The Official AVS TiVo "Series4" Premiere topic - Page 76

I have my TiVo connected to my HDTV via HDMI and the digital optical out of the TiVo connected to my AVR to give me the best of both worlds. That way we can play the TiVo through the TV speakers for normal viewing or send the audio to the AVR when we want surround or music. This way the TiVo passes the digital signal directly to the AVR and lets the AVR do all the work.

Although you can't get DD+ from Netflix over the optical output. Also if you had a receiver with HDMI pass through you could use HDMi to the receiver and then HDMI from the receiver to the TV. Then when the receiver is off it would still pass the audio/video to the TV over HDMI from the TiVo.

Another way to go is to use redundant a/v connections from the TiVo to the TV and AVR as follows:

TiVo ==> HDMI ==> AVR ==> HDMI ==> TV

TiVo ==> Component A/V ==> TV

I use this set-up and like the flexibility it offers, especially when I want to watch a video signal from the TiVo while listening to a different audio source on the AVR.

I guess I don't particularly see any advantage to that setup -- I don't see that I have any less flexibility with mine. An optical cable is a lot thinner than a 5-connector component/audio cable bundle and I like staying all-digital -- I have no analog connections except for the Wii. I have no problem watching the TiVo through the HDMI direct to the HDTV while separately setting the AVR to any source input I wanted. We've done that on occasion for football games where we mute the network sound and tune the local game broadcast over the radio -- the synch is a little off but the announcer chatter is "better".

By using an optical cable you can only use legacy audio codecs. The codecs that were used back in the 90's. To use the DD+, which is a modern codec you need to use HDMI. Although Netflix is the only app that I'm aware of on the S4 boxes that ouput DD+.
And as I mentioned before, if your components handle HDMI passthorugh, then you can still have the receiver off and use the TV speakers.

Personally I used optical from 1994 and 2005. But in 2005 I started using HDMI with my devices.. Much easier to have one cable for audio and video than having multiple cables. Now I use HDMI for everything. And it will be even better once more devices start using Ethernet over HDMI which will eliminate another cable needed to a device.

I see Netflix just announced 1080p streaming. But I do not think the TiVo Premier will support it?

Does anyone know if TiVo will allow the 1080p from Netflix? Or when they might as an upgrade patch?

I am paying big bucks for 20 speed internet, but have not been impressed so far with the TiVo streaming ability. It has been sort of lame so far.

Netflix has had 1080P streaming for a while now. The TiVo Premiere has supported it and still supports it. What is new is higher 1080P encodes which they call SuperHD. It is just a better quality 1080P encode. And the Premiere supports that too as well as 5.1 DD+ output from Netflix.

I'm on FiOS. Using UnBlock US, I have access to the SuperHD encodes from all my Premiere boxes with the Netflix application. Without using the UnBlock US DNS servers I still have access to the Netflix 1080P encodes, but not the higher bitrate ones they label as SuperHD.

^^
Does your 1080 Flat Panel HDTV ever display an interlaced image?

+1. I will always use HDMI when possible.

With HDMI through-connections, my Denon AVR-3311 will pass the a/v signal from my TiVo Premiere XL4 to my Sony KDL-46XBR5, even when the AVR is off.

I almost never use the TV's speakers, but I will occasionally want to check on a video source while listening to a music source. In that case I only have to select the alternate input on the TV.

And, not incidentally, my set-up allows me to see the AVR's GUI on the TV while still retaining the redundant TiVo connectivity. Plus, since the KDL-46XBR5 has variable-sized "Picture & Picture" I have the ability to put up the AVR's GUI side-by-side with another video source--whether the TiVo or the TV's internal tuner (all my other external sources are connected via the AVR).

Granted, you may need HDMI for DD+, but that is not an issue for me. OTA audio is all AC3 DD/5.1. Obviously, all setups are situational so there may be better ways for a particular individual but no universal "best way".

In my case, my AVR does not pass through when off, I don't stream Netflix and if I did I would use my media streamer (which is connected to the AVR by HDMI) to do so not my TiVo. I too prefer HDMI and all my components are connected to the AVR in that way, except the TiVo. If my AVR had HDMI pass-through for the TiVo when it was off then I would certainly connect the TiVo through the AVR via HDMI.

I have two Premieres, and I've got to say they are total junk compared to my old Fios DVR (motorola I think). The interfaces are incredibly slow, they're buggy, streaming from one to another only works occasionally, and they consume a ton of power. If there were no ETF involved, I'd cancel my service tomorrow.

As soon as my service is up, I'm just going to ditch cable all together, too much money for basically zero content that I can't access elsewhere.

Glad you got that off your chest . . .

I agree 100%. My TV optical, which carries up to DD5.1 from any input, gets used late at night. I get basic cable that includes the locals in HD. True there is no best way and my AVR does support pass-through but I have it disabled.

The TiVo feeds the AVR via HDMI, but it doesn't shut off if I fall asleep. My TV does.
Edited by JoeKustra - 2/20/13 at 4:22pm

My four tuner Premieres draw only 22 watts each.(The two tuner Premiere uses around 25 watts.) Streaming has been rock solid between my two, four tuner units and also my two tuner Premiere. Now granted the interface could be a little faster but it works fine for me. And I don't miss any recordings. My neighbors with FiOS and Comcast DVRs are always complaining about missed recordings almost weekly. But I can count on my hands how many missed recodings I've had with TiVos durning the last twelve years.

It's not April Fools yet, have to wait another 6 weeks.

off topic as a reply i know, but can i use a tivo series 4 as an over the air HD tuner (ATSC)
without payiny the monthly or lifetime fees and using the HDMI output to an older tv, but not
using the dvr function?

thanx in advance for any any all replies, uncledok

Yes

For those of us who care, the Web Video Launchpad can now be removed.

Great, thanks!

Walmart got its first customer review. One star. Maybe they should indicate it needs a cable card for cable and you need to pay for the service.

Really an odd move for W/M and Tivo....my guess is W/M probably doesn't fit the demographic for a Tivo but what do I know

This was a peeve of mine. Thanks, Joe, for passing the info along. I'm just curious: Did you read this somewhere or did you just happen to discover the change on your own?

Reminder: If you want to remove Web Video Launchpad from My Shows, go to Settings & Messages => Settings => Channels => My Video Providers , and simply uncheck it from the list of providers.

Just curious: Why is this such a horrible "feature?"

Found it on the TiVo Support Forum in one of the Desktop threads. There are mixed opinions there also.

Some people have their program guide set to display all channels, some only their favorites. I guess that's freedom at work.

I never qualified it as "horrible." What bothered me is the fact that TiVo designers stuck it in my My Shows list with no means of removing it. Since I have no current interest in this feature, it was just cluttering up my list of recordings.

The source of my discontent was twofold: (1) I don't like clutter and (2) I dislike having yet more extraneous programs foisted on me without the option of removing or disabling them.

I understand TiVo's need for additional revenue streams and licensing deals; but I've already paid a significant price for PLS on both my Premiere and Premiere XL4 and feel that enough is enough.

Why is it that we're all aware of the Tivo desktop problem, and some clever programers have even worked out a fix (or at least something that will get it working) and yet the big guys making the big bucks are leaving millions of people with a piece of crap that doesn't work? Doesn't speak very highly for their support system. Just sayin'.

Seriously, here is TiVo's Official Support Solution:
http://support.tivo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/196

Well, I never noticed it until I saw it mentioned in this thread ... so .....

What "piece of crap that doesn't work" are you talking about????

"Where ignorance is bliss 'tis folly to be wise."