harsh comments to him.

And I meant it. Every word. Really.:)
Yeah, right, you meant every word of your apology. :)

Whether or not your apology was sincere, you did what you had to do. Moderators are like the Wizard of Oz (too often in every way) but we humble posters are like the Munchkins, so we do what we have to do. It’s not easy, being green. :)

Im about to purchase an s3 jus cant stand it any more my 8300 finaly got the best of itself i have 2 questions=

I have twc can i install the cable cards myself?

also im in twc in new york are there diff models of cable cards like with the SA HDbox and the Samsung ? and how many do i need 1 or 2

Im about to purchase an s3 jus cant stand it any more my 8300 finaly got the best of itself i have 2 questions=

I have twc can i install the cable cards myself?

also im in twc in new york are there diff models of cable cards like with the SA HDbox and the Samsung ? and how many do i need 1 or 2

I believe all TWC's require truck rolls to install cablecards.

There are two types of cablecards... S-Cards and M-Cards. If you are getting the Tivo HD you need 1 M-Card or 2 S-Cards. If you are getting an S3 (the more expensive TiVo) then you need 2 M-Cards or 2 S-Cards.

I believe all TWC's require truck rolls to install cablecards.

There are two types of cablecards... S-Cards and M-Cards. If you are getting the Tivo HD you need 1 M-Card or 2 S-Cards. If you are getting an S3 (the more expensive TiVo) then you need 2 M-Cards or 2 S-Cards.

Not to correct my most knowledgeable friend, but there are some TW people that have been able to walk into the office and get them on their own. As I'm sure you're aware nothing is ever "official" or "constant" with TW. However the odds are more then likely it will require a truck roll. And as scsiraid said an S3 needs two cards.

My bet that since you are in NY expect a truck roll.

No matter what, get the S3 and make sure that you personally deliver your SA 8300 back to the TW office. Dragging it tied to the bumper of your car is the preferred method. :)

Guys,

I am going to be consolidating my various backup drives into a single, possibly NAS type solution. I have been reading a ton about the DLINK, Western Digital My Book World Edition, HP Media Server, and more.

I respect that in many cases I will need to do transcoding and other fun stuff on a desktop.

Has anyone seen success connecting the tivo direct to a NAS? If so, which one and what did you do to make it work.

Brian
Tivo HD / Fios

Has anyone seen success connecting the tivo direct to a NAS? If so, which one and what did you do to make it work. The TiVo does not support recording to network attached storage (NAS).

Has anyone seen success connecting the tivo direct to a NAS? If so, which one and what did you do to make it work. TiVo's won't talk to NASes by themselves, but you can run TiVo Desktop on a PC on the network and use it to automatically transfer recordings to a directory on an NAS (given that the recording is eligible to be copied from the TiVo).

Thanks Michael,

Can you expand on this comment "given that the recording is eligible to be copied from the TiVo"

Is there much limited content? I heard not at this time.

BG

FYI - Just picked up series three in prep for my migration from Cablevision to Fios. I apologize if the question is a little newbie.



TiVo's won't talk to NASes by themselves, but you can run TiVo Desktop on a PC on the network and use it to automatically transfer recordings to a directory on an NAS (given that the recording is eligible to be copied from the TiVo).

Can you expand on this comment "given that the recording is eligible to be copied from the TiVo"

Is there much limited content? I heard not at this time.The use of copy protection flags differs greatly from cable provider to cable provider. FCC regulations stipulate that rebroadcast of over-the-air stuff cannot have copy protections at all and that "Copy Never" protection can only be applied to Pay-Per-View and Video On Demand; everything else can have "Copy One Generation" protection applied at the discretion of the cable provider.

"Copy One Generation"-marked content cannot be moved from TiVo; TiVo Desktop's "Pick Recordings to Transfer" dialog will display a little red circle with a slash through it next to these and you won't be able to select them for transfer. This is not TiVo's choice--the licenses for the copy protection mechanisms in use with CableCARD (DFAST) and the CableCARD Host License itself require this, though they both allow for a move-then-delete-original operation that TiVo doesn't implement (that operation requires that the moved copy be protected against free copying, which isn't very straightforward to acheive on a PC).

As I stated, use of "Copy One Generation" varies by cable system; it's applied to about half the non-over-the-air HD channels on my local Cox system and some of the subscription standard definition digital channels as well. It's applied to the Sci Fi Channel but not to Universal HD, so crappy standard-definition digital cable recordings of Battlestar Galactica can't be transferred, but beautiful HD re-runs on Universal HD can. I've heard that some cable providers apply "Copy One Generation" to every channel that they're allowed to and that some others don't use it at all, even on premium channels and pay-per-view. The FCC should institute an additional rule stating that "Copy One Generation" can only be applied when requested by the content provider, but no such rule exists now, and it's totally up to the cable service provider. Some content providers explicitly want copy protection--HBO/Cinemax has a page on their site about their use of analog copy protections (see this (http://www.hbo.com/corpinfo/faq/cgmsfaq.shtml)); most non-premium channel providers probably don't care.

At least one provider (Comcast) supposedly has instituted a national policy not to use "Copy One Generation" except where the provider requests it. I have no idea how Verizon is applying copy protection flags--you'll know soon :).

I have also had practically no success transferring HD programs back to my TiVo S3 from a personal computer. All recordings have come back damaged, with continual "skips".

I have also had practically no success transferring HD programs back to my TiVo S3 from a personal computer. All recordings have come back damaged, with continual "skips".

I have not experienced that. My HD programs I've transferred came back fine. YMMV

Yeah, I've tried everything. Wired versus wireless. Two different routers. Can't get it to work.

Yeah, I've tried everything. Wired versus wireless. Two different routers. Can't get it to work.I've had the same problem, so you're not alone. Strictly using a wired network for the transfer, making the TiVo as idle as possible by tuning both tuners to unsubscribed channels. I can't imagine how they're managing to screw this up.

I've had the same problem, so you're not alone. Strictly using a wired network for the transfer, making the TiVo as idle as possible by tuning both tuners to unsubscribed channels. I can't imagine how they're managing to screw this up.

Now if I did have that problem I would have never thought of that! It kind of reminds me of how I would try to "accomodate" my SA 8300 to record a whole show instead of a partial. Actually put it on the channel it was going to record myself. Going to live TV to see if it was still recording.

The problem was the show would be on, the recording light on, yet when all was said and done I still would only have a partial recording. Which is why I bought the S3. Which has taken us totally off of what you guys were talking about.

Sorry, it's just amazing how we will try sometimes to make things "easy" for our DVR's. And sorry you guys are having the transfer problem, I've seen others mention it too.

Michael's approach for getting the transfer from PC to TiVo working well (ensure that the both of the tuners in the TiVo are tuned to unsubscribed channels) presumably frees up CPU for handling the incoming transmission. I admit I haven't tried that. It sounds like far more trouble than it is worth, wrt using this method as a long-term solution, especially given how "easy" it was to buy and connect the My DVD Expander. :)

I have a fully functioning Series 3 deluxe remote control except for the volume button which is very intermittent. The batteries are fine. The volume control no longer works without repeated presses and the remote is less than a year old. I tried the A/V RVCR remote control and the volume control works fine with that so the problem is not the A/V RCVR. I also tried a no-battery TiVo remote control reset and that did not work. It seems as if only this one button is just worn out. I called TiVo and they are sending me a new remote control at no cost under warranty. After one year the warranty runs out and I would have to pay $50 to replace it so I am wondering how common a problem this is with the deluxe S3 remote control. Has anyone else had this problem of button 'wear out'?

I am wondering how common a problem this is with the deluxe S3 remote control. Has anyone else had this problem of button 'wear out'?I imagine that many of the people who are A/V-ophile enough to invest in a TiVo S3 are probably also A/V-ophile enough to, like me, use a high-end universal remote. My TiVo remote hasn't gotten much of a work-out (it sits stored and ignored with 5 others), though I'm sure that there are others who do use the thing :).

I imagine that many of the people who are A/V-ophile enough to invest in a TiVo S3 are probably also A/V-ophile enough to, like me, use a high-end universal remote. My TiVo remote hasn't gotten much of a work-out (it sits stored and ignored with 5 others), though I'm sure that there are others who do use the thing :).

I highly agree, I use the Harmony 660 but you pick your model. My TiVo remote is in the closet I never use it.