Harddisk TV recorder

I seem to remember a dicussion about a unit that
can record from a TV channel to a harddrive and display
to a TV again. Anybody have the name of that unit.

(Somebody hacked the code, but were persuaded to
not release their code or something like that....)

MArius (Escort Cab + MArk II)

The two biggest products in this category are called TIVO and REPLAY TV.

Some video/TV cards for your PC come with software that does the same thing.

___________
Tony Fabris

And if you have satelite service, Direct TV has Tivo and Ultimate TV units that can record right off the satalite stream and not loose any quality. Dish had a Displayer (same software as the Ultimate TV, but only one tuner and it came with games), or their new PVR unit. Check www.dishnetwork.com or www.directv.com depending on your provider for more info.

This link may interest you.
Hacking the Tivo FAQ
Tivo doesn't official condone the hacking that people have done to the Tivo but they have assisted some hacking efforts slightly. This probably helps them sell boxes and get new subscribers, which is their goal.
If anyone started playing with getting the subscription for free or something counter objective, they can and would put an end to this stuff.

One thing interesting to note. If you are a cable or DSS subscriber who gets channels you have not paid for, the Tivo knows which channels you are watching and when.
They could easily compare this with customer records from DirectTV or your cable company and have enough evidence to procecute you.

Just be aware is all I'm saying.

the "hacking" you are referring to allowed people to save the video from the unit to a computer

I would have purchased one of the units already if I could do that

AFAIK there is no log of "watched" programs, only recorded programs. I've been following the hacking closely, waiting for the hacks that will allow me to go from 35 hours recording time to 150+ hours by swapping 2 80 Gb disks into my unit. The folks that have been all over the OS never mentioned finding any watched program logs.

TiVo rocks, BTW. Though I often find myself thinking of rewinding something I just missed, ala TiVo, only to realize that it was real life and not the TV... Maybe someday, though

Dave Clark
Austin, Texas
12g Blue MK2
S/N 80000329

Sounds too possible for me to want to play with. It's like a federal offense. I'm sure Tivo doesn't do anything with the logged information except sell it to advertisers and networks. Just think, once widespread adoption occurs, this is far better than any current rating system. You can know exactly what every person watches not just a sampling of people.

They could turn on logging of all watched programs at any time.

Aren't there already people running 100+ Gb Tivos?

i think the biggest has been 117 hrs so far..not sure of the drive size.

On the TiVO forum at avsforums.com one person reported that 2 60 Gb drives gives him almost 141 hours basic, almost 40 high quality on the standalone TiVo system.

On the DirecTiVo systems, which record at DirecTV's compression rate, there have been reports that adding an 80 Gb disk to the existing 40 Gb gives you 108 hours of record time. SO I figure 160 Gb must be around 145 or so hours...

Dave Clark
Austin, Texas
12g Blue MK2
S/N 80000329

I talked to my bud that works for VA linux.. he said the actual TiVo linux geeks stop by every once in a while.. I guess they riged up a dual 80gig system in the test shop.. tho, from what i've seen/read.. the TiVo software itself get's _really_ slow after you get over 100 hours of data in it. :(

12gig red mk2 -- 080000125

In reply to:

---

the TiVo software itself get's _really_ slow after you get over 100 hours of data in it.

---

Hmmm that a good point to consider, I can see how that could happen, mine tends to get slow when I get near the 35 hour cap. Thanks for the note!

Dave Clark
Austin, Texas
12g Blue MK2
S/N 80000329

The 2 80Gig drives have been done for a while. (well, at least a month).

Search for MadTivo's utility. It will allow you to replace your a drive with an 80Gig and add another 80 G at the same time.

Note: Must be done AT the same time, as you can't expand the MFS twice.

And YES, it does get slow. REAL damn slow. 12M of memory ain't much when dealing with that much program information. I speak from experience.

Personally, I just have two Tivo's with 30+80 on each. Record everything in BEST, and life is happy.

TiVo is an amazing product. Buy one and you will never think of television in the same way. I have not watched a commercial on television since January -- the TiVo Fast-Forward speed is 60x viewing speed, so a four-minute long commercial break takes four seconds to skip over. I have not watched television since January -- I watch TiVo. I don't even care what is on TV anymore -- I always have 30 hours of programming that I like right at my fingertips -- sort of like an empeg for TV.

I have heard rumors that TiVo is coming out with new hardware with dual tuners that can record two programs simultaneously rather than just one. That would be enough of an improvement I would buy it without a second thought. Can anybody elaborate on this?

At first I thought I wanted more capacity... but I realize that even with "only" 30 hours of recording time, the TiVo records more programming than I can possibly find time to watch. I think they made a good choice in terms of cost/benefit with the 30 GB hard drive in the standard unit.

There is a bug in the TiVo hardware that I hope someone has a workaround for... I feed the output from my TiVo and my VCR through a combiner into my TV set, using the RF co-ax cables (it's an old TV and doesn't have the newer type inputs) There appears to be no way of stopping the TiVo from sending a signal through it's RF output, so if I want to play a videotape, I have to physically unplug the output cable from the back of the TiVo, otherwise it clashes with the VCR output. Even turning the TiVo "Off" doesn't do it (the TiVo is still powered when in the "Off" mode so it can record programs.)

Any ideas?

tanstaafl.

"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"

I heard about the 2 tuner model also but just once

can't you use a switch instead of a combiner ?

I have heard rumors that TiVo is coming out with new hardware with dual tuners that can record two programs simultaneously rather than just one. That would be enough of an improvement I would buy it without a second thought. Can anybody elaborate on this?

I believe I herd this on TechTV recently, when they did an Ultimate TV VS Tivo feature. The Ultimate TV won out because of the two tuner feature, but a comment was made that Tivo should have one out soon with this feature. Now if it's going to be a DirecTV box only is beyond me.

can't you use a switch instead of a combiner ?

No real advantage -- I still have to get up and go across the room, whether I am pulling the cable off the back of the TiVo or flipping a switch. I suppose if I could find a switch that my TiVo remote would control...

tanstaafl.

"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"

I figured it would be easier to switch and unplug
I would be for my setup I can't even get at the back of the TV

I have heard rumors that TiVo is coming out with new hardware with dual tuners that can record two programs simultaneously rather than just one. That would be enough of an improvement I would buy it without a second thought. Can anybody elaborate on this?


That's the Directivo, a Direct TV ONLY tuner system. It has no analog inputs, and no mpeg encoder... It basically just stores the DirecTV mpeg stream. It will eventually support dual tuners.. The hardware is there, just waiting on the software..... Hmmmm... Lot like 1.1. Maybe it will happen when 1.1 becomes an actual product instead of the "Really, the features you are looking for is in 1.1, but we can't let you have it, it isn't ready... but it's there... Really" that it currently is.

But it is coming. Downside to the directivo unit is the lack of an encoder, therefore it's impossible to use it with anything besides DirecTV.

To the best of my knowledge, Tivo is NOT planning a dual tuner version for the SA (standalone) versions.

At first I thought I wanted more capacity... but I realize that even with "only" 30 hours of recording time, the TiVo records more programming than I can possibly find time to watch. I think they made a good choice in terms of cost/benefit with the 30 GB hard drive in the standard unit.

I record everything in BEST mode... Even the 30 hour isn't enough to handle a weekend of the shows I watch if I have to go out of town. The 30+80 does handle the job nicely, without getting too slow in the process. Besides, there is nothing that says you HAVE to watch it's suggestions, but it does give a heck of a choice.


There is a bug in the TiVo hardware that I hope someone has a workaround for... I feed the output from my TiVo and my VCR through a combiner into my TV set, using the RF co-ax cables (it's an old TV and doesn't have the newer type inputs) There appears to be no way of stopping the TiVo from sending a signal through it's RF output, so if I want to play a videotape, I have to physically unplug the output cable from the back of the TiVo, otherwise it clashes with the VCR output. Even turning the TiVo "Off" doesn't do it (the TiVo is still powered when in the "Off" mode so it can record programs.)


I'm really afraid I don't know about this one. I haven't watched a RF modulated program in FOREVER. Hell, you've got an Empeg, got a Tivo... Splurge and get a REAL TV.. S-video and Component inputs are the ONLY way to go... short of full digital, that is.

I assume that by off you are referring to the standby mode, but even then, yes, it's passing the cable input through. I don't know if anyone else would really consider this a bug.... It's pretty much the same functionality of any other AV gear I can remember using.

"Even turning the TiVo "Off" doesn't do it (the TiVo is still powered when in the "Off" mode so it can record programs.) "

Get the clapper. No AC = shut off TiVo. Silly, but it should work & no locomotion is required.

-Zeke

just say you weren't paying much attention...

..and of course Replay TV are about to be purchased by SONICblue.

Rob

I have heard rumors that TiVo is coming out with new hardware with dual tuners that can record two programs simultaneously rather than just one. That would be enough of an improvement I would buy it without a second thought. Can anybody elaborate on this?

They're perfecting a "Digital "Demodulator" which will allow this. In theory you should be able to select just about any number of channels to demod (and therefore record from) at the same time. I am not sure of the actual performance, though.

And to correct an earlier comment which hinted that Linux is the OS on the TiVo, it's not - the OS is an enhanced version of pSOS.

Incidentally, has your TV got a SCART connector? If so, then why don't you just disconnect the UHF mod cable from the TV and use the TiVo tuner instead?

One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

Errrr... Not a very sound strategic move, given the state of their software and finances

One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

The software is widely considered superior to Tivo - if only it was taken up by more OEM's (Replay licence, they don't manufacture). Oh, look at this:

"MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - May 1, 2001 - In a move that will rapidly accelerate consumer adoption of personal TV in the cable industry, ReplayTV®Inc., a leading provider of personal television and digital video recording (DVR) technologies, today announced it has signed a long-term licensing agreement with Motorola's Broadband Communications Sector. In the agreement, Motorola (NYSE: MOT) names ReplayTV a primary provider of core DVR software for the creation of Motorola's new personal television platform. ReplayTV's DVR technology will be integrated into Motorola's digital cable set-tops, with plans to be initially offered in Q4 of this year."

Aaaahhh - famous last words. Don't forget I was working there over Christmas....

One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

Wow, what great info I'm getting from this thread! I've been interested in buying a Tivo for a while now. Could someone answer a couple of my concerns?

1) price. I can't seem to find it ANYWHERE for less than about $300. I'm looking for the regular version, as I have digital cable.

2) subscription. it took me a while to realize you had to subscribe to a service. Which plan do most of you here use? Any "lifers" here?

3) I have no phone jack near the TV. I don't have one anywhere near the TV. Not till the next room! Any ideas?

Thanks!

DiGNAN
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, etc.

There appears to be no way of stopping the TiVo from sending a signal through it's RF output, so if I want to play a videotape, I have to physically unplug the output cable from the back of the TiVo, otherwise it clashes with the VCR output.

Why use a combiner? The way I have it set up, TiVo sends RCAs to VCR(Line Input 1), VCR is always on, sending RF to TV chan. 3. When I play a tape, the VCR ignores A/V in anyways.
It's great because I don't have to change the Stereo's input either (Always VCR). Even DVD's go through Line Input 2 on the VCR.
Is there some reason you need the combiner (Only 1 Line input to VCR for TiVo & DVD?)
Jason

_~= Dearing =~_
"WAY too happy about having #99."

how about one of those things that you plug into the electrical socket to get the phone line near the tv

1) AV Outfitters Has one for about US$235, shipped. It's a factory Referb, but I've had no problems with mine.
2) I'm on the monthly $9.95 plan, so I could someday support Sonic Blue by buying Replay TV (or whichever allows 2 recordings at once first )
3) It comes with 50' of telephone line, and only calls out once or twice a week. You can even make it call out on demand, so you can plug in the line, make the call, then coil the line back up.

These things will^H^H^H^HHave changed TV forever!

_~= Dearing =~_
"WAY too happy about having #99."

There is some info on what is recorded, but this is anonymised before it's collected for stats (and 3rd parties have verified this by checking the network traffic) - check the tivo faqs about on the net. They know they'd have a hard time selling the box if it collected that sort of info.

Hugo

No, TiVo does run linux, see:

http://www.tivo.com/linux/index.html

ReplyTV runs some posix-style RTOS, possibly a pSoS variant (but I think it's something else from a smaller company at the moment).

Hugo

1) It's worth the $300, you may be able to find a place giving out $100 off discounts..

2) I have the 1 year subscription for $100, I don't know how long I will actualy have the current TiVo revision.. so i figgure I should go year by year

3) as someone else said.. it comes with a _huge_ 50' phone line cable.. but as far as I can tell (havn't checked since I got 2.0 upgrade) it dials out every night. (but for a very short period of time)

12gig red mk2 -- 080000125

I'd hate to argue with rob, but I _love_ my TiVo. and from what I've seen in stores, replay didn't seem all that cool. but I look at it this way..

Cisco systems had no wireless gear, so they bought Aironet.. now Aironet itself was not that great a wireless company, (they were on the bottom of the list for 802.11 gear) but cisco added a lot of good stuff to their gear, and now have a decent product. I still don't think the cisco stuff is as good as the lucent gear.. but time will tell.

SonicBlue could do the same for replay.. take an existing tech, and improve it to the point of being worth something.

I hope they do well, I want to see a software feature fight between them and TiVo :) yay for compeitition!

12gig red mk2 -- 080000125

actualy.. the TiVo "1.1" equivalent.. TiVo 2.0 software was rolled out recently.. and it added all of the missing features that I wanted.. the bigest one to date was the ability to have 2 "season passes" that conflicted sometimes, and prioritze which one would get recorded. :) :)

as far as inputs go, I use my yamaha reciver as my central A/V switcher, and I use a radio shack composit -> RF converter to get the ol Philco attached to the system (yea.. i know, the thing is old, and sucks.. but it still works, and I can't afford a new TV yet :)

12gig red mk2 -- 080000125

actualy.. the TiVo "1.1" equivalent.. TiVo 2.0 software was rolled out recently.. and it added all of the missing features that I wanted.. the bigest one to date was the ability to have 2 "season passes" that conflicted sometimes, and prioritze which one would get recorded. :) :)



Oh, I'm not going to deny that is was rolled out... After a HELL of a wait, and promises. It still shipped with bugs, like any software product out there. There has already been one meta patch developed and in the process of rolling out (the resolution bug), and there is still the VERY big issue of the stammering/stuttering on many units, hacked and unhacked.

But overall, it's a hell of an improvement.

The alpha testers are the only ones seeing 1.1 now... Which is not a bitch in and of itself, just an observation on the state of things. To the general public, 1.1 is a mythical promise. I have no doubts it will come true, it's just the waiting for it that's the problem... esp. when every other post surrounding wishlists and bugs seems to be "It's in 1.1"

(RANT) Even Kit's wonderful hack of the clock into 1.02 was met immediately with a "This is in 1.1" post. That's wonderful, I'm glad to hear it, but "It's in 1.1" doesn't address the fact that the public doesn't HAVE 1.1. Kit came up with a hack that helped people NOW. Repeating the 1.1 mantra just wears sometimes. (/RANT)

Gee... I'm glad there isn't a zealous moderator around this place...

I just can't understand the concept of having a TiVo and an empeg AND a crappy TV... One of these things doesn't match the others....... One of these things isn't the same.... You know the song, JOIN IN!



Wow... too much Caffeine. MUCH too much...

3) It comes with 50' of telephone line, and only calls out once or twice a week. You can even make it call out on demand, so you can plug in the line, make the call, then coil the line back up.



By default, it will try to dial every night. HOWEVER.....


MAJOR OFF TOPIC, but really cool...

Since it is running Linux, you can hack about a change for this. All at a very much voiding your warranty cost, but HEY... On the front edge of the tivo motherboard is a diagnostic connector. It's in effect a reversed pci/isa connector. Tridge of Samba fame reverse engineered this connector, and published the plans that allow you to hook up a network card to the box.

Now..... You don't need a phone line, just a Cat-5 jack (which seem to be in much greater abundance around my place than the phone lines). Hack the software for the dialout a very little bit (basically killing the modem script) and then the TiVo will connect to the main servers via your existing network connection (ala Cable/ DSL/ ISDN)

Make the downloads much quicker, don't have to worry about tying up the phone line... HAVING a phone line. (I'm Cellular only now.. aside from my broadband connections) Plus, it allows you to Telnet to a Bash prompt on your VCR.

How cool is that?

haha.. yea.. I know.. the crappy TV is still there because it works, and I blew most of my budjet on the audio systems empeg, speakers, amp for the car.. reciver, speakers, sub, DVD player, etc for the house..
I'm currently waiting for HDTV to mature a bit before I retire the philco.. well.. it's not really my TV either.. and when I move out in august, i will no longer have a TV.. maybe then I'll get my 46" HD Mitsubish rear projector :)


12gig red mk2 -- 080000125

I'd hate to argue with rob, but I _love_ my TiVo. and from what I've seen in stores, replay didn't seem all that cool. but I look at it this way..



I'm certainly with you on this one. Widely considered to be better? BY WHOM?

Tivo ROCKS... Even with the problems they have had. It STILL Rocks. Maybe SB can bring RePlay to the front of Tivo, but it's going to have to be a HELL of a lot better than it is now before you'll get me to change my remote.

maybe then I'll get my 46" HD Mitsubish rear projector :)



Take a gander at the Pioneer Elites. That is certainly going to be my next purchase after I get a new house.

I haven't seen visual quality on a consumer projection system like that... EVER.

It's really worth the look... until you see the price tag and realize that you aren't going to be happy without one.

Gee... I'm glad there isn't a zealous moderator around this place....

There's one in v1.1 .



Roger - not necessarily speaking for empeg

In reply to:

---

Gee... I'm glad there isn't a zealous moderator around this place....

There's one in v1.1 .



Roger - not necessarily speaking for empeg

---

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.....

Both I think.

Make the downloads much quicker, don't have to worry about tying up the phone line... HAVING a phone line. (I'm Cellular only now.. aside from my broadband connections) Plus, it allows you to Telnet to a Bash prompt on your VCR.

Good to know this is possible, as I have been GSM cellular only for a while now. Is this also true on the DirecTV TiVo? After owning a DishPlayer, I can't see myself going to a normal TiVo or other box. I much prefer the integration for things like this when the quality wins because of it.

Now, I just need a new PVR from Dish, since I still can't justify switching to DirecTV, since so many of the shows I record aren't on that provider. I did hear rumors from a Dish tech that the results of the ReplayTV thing Dish announced a while back are going to be out later this year. I'm really hoping it was true, because he talked about 3 different levels of units, one with external storage to easially add more storage.

Good to know this is possible, as I have been GSM cellular only for a while now. Is this also true on the DirecTV TiVo? After owning a DishPlayer, I can't see myself going to a normal TiVo or other box. I much prefer the integration for things like this when the quality wins because of it.


I'm NOT sure about the directivo. I THINK it has the connector, but I don't know for sure. The problem with the Directv box is it is of significant enough difference from the standalone's that many things don't work the same.

I've got one of the Dishplayers... Personally, I'm of the opinion it's a piece of [censored]. I've canceled the PTV features on the thing, and pass it through to a TiVo. Twice a week I've got to go in and clear the damn TiVo because the dishplayer has decided to reboot and stay at that opening screen for 7+ programs. Great idea for a device, but the implementation... Well, It's MS, so what should I have expected? I'm SOOO ready to toss the damn think in front of a shotgun.

I sure hope Dish gets their act together about the integrations... I don't want to go back to Directv either, but those integrated Tivos look so good.

I'm using the electrical-socket phone jack. It works just fine for the TiVo. I've been using it without issues for 6 months. The wiring in my house is less than a year old though.

-Jeremy

Mk2/40GB/Blue

yes, i have looked at pioneer elite's.. they are really nice.. and _really_ out of my price range.. I personaly can't justify spending $5000 or so on a TV.. I have a personal spending limit of about $2500, which is right where the mitsubishi fits in. the elite also doesn't come any smaller than a 53" box.. I currently have a decent size living room, but having anything larger than a 46" (i'd love a 35-40" wide box) takes up too much room, and would reduce the airspace around my definative speakers.. (they need it to really sound good)

12gig red mk2 -- 080000125

I'm happy with my Mitsubishi 46" HDTV.

If you're interested in finding out all about the Mits TVs, go to the Mitsubishi forum at http://www.hometheaterspot.com. The folks there have the best information about the sets.

___________
Tony Fabris

oh.. excelent.. thanks.. I wish I had the money to spend on a new TV right now, but I'm moving to detroit in august. I need all the money I can spare to support myself untill I find a job out there. besides the fact that the place I'm moving to isn't all that large, and has bitchy old ladies living on the floor below that complain to the association management if you turn up your PC speakers too loud.
hehe.. :)

12gig red mk2 -- 080000125

I've got one of the Dishplayers... Personally, I'm of the opinion it's a piece of [censored].

I've had no major problems, just once it wiped all my programming, but I have herd it's due to the larger disk I put in and the software glitching when it got too full. I've owned mine since they came out, so who knows what happened.

Thanks for the advice about the hack, synergy! That would work perfectly for me!

my problem was that when they were wiring my place, they put a CAT5 jack behind the TV like we asked, but they put another one nearby where we had asked for a phone line. That guy was an idiot. sorry.

Anyway, do you think this is doable for a non-techie like me?

Why the hell didn't they build this into the Tivo box in the first place, anyway?

DiGNAN
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, etc.

Are the Cat-5's wired to a patch bay? If so, you can plug the other end of the Cat-5 outlet you want into the telephone wiring. Cat-5 is perfectly capable of carying at least 2 telephone lines. If all your outlets meet in a patch bay, usually in the basement or somewhere out-of-the-way, you can fix the connection to phone there. How are your Cat-5 outlets wired?
Jason

_~= Dearing =~_
"WAY too happy about having #99."

There's definitely no phone jack in my bathroom

That's where all my wiring runs to. It's just a closet. They do come into a patch block, then go to a hub, but there's no phone jack there.

Thanks for the idea, though.

DiGNAN
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, etc.

...VCR is always on, sending RF to TV chan. 3.

Can't do that, because the VCR has to be Off in order for the VCR timer to record programs at the same time as the TiVo is recording when there are conflicts. This is why I wanted the dual-tuner TiVo I had heard about. Incidentally, the VCR does NOT put out a signal through the RF output unless I specifically tell it to do so; whereas there is no way to stop the TiVo's RF out.

Incidentally, has your TV got a SCART connector?

Nope. It has the RF (co-axial) input, and it has a place to connect spade terminals for rabbit-ear antenna, and that's it. Maybe it's time to get a new TV set, one that doesn't always show a green splotch right in the middle of the screen?

tanstaafl.

"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"

Widely considered to be better? BY WHOM?

Ditto!

I haven't seen the RePlay TV software, but I have a hard time imagining it could be better than TiVo.

Anybody trying to design a user interface for the general public would be well advised to study the TiVo. They have taken some very complex tasks and made them so intuitive that most people can operate the system without any instruction at all. Even (dare I say it? Do I need asbestos underwear now) empeg could learn a trick or two from TiVo.

tanstaafl.



"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"

I haven't seen the RePlay TV software

Not much point continuing with this thread then, eh?

Even [...] empeg could learn a trick or two from TiVo.

We do have Tivos here, but I'm not entirely sure that the UI translates to a 128x32 VFD and credit card sized remote control..

Rob

There's definitely no phone jack in my bathroom
OK, I see. Just in case you're really serious about wanting a phone line, those patch bays work both ways-- You could wire any Cat-5 jack that IS close to a phone jack into any jack that's not, just match up the colors.

_~= Dearing =~_
"WAY too happy about having #99."

In reply to:

---

I haven't seen the RePlay TV software

Not much point continuing with this thread then, eh?

---

I HAVE seen the replay software, as well as the hardware implementations... The panasonic POS for one. I still don't think it's a match for 2.0.1 of the TiVo service. Of course, it's pretty off topic here anyways, and I really don't want to get into a war over who is better. I also realize that as a SB employee, if you openly indicate a competitor as better it might cause some ripples...

My whole point on this was the statement "Widely considered to be better". In the circles I've read/listened and viewed, it's exactly the opposite. My own experiences with both also reflect this.

I do agree with you in the UI being an apple and orange situation, in relation to the empeg.


Unless 1.1 is going to be including that functionality as well? (couldn't resist.)

Unless 1.1 is going to be including that functionality as well?

hehe, that would be neat. Have the empeg use RDS to record radio songs and programs it thinks you would be interested in based on the contents of your music collection

DiGNAN
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, etc.

I can't seem to find it ANYWHERE for less than about $300.

Take a look here you might find some pricing you can live with.

tanstaafl.

"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"

I got a UK Tivo using Sky Digital. I read an article a while ago that reckoned I could boost the basic 40GB drive up to 80GB by adding another 40 but I haven't delved into the box yet. This thread has aroused my curiosity so it looks like I might be doing this quite soon. One thing that did catch my eye on these posts was a comment about it going 'slow' when the drive starts to fill. I do occassionally get some sort of jitter on programmes. Is this the same thing do you think?

_______________________

Steve - 18GB Mk II Amber

Help! This stinks, I just got into the postition to be able to buy a Tivo, but now the refurb at AVOutfitters is out of stock

I suppose that's okay, becaue I was thinking of getting the 60 hr model instead. Can anyone tell me if there's a difference beyond storage capacity and more chrome on the face?

Also, where's the lowest price people have found for one of these. It's listed almost everywhere at $600. The lowest I've found is here

Thanks for the help!


ps-an even tougher question, where's the cheapest place to buy Monster cable? I'm sick of my Radio Shack s***

DiGNAN
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, etc.

Regarding monster cable, you might consider partsexpress.com for your various cable needs. I've been really happy with them so far.

High quality Phoenix Gold banana plugs are 1/4 the Monster Cable price. I also like the Phoenix Gold Balanced RCA patch cables and Acoustic Research SVIDEO cables. The prices are usually 1/3 to 1/2 the price of Monster Cable.

-Hoagy.

RE: Hard drive storage on the TiVo.

If I remember correctly, you were interested in the TiVonet hack so you wouldn't have to do the phone line, right?

If so, get the SMALLEST TiVo capacity you can get. You are going to invalidate your warranty the moment you crack it to put in a network card, so while you are at it, drop a REAL drive in there..

It's a hell of a lot cheaper to get a 14hr model (Ebay) and then put an 80G drive in.... Plus, it's cool.

I agree, that would definitely be the way to go, but I'm getting a phone line installed by the TV now, so it won't be an issue anymore.

Plus, I looked at the process, and the hack is way beyond my skills in what I can do!

DiGNAN
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, etc.

The lowest price i've seen is at J&R. It's listed at $469.99. I got my 30 hr unit there for $269.99.

________
Donato
MkII/Blue/40GB/080000565

Thanks for the link. If I go with that model, I'll probably buy it there.

Does anyone know if/when Tivo plans on bringing a dual tuner to the market?

DiGNAN
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, etc.

In reply to:

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Does anyone know if/when Tivo plans on bringing a dual tuner to the market?

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Directivo only. There are no plans currently to do dual tuner standalone. Given that the Directivo uses the mpeg stream directly from DirectTV, there isn't alot of additional hardware required. The Standalones would require an additional tuner module, plus an additional mpeg encoder, and all of the glue to hold it together. It's not out of the question for them, but all conversations have lead down the path of not likely.

The second tuner functionality of the Directivo is in Beta testing now.

It will be a free upgrade to the directivo unit (the hardware is present, just has to be enabled in the software)

Well, I finally got around to buying a Tivo. Thanks everyone for your help, I really appreciate it.

I just decided to go the route of instant gratification, and bought one for $299 at Best Buy (along with $20 of Monster cable ).

All I can say is that I haven't been this excited about any purchase since my empeg. I just bought the thing last night, got home at about 11:30PM, and was setting it up until 1AM when I went to bed while it made its initial phone call setup. AAHHH! I can't wait for the workday to be over!!! Before I left I told it to record the wonderful hour of Simpsons that's on today (this is a great incentive to live in the DC area, every weekday brings you an hour of Simpsons ).

Ahhhhh, Tivo......

DiGNAN
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, etc.


ps- about the phone line issue. I got a wireless plug. I was worried about the cost (most places have it for about $70), but a quick search on ebay found a whole bunch for $30.

Edited by DiGNAN17 on 27/07/01 01:47 PM.