I think this is another deal where they don't want you to schedule from the guide (or see what's going on) because it's not the Tivo way.

I understand what you are saying in the first paragraph, but your second paragraph, the one I'm quoting doesn't make any sense to me at all.

No, it's not the TiVo way to do scheduling. The guide is so you can see what is on right now, not a week down the road. That's why you can program by title, time and channel, wishlist and everything else.

When you program from the guide on a cable DVR you have to select the day and then move to the time and channel you want to record. What's the difference with chosing "record by time and channel."? It's just a different looking guide then the regular guide. And if you wanted to set up another recording for the next show on the same channel it brings you all the way back to the same day guide you started with, at least that's the way SA 8300 SARA worked. PIA.

I do agree it would be nice when you brought up the guide to have an indicator of a program on there that would is scheduled to be recorded, but then again that is why there is a "to do list." Serves the same purpose.

And my experience with cable DVR's was that if I caught the name of a show that sounded interesting unless I remembered what time and day it was on I was pretty much SOL. With TiVo if you come close to remembering the title, you're in there.

I do agree it would be nice when you brought up the guide to have an indicator of a program on there that would is scheduled to be recorded, but then again that is why there is a "to do list." Serves the same purpose.



It may serve the same purpose, but it's hardly as elegant as a visual display. It requires using your memory instead of just using the DVR's UI/guide to see what you're recording. Suppose I decide that I want something other to record than what's already scheduled, I have to go to the TDL, see what's there, remember those two, then go to the guide select my new show, have the conflict screen come up, delete the one so the new one can be added.

I don't care what anyone says, having a visual cue in the guide is the best, and simplest way to see, verify, and make possible changes as to what is to be recorded - just like everybody else does it, except TiVo.

It may serve the same purpose, but it's hardly as elegant as a visual display. It requires using your memory instead of just using the DVR's UI/guide to see what you're recording. Suppose I decide that I want something other to record than what's already scheduled, I have to go to the TDL, see what's there, remember those two, then go to the guide select my new show, have the conflict screen come up, delete the one so the new one can be added.
I don't care what anyone says, having a visual cue in the guide is the best, and simplest way to see, verify, and make possible changes as to what is to be recorded - just like everybody else does it, except TiVo.

There are many types of scenarios on this that can happen. You could simply record the show and tell TiVo to overide the show it's telling you to conflict. End of story.

Not the right show? Is it something that you want to have priority over? You can set that up with an SP and move it above the show that you don't want recorded.

One time event? You know if it's a one time event. TDL, Do not record this episode, and then select the show you want recorded.

Now let me tell you what happens with the SA 8300 using the method you describe, the channel guide.

Yes, you can see everything right there. You select your show and if you're lucky you may get a conflict message. Let's say you have Eureka scheduled but something else is coming up. You have to go in there and find another time for Eureka and schedule it because it will kill your "record all showings".

TiVo just looks for another time to record Eureka. End of story.

As I said earlier it would be nice to be able to see on the guide if a recording is scheduled, but the way the record by guide worked on the SA 8300 it was a mess. Not to mention that it would allow you to set up a show for "record all showings" and then when the other show that you had set for that time returns it simply disregards it.

Not having a To Do List is, IMHO, much worst then having the guide with the shows listed.

Who said anything about not having a TDL? This is complementary, not a replacement - you can either see what's being recorded in a list or visually in the guide, so if you want to keep looking at lists, feel free.

But as keenan said, only Tivo refuses to show what's being recorded in the guide, and it's just dumb.

Who said anything about not having a TDL? This is complementary, not a replacement - you can either see what's being recorded in a list or visually in the guide, so if you want to keep looking at lists, feel free.

But as keenan said, only Tivo refuses to show what's being recorded in the guide, and it's just dumb.

I didn't.

Did you not read anything I said about the problems the guide causes?:confused:

And again I am in favor of the guide, I just don't like the way it is used on other DVR's.

Who said anything about not having a TDL? This is complementary, not a replacement - you can either see what's being recorded in a list or visually in the guide, so if you want to keep looking at lists, feel free.

But as keenan said, only Tivo refuses to show what's being recorded in the guide, and it's just dumb.


Perhaps there's a very good technical reason why it's not there. Let's hypothesize for a moment...

The TiVo Live Guide is text only, if I'm not mistaken. Adding a graphical element to it might require a complete re-vamp, which TiVo may be hesitant to do ("if it ain't broke, don't fix it").

The TiVo Grid Guide has ALWAYS been the subject of MANY complaints about how slowly it renders the grid. Adding yet another graphical element to it (per grid box, by the way) would probably present a performance hit, and slow down the rending process again. Not optimal.

Not trying to make excuses for TiVo here, just trying to present a possible engineering technical design and decision making process.

Besides, if TiVo was going to do any revamping, they should rework the GUI to fully utilize the 720p/1080i resolution available in HDTV displays. Why ? Because that's what I want. :)

I think it works very well the way it is. If I try to schedule a recording and there is a conflict it will tell me. It's always worked great that way. Then I just go to another TiVo box to schedule the recording.

The guide is so you can see what is on right now, not a week down the road. That's why you can program by title, time and channel, wishlist and everything else.If the guide were for seeing what's on right now, there'd be no reason to allow you to scroll through the entire thing, which it has always done. Not even TiVo thinks that it's just for seeing what's on now, since they just added a feature to scroll forward and back through the guide by whole days at a time.

The guide is for whatever you choose to use it for. One thing that I use it for is scanning what's coming up on varied-content channels like the premiums and HDNet Movies. If I see something interesting, I set up a recording while browsing the guide. It would be helpful to see at a glance that I already have something set to record.

Also, hook, don't say "SA 8300" when you mean "SARA"--there are currently at least four different IPGs in use on the Cisco boxes. Passport Echo running on the Explorer 8300HD has both recording indicators on its grid guide and an analog to TiVo's TDL (as does TWC's Digital Navigator, which also includes an equivalent of TiVo's "View Recording History"). It also had "recording conflict" indicators--a little mark (and a change in text color) meaning "I would record this, but I'm recording two other higher priority requests which overlap it".

Paul, with all due respect, as someone with long experience in consumer equipment user interface design and implementation, I don't buy the performance hit theory.

Paul, with all due respect, as someone with long experience in consumer equipment user interface design and implementation, I don't buy the performance hit theory.

Same here. Merely providing a hypothetical.

I believe that TiVo believes it has many larger fish to fry, and can't allocate the engineering resources to a such a "low priority" task.

Speaking of the Program Guide, don't forget about the filters available for it. For example, on college football Saturdays, I often set the filter so that the Guide shows only football programming. You can do the same thing with movies and a bunch of other stuff, too. The filters are really neat.

The guide is for whatever you choose to use it for. One thing that I use it for is scanning what's coming up on varied-content channels like the premiums and HDNet Movies. If I see something interesting, I set up a recording while browsing the guide. It would be helpful to see at a glance that I already have something set to record.
Exactly. Just because you don't use this method, hook, doesn't mean that others don't. It's a very handy way to browse for and record stuff on channels you like (I do this on the Encore channels every week or so, and they all happen to line up together in my Comcast grid).

So it's a pain not to see at a glance what you've already scheduled on a group of channels, as opposed to a time-based linear list which might have other stuff jumbled in.

I just don't see this feature as a big deal to do since they already show currently recording icons and thumbs up/down status in the guide, but whatever.

Speaking of the Program Guide, don't forget about the filters available for it. For example, on college football Saturdays, I often set the filter so that the Guide shows only football programming. You can do the same thing with movies and a bunch of other stuff, too. The filters are really neat.
Nice tip, thanks. I always forget about those filters for the guide.

I think it works very well the way it is. If I try to schedule a recording and there is a conflict it will tell me. It's always worked great that way. Then I just go to another TiVo box to schedule the recording.
You get the same thing if you hit record on a show in the guide.

I believe that TiVo believes it has many larger fish to fry, and can't allocate the engineering resources to a such a "low priority" task.


Yep...the ability to see YouTube videos didn't just build itself, you know!!! ;););)

Randy

Perhaps there's a very good technical reason why it's not there. Let's hypothesize for a moment...

The TiVo Live Guide is text only, if I'm not mistaken. Adding a graphical element to it might require a complete re-vamp, which TiVo may be hesitant to do ("if it ain't broke, don't fix it").

The TiVo Grid Guide has ALWAYS been the subject of MANY complaints about how slowly it renders the grid. Adding yet another graphical element to it (per grid box, by the way) would probably present a performance hit, and slow down the rending process again. Not optimal.

Not trying to make excuses for TiVo here, just trying to present a possible engineering technical design and decision making process.

Besides, if TiVo was going to do any revamping, they should rework the GUI to fully utilize the 720p/1080i resolution available in HDTV displays. Why ? Because that's what I want. :)

Understand it's hypothetical, but I'm with michaeltscott on this as well as again, every other DVR interface I've used has both a scheduled recording list(TDL) and an in-guide recording icon, TiVo is the only one that doesn't. Even the primitive Star Choice Motorola sat receiver has guide icons.

One guess might be it's because they have the two different guide display options, but even then, I just can't imagine it's that hard to implement, heck the POS Motorola boxes do it.

I discovered a revolting development from last night a short time ago. This season's opening episode of Boston Legal did not record because two other programs that stood higher in my Season Pass list were also scheduled. Nevertheless, I got no notice of the conflict and only learned what had happened by reviewing the shows in the Not Recorded menu. This is particularly frustrating because I have an SA 8300HD box connected to the same HDTV as my S3 uses but didn't discover the problem until it was too late to do anything about it.

Does anyone know of anything I might do to prevent another nasty surprise of this sort? I have reordered my Season Pass priorities so that this particular problem doesn't happen again but I have a bunch of Season Passes and continue to add more, so I feel as if I am sitting on a time bomb.Having been burned by the same thing, I made a couple of suggestions on how to deal with this on TCF in this (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=6709817) thread.

If the guide were for seeing what's on right now, there'd be no reason to allow you to scroll through the entire thing, which it has always done. Not even TiVo thinks that it's just for seeing what's on now, since they just added a feature to scroll forward and back through the guide by whole days at a time.

The guide is for whatever you choose to use it for. One thing that I use it for is scanning what's coming up on varied-content channels like the premiums and HDNet Movies. If I see something interesting, I set up a recording while browsing the guide. It would be helpful to see at a glance that I already have something set to record.

Also, hook, don't say "SA 8300" when you mean "SARA"--there are currently at least four different IPGs in use on the Cisco boxes. Passport Echo running on the Explorer 8300HD has both recording indicators on its grid guide and an analog to TiVo's TDL (as does TWC's Digital Navigator, which also includes an equivalent of TiVo's "View Recording History"). It also had "recording conflict" indicators--a little mark (and a change in text color) meaning "I would record this, but I'm recording two other higher priority requests which overlap it".

Paul, with all due respect, as someone with long experience in consumer equipment user interface design and implementation, I don't buy the performance hit theory.

Michael, with all due respect if I want to say SA 8300 I'll say it. Further, I was stating my opinion of the guide. It's not like the guide on cable boxes or at least the one with the SA 8300 (SARA - feel better?). You can't just punch in a time and date you have to scroll through the TiVo Guide.

Michael, with all due respect if I want to say SA 8300 I'll say it.My point is that it doesn't say what you mean. You're talking about guide software running on a box which runs a bunch of different software packages. (TiVo was commissioned by Cox to create a guide running on the Cisco boxes, though I'm not sure whether that's rolled out anywhere yet or whether it ever will--I know that it was more or less completed from a buddy at TiVo who worked on the port. Cox has since commissioned NDS--creators of IPGs for DirecTV and others--to create something custom as their standard guide, though they still may offer the TiVo guide as an extra cost option).

I moved from a TWC neighborhood to a Cox one at the beginning of 2007; I'd had Passport Echo on an Explorer 8300HD on TWC and got an identical 8300HD running SARA in the Cox system--night and day difference. Though the initial firmware releases were somewhat buggy, I was pretty happy with Passport during the second of the two years that I used it. Not being someone who makes much use of all the extra network-enabled gunk, there's not much about the TiVo IPG to make me prefer it over Passport Echo and there are several features that Passport had that I miss (including recording indicators in the guide).

It took three short weeks of using SARA to make me hate it with a white-hot passion; I cheerfully plopped down $900 for a TiVo S3 with a 3-year service contract (I'd owned a TiVo S1 for many years but had stopped using it when the cable company gave me a way to timeshift high-def). If I'd been given Passport to use by Cox, I wouldn't be a TiVo owner today.
Further, I was stating my opinion of the guide. It's not like the guide on cable boxes or at least the one with the SA 8300 (SARA - feel better?). You can't just punch in a time and date you have to scroll through the TiVo Guide.I'm not sure what you're talking about. I'm not aware of any ability to "punch in a time and date" in SARA (but I can't claim to be an SARA expert)--it's certainly not in either Passport or Navigator. On those IPGs, you bring up the guide and it shows you a grid centered around the channel that you were watching, starting at the current time slot--to see any other data, you have to scroll around.

Having been burned by the same thing, I made a couple of suggestions on how to deal with this on TCF in this (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=6709817) thread.
Thanks. Missing Boston Legal wasn't the end of the world but It was surprising because the TiVo software is usually so reliable.

I moved from a TWC neighborhood to a Cox one at the beginning of 2007; I'd had Passport Echo on an Explorer 8300HD on TWC and got an identical 8300HD running SARA in the Cox system--night and day difference. Though the initial firmware releases were somewhat buggy, I was pretty happy with Passport during the second of the two years that I used it. Not being someone who makes much use of all the extra network-enabled gunk, there's not much about the TiVo IPG to make me prefer it over Passport Echo and there are several features that Passport had that I miss (including recording indicators in the guide).

It took three short weeks of using SARA to make me hate it with a white-hot passion; I cheerfully plopped down $900 for a TiVo S3 with a 3-year service contract (I'd owned a TiVo S1 for many years but had stopped using it when the cable company gave me a way to timeshift high-def). If I'd been given Passport to use by Cox, I wouldn't be a TiVo owner today.
Both my brother in Atlanta and my son in Milwaukee have Passport and I agree that it looks pretty good. SARA in stark contrast sucks. I recently brought my 8300HD into my great room with my main HDTV and S3, so I am using the 8300 a lot more. The SARA guide has no search capability worthy of the name and is crippled in a bunch of other ways, too. Using it more frequently reminded me of the reason why I sprung for my S3 nearly 2 years ago.

My move from my old S1 to my first SA HD DVR, an 8000HD, nearly 5 years ago wasn't especially traumatic. Although the loss of TiVo's state of the art search functions was painful, getting 2 tuners to replace 1, along with the ability to record in HD, eased the pain considerably.

Now that TiVo is back in bed with DirecTv, when can one hope to see an HD TiVo unit for DirecTv use?

Now that TiVo is back in bed with DirecTv, when can one hope to see an HD TiVo unit for DirecTv use?

It's been estimated to be around this time next year.

Now that TiVo is back in bed with DirecTv, when can one hope to see an HD TiVo unit for DirecTv use?

Well, son.....;) you see first they have to get together and do a little courting. Actually they've done that already. Then they got married, and give them a few months so I'd say about 9 months from now.:D

Absolutely you will, and this time you will get it with full TiVo functions just like a regular TiVo. TiVo to go, Home Media, the whole 9 yards.

this time you will get it with full TiVo functions just like a regular TiVo. TiVo to go, Home Media, the whole 9 yards.

Have they actually announced that? I've seen some speculation that it will be a Comcast style Tivo-lite running on DirecTV NDS hardware.

Have they actually announced that? I've seen some speculation that it will be a Comcast style Tivo-lite running on DirecTV NDS hardware.

I did a search and I can't find anything to confirm what I said. I thought that I had read that, but everything I see says "details of the agreement have not been confirmed" and I saw that the price would be much higher but no amount was given.

Sorry if I got your hopes up. This doesn't mean I'm wrong, I just can't prove that what I saw, or thought I saw was correct.

Have they actually announced that? I've seen some speculation that it will be a Comcast style Tivo-lite running on DirecTV NDS hardware.

I thought I read some coverage of this deal that detailed some of the functionality, which could have only meant some (if not all) of the networking support.

Found it : Link (http://www.wkblog.com/tivo/2008/09/more-info-on-the-directv-hd-tivo/)

I thought I read some coverage of this deal that detailed some of the functionality, which could have only meant some (if not all) of the networking support.

Found it : Link (http://www.wkblog.com/tivo/2008/09/more-info-on-the-directv-hd-tivo/)

Thanks Paul. I've been giving out quite a bit of misinformation lately, at least it looks like I got this one right.

I thought I read some coverage of this deal that detailed some of the functionality, which could have only meant some (if not all) of the networking support.

Found it : Link (http://www.wkblog.com/tivo/2008/09/more-info-on-the-directv-hd-tivo/)Note that the message in one of those screenshots gives a link to http://www.tivo.com/mytivo/directv-signup.html, a place where interested people can register their info and receive updates about the upcoming "DirecTiVo HD" product.

Perhaps there's a very good technical reason why it's not there. Let's hypothesize for a moment...

The TiVo Live Guide is text only, if I'm not mistaken. Adding a graphical element to it might require a complete re-vamp, which TiVo may be hesitant to do ("if it ain't broke, don't fix it").

The TiVo Grid Guide has ALWAYS been the subject of MANY complaints about how slowly it renders the grid. Adding yet another graphical element to it (per grid box, by the way) would probably present a performance hit, and slow down the rending process again. Not optimal.

Not trying to make excuses for TiVo here, just trying to present a possible engineering technical design and decision making process.

Besides, if TiVo was going to do any revamping, they should rework the GUI to fully utilize the 720p/1080i resolution available in HDTV displays. Why ? Because that's what I want. :)

Ummm, I could manage to highlight text on a teletype connected via a 110 baud modem to a computer with less horsepower than an iPhone. I think they could manage it if they wanted to.

Ummm, I could manage to highlight text on a teletype connected via a 110 baud modem to a computer with less horsepower than an iPhone. I think they could manage it if they wanted to.

I think this has been discussed to the point where we are now beating a dead horse. Technical, personal, stubborn, whatever the reason, TiVo is not going to use the guide to show upcoming recordings. People have been asking for 10 years and they haven't done it. If they were going to, they would have done so by now.

Can it be done? I don't know, but I really don't care fact is that it is not going to be done.

This functionality is not needed so why would they waste their time adding it?

Especially when there are so many other things they could be spending their time on...

This functionality is not needed so why would they waste their time adding it?

Says the man with a TiVo for every 2 channels on the dial. :D

Besides, no one has ever said it was needed, just that it would be a nice feature, a feature that every other DVR known to man has. :)

Especially when there are so many other things they could be spending their time on...

Like what? Building the new DirecTV TiVo box? That I can agree with, but a function that can be found in free DVR/PVR software no less, can't be that big of a technological obstacle to implement.

Beating a dead horse. Beating a dead horse. Beating a dead horse. Beating a dead horse. Beating a dead horse. Beating a dead horse. Beating a dead horse. Beating a dead horse. Beating a dead horse. Beating a dead horse.

The bottom line here is that it will not be done because it's not the Tivo way. Technically I think it's a no-brainer, but Tivo thinks they know how you're supposed to use it. Anything else is not seriously considered.

I like my Tivo HD, but it's stupid stuff like this (I'm migrating from Replays, which had a better feature set in many ways but are dead for HD) that will lead me to give it up for my Myth box if Comcast ever decides to put digital expanded basic in clear QAM.

I want options, not decisions made for me, but the Tivo is the only reasonable game in town right now.

Oh, and shut up about the dead horse, hook, you're not the forum cop.

Oh, and shut up about the dead horse, hook, you're not the forum cop.

I didn't say I was, as a matter of fact I agree with your theory I stated that in my first "beating the dead horse" post.

On the other hand there is no need to be disrespectfull and tell me to shut up. I'll post what I want, and you can post what you want as well. Your not the forum police either.

Like what? Building the new DirecTV TiVo box?That's one. Compliance with the ADA with respect to the Amazon Unbox service is another. Research into tru2way is another big one I bet. Perhaps looking into TiVo for Finland, Germany, Portugal, etc. I'm sure there are dozens of things.

That I can agree with, but a function that can be found in free DVR/PVR software no less, can't be that big of a technological obstacle to implement.No one said it was... what we're saying is that other things are more worth their time and effort. It's a bit like going on a job interview and getting turned down: Does that mean you're an idiot? Of course not! It is just that there was someone else who fit the position better.

On the other hand there is no need to be disrespectfull and tell me to shut up. He doesn't know any other way to converse with people he disagrees with.

I think this has been discussed to the point where we are now beating a dead horse....

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k137/Bierboy/Emoticons/dedhorze.gif

Just for you, Hook....


But, actually, I use the grid guide and find it's performance quite satisfactory. I don't think I would classify it as sluggish. Nor would I say it's snappy. Adequate is the word I would use.

I like my Tivo HD, but it's stupid stuff like this (I'm migrating from Replays, which had a better feature set in many ways but are dead for HD) that will lead me to give it up for my Myth box if Comcast ever decides to put digital expanded basic in clear QAM.....

And we can only hope that happens quickly, for our sake, not yours...:rolleyes:

That's one. Compliance with the ADA with respect to the Amazon Unbox service is another. Research into tru2way is another big one I bet. Perhaps looking into TiVo for Finland, Germany, Portugal, etc. I'm sure there are dozens of things.



Ah! So it's the Finnish people who are to blame for this, and my brother is making a pitch in Helsinki this week. (Note to self: call brother.) :p:D

BTW, as I'm sure you're aware, most of my comments on this subject are of the rhetorical type as if they haven't done it by now, they're probably never going to do it given the apparent simplicity of it. :)

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k137/Bierboy/Emoticons/dedhorze.gif

Just for you, Hook....

lol....I was looking for something like that but couldn't find one.


And we can only hope that happens quickly, for our sake, not yours...:rolleyes:

Amen. He repeated the exact same thing that he said here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=14725788&postcount=4750). Without the insult.:)

Oh, and shut up about the dead horse, hook, you're not the forum cop.


Oh but he thinks he is. Rather than keep quiet, he has to get his snide comments in. Those snide and mean spirited comments were what eventually got him banned from the Tivo CF 5 times and counting.

Yeah, it seems unlikely that they'll add recording indicators in the guide, though it should be noted that they put them in the IPG that they created for Comcast (probably at Comcast's insistence). The Comcast TiVo guide includes a plethora of markings for guide entry, including requested recording, Season Pass recording, Wishlist auto-recording, and Season-Pass-recording-that-won't-record-due-to-conflict (see the rightmost column of PDF page 12 of this (http://www.comcast.com/MediaLibrary/1/1/LimeLight/Customer_Support/tivo/TivoViewersGuide.pdf) document). Except for "Wishlist auto-recording", these were all present in Passport Echo (there was a similar function--a standing request to record all matches of a search--which I never used, so I'm not certain whether there was a special recording marking for it).

Comcast also required a live inset view of the current channel during access to menus.

Oh but he thinks he is. Rather than keep quiet, he has to get his snide comments in. Those snide and mean spirited comments were what eventually got him banned from the Tivo CF 5 times and counting.

Sooka, you got banned from the TCF so don't make it out like you're an Angel. And you're constant stalking of me is really getting scarry. I'm going to have you investigated. Seriously, I'm going to hire a Private Investigator to gather evidence on you and try and have you arrested for stalking me.

Guys, check it out. Run his name at the TiVo forum in a search. Every post was a nasty comment to me. Then he came back as Sooka, and he spends his time trying to figure out if I'm in the TiVo Forum under a different name. But I know his name, it's Sooka and he was banned which is why he has a different identification. He comes into the Cleveland Forum and makes remarks to me over there. This guy has got some serious issues.

Bierboy knows about it.

And Sooka, you just keep on counting. Like I told you I will go over there anytime I want and there is nothing you can do to stop me. Am I over there now? Have you been searching?

You're a real sick person, but for my own protection I am going to have you investigated.

Run a search on his name guys as Magnani or Sooka in the TiVo Forum. You will see what I'm talking about.

And we can only hope that happens quickly, for our sake, not yours...:rolleyes:
There's no reason to be a Tivo fanboy here, this forum is much more independent than TCF.

And bicker, the REALITY is that you are just as likely to insult the intelligence of anyone that disagrees with you. Stop acting like you know how all these corporations make decisions about stuff like this, because you really have no way to know. I have no way of knowing it's because it's not the Tivo way any more than you know whether it's because other features are more important.

We all need a good dose of IMO's in front of these comments; I plead guilty to not doing so myself. None of us know why they choose to implement or leave out features. I just know that I would like to have more options in a DVR, but the Tivo is good enough for now.

There's no reason to be a Tivo fanboy here, this forum is much more independent than TCF...

That I am not; I merely point out that, if all he plans to do is gripe about TiVo, then this he's wasting space here. I'm all for constructive discussion, but when someone just shows up to complain and nothing else, it's a waste of everyone's time and energy. I'm not one to gloss over TiVo's shortcomings; as I said above, I don't think the grid is snappy. Yes, it could be better, but IMO I wouldn't call it sluggish. I used to have the Sony DHG unit, and, as I recall (and, believe me, I've tried to wipe my experience with that unit from my memory!) the guide was a bit snappier than the TiVo grid guide.

There's no reason to be a Tivo fanboy here, this forum is much more independent than TCF.

I'll agree with that.

And bicker, the REALITY is that you are just as likely to insult the intelligence of anyone that disagrees with you. Stop acting like you know how all these corporations make decisions about stuff like this, because you really have no way to know. I have no way of knowing it's because it's not the Tivo way any more than you know whether it's because other features are more important.

bicker1 doesn't need me to defend him and I've had my moments with him both here and in the TiVo Forum. As time has gone on I've come to realize that while he is persistant he does present logical arguments and he is man enough to admit when he is wrong. And he says what's on his mind, just like you do. And one more thing about him I've noticed is that he is more carefull not to insult people then when I first met him.

We all need a good dose of IMO's in front of these comments; I plead guilty to not doing so myself. None of us know why they choose to implement or leave out features. I just know that I would like to have more options in a DVR, but the Tivo is good enough for now.

What we need is more IMHO's.

I've been around this forum and the TiVo Forum now for 8 years and I have to tell you it just gets tiresome going over the same stuff time and time again. Now I don't mind someone saying "I'd like to see this" but the subject we were talking about has had it's fair amount of time. I know it will be brought up again by somebody else who comes into this forum but to keep going on and on about it is ridiculous.

That I am not; I merely point out that, if all he plans to do is gripe about TiVo, then this he's wasting space here. I'm all for constructive discussion, but when someone just shows up to complain and nothing else, it's a waste of everyone's time and energy. I'm not one to gloss over TiVo's shortcomings; as I said above, I don't think the grid is snappy. Yes, it could be better, but IMO I wouldn't call it sluggish. I used to have the Sony DHG unit, and, as I recall (and, believe me, I've tried to wipe my experience with that unit from my memory!) the guide was a bit snappier than the TiVo grid guide.
Please. I don't just come here to complain about Tivos. In fact, if you check my post history, you'll see that I've been trying to get as many people using Comcast DVR's as I can to consider the HD. I'm probably more of a fanboy here than you realize.

But IMO, I'm just calling a spade a spade. As a current Replay user, I can tell you that the Tivo, while it has many good features, is completely lacking in some really good ones that have been around for 10 years. Cooperative scheduling and record from guide are just a couple of examples.

And one more thing about him I've noticed is that he is more carefull not to insult people then when I first met him.

<snip>

Now I don't mind someone saying "I'd like to see this" but the subject we were talking about has had it's fair amount of time. I know it will be brought up again by somebody else who comes into this forum but to keep going on and on about it is ridiculous.
I wasn't insulting you, I just asked you to shut up about dead horses because you're no more the forum cop than I.

You made your point, as have I. Peace.

Please. I don't just come here to complain about Tivos. In fact, if you check my post history, you'll see that I've been trying to get as many people using Comcast DVR's as I can to consider the HD. I'm probably more of a fanboy here than you realize.

But IMO, I'm just calling a spade a spade. As a current Replay user, I can tell you that the Tivo, while it has many good features, is completely lacking in some really good ones that have been around for 10 years. Cooperative scheduling and record from guide are just a couple of examples.

I'm puzzled at what you call "record from guide"? I've been able to record from the grid guide for as long as I can remember.

FWIW, I agree that TiVo should add some features which other units (including the aforementioned Sony) have/had. One that comes to mind is the indicator showing an upcoming show (in the guide) which will record. Now, if that's what you mean by record from guide, then I agree.

I'm puzzled at what you call "record from guide"? I've been able to record from the grid guide for as long as I can remember.

FWIW, I agree that TiVo should add some features which other units (including the aforementioned Sony) have/had. One that comes to mind is the indicator showing an upcoming show (in the guide) which will record. Now, if that's what you mean by record from guide, then I agree.

That's exactly what we've(me anyhow) been talking about. :)

I wasn't insulting you, I just asked you to shut up about dead horses because you're no more the forum cop than I.

You made your point, as have I. Peace.

Not that I really want to drag this thing out but you didn't ask me to shut up you told me to shut up. Big difference. And in doing so you were acting like a forum cop.;)

However it's clear that you don't want to have a fight over this anymore then I do. The problem with the internet and forums is that what we type and how it comes out to others can be two different things. So let's forget about it as you suggest and move on. As far as I'm concerned it's over between me and you. Peace back to you.

There are now just about exactly as many posts in your argument about who's insulting who or being "forum cops" as there were discussing the opinion that TiVo should add recording indicators to the guide (a valid topic of conversation for this thread, however long it went on, whereas the argument is probably not).

I think I'd rather discuss what TiVo's thinking of doing as far as a new interface is concerned. Quite a bit different from the interface we've all seen since Day 1.

High definition, very interactive, integrated with various download entities (Netfilix, Blockbuster, Amazon), perhaps some kind of concept of personalized recordings (my recordings might be seperate from my wife's), some kind of social networking... Thoughts ?

LINK (http://www.gizmolovers.com/2008/09/28/is-tivo-working-on-an-all-new-user-interface/)

http://www.gizmolovers.com/Images/Articles/2008-09-28-New-TiVo-Interface/NGTiVo1_full.png

Don't like it. Too messy at the top for one thing. Not nearly as intuitive for the menus.

Don't like it. Too messy at the top for one thing. Not nearly as intuitive for the menus.

There are parts that I do like, and parts that I don't like.

I don't mind the menu re-org. I feel it more cleanly integrates other sources of programming (Netflix, Amazon), rather than the current endless list of HME apps in the "Music, Photos..." menu.

Depending upon how they are thinking of doing the social networking thing, it might be a useful enhancement to the current Suggestions engine. As it stands right now, I turn off Suggestions because I find it more of a hindrance than a help.

The top ribbon is one that I most definitely don't like initially, but I'll have to see it in action before I can really make up my mind. Apparently, it's configurable in that you can select the ratios of movies, TV, downloads, ads, etc that are shown.

There are parts that I do like, and parts that I don't like.

I don't mind the menu re-org. I feel it more cleanly integrates other sources of programming (Netflix, Amazon), rather than the current endless list of HME apps in the "Music, Photos..." menu.

Depending upon how they are thinking of doing the social networking thing, it might be a useful enhancement to the current Suggestions engine. As it stands right now, I turn off Suggestions because I find it more of a hindrance than a help.

The top ribbon is one that I most definitely don't like initially, but I'll have to see it in action before I can really make up my mind. Apparently, it's configurable in that you can select the ratios of movies, TV, downloads, ads, etc that are shown.
See, I don't use (and never plan to use) Netlfix or Amazon, so those are just a waste of space to me. I'm rarely (if ever) in the Music, Photos..." menu. But I guess I can see how that would be useful to those who do access those areas a lot.

From the caption of what they're asking opinions about (the ribbon at the top), it sounds like it's going to be another way of sending ads for shows, movies, and music related to what you have recorded.

The current menu is definitely in need of an overhaul for 16:9 sets, and the 'Find programs and downloads' section has become a catchall for everything that doesn't fit somewhere else.

I agree about Suggestions, Paul. I turned them off from the beginning but periodically check to see what it would have recorded, and 99% of it is stuff I wouldn't want it to record. But I can see that if you thumbs up/down enough shows over time, it might catch something that you're interested in.

Absolutely any redesign of the UI will be very deliberately oriented towards providing more advertising opportunities. That's a stated goal of TiVo overall.

We have great success with Suggestions. It does a great job of keeping my 750 GB full of interesting stuff to watch, when the core of Now Playing is empty, or I'm alone and Now Playing filled with things that my wife and I would watch together.

I think I'd rather discuss what TiVo's thinking of doing as far as a new interface is concerned. Quite a bit different from the interface we've all seen since Day 1.

High definition, very interactive, integrated with various download entities (Netfilix, Blockbuster, Amazon), perhaps some kind of concept of personalized recordings (my recordings might be seperate from my wife's), some kind of social networking... Thoughts ?

LINK (http://www.gizmolovers.com/2008/09/28/is-tivo-working-on-an-all-new-user-interface/)

http://www.gizmolovers.com/Images/Articles/2008-09-28-New-TiVo-Interface/NGTiVo1_full.png

Where is the TiVo Guy? When I had D-TiVo and they took away the TiVo guy I didn't like it.

May sound silly but I like the little fellow.:o

I just bought a TIVO and noticed flicker or quick flashes during programming. I notice this on talk shows, like leno, and interview type siuations like on Fox News or CNN. Its most noticable on 4 of my analog channels but have seen it some on one of the ota hd channels.

To clarify I am not talking about when you change a channel and it changes resolution and flickers, I'm talking about at random times during a program I am hit with quick flashes of light, light dynamically chaning brightness most noticable on a dark background to mid grey background.

On two channels I see a quick flash of snow maybe for 1/2 a second and you can hear the snow for 1/2 second.

Is this a problem with the 9.4 firmware or is my new tivo defective?

Where is the TiVo Guy? When I had D-TiVo and they took away the TiVo guy I didn't like it.

May sound silly but I like the little fellow.:o

I don't think this was the final layout. It was more likely a questionnaire concerning the various new graphical elements in the GUI. I suspect that once they gather enough opinions, they'll change the look and feel to reflect the input of those comments. Adding the TiVo guy would be the icing on the cake at the end.

When you consider the current layout, there's a lot of wasted screen real-estate at the sides at top, even though it's still formatted for 480i presentation. I suspect the TiVo guy will live on, but might end up being smaller than he is now...

I'd agree with that blogger that the TiVo GUI is long overdue for an overhaul. It's been kind of growing organically and there are lots of things that I find to be counter-intuitive about it at this point (for example, why would I expect to find "Record by Time or Channel" and "To Do List" under the heading "Find Programs & Downloads" :rolleyes:???). They also need to let the HD models become a separate thing, making use of the higher definition and widescreen format--they've been maintaining parity between them and the Series2 for too long.

According to this (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=6738657#post6738657) thread at TCF, Comcast plans to make Tuning Adapters available on Monday (at least in New Jersey).

According to this (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=6738657#post6738657) thread at TCF, Comcast plans to make Tuning Adapters available on Monday (at least in New Jersey).

For free! Not that I wouldn't pay a reasonable cost, but free is always good. :D

For free! Not that I wouldn't pay a reasonable cost, but free is always good. :DCox has stated in their letters that the tuning adapter would be provided at no charge; TWC's letter says, "It is currently contemplated that the Tuning Adapter will be provided at no additional charge." TiVo's press release revealing that the Tuning Adapter was coming predicted that the cable providers would not be charging for it.

Cox has stated in their letters that the tuning adapter would be provided at no charge; TWC's letter says, "It is currently contemplated that the Tuning Adapter will be provided at no additional charge." TiVo's press release revealing that the Tuning Adapter was coming predicted that the cable providers would not be charging for it.

I haven't got one yet but in some areas around here the TW letter for SDV is going out and I can confirm what michaelscott is saying, that TW is planning on delivering the device at no additional charge.

Not that the distinction matters much, but I suspect that, at least for now, the tuning adapter would be "included" in the price associated with the CableCARDs.

Not that the distinction matters much, but I suspect that, at least for now, the tuning adapter would be "included" in the price associated with the CableCARDs.

Which is as you say pure speculation. But you are implying in your speculation that there may be a cost further on down the line.

It may also snow in Los Angeles. It's happened.

I agree there is a better chance of a cost being added then snow in L.A. but in all due respect bicker1 this statement is the kind that can start rumors. Let's just stick with what we know to be true now.

I just bought a TIVO and noticed flicker or quick flashes during programming. I notice this on talk shows, like leno, and interview type siuations like on Fox News or CNN. Its most noticable on 4 of my analog channels but have seen it some on one of the ota hd channels.

To clarify I am not talking about when you change a channel and it changes resolution and flickers, I'm talking about at random times during a program I am hit with quick flashes of light, light dynamically chaning brightness most noticable on a dark background to mid grey background.

Is this a problem with the 9.4 firmware or is my new tivo defective?

I can't believe nobody else has noticed this major bug. I have been through 5 hd tivos, yes 5, man dates jan,feb,apr and aug of 08. even shows up on tivo hd xl man date of aug 08. It shows up on analogs, watch cnn and you will see the background dynamically shifting in brightness. Tivo says its comcast, but non of my other tvs do it, and I can even reproduce it hooking a modulator up to my local cable network and tuning the tivo to the modulated channel so it can't be comcast!

I can't believe nobody else has noticed this major bug. I have been through 5 hd tivos, yes 5, man dates jan,feb,apr and aug of 08. even shows up on tivo hd xl man date of aug 08. It shows up on analogs, watch cnn and you will see the background dynamically shifting in brightness. Tivo says its comcast, but non of my other tvs do it, and I can even reproduce it hooking a modulator up to my local cable network and tuning the tivo to the modulated channel so it can't be comcast!

Why are you acting so outraged? Calm down. Maybe the reason "nobody else has noticed this major bug" is because the vast majority of TiVo owners don't have the "bug." You say none of your other TVs do it....have you thought maybe it's the TV? Have you tried talking to Comcast about it? Just because it doesn't show up on your other TVs hooked up to Comcast doesn't mean it's not a Comcast problem.

Or many of us don't watch any analog channels. I use FIOS and everything is digital. Even with COMCAST which has around 75 analog channels in my area. All the channels I watched were digital.

Sorry if this is a bit off topic, but I was wondering if Tivo allows you to replace a dying Tivo with another one...

My original Series 2 is making an irritating high pitched squeaking noise (that is beginning to drive me crazy). We don't use this one much anymore, but we gave my mother-in-law a newer S2 that she no longer uses. If we got that one back, would Tivo let us swap it out for the dying one, without changing our monthly rate to the higher price one? I think they raised their rates since we signed up...

Thanks
Jeff

I can't believe nobody else has noticed this major bug. I have been through 5 hd tivos, yes 5, man dates jan,feb,apr and aug of 08. even shows up on tivo hd xl man date of aug 08. It shows up on analogs, watch cnn and you will see the background dynamically shifting in brightness. Tivo says its comcast, but non of my other tvs do it, and I can even reproduce it hooking a modulator up to my local cable network and tuning the tivo to the modulated channel so it can't be comcast!

If anything when I got my S3 and TiVo HD quality of analog channels improved. And I do not have this flicker that you are talking about.

Of course TiVo says it's Comcast and Comcast will say it's TiVo. My question to you is have you tried it with another TiVo? Perhaps the problem is just your TiVo not a "bug" as you describe.

My question to you is have you tried it with another TiVo? Perhaps the problem is just your TiVo not a "bug" as you describe.When he says...I have been through 5 hd tivos, yes 5, man dates jan,feb,apr and aug of 08. even shows up on tivo hd xl man date of aug 08....I think that he's saying that he's used 5 different TiVo HDs and seen the problem on all of them.

If it was at all a common problem, I'd have to think that it would have been brought up here or on TCF long ago and I haven't seen the problem discussed anywhere (nor have I seen it on my TiVo S3, and I do watch some analog, BBC America and Sci Fi). If people were experiencing this commonly, they wouldn't sell many of these.

proudx, it has to be something local to your situation, though I can't imagine what. Maybe there's something in your household electrical or CATV wiring which is incompatible with TiVo.

When he says......I think that he's saying that he's used 5 different TiVo HDs and seen the problem on all of them.

If it was at all a common problem, I'd have to think that it would have been brought up here or on TCF long ago and I haven't seen the problem discussed anywhere (nor have I seen it on my TiVo S3, and I do watch some analog, BBC America and Sci Fi). If people were experiencing this commonly, they wouldn't sell many of these.

proudx, it has to be something local to your situation, though I can't imagine what. Maybe there's something in your household electrical or CATV wiring which is incompatible with TiVo.

Yeah he sure did! It came through to me without the TiVo part. And not to make excuses but he did the TiVo as tivo and that's probably why I missed it.

Over in my local forum we have a fellow who does stuff like that frequently. I've been getting more and more of his bad habits.:eek:

Not to make an excuse of course, though I just made two of them.:o

Do you or Paul ever miss when I screw up? And I should include bicker1 as another.

I type before I think.

I agree there is a better chance of a cost being added then snow in L.A. but in all due respect bicker1 this statement is the kind that can start rumors. Let's just stick with what we know to be true now.Fair enough. My intention was just to not lead anyone to believe that the situation can't change -- it can. And my main point was that the tuning adapter isn't "free" -- it's "included". There's a difference that people need to keep in mind.

Fair enough. My intention was just to not lead anyone to believe that the situation can't change -- it can. And my main point was that the tuning adapter isn't "free" -- it's "included". There's a difference that people need to keep in mind.

Well said, specially when it comes to cable companies.:)

Or many of us don't watch any analog channels. I use FIOS and everything is digital. Even with COMCAST which has around 75 analog channels in my area. All the channels I watched were digital.

I'm so jealous of you. I'd love to have FIOS but it will never come to my area.

According to some people in my area they are now getting all digital signals, but that seems to be only in the "Original" TW area. We have upgraded analog to digital on four of our local stations and quite honestly I'd just as soon have the analog.

Why are you acting so outraged? Calm down. Maybe the reason "nobody else has noticed this major bug" is because the vast majority of TiVo owners don't have the "bug." You say none of your other TVs do it....have you thought maybe it's the TV? Have you tried talking to Comcast about it? Just because it doesn't show up on your other TVs hooked up to Comcast doesn't mean it's not a Comcast problem.

yes I have tried multiple TVs "3 of them" with 5 different Tivo hds, all have this problem. When I say my other tvs don't have this problem, I'm talking about my other tvs with a direct feed of coax using their local tuners.

And I have even like you suspsected Comcast to be the problem so I removed comcast feed coming into my house. Setup a dvd player on channel 70 modulated and tuned to it on the TIvo and witnessed the flicker or changing brightness at random times.

Their is in fact some history of this problem as it is related to TIVO HD pixelation using cable cards and digital cable. See tivocommunity.com tivo hd pixelation thread. How this relates is it seems the tivo hd tuner needs attenuation put in line to lower receiving signal DB much lower than 0db as its internal TIVO AGC "automatic gain control" over drives the tuner causing the pixelation.

Since many users are not using analog, but cable cards I think thats why nobody has brought this issue up. I have a theory that not only does the internal AGC over drive the digitals, THE AGC sometimes overdrives the analogs creating the flicker or changing brightness. I have also observed the problem to be more frequent when sending the TIVO a stronger signal "less splits = less attenuation".

yes I have tried multiple TVs "3 of them" with 5 different Tivo hds, all have this problem. When I say my other tvs don't have this problem, I'm talking about my other tvs with a direct feed of coax using their local tuners.

And I have even like you suspsected Comcast to be the problem so I removed comcast feed coming into my house. Setup a dvd player on channel 70 modulated and tuned to it on the TIvo and witnessed the flicker or changing brightness at random times.

Their is in fact some history of this problem as it is related to TIVO HD pixelation using cable cards and digital cable. See tivocommunity.com tivo hd pixelation thread. How this relates is it seems the tivo hd tuner needs attenuation put in line to lower receiving signal DB much lower than 0db as its internal TIVO AGC "automatic gain control" over drives the tuner causing the pixelation.

Since many users are not using analog, but cable cards I think thats why nobody has brought this issue up. I have a theory that not only does the internal AGC over drive the digitals, THE AGC sometimes overdrives the analogs creating the flicker or changing brightness. I have also observed the problem to be more frequent when sending the TIVO a stronger signal "less splits an attenuation".

Yes, there have been complaints about pixelation and even I have seen some from time to time. Recently our local CBS channel has been having some issues and OTA people have confirmed them, but I see it from time to time on other channels.

But the problem you describe on analog, no. I have seen pixelation a few times on analog.

I don't know how Comcast works but could it be possible that your signal is too strong? Has Comcast come out and checked all of your connections? You're theory of "it doesn't happen when I go right from the wall" may not cause a problem with your television sets but perhaps with TiVo.

Yes, there have been complaints about pixelation and even I have seen some from time to time. Recently our local CBS channel has been having some issues and OTA people have confirmed them, but I see it from time to time on other channels.

But the problem you describe on analog, no. I have seen pixelation a few times on analog.

I don't know how Comcast works but could it be possible that your signal is too strong? Has Comcast come out and checked all of your connections? You're theory of "it doesn't happen when I go right from the wall" may not cause a problem with your television sets but perhaps with TiVo.

yes, comcast has come out and balanced signal levels in all frequencys. Also keep in mind I can disconnect comcast compleletly and use a modulator on channel 70, tune my tivo to channel 70 and see the same results.

Yes the problem is on analogs and not digitals, however it has been discussed in the tivo hd pixelation troublehsooting thread over on tivocommunity that the AGC circuit of the tivo hd tuners is very sensative and tends to over compensate for signal and overdrive the tuners resulting in pixelation. If the AGC circuit creates the problem for digitals, it certainly should create the problem for analogs in theory. The way tusers have fixed the digital pixelation is putting attenuators in line to reduce the signal to -10DB+ or more! Even a signal as low as 0db coming into the tivo has been reported to be too strong for it. That's just not normal, and tivo needs to fix this problem inmo.

yes, comcast has come out and balanced signal levels in all frequencys. Also keep in mind I can disconnect comcast compleletly and use a modulator on channel 70, tune my tivo to channel 70 and see the same results.

Yes the problem is on analogs and not digitals, however it has been discussed in the tivo hd pixelation troublehsooting thread over on tivocommunity that the AGC circuit of the tivo hd tuners is very sensative and tends to over compensate for signal and overdrive the tuners resulting in pixelation. If the AGC circuit creates the problem for digitals, it certainly should create the problem for analogs in theory. The way tusers have fixed the digital pixelation is putting attenuators in line to reduce the signal to -10DB+ or more! Even a signal as low as 0db coming into the tivo has been reported to be too strong for it. That's just not normal, and tivo needs to fix this problem inmo.


See the problem I see with that is that what is a problem for you is not a problem for me and may not be for the majority of people. So if they fix your problem, am I going to have a problem?

TiVoStephan usually gets involved in these type of issues. Has he made any statements? Have you tried sending him a pm?

See the problem I see with that is that what is a problem for you is not a problem for me and may not be for the majority of people. So if they fix your problem, am I going to have a problem?

TiVoStephan usually gets involved in these type of issues. Has he made any statements? Have you tried sending him a pm?

do you use analog cable? what is your signal level in DB coming into your tivo?

Can you tell me the manufacter date on the back of your tivo hd, its next to the power coming into the unit?

do you use analog cable? what is your signal level in DB coming into your tivo?

Can you tell me the manufacter date on the back of your tivo hd, its next to the power coming into the unit?

My TiVo HD says Aug 27, 2007. My S3 is older, I bought it in September of 2006. I'd get the date for you but to be honest the back of the S3 is kind of hard to get to without unplugging it. I have my wife lift it while I dust under it.:)

The vast majority of recording on analog I do on my TiVo HD but I do frequently have CNN on the S3 and I have no problem at all.

I can't give you a signal strength right now because I'm transferring recordings.

That's interesting. I have not had a 07 built hd tivo to test out. I wonder if this is just a problem that is in post 08 production tivo hds. Maybe they changed the agc circuit or power supply in some post 08 prduction runs.

That's interesting. I have not had a 07 built hd tivo to test out. I wonder if this is just a problem that is in post 08 production tivo hds. Maybe they changed the agc circuit or power supply in some post 08 prduction runs.

I have to admit that I did not know they were made in Mexico. I never really thought they were made in the US I kind of suspected either Korea or Japan. Maybe China.

Kind of strange that they would do some type of hardware change, but then again I have a 2009 Corolla and I'll bet it's quite a bit different then the 2007.

http://archive.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=2649&perpage=20&pagenumber=3

see above

and this one

http://archive2.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=141010

Its obviously something to do with the AGC circuit in the video decoder, I think Tivo needs to fix this issue.

http://archive.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=2649&perpage=20&pagenumber=3

see above

and this one

http://archive2.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=141010

Its obviously something to do with the AGC circuit in the video decoder, I think Tivo needs to fix this issue.

I couldn't get the second link to work but the first link did. A post from 2001?

And they haven't fixed it yet? Even the THX Certified S3 has this problem?

Sorry, I don't see it. And I'm not saying you're imagining this or anything but if this was truly an issue as you describe and 7 years down the road they haven't fixed it, people would be screaming constantly.

I don't know why you're having this situation, all I can say is I don't.

the 2nd link works, its just a LONG LONG post, takes about 30seconds for the link to come up.

I have not tried a Tivo Series 3 THX. I have only been trying the Tivo HD version. Perhaps the Tivo Series 3 doesn't have this problem.

proudx, archived posts at TCF from '01 and '03 are about TiVo Series2 boxes, related, but quite substantially different. Can you find any complaint in TCF about a similar problem post in the last year or two specifically about TiVo HD or TiVo Series3 (no "THX" on the end of the product name, BTW--it's just THX-certified, as is the new TiVo HD XL).

Also, have you posted a complaint on TCF about the problem?

I used analog only on my S3 for nearly two years before adding CableCARDS this past August. I never saw the problem. But, as you say, it may be a TiVo HD problem only.

proudx, archived posts at TCF from '01 and '03 are about TiVo Series2 boxes, related, but quite substantially different. Can you find any complaint in TCF about a similar problem post in the last year or two specifically about TiVo HD or TiVo Series3 (no "THX" on the end of the product name, BTW--it's just THX-certified, as is the new TiVo HD XL).

Also, have you posted a complaint on TCF about the problem?

yes see this one...

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=380686

Also please keep in mind I have tried out no less than 5 tivo hds.

tivo hd man dates jan,feb,apr, and aug. I also tried a tivo hd XL with man date of aug 27 and it has the same problem.

tested on multipe tvs, multiple locations, multiple inputs. Most noticable on Analog cable but I do see it from time to time on the OTA tuner.

I believe theirs a problem with the AGC circuit in the Tivo HD.

proudx, I don't see how we can help you. Apparently, no currently active participant in this thread has seen the problem and it's never reported in this thread, so none of us can help you. Even the one "recent" (from January) complaint of a similar problem in that you found in TCF got two responses in nine months--you're the only person out of 319 who looked at that post who reported having the same problem.

I'm sorry that you've had this problem with TiVo--good luck finding a fix.

proudx, I don't see how we can help you. Apparently, no currently active participant in this thread has seen the problem and it's never reported in this thread, so none of us can help you. Even the one "recent" (from January) complaint of a similar problem in that you found in TCF got two responses in nine months--you're the only person out of 319 who looked at that post who reported having the same problem.

I'm sorry that you've had this problem with TiVo--good luck finding a fix.

To be honest with you I really have spent a lot of time researching this. I tested 5 tivo hds on different tvs and different locations, they all do it. man dates from jan,feb,apr, and aug of 08. I even tried the Tivo HD XL, it does it too.

Either other users in this thread are using series 3 thx units or the tivo hds they have slightly different mother board revisions, tuners, or video decoders in them. Or it could be a simple matter of they don't know what to look for.

I the 5 units I have tested have all been tivo hds produced in Jan08,feb08,apr08 and August08. I also tested 1 tivo hd xl, man in august 08.

ITs not something that is constant, you will notice it as a downward shift in brightness or a slight upward shift in brightness. Some kind of AGC kicking in. Seems most noticable with a strong ota signal or strong balanced analog catv signal.

To be honest with you I really have spent a lot of time researching this. I tested 5 tivo hds on different tvs and different locations, they all do it. man dates from jan,feb,apr, and aug of 08. I even tried the Tivo HD XL, it does it too.

Either other users in this thread are using series 3 thx units or the tivo hds they have slightly different mother board revisions, tuners, or video decoders in them. Or it could be a simple matter of they don't know what to look for.

I the 5 units I have tested have all been tivo hds produced in Jan08,feb08,apr08 and August08. I also tested 1 tivo hd xl, man in august 08.

ITs not something that is constant, you will notice it as a downward shift in brightness or a slight upward shift in brightness. Some kind of AGC kicking in. Seems most noticable with a strong ota signal or strong balanced analog catv signal.

Have you tried an S3? Different Tuners.

Have you tried an S3? Different Tuners.

no I haven't had the opportunity to try an s3 or a 07 manufactured TivoHd.

Plenty of people in this thread are using TiVo HDs (hook, for instance), and since your problem to seems to occur so rarely, but has occurred with five different TiVos that you've tried, I have to think that there's some localized condition which causes it. It this were at all common, trust me--there'd be some big long fiery thread at TCF on it, instead of one nine-month old complaint which no one else corroborated. Do you have a friend or relation who lives in another community (preferably in another cable system) whose home you can take the TiVo to and try it?

Plenty of people in this thread are using TiVo HDs (hook, for instance), and since your problem to seems to occur so rarely, but has occurred with five different TiVos that you've tried, I have to think that there's some localized condition which causes it. It this were at all common, trust me--there'd be some big long fiery thread at TCF on it, instead of one nine-month old complaint which no one else corroborated. Do you have a friend or relation who lives in another community (preferably in another cable system) whose home you can take the TiVo to and try it?


first I wouldn't say rarely, I'd say you see the shifts in brightness several times during a program in the right circumstances, but not a constant flicker or rolling bar, like a ground loop issue. Yes comcast has come out and measured my signal.

Its also worth noting I removed comcast by disconnecting it coming into the house, hooked a dvd player up to a modulator on channel 70, tuned to channel 70 from the Tivo HD and observed the fluctuations in brightness in certain scenes. I estimated the signal from the modulator hitting the tivo HD at around 7DB. Its clearly a problem with the AGC "automatic gain control" circuit in either the tuner or video decoder of the Tivo HD.

And yes there is a fiery thread, titled "HD Tivo Pixelation thread"

Most users with these tivo hds are using cable cards and not tuning via analog cable but rather digital cable hence the reported problems with the hd pixelation and not analog issues. I again think that could be attributed to a bad AGC circuit creating the pixelation.

Some of the suggested solutions is to attenuate the signal to -20DB or more in order to reduce pixelation and keep the AGC from over compensating.

INMO its rediculous that users are having to apply that much attenuation just to reduce pixelation.

And yes there is a fiery thread, titled "HD Tivo Pixelation thread"



But that thread is primarily talking about HD. You are talking about analog.

The other side of the coin I feel has to do with the broadcast itself. I can't tell you the number of times I've read in my local thread people complaining about pixelation on HD and had it confirmed by OTA and Satellite people.

The point is this is not a major problem. I understand to YOU it's a major problem but you can't fix what isn't broke. And I know I can't change your mind but the vast majority of people who use TiVo do not have this problem. Why you do is a mystery.

Case in point: SA 8300 (SARA). I went through 3 of them. Now had they done what I wanted them to do, which was record complete programs and not partial, or forget to record because it wasn't on one week I may, and the emphasis is on may, have been able to put up with that pos.

I had no idea that the warped pictures I was seeing were not broadcast issues. Others in my area confirmed it. Yet still others said, nope, no problem at all! So who knows why I had so many problems. Only when I got a TiVo S3 did I notice that warped pictures in HD were not normal!

You are in that kind of situation. You think it's a product defect but really with most people not having the problem you are in the minority. And in this case a very small minority.

So while I'm sympathetic that you are having this issue, I don't see a solution for you. At least not one from TiVo.

michaelscott, notice I've been putting in SARA all the time?;)

first I wouldn't say rarely, I'd say you see the shifts in brightness several times during a program in the right circumstances, but not a constant flicker or rolling bar, like a ground loop issue.By "rarely" I mean that you've only found one other person who has a similar problem with a TiVo HD. It could happen every time that you use it, but if it only happens to you in all the untold hundreds of thousands of aggregate hours I'd guess that people with TiVo HDs spend watching analog cable every day, the occurence of the problem is still diminishingly rare--by definition, an anomaly.
And yes there is a fiery thread, titled "HD Tivo Pixelation thread"I didn't say "fiery thread"--I said, "big long fiery thread". A guy posted a description of a problem on one day 9 months ago, got two response within the hour from guys who hadn't themselves seen the problem, one asking for further information and one making a guess as to what it might be, followed by a second post from the guy who created thread giving some more description of the problem. A discussion which ran its course in one hour, 15 minutes, without generating any interest, though it was examined by 319 forum participants. If it were the kind of thread that I was referring it, 30 more people would have chimed in about having seen the problem, and the discussion would have gone on into at least a couple hundred posts until TiVo resolved it.
Most users with these tivo hds are using cable cards and not tuning via analog cable but rather digital cableMany TiVo HD users aren't using CableCARDs--some are watching what digital television they watch tuned over-the-air with an antenna and some others are laboriously tuning the unencrypted digital cable signals that they get with their basic cable subscription (there's a big ungoing complaint that TiVo doesn't properly support this, so I know that there's quite a bit of interest in doing it). Some of the people using CableCARDs are, like me, watching at least some small amount of analog television, because some of the programming that they want is only available that way. I watch stuff on the Sci Fi channel and on BBC America which are only available in standard definition on my cable system, and though they do simulcast them in digital form, as a unidirectional CableCARD user I'm only given access to the analog versions (this is so they can save bandwidth by presenting those simulcasts as switched broadcasts). I'm sure that plenty of other people are watching analog cable on TiVo HD.

Have you even tried this on another television in another room in your own home?

But that thread is primarily talking about HD. You are talking about analog.Actually, the guy who posted the complaint says, "I don't have digital cable, just regular old analog," in the top post. The guy who took a guess as to what the problem might be attributed it to MPEG artifacting, ignoring the fact that it was analog cable.michaelscott, notice I've been putting in SARA all the time?;)Yes--I appreciate the effort :).

According to this (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=6738657#post6738657) thread at TCF, Comcast plans to make Tuning Adapters available on Monday (at least in New Jersey).The guy who posted that thread reports today that he's picked up a Tuning Adapter (Cisco STA-1520) and gotten hooked up and apparently working.

Guys, just because tons of other HD Tivo owners have not reported the problem DOES NOT mean it does not exist. I have mentioned several times above that I have tested this problem on 3 different tvs in my home in 3 different locations, used a modulator, tested at a neighbors home, tested no less than 5 different tivo hds.

It certainly has nothing to do with my cable system. Why? Well because I tested with a modulated dvd output on channel 70 and got the same results.

If anyone lives in Atlanta, I'd be glad to bring a unit over to your house and show you the results.

have you guys consiered that the TIVO hd changed parts or revisions in the motherboard and only newer built Tivo hds have this problem hence why you don't see a history of this?

Case in point I had a samsung plasma that had a bad logic board that caused a similar issue. In the avs forum thread nobody had an issue with it, turns out it was a newer firmware revision on the logic board that was at fault. Only tvs manufactured in Nov and Dec had this issue. As new owners purchased this tv., over the next few months the thread was flooded with complaints of the problem. I suspect the same flood is coming for the TivoHD with this problem, because I can assure you it would piss off most of the videophiles I know. My wife even hates it.

Guys, just because tons of other HD Tivo owners have not reported the problem DOES NOT mean it does not exist. I have mentioned several times above that I have tested this problem on 3 different tvs in my home in 3 different locations, used a modulator, tested at a neighbors home, tested no less than 5 different tivo hds.



I don't think one person disagrees that you are expeiencing a problem. Unfortunately it is not happening to enough people to make it an issue that TiVo will deal with.

Did you read about my experience with SA 8300 (SARA)? Many swear they don't have this problem, but I did. So did several others.

All you can really do is call TiVo Support or try to contact one of the TiVo guys at the TCF. Beyond that there is nothing that you can do. The majority of people, the VAST majority are not having this issue.

Did you read about my experience with SA 8300 (SARA)? Many swear they don't have this problem, but I did. So did several others.

All you can really do is call TiVo Support or try to contact one of the TiVo guys at the TCF. Beyond that there is nothing that you can do. The majority of people, the VAST majority are not having this issue.
Your SA 8300 problem is a good example of how some folks get hammered by bugs that most other users don't experience. While everybody seems to hate the SARA software, hardware problems with the 8300 are a good deal more hit and miss. For example, my 8300's hardware has been totally reliable. Were it that the execrable SARA software could match the hardware reliability I have enjoyed.

I don't think one person disagrees that you are expeiencing a problem. Unfortunately it is not happening to enough people to make it an issue that TiVo will deal with.

Did you read about my experience with SA 8300 (SARA)? Many swear they don't have this problem, but I did. So did several others.

All you can really do is call TiVo Support or try to contact one of the TiVo guys at the TCF. Beyond that there is nothing that you can do. The majority of people, the VAST majority are not having this issue.

your right hookbill, thats all i can do. I have a esculated issue with tivo support level 2. I have high hopes the issue can be fixed by disabling or reducing the aggresiveness of the AGC circuit in the video decoder or the tuner.

your right hookbill, thats all i can do. I have a esculated issue with tivo support level 2. I have high hopes the issue can be fixed by disabling or reducing the aggresiveness of the AGC circuit in the video decoder or the tuner.

Another avenue may be to contact TivoJerry by PM on TCF. Jerry is a good guy and may be able to help. You could make a video of the issue and send it to him or put it on a website and point him to it. He helped me with a pixelation issue which turned out to be an S3 firmware problem.

While everybody seems to hate the SARA software...Not everyone. God knows that I hate it, and I've yet to hear anyone profess to love it, but I've heard a few AVS Forum members state the opinion that they find it acceptable and praise it for its reliability.

Another avenue may be to contact TivoJerry by PM on TCF. Jerry is a good guy and may be able to help. You could make a video of the issue and send it to him or put it on a website and point him to it. He helped me with a pixelation issue which turned out to be an S3 firmware problem.

good suggestion will do. I just got through taking 3 videos of the problem. Demonstrated on multiple tvs at 2 different locations.

Not everyone. God knows that I hate it, and I've yet to hear anyone profess to love it, but I've heard a few AVS Forum members state the opinion that they find it acceptable and praise it for its reliability.

Yes I've heard some say that as well. Of course I question their sanity, but then I'm not the most stabel person on the planet either.:D

How can it be reliable when it sometimes decides to record nothing when three programs are scheduled for the same time slot. the TiVos record based on the priorities given yet the SA boxes sometimes decides to record nothing. That makes no sense.

Attached are videos of the out of the flicker/shifts in brightness on two tivo hd units at two different locations, one manufactured at end of jan 08 and one manufactred aug of 08.

see flicker/shift on samsung hpt-5054 720p tv connected via hdmi

http://albums.phanfare.com/isolated/lb9SdAos/3835271/2821338

see brightness shift on panasonic tv at a friends house connected via hdmi.

http://albums.phanfare.com/isolated/lb9SdAos/3835271/2821338


I have also observed it on an old ntsc tv via the composit outputs, a crt 42" toshiba hdtv via component.

As I posted over in the TCF thread, I've seen the brightness change (rarely) on my HD. I just attributed to the source channel and not the Tivo though. Bringing up the guide will sometimes cause it (maybe), but it's not a big deal since it is so rare.

Attached are videos of the out of the flicker/shifts in brightness on two tivo hd units at two different locations, one manufactured at end of jan 08 and one manufactred aug of 08.

see flicker/shift on samsung hpt-5054 720p tv connected via hdmi

http://albums.phanfare.com/isolated/lb9SdAos/3835271/2821338

see brightness shift on panasonic tv at a friends house connected via hdmi.

http://albums.phanfare.com/isolated/lb9SdAos/3835271/2821338


I have also observed it on an old ntsc tv via the composit outputs, a crt 42" toshiba hdtv via component.

OK... So what have you tried to resolve it?

- change recording quality?
- attenuate signal? -6db?
- DC Blocker?
- reverse channel trap?

How can it be reliable when it sometimes decides to record nothing when three programs are scheduled for the same time slot. the TiVos record based on the priorities given yet the SA boxes sometimes decides to record nothing. That makes no sense.

Heh heh....I could go on and on about that thing. And to make it clear we are talking about SARA.

Very true, if a scheduled recording happened to move into a time slot where two other recordings were already scheduled, maybe a one night time or a permanent move, SARA's reaction? "I' ain't recording nothin'." It did have a limited ability to recognize conflicts but only if you were requesting the show to be recorded at the time two other shows were being recorded.

But I guess I got so use to babysitting that thing that I considered that a "small" problem as opposed to just not recording for no reason or partial recordings.

And what was funny was you could see on the schedular, you know the one everyone has been talking about here and not that I want to open that can of worms again all three programs in the red as scheduled programs. But unless you did that you were screwed. And if you had to do some scrolling you might not recognize it yourself.

Now Passport software I understand did have a priority list. I have no idea what Navigator has.

How can it be reliable when it sometimes decides to record nothing when three programs are scheduled for the same time slot. the TiVos record based on the priorities given yet the SA boxes sometimes decides to record nothing. That makes no sense.
That would be awful, especially on top of the SARA software's already limited capabilities. I have had little if any trouble with SARA's reliability but I haven't made many demands on it, either. My 8300 gets used if, but only if, there is a show I want to record showing at a time when both of my S3's tuners are going to be tied up. When I said that the 8300 is "reliable" I meant that it is reliable in the sense that a light switch is reliable, that is, it does what it does reliably enough but it really doesn't do much.

Now Passport software I understand did have a priority list. I have no idea what Navigator has.It depends on what version of Navigator you have. The oldest version of navigator is MDN ("Mystro Digital Navigator"), which runs on "legacy" boxes like the 8300HD. It's written in C and has both an "Air Time" filter on series recordings ("only record this when it airs at 9:00 PM") that I wish that TiVo had on Season Passes and a TiVo-like list of series recording requests ordered by priority, which the user can re-order at will.

The other version of Navigator is ODN ("OCAP Digital Navigator"), which is written in Java for the Open Cable Applications Platform, part of the new <tru2way> standard. It runs on the newer CableCARD-equipped leased boxes like the 8300HDC, which have twice as much memory. That version lacks the "Air Time" filter and series record priority list.

Am considering a Tivo, have ota only. Tv is only 3 yrs old and non hd, was considering the philips 3576 but if I switch to HD later it won't record HD. I record with old vcr and dvd burner at the same time which are going to be almost impossible to use in a few months. Any recommendations on my options and will the Tivo record 2 programs at once while watching another ota? Thanks

It depends on what version of Navigator you have. The oldest version of navigator is MDN ("Mystro Digital Navigator"), which runs on "legacy" boxes like the 8300HD. It's written in C and has both an "Air Time" filter on series recordings ("only record this when it airs at 9:00 PM") that I wish that TiVo had on Season Passes and a TiVo-like list of series recording requests ordered by priority, which the user can re-order at will.

The other version of Navigator is ODN ("OCAP Digital Navigator"), which is written in Java for the Open Cable Applications Platform, part of the new <tru2way> standard. It runs on the newer CableCARD-equipped leased boxes like the 8300HDC, which have twice as much memory. That version lacks the "Air Time" filter and series record priority list.

Well, that just plain sucks. How could they not include something that important in an updated version?

Am considering a Tivo, have ota only. Tv is only 3 yrs old and non hd, was considering the philips 3576 but if I switch to HD later it won't record HD. I record with old vcr and dvd burner at the same time which are going to be almost impossible to use in a few months. Any recommendations on my options and will the Tivo record 2 programs at once while watching another ota? Thanks

TiVo can only receive two channels at a time. You can watch a recorded program and record two programs. You can also download a third program from other sources while recording two other programs and watch a recorded program. But you cannot record two OTA programs and watch a third OTA live.

Am considering a Tivo, have ota only. Tv is only 3 yrs old and non hd, was considering the philips 3576 but if I switch to HD later it won't record HD. I record with old vcr and dvd burner at the same time which are going to be almost impossible to use in a few months. Any recommendations on my options and will the Tivo record 2 programs at once while watching another ota? ThanksAt this point, I would certainly buy a TiVo HD if I were you. The hardware is cheap (a quick search at PriceGrabber shows that I can get one delivered for $248) and the service is pretty reasonably priced, if you buy a few years worth up front.

The answer to your final question is "no". TiVo has two tuners, each of which can tune a single program, be it analog cable, analog OTA, digital cable or digital OTA. You can record two programs while watching a saved recording, but you cannot watch a third program live if both tuners are busy recording.

Well, that just plain sucks. How could they not include something that important in an updated version?Beats me. As it happens, we were recently discussing this in the Navigator thread, here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14797428#post14797428).

At this point, I would certainly buy a TiVo HD if I were you. The hardware is cheap (a quick search at PriceGrabber shows that I can get one delivered for $248) and the service is pretty reasonably priced, if you buy a few years worth up front.

The answer to your final question is "no". TiVo has two tuners, each of which can tune a single program, be it analog cable, analog OTA, digital cable or digital OTA. You can record two programs while watching a saved recording, but you cannot watch a third program live if both tuners are busy recording.

Technically, you could watch a third program, if you split the antenna feed - one leg going to the Tivo, and the other going to the TV.

This only works with analog broadcasts in his case, since he doesn't have an HDTV, but when he upgrades, he could use the digital tuner in the TV as a third tuner.

I have a digital converter box, could I watch live tv through this and record 2 programs on the tivo with a split antenna feed?

I have a digital converter box, could I watch live tv through this and record 2 programs on the tivo with a split antenna feed?

Yes. I would be the same as hooking up a DVD player, you would just run it through one of your other feeds on the back of the television.

Also, what internet speed is required for Tivo? My download speed is 1711 kbps, upload is 273 kbps. Thanks

Also, what internet speed is required for Tivo? My download speed is 1711 kbps, upload is 273 kbps. Thanks

There is no speed requirement. What you have will work fine.

OK... So what have you tried to resolve it?

- change recording quality?
- attenuate signal? -6db?
- DC Blocker?
- reverse channel trap?

tried..
yes on changing recording quality
yes on attenuating signal, the weaker the signal the less the problem but analog channels get snowy, and problem still exist.
yes on removing splits.
yes on removing cable amplifier from system.
even went as far as dvd Modulated output on channel 70 with CATV removed from entering house, shows up on that as well.
yes on changing output modes native, 720p, 1080i, etc, all do it.
tried hdmi output
tried component output
tried on Panasonic Tv at another home
Tried on Samsung tv in my house upstairs
tried on barco front projector
tried on Toshiba crt hdtv
tried ground loop isolator.
tried 5 different Hd tivos manufactured jan,feb and aug of 08.
noticed on OTA input as well, but not as aggressive as cable input.

spent 40hours going out of my way to remove my home systems from the equation and trying absolutely everything possible to fix it.

In my research you will find on this thread you will see other things I have done to troubleshoot the problem as well as finding a possible solution that invovles changing a bit value in the video decoder on the Tivo HD to disable the AGC "automatic gain control" circuit.

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=407006

see dave wills reponse from this thread

http://archive.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=2649&perpage=20&pagenumber=3

Dave will writes in this thread related to brightness cutting in out from 2001..

"
I get this mosly on my local WB affiliate. I know what causes this. I had to fix the same problem on a project I worked on with very similar hardware. The tuner has an AGC in it. The Philips video decoder (7111 or 7114) also has an AGC. The two of them interact badly. The fix is to disable the AGC in the video decoder. Its a matter of changing one bit the setup of the video decoder.
"

With this knowledge I am almost certain it is something that can be fixed by a software update and hopefully not a hardware issue. I have 30 days to find a solution. Have a ticket in with tivo esculated to level 2.

Attached are videos of the out of the flicker/shifts in brightness on two tivo hd units at two different locations, one manufactured at end of jan 08 and one manufactred aug of 08.

see flicker/shift on samsung hpt-5054 720p tv connected via hdmi

http://albums.phanfare.com/isolated/lb9SdAos/3835271/2821338

see brightness shift on panasonic tv at a friends house connected via hdmi.

http://albums.phanfare.com/isolated/lb9SdAos/3835271/2821338


I have also observed it on an old ntsc tv via the composit outputs, a crt 42" toshiba hdtv via component.

Sine you just played back the same recording on another TV, these don't prove anything other than you can record the problem (which is a little tough to see in the video). Once it's recorded, you'll see it on any TV anywhere you play it. What you need to do is figure out under what conditions the problem actually occurs.

It is two seperate video clips on two seperate tivo hds at two seperate houses no recordings live tv streams. I could post a million other videos of the problem

YOu think I would be dumb enough to test a recorded clip?

I'm not some newbie with no av experience or knowledge.

Come on give me a little credit...

Pls read all the things I have done. I have gone to great lengths to test this problem on on less than 5 tivo hds an hd xl and several tvs locations and multiple sources.

This finding has really touched a nerve with some

Anyway back to finding a solution.to the problem...

I'm going to repeat my question from a few days ago, since it was either ignored, or got lost in the AGC bug talk. :)

Sorry if this is a bit off topic, but I was wondering if Tivo allows you to replace a dying Tivo with another one...

My original Series 2 is making an irritating high pitched squeaking noise (that is beginning to drive me crazy). We don't use this one much anymore, but we gave my mother-in-law a newer S2 that she no longer uses. If we got that one back, would Tivo let us swap it out for the dying one, without changing our monthly rate to the higher price one? I think they raised their rates since we signed up...

Thanks
Jeff

I'm going to repeat my question from a few days ago, since it was either ignored, or got lost in the AGC bug talk. :)

How would we know? Sometimes TiVo will work with you, sometimes they won't. Ask them.

Also you might consider taking a look at this link (http://www.tivo.com/promo/falltv.html?WT.ac=tivohome_3freefalltv_3freefalltv_lnk). There are some promotions.

How would we know? Sometimes TiVo will work with you, sometimes they won't. Ask them.

Also you might consider taking a look at this link (http://www.tivo.com/promo/falltv.html?WT.ac=tivohome_3freefalltv_3freefalltv_lnk). There are some promotions.

Actually part of me thinks we should just replace it with a TivoHD, since the S2 will have limited functionality after February, anyway.

I just wonder if my I can handle another 2 cablecards! Adding 2 more would bring me to a grand total of 7 in the house.

Actually part of me thinks we should just replace it with a TivoHD, since the S2 will have limited functionality after February, anyway.

I just wonder if my I can handle another 2 cablecards! Adding 2 more would bring me to a grand total of 7 in the house.

I have 8 cablecards with FIOS currently. At one time I had 12 cablecards between Comcast and FIOS.

What I have tested and what I have not.

The facts:

no shifts in brightness so far has been found on QAM64/256 Sources.
very rare shifts in brightness found on ATSC-VSB HD sources

aggresive shifts in brightness found on NTSC over the air analog sources.
aggresive to moderate shifts in brightness found on cable tv NTSC sources regardless of comcast or modulated generated NTSC source from modulator.

Aggresive attenuation of the signal helps reduce shifts in brightness at the expense of fuzzy analog sources

tested on

TIVO HD units man dates jan,feb,apr and Aug of 2008
TIVO HD XL unit man date Aug 2008.

tvs tested on
plasma
RP-crt
front projection crt
tube CRT

TIVO HD OUTPUT SOURCES TESTED
Component, HDMI, composite

Source Modulation Tested.
ATSC-VSB, QAM64/QAM256, IRC-NTSC,OTA-NTSC.


TIVO HD OUTPUT RESOLUTIONS TESTED
Tested all output modes


QUALITY SETTINGS TESTED
All quality recording tested.


Tested adding cable amplifier, removing cable amplifier, removing splits, adding attenuation, removing attenuation, adding ground loop isolator, removing comcast analog cable system.

Brought units to a friends house to remove my home from the equation, same results. In fact one of the vidoes is from a Tivo HD at the friends house and one is from A TIVO HD at my house.

Channels witnessed on "dunno if this has any relavence, haven't had time to test every single channel yet"
NTSC comcast Cable channels - 3,33,34,35,37,50,54,55,70.
Tested modulated to NTSC hannel 70, comcast removed from cable system.
Witnessed on channel 2-1 ATSC-VSB "RARE"
witness on channel 8 OTA NTSC "aggressive"


NOT TESTED YET

I HAVE NOT TESTED this on an LCD TV.
I HAVE NTO TESTED on pre 2008 built TIVO HDS.
I HAVE NOT TESTED ON A SERIES 3 THX UNIT


whew, I think thats about it..

I'm going to repeat my question from a few days ago, since it was either ignored, or got lost in the AGC bug talk. :)

Sounds like a bad/failing hard drive. (Or fan?)

Weak Knees can probably replace/upsize that for not too much money if you want to keep it.

Yesterday I suffered my first complete cable card failure. It happened on my TiVo HD. TiVo recognized the cards presence but there were no signals received.

I call TW and they resent the signal. Then about 45 minutes later I had a reboot that didn't complete. I had to unplug the unit from the wall and reboot was successfull. Everything is fine today.

Only damage is I missed recording part of Supernatural but I'm sure I'll be able to pick that up somewhere. Amazon Unbox I believe offers it but truth be known there are other "sources" that can give you a 16X9 720p version so I may look for that.

One other point too, and this is probably going to seem obvious to most of you highly intelligent people but for the moderately intelligent person the "MY DVD EXPANDER" shows a picture of it standing up right, so I assummed that is how you would put it. However I have been hearing a bit if tapping lately, not much and my other eSATA downstairs is really loud (Seagate with cover). I was thinking that I would place a small town under it to muffle it a bit when I discovered that there are air vents on the part I had it standing up on!

Yes, pretty dumb I should have noticed right away but I looked at the picture you know.:rolleyes:

Anyway if you have that thing standing up lay it flat. It will breath easier.;)

I think the air vents are supposed to go up, no? :confused:

Yesterday I suffered my first complete cable card failure. It happened on my TiVo HD. TiVo recognized the cards presence but there were no signals received.

I call TW and they resent the signal. Then about 45 minutes later I had a reboot that didn't complete. I had to unplug the unit from the wall and reboot was successfull. Everything is fine today.
My CableCARDs or, more likely, Cox OKC’s implementation of them, have failed periodically and required me to reboot my S3. I did have one failure that was on the card itself. When Cox sent it a firmware update it never finished the download so, of course, it stopped working and I had to have Cox come out and replace the cards. That exercise was a mess but they eventually got the new cards to work. Still, Cox OKC’s version of CableCARD technology remains not quite ready for prime time.

I think the air vents are supposed to go up, no? :confused:

The air vent on the bottom sits flat on the table, so how's it suppose to get air? Set it flat and air can flow from both sides of the vent.

On my Seagate case it stands upright but the vents are on the side.

Will pyTiVo transfer and will my S3 play this file?

Supernatural.S04E04.720p.HDTV.x264-CTU.mkv

I think the air vents are supposed to go up, no? :confused:

On the WD DVR Expander, the air vents are on the side that would be the back, no matter how the drive is situated, and on the left and right sides, if the unit is laid flat, or on the top and bottom, if it is stood upright.

I placed mine upright but put spacers underneath it to allow air to rise through the bottom vent holes, over the HD and out the top. I think this is more efficient than laying the unit flat.

On the WD DVR Expander, the air vents are on the side that would be the back, no matter how the drive is situated, and on the left and right sides, if the unit is laid flat, or on the top and bottom, if it is stood upright.

I placed mine upright but put spacers underneath it to allow air to rise through the bottom vent holes, over the HD and out the top. I think this is more efficient than laying the unit flat.

I'll check again but I don't think there are vents when you lay it flat. And in my situation air flow would work more efficiently if I lay it flat the to do what you are doing.

But I'll double check when I get home to make sure.

Follow up on the above, there are no vents on the My DVR Expander if you lay it flat. And I could tell by touching it today it was much, much cooler.

Okay, air vents on three sides. Resting horizontally, all three sides are exposed. Resting vertically, only two sides are exposed.

Who knew? (Not me!)

I almost hate to bring this up, but I think I have to eat a little humble pie here.

I always thought the only way to advance through the guide was to scroll down either with the down button or page down.

So I'm looking at the guide and I push >>|, buy accident.

Suddenly I'm looking at Monday, same time. And now I understand a bit more of what you guys were talking about in using the guide.

Hey, I never knew.:o

I almost hate to bring this up, but I think I have to eat a little humble pie here.

I always thought the only way to advance through the guide was to scroll down either with the down button or page down.

So I'm looking at the guide and I push >>|, buy accident.

Suddenly I'm looking at Monday, same time. And now I understand a bit more of what you guys were talking about in using the guide.

Hey, I never knew.:o

Hook, I think that might be a new feature with the latest software update if I'm not mistaken.

Hook, I think that might be a new feature with the latest software update if I'm not mistaken.

Well, it sure is a good idea. Very nice.

Hook, I think that might be a new feature with the latest software update if I'm not mistaken.

Yup, just added in 9.4, and it is indeed handy.

"Skip to tick" advances you a day in the guide.
"Replay" puts you back a day in the guide.

I almost hate to bring this up, but I think I have to eat a little humble pie here.

I always thought the only way to advance through the guide was to scroll down either with the down button or page down.

So I'm looking at the guide and I push >>|, buy accident.

Suddenly I'm looking at Monday, same time. And now I understand a bit more of what you guys were talking about in using the guide.

Hey, I never knew.:o
The guide is so you can see what is on right now, not a week down the road. That's why you can program by title, time and channel, wishlist and everything else.If the guide were for seeing what's on right now, there'd be no reason to allow you to scroll through the entire thing, which it has always done. Not even TiVo thinks that it's just for seeing what's on now, since they just added a feature to scroll forward and back through the guide by whole days at a time.Hook, I'm hurt. Apparently you don't pay attention to my replies to your posts :rolleyes: :D. And Paul's right--it is handy. I used it a few times this past week to quickly find the guide entry for upcoming new series premieres that I saw ads for in recordings I watched (it's also handy that you can get to the guide from anywhere; see the ad, pause the recording, tab through the live-guide to find the listing, request the recording, get rid of the guide and resume playback--muy suave :)).

Hook, I'm hurt. Apparently you don't pay attention to my replies to your posts :rolleyes: :D. And Paul's right--it is handy. I used it a few times this past week to quickly find the guide entry for upcoming new series premieres that I saw ads for in recordings I watched (it's also handy that you can get to the guide from anywhere; see the ad, pause the recording, tab through the live-guide to find the listing, request the recording, get rid of the guide and resume playback--muy suave :)).

I did read the post but I think I was in hard head mode at that time. However if you would have told me hitting the 30 sec skip and tick key then maybe, just maybe I might have picked it up.

Anyway, you're right I wasn't paying attention. I just wanted to get off the topic which is why I started out by saying "I hate to bring this up again.":o

I apologize for not picking up what you were putting down.

http://albums.phanfare.com/3835271/2821338#imageID=49654294

da**!, look at how bad the shifts in brightness are in the columns behind this guy talking in the video above, I went out and bought 2 more tivo hds, this time getting man dates May 2008 and APR 2008. Problem happens over the air and analog cable, I have also discovered this problem DOES NOT exist on QAM sources. I'm really frustrated and tivo doesn't appear to be willing to fix the issue :(.

http://albums.phanfare.com/3835271/2821338#imageID=49654294

da**!, look at how bad the shifts in brightness are in the columns behind this guy talking in the video above, I went out and bought 2 more tivo hds, this time getting man dates May 2008 and APR 2008. Problem happens over the air and analog cable, I have also discovered this problem DOES NOT exist on QAM sources. I'm really frustrated and tivo doesn't appear to be willing to fix the issue :(.

You know what guy I feel bad for you. Truly. And I think it's terrible that you are forced to put up with this.

So here's what I would do: Sell your TiVo and get another cable DVR. Seriously. Put it on Ebay, along with your subscription.

Because I'll tell you what, there is nobody here who is going to be able to help you. And I know how exasperated you feel, I went through the same thing with the SA 8300 (SARA per michealscott) and spent hours upon hours in frustration.

Hey I got an idea. File a class action law suite against TiVo. Go over to the TiVo Community Forum and present that idea. I'm sure you'll find support. Present this issue over there because I think this issue has had all the attention it can get from us at this point.

You know what guy I feel bad for you. Truly. And I think it's terrible that you are forced to put up with this.

So here's what I would do: Sell your TiVo and get another cable DVR. Seriously. Put it on Ebay, along with your subscription.

Because I'll tell you what, there is nobody here who is going to be able to help you. And I know how exasperated you feel, I went through the same thing with the SA 8300 (SARA per michealscott) and spent hours upon hours in frustration.

Hey I got an idea. File a class action law suite against TiVo. Go over to the TiVo Community Forum and present that idea. I'm sure you'll find support. Present this issue over there because I think this issue has had all the attention it can get from us at this point.

Sad but true.... However, there is a reasonable chance that once his cableco enables SDV and provides a Tuning Adapter that the 'analogs' will be mapped to the digital simulcast channels and become 'digital'. That should solve the problem.

You know what guy I feel bad for you. Truly. And I think it's terrible that you are forced to put up with this.

So here's what I would do: Sell your TiVo and get another cable DVR. Seriously. Put it on Ebay, along with your subscription.

Because I'll tell you what, there is nobody here who is going to be able to help you. And I know how exasperated you feel, I went through the same thing with the SA 8300 (SARA per michealscott) and spent hours upon hours in frustration.

Hey I got an idea. File a class action law suite against TiVo. Go over to the TiVo Community Forum and present that idea. I'm sure you'll find support. Present this issue over there because I think this issue has had all the attention it can get from us at this point.
I'm not unsympathetic to him either (though I doubt he believes that). I agree, there's nothing we can do for him here.

http://albums.phanfare.com/3835271/2821338#imageID=49654294

da**!, look at how bad the shifts in brightness are in the columns behind this guy talking in the video above, I went out and bought 2 more tivo hds, this time getting man dates May 2008 and APR 2008. Problem happens over the air and analog cable, I have also discovered this problem DOES NOT exist on QAM sources. I'm really frustrated and tivo doesn't appear to be willing to fix the issue :(.

Just one more question... You said problem occurs on 'over the air'... please be more specific... NTSC OTA or ATSC OTA? My expectation would be that you are seeing this on NTSC Analog sources either from cable or OTA... and NOT seeing it on digital sources such as QAM and ATSC OTA... right? You have also confirmed that your cable analog channels are actually NTSC analog and NOT digital simulcast QAM... right?

Just one more question... You said problem occurs on 'over the air'... please be more specific... NTSC OTA or ATSC OTA? My expectation would be that you are seeing this on NTSC Analog sources either from cable or OTA... and NOT seeing it on digital sources such as QAM and ATSC OTA... right? You have also confirmed that your cable analog channels are actually NTSC analog and NOT digital simulcast QAM... right?

yes I am seeing this over the air via NTSC and via ATSC-VSB. in my link you can see a clip of a football game in which you can see the field darken as the brightness steps down frame by frame.

http://albums.phanfare.com/3835271/2821338#imageID=49497621

that above is from an antenna atsc-vsb CBS feed in Atlanta with 100% signal, 0 correctable errors and 0 uncorrectable errors. very clean signal.

yes I am picking up ntsc analog channels.


yeah, at this point I am seriously considering finding a Series 3 and giving up on the tivohd line It appears to have a different chipset in it.

yeah, at this point I am seriously considering finding a Series 3 and giving up on the tivohd line It appears to have a different chipset in it.

You know I can't say that I have ever sat in front of my TiVoHD and watched CNN, now that you mention it. It's the bedroom television so I usually watch live, or some of the shows I record that my wife does not watch.

The only show that I watch consistantly on analog is TNA Wrestling on SPIKE. I have no problems there.

All I can say is I'm using four TiVoHD boxes and three series 3 boxes on 5 TV sets and don't see these problems.

yes I am seeing this over the air via NTSC and via ATSC-VSB. in my link you can see a clip of a football game in which you can see the field darken as the brightness steps down frame by frame.

http://albums.phanfare.com/3835271/2821338#imageID=49497621

that above is from an antenna atsc-vsb CBS feed in Atlanta with 100% signal, 0 correctable errors and 0 uncorrectable errors. very clean signal.

yes I am picking up ntsc analog channels.


yeah, at this point I am seriously considering finding a Series 3 and giving up on the tivohd line It appears to have a different chipset in it.

Well... if you are seeing this on digital channels (ATSC OTA) then you can eliminate the tuner agc theory (unless OTA ATSC is a secondary issue). The tuner is delivering an mpeg stream which couldnt care less about what the agc does when it comes to black level and white level. Also, if you are seeing it on ATSC OTA then you should also see it on QAM.

What connection scheme are you using to the display? Component? HDMI?

All I can say is I'm using four TiVoHD boxes and three series 3 boxes on 5 TV sets and don't see these problems.

Agree. I have one of each and dont see any such thing.

To be honest I was hoping we'd come to an end on this particular discussion, but I will have to say I admire the OP's faith in TiVo. If you do purchase an S3 remember you got 30 days to try it. And I recommend buying from a box store in this situation. It makes for easy returns if necessarry.

To be honest I was hoping we'd come to an end on this particular discussion, but I will have to say I admire the OP's faith in TiVo. If you do purchase an S3 remember you got 30 days to try it. And I recommend buying from a box store in this situation. It makes for easy returns if necessarry.

Its the engineer in me.... :o

Well... if you are seeing this on digital channels (ATSC OTA) then you can eliminate the tuner agc theory (unless OTA ATSC is a secondary issue). The tuner is delivering an mpeg stream which couldnt care less about what the agc does when it comes to black level and white level. Also, if you are seeing it on ATSC OTA then you should also see it on QAM.

What connection scheme are you using to the display? Component? HDMI?

not necessarly true. keep in mind

The ATI Theater 314 demodulator chips handle digital channels, while the Philips/NXT ADC chips handle analog channels. They run in parallel, feeding a ViXS XCode-2115 a dedicated encoding/transcoding chip.

This chip applies digital filitering, sharpness controls, spacial filters, etc.

While I am no expert the problem could lie in the Vipx chips digital filtering/encoding process. Its interesting to note the Vipx chip.

Automatic Gain Control (AGC)

The purpose of AGC is to smooth out the incoming video in case there are fluctuations in
signal strength, brightness, or intensity of an image. When an AGC is implemented properly,
the user should not notice any major changes in brightness when changing channels or when
there is a sudden change in the color on the screen. The Theater 650 Pro employs an
advanced AGC algorithm which provides superior signal control relative to competitive
solutions resulting in clearer more vibrant images, as illustrated in Fig.3 below.

http://ati.amd.com/products/theater650pro/ATITheater650WhitePaper.pdf
see page 10 - 13.

The most frustrating thing for me is to hear the numerous post of "I don't have this problem so it leads me to believe there is a bad batch of chips out there causing this so I keep buying more tivohds in the persuit of finding a bug free one.

But do any of you have a recent 2008 manfuactured Tivo-Hd? I have only been able to get my hands on 804 and 805 serial numbered models?

If its a bad run of chips its no surprise that you guys haven't seen this problem.

All I can say is I'm using four TiVoHD boxes and three series 3 boxes on 5 TV sets and don't see these problems.
Wow! To me, at least, you have proved your devotion to both TiVo and television. :) I have demonstrated a certain level of commitment by having had TiVo DVRs since 2000 but that still places me no higher than the high minor leagues in the pantheon of TiVo usage.

On the issue at hand, I have never had any sort of PQ problems with my S3, which I have had for nearly 2 years. The bulk of the problems i have had have been related to CableCARD instability but even those have been moderately easy to overcome. The worst have come when new CableCARDS have had to be installed, 3 times in my case. Each time it was a time consuming nightmare but Cox OKC's tech people did, finally, get them to work. The bottom line, though, is that the TiVo user interface and software are in a class by themselves. Nothing else available even comes close, in my estimation at least.

not necessarly true. keep in mind

The ATI Theater 314 demodulator chips handle digital channels, while the Philips/NXT ADC chips handle analog channels. They run in parallel, feeding a ViXS XCode-2115 a dedicated encoding/transcoding chip.

This chip applies digital filitering, sharpness controls, spacial filters, etc.

While I am no expert the problem could lie in the Vipx chips digital filtering/encoding process. Its interesting to note the Vipx chip.

Automatic Gain Control (AGC)

The purpose of AGC is to smooth out the incoming video in case there are fluctuations in
signal strength, brightness, or intensity of an image. When an AGC is implemented properly,
the user should not notice any major changes in brightness when changing channels or when
there is a sudden change in the color on the screen. The Theater 650 Pro employs an
advanced AGC algorithm which provides superior signal control relative to competitive
solutions resulting in clearer more vibrant images, as illustrated in Fig.3 below.

http://ati.amd.com/products/theater650pro/ATITheater650WhitePaper.pdf
see page 10 - 13.

The most frustrating thing for me is to hear the numerous post of "I don't have this problem so it leads me to believe there is a bad batch of chips out there causing this so I keep buying more tivohds in the persuit of finding a bug free one.

But do any of you have a recent 2008 manfuactured Tivo-Hd? I have only been able to get my hands on 804 and 805 serial numbered models?

If its a bad run of chips its no surprise that you guys haven't seen this problem.

The context of that statement is analog video. The AGC is regulating the min and max levels before sending it to the MPEG encoder. For digital, the TiVo records the straight digital stream out of the demodulator. You are saying that you see 'pumping' on a digital channel which is not going to be coming from any agc in the tuner.

The context of that statement is analog video. The AGC is regulating the min and max levels before sending it to the MPEG encoder. For digital, the TiVo records the straight digital stream out of the demodulator. You are saying that you see 'pumping' on a digital channel which is not going to be coming from any agc in the tuner.

But my eyes and testing show that the pumping can also happen on ATSC-VSB broadcasts.

Then its the mpeg decoder playing back the stream that is introducing the problem then.

Then it has to be the mpeg decoder introducing the problem. Either that or just a ton of bad chips out there. I'm starting to believe there are truly a lbad batch out there considering none of you have the problem. I'm very disappointed that I couldn't figure this thing out. I feel defeated :(.

back to the drawing board..

But my eyes and testing show that the pumping can also happen on ATSC-VSB broadcasts.

Then its the mpeg decoder playing back the stream that is introducing the problem then.

Then it has to be the mpeg decoder introducing the problem. Either that or just a ton of bad chips out there.

So, either it's a hardware problem on your end, *OR* it's a hardware problem on TiVo's end. In any event, this is not something that's going to be remedied here by all of us opining about it.

Really, you've done a lot of good legwork running the problem that you're seeing down. However, IMHO the quantity of complaining/explaning you've done here, at TCF and elsewhere is overwhelming. It's really not worth your while (or mine) for you to post page upon page upon page upon page upon page of updates about your situation when there's really nothing to be done about it.

Have you tried to take this up with TiVo through official channels ?

So, either it's a hardware problem on your end, *OR* it's a hardware problem on TiVo's end. In any event, this is not something that's going to be remedied here by all of us opining about it.

Really, you've done a lot of good legwork running the problem that you're seeing down. However, IMHO the quantity of complaining/explaning you've done here, at TCF and elsewhere is overwhelming. It's really not worth your while (or mine) for you to post page upon page upon page upon page upon page of updates about your situation when there's really nothing to be done about it.

Have you tried to take this up with TiVo through official channels ?

Yes he has taken it up with TiVo. He's got no where with them.

Again I am sympathetic to the problem but there has got to come a time when you got to throw in the towel. So either try an S3, or get a cable DVR. But there is nothing more that can be done in constantly rehashing this unfortunate situation with us.

So, either it's a hardware problem on your end, *OR* it's a hardware problem on TiVo's end. In any event, this is not something that's going to be remedied here by all of us opining about it.

Really, you've done a lot of good legwork running the problem that you're seeing down. However, IMHO the quantity of complaining/explaning you've done here, at TCF and elsewhere is overwhelming. It's really not worth your while (or mine) for you to post page upon page upon page upon page upon page of updates about your situation when there's really nothing to be done about it.

Have you tried to take this up with TiVo through official channels ?

certainly, and its been like pulling teeth to get any response from them. Long customer service wait times, many call backs, etc. I finally got in touch with TivoJerry but he explained that it woudl be 3 to 6 months before they could investigate it and come up with a fix.

Your right it's not worth my time anymore, I apologize if I bothered you with my reporting. I thought it woudl be of use to the community now or in the future that might encounter this problem. Quite Frankly I'm tired of playing quality control and beta tester for products, I simply want to buy something that works out of the box, and works well. Maybe the series 3 is the better option since the drivers are more mature.

However, make no mistake about it. What I have pointed out is a real software bug/possible bad batch of recent tivohd hardware and I would be shocked if in the next 3 to 6 months you don't see new people coming on these forums complaining about this same issue. Theres simply no way its "my enviroment" since I have tested 7 of these on no less than 7 tvs in 3 different homes with different sources.

Your right it's not worth my time anymore, I apologize if I bothered you with my reporting. I thought it woudl be of use to the community now or in the future that might encounter this problem. Quite Frankly I'm tired of playing quality control and beta tester for products, I simply want to buy something that works out of the box, and works well. Maybe the series 3 is the better option since the drivers are more mature.

Having brought up the point was definitely worth it. If you can get TiVo to recognize, and potentially diagnose and correct the problem, it will have been a worthy pursuit. However, TiVo's got a LOT of irons in the fire right now, and this particular problem likely doesn't rate very high on their To Do List (pun semi-intended).

I'd actually argue that the Series3 may not be more "mature" than the TiVo HD, and going to that platform may not be your best move. TiVo made some chipset changes between the S3 and THD, for various reasons (financial, engineering, or otherwise). However, the TivoHD is most definitely TiVo's preferred platform going forward. I'd say it's a fairly simple line of reasoning that the S3 has been end-of-lifed to a certain extent, and that the TiVoHD will receive the lion's share of the engineering develop/debug cycles that TiVo allocates.


However, make no mistake about it. What I have pointed out is a real software bug/possible bad batch of recent tivohd hardware and I would be shocked if in the next 3 to 6 months you don't see new people coming on these forums complaining about this same issue. Theres simply no way its "my enviroment" since I have tested 7 of these on no less than 7 tvs in 3 different homes with different sources.

I don't doubt there is a problem. However, until TiVo decides to take action on this item, a seemingly endless stream of reporting on the issue tends to feel like tilting at windmills.

TWC and Cox have been fined for implementing SDV in Hawaii and Virginia (see this (http://www.multichannel.com/index.asp?layout=articlePrint&articleID=CA6606078)).

Whoops! :D

You get the sense that the FCC was going to do this all along but was waiting for an official complaint from a subscriber.

The moving of the Latino tier by Cox would seem to cause a backlash by itself, in fact, it may have been what prompted the FCC to act.

The FCC has a healthy history of assessing illegitimate fines (CBS Superbowl 2004).

Whoops! :D

You get the sense that the FCC was going to do this all along but was waiting for an official complaint from a subscriber.

The moving of the Latino tier by Cox would seem to cause a backlash by itself, in fact, it may have been what prompted the FCC to act.
We'll see. TWC Oceanic subs have been complaining to the FCC about this for nearly two years, but the FCC always acts at a fairly glacial pace.

We'll see what happens on appeal. I personally have no doubt that moving existing linear channels to SDV violates the Plug-and-Play regulations as written. I just thought that the FCC was going to let it go, since the cable provider basically had little choice if they wanted to remain competitive with other subscription television sources like DirecTV. I get the impression that it's not so much that they did what they did but that they didn't ask permission to do it.

:p:p

Well, the above last 2 posts seem to be diametrically opposing, should be interesting to see how it turns out.

:p:p

Well, the above last 2 posts seem to be diametrically opposing, should be interesting to see how it turns out.

bicker1 has a bit of a reputation of being the defender of cable companies. I don't think he will deny that reputation, however he will tell you that his responses are not bios. And to be fair he basis them on logic and fact.

However comparing the Super Bowl to cable IMHO is like apples and oranges. Bicker, correct me if I'm wrong, and I know you will, but doesn't the FCC report to someone in the very conservative Bush administration?

And I do agree that the FCC does overstep it's bounds. Listen to a regular radio station on FM these days. Back in the 70's it was just find for Pink Floyd to sing "Money" and say "don't give me that good good bull sh#t." But not anymore, everyone is afraid.

TWC and Cox have been fined for implementing SDV in Hawaii and Virginia (see this (http://www.multichannel.com/index.asp?layout=articlePrint&articleID=CA6606078)).

That fine was a slap on the wrist, done more for show then anything else IMHO.

That fine was a slap on the wrist, done more for show then anything else IMHO.The fine is nothing--it's the ordered rebate of many months worth of subscription fees to tens of thousands of subs that's gonna hurt.

My statement that they're in violation of the plug-and-play regs, is only vis-a-vis their moving existing services to SDV. I don't think that they can be attacked for presenting new services as SDV. TWC Oceanic implemented SDV and moved all of their existing HD services to it, making CableCARDs useless for watching HDTV on cable. What Cox Fairfax did doesn't seem that offensive, in comparison (unless, of course, you're a CableCARD-using Latino programming fan :)).

What Cox Fairfax did doesn't seem that offensive, in comparison (unless, of course, you're a CableCARD-using Latino programming fan :)).

To me, that would seem to be a bit in the discrimination arena, were other international language based channels moved to SDV as well?

Also to keep in mind, that was from Multichannel News which doesn't have the best reputation for getting the facts straight.

bicker1 has a bit of a reputation of being the defender of cable companies. I don't think he will deny that reputation, however he will tell you that his responses are not bios. And to be fair he basis them on logic and fact.

However comparing the Super Bowl to cable IMHO is like apples and oranges. Bicker, correct me if I'm wrong, and I know you will, but doesn't the FCC report to someone in the very conservative Bush administration?

And I do agree that the FCC does overstep it's bounds. Listen to a regular radio station on FM these days. Back in the 70's it was just find for Pink Floyd to sing "Money" and say "don't give me that good good bull sh#t." But not anymore, everyone is afraid.

I have no problem with bicker1's views and statements, in fact, he usually makes perfect sense, it's just that many folks let their emotional/financial situations cloud the hard facts sometimes and he will point that out.

I was just commenting that one says it's correct, and another says it's incorrect, not choosing "sides" at all. :)

I have no problem with bicker1's views and statements, in fact, he usually makes perfect sense, it's just that many folks let their emotional/financial situations cloud the hard facts sometimes and he will point that out.

I was just commenting that one says it's correct, and another says it's incorrect, not choosing "sides" at all. :)

I didn't have a problem with your comment either. I just quoted it because I know bicker1 really needs me to defend him.:rolleyes:

And if you read my comment it was about as good as a politician could do. I took his side, then went against him, then told him he may be right, then I went into a whole different subject.

I should run for office!:p:D

To me, that would seem to be a bit in the discrimination arena, were other international language based channels moved to SDV as well?I don't know. Maybe the Latino programming was all the digital foreign language stuff. Here, TWC moved all of the foreign language stuff to SDV, Latino, Filipino, Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese.

bicker openly admits to a pro-business, anti-government-regulation stance and I respect that :).

The full "Notice of Apparent Liability For Forfeiture and Order" concerning TWC Oceanic can be seen here (http://www.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/2008/DA-08-2301A1.html). It's an interesting read. The document for Cox Fairfax can be found here (http://www.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/2008/DA-08-2299A1.html).

The full "Notice of Apparent Liability For Forfeiture and Order" concerning TWC Oceanic can be seen here (http://www.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/2008/DA-08-2301A1.html). It's an interesting read. The document for Cox Fairfax can be found here (http://www.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/2008/DA-08-2299A1.html).

It is a good read... Perhaps I missed it, but I didnt see any order for TWC to move the SDV stuff back to linear.... so the victory seems hollow.

It is a good read... Perhaps I missed it, but I didnt see any order for TWC to move the SDV stuff back to linear.... so the victory seems hollow.No--they didn't make any such order, which would have been nice to see. That might be in recognition of the inevitability of SDV. They ordered them to refund the difference between the cost of CableCARDs and STB lease to former CableCARD users who switched to leased STBs and to refund some subscription fees to people who elected to continue to use CableCARDs, based on the significant reduction in service.

However comparing the Super Bowl to cable IMHO is like apples and oranges.You could say that comparing anything to anything else is like apples and oranges. Nothing is the same, but everything is the same. The deal is that both of these fines are anti-business in nature.

Bicker, correct me if I'm wrong, and I know you will, but doesn't the FCC report to someone in the very conservative Bush administration?No. Rather, the Bush administration appointed three of the five commissioners, one of which, the Chairman, is a rabid anti-cable person. While most of his actions are conservative in nature, when it comes to cable, he is a distinct disappointment to the party he is affiliated with.

You could say that comparing anything to anything else is like apples and oranges. Nothing is the same, but everything is the same. The deal is that both of these fines are anti-business in nature.

I disagree. The Super Bowl had to do with censorship and the FCC "flexing their muscle" by attempting to scare broadcasters into making sure that they understood who was the boss of the airwaves. The cable fines have to do with a company who the FCC felt was taking away the rights of thousands of people to access certain content that they pay for.

Anti-business? I would say that to some extent you are correct but I feel it was more of a power play.

No. Rather, the Bush administration appointed three of the five commissioners, one of which, the Chairman, is a rabid anti-cable person. While most of his actions are conservative in nature, when it comes to cable, he is a distinct disappointment to the party he is affiliated with.

See, I told you he would correct me if I was wrong.:)

I disagree. The Super Bowl had to do with censorship and the FCC "flexing their muscle" by attempting to scare broadcasters into making sure that they understood who was the boss of the airwaves. The cable fines have to do with a company who the FCC felt was taking away the rights of thousands of people to access certain content that they pay for.Which could reduce down to, "The Super Bowl was an FCC decision [you] didn't necessarily agree with and the cable fines was an FCC decision [you] agree with."

There is a legitimate interpretation, in both cases, that the FCC overstepped its authority.

The FCC has a healthy history of assessing illegitimate fines (CBS Superbowl 2004).Illegitimate?? That sounds like a reckless aspersion, and a decision that you obviously don't like, even though it was based on experience, expertise, professionalism, and fiduciary responsibility.

The CBS Superbowl fine was overturned. There is nothing reckless about my comment in that regard. Unlike the people to whom my signature refers, I do not make such comments until AFTER the courts determine that which I wrote. :rolleyes:

You could say that comparing anything to anything else is like apples and oranges. Nothing is the same, but everything is the same. The deal is that both of these fines are anti-business in nature.
Actually, the Commission's order is pro-competition, which is good for consumers and businesses wishing to compete in a given market place. That it is contrary to the interests of a regulated company, which enjoys a semi-monopoly, certainly does not make it "anti-business." The bottom line is that TWC by the introduction of SDV eliminated the ability of CableCARD users to tune many stations, which they had previously been able to receive. The telephone companies made the same argument years ago when the Commission forced them to allow the use of third-party phones on their networks. I think few would argue that that hasn't worked out very well in the form of better products and lower prices.

Clearly, TWC and other cable companies would ultimately have been able to implement SDV without running afoul of the FCC's Rules but by doing it at a time when the result was to deprive CableCARD users of their ability to receive many channels that they formerly did get TWC broke the Rules. Thus, the Commission's decision to require TWC to pay CableCard users the value of the services they are losing because of SDV is perfectly sensible, to me at least.

Actually, all the MSOs needed to do is delay deployment of HD channels until after SDV was available. The FCC only cited the companies for moving existing linear channels onto SDV; they made it pretty clear that new channels can go onto SDV no problem. So all the MSOs would have had to do is keep the SD channels available on linear channels, and add the HD channels only after SDV was deployed; they'd have been okay.

I wonder if they can remove HD channels for a period of three months, and then add them back on SDV, to avoid this sanction going forward. Removing the service from all customers is surely allowed, and then they can add it back as a new service later.

I'm looking for a little advice here, guys.

The other day I was checking the amount of space available on m TiVo HD. I couldn't find it on any of the local interent addresses that it is usually on. I went upstairs and saw that there was no connection, message said a plug had been pulled out.

I checked the connection and it was in there just fine. I moved it to the upper USB connector and connected right away.

So I have a bad USB connector. Now here's the problem: I have a 3 year warranty available through Circuit City. All I want them to do is replace the connector, but knowing how these things work out they may want to hook it up to see if it works. They can't do that because I have the eSATA (unless I bring that in as well, but I didn't get that from them.)

So I think the best way to do this is just replace it myself. I will need it for the digitital converter.

Can someone tell me what I need to get into the box, and if you need to solder or can you just plug the USB in? Can you use electric tape?

Another possibility? Is there such a thing as a USB splitter?

Or should I ask Circuit City to come out to the house since I'm not very good with handling electrical equipment? I know they would probably charge 75.00.

I would advise against cracking the case and mucking around with the unit. That course of action is extremely likely to only make things worse.

You could try a USB hub and see if that works. I can't see why it wouldn't work. That way you could attach multiple USB devices to your single, functional USB port.

Actually, all the MSOs needed to do is delay deployment of HD channels until after SDV was available. The FCC only cited the companies for moving existing linear channels onto SDV; they made it pretty clear that new channels can go onto SDV no problem. So all the MSOs would have had to do is keep the SD channels available on linear channels, and add the HD channels only after SDV was deployed; they'd have been okay.
I agree. Adding only new channels as SDV would probably have been all right but TMC jumped the gun by moving existing channels to SDV before CableCARD users were capable of receiving SDV channels. That timing gave rise to the inference that TMC did so in order to further the competitive disadvantage manufacturers of CableCARD devices already face vis a vis cable company owned boxes. The Commission clearly was not pleased. :)

You could try a USB hub and see if that works. I can't see why it wouldn't work. That way you could attach multiple USB devices to your single, functional USB port.

Where do I get a USB hub and how do I plug that in. Is that like a splitter?

Here's a link to Amazon, where I did a search on USB Hub

Amazon USB search (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=usb+hub&x=0&y=0)

Any simple one should do

Here's a link to Amazon, where I did a search on USB Hub

Amazon USB search (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=usb+hub&x=0&y=0)

Any simple one should do

Found a simple one at Circuit City. Already ordered for pick up.:)

Even though I don't need it yet.;)

It doesn't make much sense to me but just on a hunch I blew inside the USB that wasn't working and plugged it in. I wiggled it a bit which I tried earlier and it started flickering.

Apparently it needed a blow job.:D (I couldn't resist)

But wouldn't you thing that the one that wasn't connected might have more dust in it? Well, whatever it's working.

It doesn't make much sense to me but just on a hunch I blew inside the USB that wasn't working and plugged it in. I wiggled it a bit which I tried earlier and it started flickering.

Apparently it needed a blow job.:D (I couldn't resist)

But wouldn't you thing that the one that wasn't connected might have more dust in it? Well, whatever it's working.

Great technique, Hook!! :eek:

Great technique, Hook!! :eek:

Hey...Keep this in mind: It was the female part of the USB that I used that "technique" on.

Just want to make it clear, I'm straight as an arrow.:)

Hey guys,
I was just wondering if tomorrow was still SDV day?

Ben Music

Hey guys,
I was just wondering if tomorrow was still SDV day?

Ben Music

Ben, you posted in the wrong forum. You want to go to our local thread for that.

well I gave up on the tivohd flicker issue but do believe tivo will fix it. I had TivoJerry doing some logging of the issue on the last tivohd I had for further investigation.

Anyway while I was out today I actually found a tivo series3 "old model" at frys. It was the last one and had a man date of May 2008. I totally debated paying more for older technology than the tivohd and having to deal with no m-ard support. Well I figured I could return it if flickered like the tivohds since it was a local store.

Bottom line, I plugged in the series3, set it up and I am thrilled! NO Flicker/brightness pumps. Yes I repeat no flicker/brightness shifts. The picture quality is hands down better than the tivohds I tested on Analog and I would say the mpeg decoder is smoother/silkier looking than the mpeg decoder in the tivohD.

I found the tivohd to add a bit of grain to the mpeg decoding of digitals as opposed to the tivo series3 which seems to be a lot sharper/smoother/silkier.

I love this thing, I only regret that I didn't go for the series 3 in the first place, for me picture quality is paramount and passing native resolution to my lumagen hdp video processor looks amazing with the series 3.

Now I can move on to fun stuff like having my home automation computer telnet into the series3 and pause the tivo when the phone rings and automatically un pause it when the phone is hung up :)

what about stand by mode any of you guys using it at night? I read somewhere that standby uses the same power as being powered on or close to it but I don't know if anyones actually tested it.

well I gave up on the tivohd flicker issue but do believe tivo will fix it. I had TivoJerry doing some logging of the issue on the last tivohd I had for further investigation.

Glad to see TiVo is looking into it. Let's hope they can fix it.


what about stand by mode any of you guys using it at night? I read somewhere that standby uses the same power as being powered on or close to it but I don't know if anyones actually tested it.

Standby mode really doesn't do much of anything, except turn off the video outputs I believe. The power consumption will essentially remain unchanged. Personally, I never use standby mode.

For Charter customers,

Do they charge you "Digital Receiver & Interactive Services: On-screen Guide & Pay Per View" fee, $5.00 ?

For Charter customers,

Do they charge you "Digital Receiver & Interactive Services: On-screen Guide & Pay Per View" fee, $5.00 ?

Probably the reason you're not getting an answer is we don't know what you are truly asking. Are you saying you have an TiVo HD or S3 and they are charging you this?

If that is the case even though I am not a Charter custormer you don't have to be to realize that charge should not be added on your bill. Call charter, explain that you have your own DVR and you do not use interactive services.

If you ever get SDV and a Tuner Resolver they might charge you then but I have not ever heard of Charter using SDV. They are probablly smarter then that. But like most cable companies they are still evil (why do I feel a response from bicker coming;)) and they still will nickle and dime you to death.

For Charter customers,

Do they charge you "Digital Receiver & Interactive Services: On-screen Guide & Pay Per View" fee, $5.00 ?

It sounds like a charge for a cable company provided DVR or set-top box....but I can't be sure. You might ask this in the appropriate local forum in this area (link) (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=45) and get better luck since things seem to fluctuate from market to market...

Randy

It sounds like a charge for a cable company provided DVR or set-top box....but I can't be sure. You might ask this in the appropriate local forum in this area (link) (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=45) and get better luck since things seem to fluctuate from market to market...

Randy

The real question is whether the OP has another cable STB in the house in addition to the Tivo (as I do). I checked my Charter bill, but they seem to lump a whole bunch of stuff together, so it might be in there - I just can't see it.

This all reminds me that I really need to call Charter and get them to make my VOD work on the other cable box. I am probably paying for a service that hasn't worked if over a year.

Thanks all. I will call Charter once more..... what a pain....

I got word from Charter. It looks like they thought I still have non_DVR receiver. Now they say I have to register my Tivo serial number with them, so they know I have my own DVR.

Interesting......


so yes, they will take off the charge.

I got word from Charter. It looks like they thought I still have non_DVR receiver. Now they say I have to register my Tivo serial number with them, so they know I have my own DVR.

Interesting......


so yes, they will take off the charge.

Did you install the cards or did they send someone out? Do you have one or two cards?

Sounds like a lot of bull, and why do they need your TiVo serial #, or they should need is your cable card (s) number.

I had to pay them to install the cards. I got two cards. I pay for $2.00 per card per month. AND the installation fee was $30.

oh yeah, I feel a lot of bull. I will keep calling them until I see what I want to see in the bill. :D



Did you install the cards or did they send someone out? Do you have one or two cards?

Sounds like a lot of bull, and why do they need your TiVo serial #, or they should need is your cable card (s) number.

I had to pay them to install the cards. I got two cards. I pay for $2.00 per card per month. AND the installation fee was $30.

oh yeah, I feel a lot of bull. I will keep calling them until I see what I want to see in the bill. :D

If they needed the serial # why didn't they get it then? Ridiculous, I'd be furious.

Holy S**t.. I finally talked to a person who understand that I have Tivo. I have no more $5.00 charge. They took it off completely.

I guess not so many people have Tivo through charter..... :eek:

Netflix 'watch instantly' coming to Tivo S3/HD in December:
http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/10/30/netflix-watch-instantly-coming-to-tivo

Outstanding news! Looks like we'll get this as part of the Winter software update, along with a new UI. And they're adding HD streaming, but I saw that you can't play a show over component higher than 720p - have to use HDMI.

Xbox360 will get Netflix streaming too this month. What a great deal all around!

Netflix 'watch instantly' coming to Tivo S3/HD in December:
http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/10/30/netflix-watch-instantly-coming-to-tivo

Outstanding news! Looks like we'll get this as part of the Winter software update, along with a new UI. And they're adding HD streaming, but I saw that you can't play a show over component higher than 720p - have to use HDMI.

Xbox360 will get Netflix streaming too this month. What a great deal all around!

This indeed is outstanding news, and since my televisions are all 720p now that's just fine with me.

I thought about purchasing a 1080p television but from what I've read the difference in quality is a bit overblown. Upon hearing that I went with 720p and saved money.

And since I have no intenetion of purchasing a Blu-Ray player I have no need for it.

So it works for me.

The other day I was checking the amount of space available on m TiVo HD. I couldn't find it on any of the local interent addresses that it is usually on. I went upstairs and saw that there was no connection, message said a plug had been pulled out.

I checked the connection and it was in there just fine. I moved it to the upper USB connector and connected right away.


What's all this now? Via some device connected to your Tivo usb and then apparently passed on to some LAN address you are able to ascertain your 'space available' info? How did I miss this newfangled method of getting this info, and more troubling still, how did hookbill find out about it before I did? :p But seriously, what the...? :eek::confused:

What's all this now? Via some device connected to your Tivo usb and then apparently passed on to some LAN address you are able to ascertain your 'space available' info? How did I miss this newfangled method of getting this info, and more troubling still, how did hookbill find out about it before I did? :p But seriously, what the...? :eek::confused:

I've only posted it about a half a dozen times.;)

http://bellsouthpwp.net/d/c/dcahoe/tivo/index.htm

It will show you listings and if you want a graph of your space available on your TiVo (s) on your PC.

I got a series3 that drops out audio when first tuning to some digital channels OTA for up to the first 30 seconds, if I leave live mode by rewind or hit pause and go into the buffer drop outs are not there.

I also have been getting a loud static click/pop sound coming out all my channels on CBS 2.1DD at random times.

This is happeneing out the RCA analog output jacks. If I do DD to PCM it hides the problem.

Tivo tech support says my unit is defective and offered a refurshed unit in exchange for my 7 day old Series 3 unit I just purchased at Frys.

Do I truly have a defective unit or is this just a software glitch that plaques all Series 3 models. I never saw this issue on my TivoHD.

I got a series3 that drops out audio when first tuning to some digital channels OTA for up to the first 30 seconds, if I leave live mode by rewind or hit pause and go into the buffer drop outs are not there.

I also have been getting a loud static click/pop sound coming out all my channels on CBS 2.1DD at random times.

This is happeneing out the RCA analog output jacks. If I do DD to PCM it hides the problem.

Tivo tech support says my unit is defective and offered a refurshed unit in exchange for my 7 day old Series 3 unit I just purchased at Frys.

Do I truly have a defective unit or is this just a software glitch that plaques all Series 3 models. I never saw this issue on my TivoHD.

Wow, I never seen one person have so much bad luck!

If I were you I'd just take it back before the warranty runs out and just get the cable DVR. Obviously there is a serious problem in your area and TiVo does not work well.

How was that, Brierboy?;)

I've only posted it about a half a dozen times.;)

http://bellsouthpwp.net/d/c/dcahoe/tivo/index.htm

It will show you listings and if you want a graph of your space available on your TiVo (s) on your PC.

I guess I haven't been following this thread as closely as I had thought.. thanks for the tip!

Wow, I never seen one person have so much bad luck!

If I were you I'd just take it back before the warranty runs out and just get the cable DVR. Obviously there is a serious problem in your area and TiVo does not work well.

How was that, Brierboy?;)

So hook do you use OTA with your series3? have you noticed the dropped audio "when output is set as dolby digital" when first selecting some digital ota channels? if you hit pause after first tuning or hit 8second rewind to go into buffer no drop outs at all. I never had this issue with the TivoHds I tested.

you can test this on a series3 by tuning to an 5.1 ota channel, hit left to goto tivo menu, then exit to leave do you hear any drop outs for first 30 seconds?


INMO its gotta be a bug for every series3 owner or a hardware problem in the one I bought is my thinking.

I hate the cable company, I don't want to go back to them :( I love the series3 except for this dropouts and static/clicks in CBS but i'm honestly concerned I got a bad unit since others haven't pointed out these issues.

I was going to link you to the related tivo forums discussions, but I see that you've been there already.

I have the audio drop out issue with ABC-HD OTA. Have always had it with my S3. Rewinding back w/ the 8 second button always reveals the sound to be there on the second go around.. just not live when first tuning into the station after having come from another station.

Haven't noticed it with any other stations though. Just ABC-HD. maybe Fox ever once in a while, but I forget.

I got a series3 that drops out audio when first tuning to some digital channels OTA for up to the first 30 seconds, if I leave live mode by rewind or hit pause and go into the buffer drop outs are not there.

I also have been getting a loud static click/pop sound coming out all my channels on CBS 2.1DD at random times.

This is happeneing out the RCA analog output jacks. If I do DD to PCM it hides the problem.

Tivo tech support says my unit is defective and offered a refurshed unit in exchange for my 7 day old Series 3 unit I just purchased at Frys.

Do I truly have a defective unit or is this just a software glitch that plaques all Series 3 models. I never saw this issue on my TivoHD.

DD/PCM should have zero impact on audio out the red/white analog rca jacks. DD/PCM pertains to optical and hdmi digital outputs.

Netflix 'watch instantly' coming to Tivo S3/HD in December:
http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/10/30/netflix-watch-instantly-coming-to-tivo

Outstanding news! Looks like we'll get this as part of the Winter software update, along with a new UI. And they're adding HD streaming, but I saw that you can't play a show over component higher than 720p - have to use HDMI.

Xbox360 will get Netflix streaming too this month. What a great deal all around!
The TiVo Netflix partnership certainly has possibilities but only if Netlix will include its HD download offerings in some kind of monthly charge package. If they insist in selling the service on an la carte basis, as iTunes and Cox On Demand do, I suspect that it won't succeed. iTunes charges $4.99 per downloaded movie and Cox $5.99. That's just not competitive with Netflix's and Blockbuster's subscription plans.

DD/PCM should have zero impact on audio out the red/white analog rca jacks. DD/PCM pertains to optical and hdmi digital outputs.

I know that. The tivo must downcovert the ac3 to analog rca out, but the fact is the drop outs happen on the rca jacks at the same time as the dd stream on the optical drops when first tuning an hd dd ota channel, try it out yourself and you will see this. Set it to digital to pcm, dropouts go away both optical and rca out.

The clicks and pops though are another issue that makes me wonder if its more than a bug in the software.

I know that. The tivo must downcovert the ac3 to analog rca out, but the fact is the drop outs happen on the rca jacks at the same time as the dd stream on the optical drops when first tuning an hd dd ota channel, try it out yourself and you will see this. Set it to digital to pcm, dropouts go away both optical and rca out.

The clicks and pops though are another issue that makes me wonder if its more than a bug in the software. I lost audio in for 7 seconds straight via optical and rca from a commercial on a hd channel today.

Ive never lost audio after the first two seconds of doing a 'tune' or starting a playback. I do see two momentary split second dropouts in the first 2 seconds after a tune or playback start. However... Im using HDMI.

Very rarely, I will tune to a channel or start a playback and have NO audio... changing to another channel and then back... or stopping the playback and restarting brings the audio back.

I would seek an exchange.

Ive never lost audio after the first two seconds of doing a 'tune' or starting a playback. I do see two momentary split second dropouts in the first 2 seconds after a tune or playback start. However... Im using HDMI.

Very rarely, I will tune to a channel or start a playback and have NO audio... changing to another channel and then back... or stopping the playback and restarting brings the audio back.

I would seek an exchange.

will do, I just hope exchanging for a refurbished unit will not get me a worse unit. I have heard horror stories about the refurbished units tivo has shipped to customers.

Also whos to say the snaps/clicks and pops and such are not coming from the source, thats the tricky part to figure out. In other threads others say they hear the clicks/pops on CBS. Just today 3minutes and 25seconds into the Prices right recording from CBS (Thurs) had a sharp click/snap in it.

Holy S**t.. I finally talked to a person who understand that I have Tivo. I have no more $5.00 charge. They took it off completely.

I guess not so many people have Tivo through charter..... :eek:Don't be surprised if it doesn't stick, though. I had them (I have Comcast, not Charter) change my billing twice, and it just reverted back a few months later because my service was an invalid combination of line items. I figured I could just keep doing that, but eventually they trained the staff and now I'm consistently getting the "If you don't have a digital package, then CableCARD rental is $5 per month."

Ive never lost audio after the first two seconds of doing a 'tune' or starting a playback. I do see two momentary split second dropouts in the first 2 seconds after a tune or playback start. However... Im using HDMI.

Very rarely, I will tune to a channel or start a playback and have NO audio... changing to another channel and then back... or stopping the playback and restarting brings the audio back.

I would seek an exchange.

My tivo iseries 3 is just fine! I was watching CBS on my intenral Samsung HDTV tuner tonight and just heard the click/snap sharp sound so its in the source here in Atlanta and not the tivo, another person in the comcast Atlanta thread has been hearing it too! I am so quick to pass judgment on the tivo, I really need to just relax and enjoy the tivo. I think reading all those threads about the problems people have had with the series 3 have made me worry that this thing I just bought with lifetime on it will die an early death! After having so many problems with the TivoHD, I have just been looking for issues on the series3 while my 30day return window is active Think I am going to relax now and remember people like hookbill have had very few issues with their tivos and they have lasted :)

sounds like audio dropping when first tuning some Hd OTA channels happens to other series3 owners so that must be a software or resource issue. I think tivo could fix that by having the tuner buffer the mpeg2 stream just a second longer before tuning the channel becuase I can fix the problem by pressing pause real quick when tuning the channel and hitting unpause real quick.

...I really need to just relax and enjoy the tivo....

Ding Ding Ding....we have a winner!

The TiVo Netflix partnership certainly has possibilities but only if Netlix will include its HD download offerings in some kind of monthly charge package. If they insist in selling the service on an la carte basis, as iTunes and Cox On Demand do, I suspect that it won't succeed. iTunes charges $4.99 per downloaded movie and Cox $5.99. That's just not competitive with Netflix's and Blockbuster's subscription plans.To date, Netflix's "Watch Instantly" service isn't sold ala carte--it comes as part of your Netflix disk rental plan (except for the very cheapest plan, 1-at-a-time-maximum-2-a-month for $4.99). You can watch an unlimited amount of any of the available titles.

On the 11/19 they're supposed to launch a test program of HD Watch Instantly content, with 300 titles available at first. There's some confusion as to whether this will start out being only available on the Xbox 360 (11/19 is the launch date for the "New Xbox Experience", a total Xbox 360 dashboard revamp which includes the Netflix Watch Instantly player) or whether it will be available for all standalone Netflix players (see this (http://www.netflix.com/NetflixReadyDevices?tb=details) for a full list--they just added TiVo, saying that Netflix Watch Instantly is coming in December). It seems clear that streaming HD content will be available for all of those boxes eventually, to anyone with 8-10 Mbps broadband service.

On the 11/19 they're supposed to launch a test program of HD Watch Instantly content, with 300 titles available at first. There's some confusion as to whether this will start out being only available on the Xbox 360 (11/19 is the launch date for the "New Xbox Experience", a total Xbox 360 dashboard revamp which includes the Netflix Watch Instantly player) or whether it will be available for all standalone Netflix players (see this (http://www.netflix.com/NetflixReadyDevices?tb=details) for a full list--they just added TiVo, saying that Netflix Watch Instantly is coming in December). It seems clear that streaming HD content will be available for all of those boxes eventually, to anyone with 8-10 Mbps broadband service.

Still very excititing news! I don't know much about net flix so I have a question. Do they only do movies, or can you get a copy of television shows.

If something happens and I miss an episode of CSI, would I be able to stream it in HD from Net Flix? This would be so cool.

Still very excititing news! I don't know much about net flix so I have a question. Do they only do movies, or can you get a copy of television shows.

If something happens and I miss an episode of CSI, would I be able to stream it in HD from Net Flix? This would be so cool.Netflix currently offers a library of 12,000 titles for streaming via Watch Instantly (they offer over 100,000 titles on disc). Many of those titles are television series episodes. I'm composing this on my 46" LCD panel, connected to my laptop, and I've used this machine to view titles via the Netflix Watch Instantly web player, with the image blown up to fill the screen. Preferring to watch movies in HD when possible, I haven't viewed many feature films this way--just some indie stuff that I couldn't have seen in HD anyway and didn't care so much about the PQ of. I have viewed a bunch of television series episodes. For instance, I watched the first season of Friday Night Lights again, some episodes of Showtime's Weeds (enough to decide that I didn't care for it) and most recently the first season of the recent reboot of Doctor Who. I checked, and they do have seasons of the three CSI series (apparently they recently made a deal with CBS), including the three episodes of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation which have aired so far this season. That's good, because I missed the last one, which aired on the night of the day that I moved and my TiVo wasn't hooked up yet :). No doubt there's a few days gap between the airing of the show and it becoming available online.

If you use a player other than the web player, you still have to use a PC to set up the set of selections in your "Watch Instantly" queue. You can only browse Netlix's library on the web. One advantage of using TiVo or some other standalone player is that they'll probably support surround sound. The current web interface doesn't, but they're switching to MS' new Silverlight tech, which might.

You do have to have a Netflix unlimited disc rental plan to use Watch Instantly (all of the plans except the rock-bottom $5/month one-at-a-time-no-more-than-two-each-month one). There's no additional charge.

What is the speed of your internet connection? I just tried it on my PC and only achieved "basic quality". The PQ of the Netflix at basic quality made Unbox look like HD. I have 1.5 mbps max DSL from ATT and was curious what is needed for better quality.

Edit: I checked the Netflix site and they recommend 3 Mbps for best quality. Now I'm curious as to what would be needed if they start offering HD content.

What is the speed of your internet connection? I just tried it on my PC and only achieved "basic quality". The PQ of the Netflix at basic quality made Unbox look like HD. I have 1.5 mbps max DSL from ATT and was curious what is needed for better quality.

Edit: I checked the Netflix site and they recommend 3 Mbps for best quality. Now I'm curious as to what would be needed if they start offering HD content.

i'd think atleast 4mbps for DVD quality HD-def bitrates. For true HD you need 10 to 18mbps bitrate.

But I imagine the sweetspot for bandwidth and resolution will end up around 8 to 10mbps.

The phone compnay offers 6Mbps for $10/month more, but that is the highest speed they offer. I think I can live with that. I would have to get cable to get a faster connection and that will never happen.

This question concerns the way my S3 acts at the end of a program.

I'm watching a recorded program. Once the show is over, sometimes there is a commercial, previews, or something at the end. If I FF to the end of the recording (i.e., the last minute of the recording), once it reaches the end, it just stops. The "delete" or "keep" banner never comes up. It just freezes. If I press play, it will show a few seconds of the recording then once it gets to the end, it allows me to delete or keep. In other words, if I FF to the end, it freezes. If I play it to the end, I get the normal "delete" or "keep" choice. (The unit doesn't freeze up, just the playback.)

Anyone else run into this? Is there a fix or work-around?

This question concerns the way my S3 acts at the end of a program.

.............

Anyone else run into this? Is there a fix or work-around?

Pretty much normal behavior for Tivo. My S1 and S3 both behave this way. No work around that I know of but someone may come in with one.

Pretty much normal behavior for Tivo. My S1 and S3 both behave this way. No work around that I know of but someone may come in with one.

Thanks for the info, Moxie. My previous Sony S2 didn't do it. It behaved (what I thought to be) correctly. At least now I know it's not just mine that does this.

When I get to the point that I would FF to the end, I just hit the left arrow button and it pops up the Keep/Delete options. I'm not sure that qualifies as a workaround but that's what I do... :)

Randy

I actually prefer the current behavior of the tivo. Sometimes there is a little bit of show left at the end right after the last commercial. So when it freezes I just rewind a little bit or do an instant replay a couple times and easily get to watch the last of the show. Once the "delete" or "keep" screen appears there is no easy way to rewind from the end. You have to choose keep, then go back into the recording from the now playing list, then ff to the end. So I see the current behavior as an enhancement over the old S2 functionality.

--Rich

Yeah, there's no reason to FF to the end, unless the end is more than five minutes away (in which case, the delete screen won't come up when you left-arrow). Just left-arrow out.

When I get to the point that I would FF to the end, I just hit the left arrow button and it pops up the Keep/Delete options. I'm not sure that qualifies as a workaround but that's what I do... :)

Randy
I actually prefer the current behavior of the tivo. Sometimes there is a little bit of show left at the end right after the last commercial. So when it freezes I just rewind a little bit or do an instant replay a couple times and easily get to watch the last of the show.

--Rich
Yeah, there's no reason to FF to the end, unless the end is more than five minutes away (in which case, the delete screen won't come up when you left-arrow). Just left-arrow out.

Thanks everyone. That's all good stuff. Yeah, Rich, I have noticed there is a little snippet at the end that doesn't get seen if a FF is used to get to the end. And Randy: I didn't realize you could left arrow to get the delete option. See? you CAN teach an old dog new tricks. :)

Thanks again!

Thanks everyone. That's all good stuff. Yeah, Rich, I have noticed there is a little snippet at the end that doesn't get seen if a FF is used to get to the end. And Randy: I didn't realize you could left arrow to get the delete option. See? you CAN teach an old dog new tricks. :)

Thanks again!

FWIW, I stumbled on that by accident...I was dealing with the same frustration before then. I can only imagine how many little tips and tricks I'm unaware of......

Randy

Thanks everyone. . . . Randy: I didn't realize you could left arrow to get the delete option. See? you CAN teach an old dog new tricks. :)

FWIW, I stumbled on that by accident...I was dealing with the same frustration before then. I can only imagine how many little tips and tricks I'm unaware of......
Yeah, hitting the left arrow when the picture freezes at the end of a recording is the way I have always got out of it. In fact, I didn't even realize that trying something else might create a problem.

Very true. I will wait to see what happens to my billing.

Don't be surprised if it doesn't stick, though. I had them (I have Comcast, not Charter) change my billing twice, and it just reverted back a few months later because my service was an invalid combination of line items. I figured I could just keep doing that, but eventually they trained the staff and now I'm consistently getting the "If you don't have a digital package, then CableCARD rental is $5 per month."

Is this normal?

My Tivo stopped recording and I restarted and it is back to normal. It is like computer, huh?