The Official AVS TiVo "Series4" Premiere topic - Page 55

OK - I've adjusted most of my season passes to "until space is needed". Will the Tivo now let the HD fill past 80%? Will it let it get into the 90's?

It should. I can get mine to 100%(When I get a new TiVo I always fill up the hard drive to make sure there are no issues while I'm still within the return period). Although my Elites are typically between 75% and 85% full.

Great - thanks! We'll see what happens...

At 02:20 EDT my unit did a reboot. Nothing was being recorded, nothing was being played. I was just using it as a STB. Should I be concerned?

2am is sometimes when it updates software, which requires a reboot. Only be concerned if it happens frequently.

I also agree it was most likely the spring update of the software. The Tivo's tend to do their automatic reboots around 2am as they believe thats the most likely period of not taping.

I checked the main firmware and there is no change. I don't track the other versions. There have been no problems, but I seldom watch TV at 2am either.

The firmware only changed from 20.2-01 to 20.2.1.1-01
Might have updated and not noticed such a small change.

I'm still at 20.2.01-2-746 like since March. But it's not a big thing since everything still works fine. As for the time, my 2am is 11pm PDT where (if I still lived there) I would be recording. I guess they know my zipcode. I wonder what else they know.

It should be 2am local time, i.e. the time indicated on your TiVo.

Maybe it's just a fluke with my Tivo and cable provider but I have had no problem at all transferring anything to my HDD via Tivo Desktop. That includes the newest movies on HBO and Showtime. I now use the ReadyShare feature on my Netgear router. I have a 3tb Seagate and a 2tb Verbatim external drive connected to the USB port on the router through a USB hub. Tivo Desktop transfers content to one of those drives (albeit very slowly).

Tivo files are in the .tivo format. Years ago, I had to convert them to avi or mpg but now I watch recordings with the .tivo file extension on Windows Media Player and other players using just the basic included codecs. My favorite is the smplayer (mplayer) which has lots of extra viewing features. OR, since my home network is now a viewing choice on my Tivo along with Amazon, Hulu and Netflix, I can watch them on the Tivo without having to transfer them back to the Tivo HDD.

I have a new WD 1tb My Book Expander for Tivo, but after it arrived I found out how to configure my ReadyShare network drives. I never even unsealed the WD packaging. I no longer need it for expansion for the Tivo, so I guess I'll just sell it on eBay for what it cost me.

On FiOS here, nothing is copy protected, except a couple of test channels. SO everything can be transferred to TiVo Desktop. Although I haven't used it in a month or two now. I haven't turned my PC on in awhile that I have dedicated to TiVo Desktop. That's something I need to do this weekend.

Just got the spring update. Supposedly changes the Netflix player. Can't wait to test..

So how was your test? What did you think of the new netflix app on the TiVo premieres?

 

I recently got the update and while the new netflix and youtube apps are better than they were, they are still not that great.   The netflix app specifically seems to have far more trouble than any other in my home keeping streams steady at best quality. It regularly bounces up and down in quality requiring an HDMI resync (loss of picture) each time.  The lag between button press and system response is also pretty terrible.  I've gone back to my PS3 for netflix streaming.

the lag is supposed to be from the delay in controlling the streaming content from the server. Like with the cable companies and their VOD.

I find NetFlix greatly (hugely) better than before. I've got a fast, steady Internet connection, which may be the reason my videos play so well. I compared it to the video quality I get from my PS3 and it seems identical. I also really like the fact that you can now search for videos to stream. I used to use my Ps3 for playing Blu-Rays and Netflix. I recently bought a better Blu-Ray player and after this update to my Tivo I have stopped using my PS3 for everything and will probably retire it.

I saw this come up yesterday for 45 dollars. I have been looking for a device to display over the air HDTV on my projector for sports games and things like that. I'd like to have all of the functions it offers, but I don't really want to pay 15 dollars a month for it. Anyway, my projector has HDMI and Red/Blue/Green component inputs for video, but I use a home theater style setup for sound since the projector doesn't have any. Will this box work for that purpose without a subscription fee? I haven't found much else for 45 dollars that will do a similar job. What I really want is a media center PC, but it's not in the budget right now.

The tivo units will not work without a subscription of either monthly or lifetime. That is why they can be so cheap at times because they know they will be getting subscription fees.

From what I read in this thread, the only functionality it has without a subscription is the ability to watch over the air high def. You are saying it cannot do this without a subscription, and that it is ultimately a brick without a sub?

I believe you lose the buffer (can't RW or FF) and you will get annoying popups without a subscription. You definitely can't use it as a regular OTA tuner without a subscription. And certainly you can't setup season passes.

That would be a good summary.

It also needs internet access. Wireless or phone access is possible for extra money.

These are copied from tivo's website:

http://www.tivo.com/abouttivo/policies/tivoservicepaymentplanstermsandconditions.html
Without a subscription to the TiVo service, your TiVo DVR will not work! Please see Section 7 of the TiVo Service Agreement.

7. Your TiVo DVR Won't Work Without the TiVo Service! A subscription to the TiVo service is required in order for your TiVo DVR to have any functionality. No functionality is represented or should be expected from the TiVo DVR without a paid subscription to the TiVo service.

Welp, looks like I'll be going elsewhere. The cost of a subscription can really add up when you think about it. A net top can cost around 200 dollars... close to what a year of TiVo would cost you, so I think I'm out. Thanks for the info, I will probably just buy a cheap PC to use as a media center then.

It's not a brick and will pull in all the channels you can get with a Cablecard or via OTA. There are no popups, just a channel banner saying you don't have service when you change channels. Can be easily dismissed with a right arrow press.

Works great as a live TV substitute for a cable box or OTA receiver, in other words, and it can be a lot cheaper than renting a box for some cableCos. It doesn't need internet service for this, it just won't work as a DVR or provide program guide data.

So much misinformation here. *sigh*

Are you referring to a Premiere or an older model? AFAIK, TiVo made some changes in the 20.x software that made it even more cumbersome to use without a subscription.

Why not get a used HD tuner from eBay? [for right now]

I am fairly new to TiVo, with a Premiere unit. One thing I cannot figure out. If I am watching a recording, and I press the TiVo button to see My TiVo, the recording still keeps playing in the small screen in the upper right corner, as it should. But what I cannot figure out is how to exit the TiVo screen and get the recording to play full screen again? Right now, I have been using the "Live TV" button to go back to live TV, then hit the TiVo button to get to My TiVo and then restart the recording. But there must be a better way. Any help is appreciated.

Greg

IIRC, it's the "zoom" button.

It's a Premiere, and I'm using one without a sub now. All they did was disable pause/ff/rew on the live TV buffer, none of which you need.