I've been thinking about upgrading my Direct TV receiver to one with built in TIVO. I have a dual line LNB, so I can have a reciever upstairs and down. It says you have to have a dual LNB line to have "full functionality". I don't want to lose the second unit by tying up both lines to the TIVO receiver, but I can live with not being able to watch two shows at once or whatever. Does anyone else have any experience with this unit or this type of set up? Before you suggest I contact Direct TV, I've already done that and they very efficiently avoided answering my question.
I have the exact setup as you describe, since I got my TiVo well after my original DirecTV installation...like you, I don't need the 2 shows at once thing, so I never persued hooking it up "properly" like that and it works just fine. Conversely, I'm told that depending on where you buy your TiVo, you may be able to get an installation deal good enough to let you go ahead and have the dish cables split and installed properly on the cheap. Since we're asking DirecTV/TiVo questions here...does anyone know about installing a second TiVo on a second TV? My TiVo is on my living room TV, but my bedroom TV is a basic DirecTV box. Can I put another TiVo on the bedroom TV, and not have to pay another fee to TiVo since I already have the lifetime deal on my existing account?
You can do exactly what Footix says, or if you order through DTV, they'll install the wires you need to get "full functionality" without paying more (I think). If all you have is three wires off the dish, they will just do that without charging you more. Since Tivo is only $99 through DTV anyway, you're better off jsut going through them. The fee is per household, not per Tivo. This seems to confirm that.
You need two lines to the TiVo to use the dual tuners. I have a 2x4 multiswitch (2 inputs, 4 outputs) in my attic, dropping one output to each of my two bedrooms and the other two to the living room where the TiVo is. Works great, set it up myself with zero difficulty. If pulling another cable is not a possibility, there are technical solutions that allow you to "stack" both LNB signals on one wire, but it's pricy. Two tuners is awesome - I don't have to choose between 24 on FOX and Keen Eddie on Bravo at 9PM on Tuesdays. I can get both. I can TiVo virtually any movie I want on HBO - with 2 tuners and good guide data the TiVo never actually has to chose one item over another. I can always get my Ohio State basketball (why I bother, I don't know), even on weeknights, and my wife still gets her crappy prime-time shows. As for billing, I think TiVo service is a one-charge-per-household thing, but I'm not certain. Your $5 "second reciever" charge should mirror ALL properties to your new TiVo. I think. Check www.tivocommunity.com to be certain. As an aside, I've upgraded my DTiVo to a 120GB hard drive, and just one week ago added a CacheCard (also check at TiVoCommunity) with ethernet and they've been the most awesome hacks ever. I've got 90+ hours of recording time, and I can log into my TiVo over the internet (via the open-source software TiVoWebPlus) to make program changes, view log files, etc. Plus, on my LAN, I can download files directly to my PC for archiving on SVCD (or DVD, if I had a burner). I haven't tried it yet, but I think with mfs_ftp (more open-source software) I can _upload_ files, as long as they are tmf format (ty format with extended information for the Now Showing list). Which means I can copy files from the TiVo, archive them, and restore them to the TiVo later. And with other free software in the works by some talented hackers, potentially take my own files (downloaded off of the web, or from a camcorder - whatever) and upload them to the TiVo for viewing.
Thanks for the good info guys. BTW Foos, is there a particular brand name for the 2/4 splitter or can I just mosey on down to Radio Shack? How much is the hard drive upgrade and how easy is to install, baring in mind that I'm a moron. Oh, yeah does the Tivo units y'all got have component outputs? My current Direct TV receiver doesn't.
Some people spend loads. I got a cheapo one on clearance from OfficeDepot for like 15 clams, and I've never had a problem. They come in all kinds of sizes, for the bigger HD dishes and more than 4 receivers. 2x4 is pretty much the smallest size there is, and it's perfect for my condo. If you can follow instructions, you can do it. And I mean by "follow instructions" type a bunch of Linux commands directly out of a guide. http://www.newreleasesvideo.com/hinsdale-how-to/ Of course, you can pay someone to do it, but it's really easy. It will void your warranty. It cost me about $100 when I did it. Really depends on hard drive prices and how big you want to go. I bought a 120GB because the largest drive the DTiVo can handle is 137GB. I've only got one in there - I was going to use my old drive too (for a total 160GB) but I had a hardware failure on that drive. Lost all of my recordings because of that, but that's really a minor thing. My CacheCard upgrade was a little more difficult, because the drivers are beta. I hosed my TiVo and had to restore from a backup (don't skip the backup step when you upgrade ANYTHING on this beast). The innards of the DTiVos are tight too. The CacheCard runs the network cable under the exhaust fan, and the card itself comes up the front of the TiVo from the motherboard, and the RAM sticks out over the hard drive. The IDE cable loops back thru a notch in the card. Very tight fit. If you have two hard drives and add a CacheCard, you actually have to drill the hard drive mounting bracket to move one of the drives back to make enough space for the IDE cable and the card. My Series 1 (DSR6000 from Phillips) does NOT. I use the S-Video.
For what it's worth I was at Best Buy last night buying some cables and they had a couple of Direct TV/Tivo units with cranked up memory. There was a Philips unit with an 80gig hd (give it up for the US Soccer supporting Dutch electronics firm) and a Samsung that had a 130gig hd. They were priced $249 & $349 (or thereabouts). While it might be cheaper to install on your own, the ready to play and non warranty ruining aspect seems appealing.
I broke down and bought the Philips (supporting US soccer, etc) DSR-708 80GB bad boy. Seems pretty nice. It's a bit weird getting used to the new controls having used my old RCA receiver for so long. I'm going to record something tonight just for a laugh. BTW don't you just want to smash your head into a brick wall everytime you have to call Direct TV on the phone. Sweet jaysus why does it have to be so hard?
It won't be long before you stop watching LiveTV altogether. I never figured out why TiVo tries to sell their product with the "pause live tv" bit. Sure, you can, but once you get the hang of the product you'll never watch live tv again. Maybe they can't figure out how to explain that to people who haven't experienced it? TiVo is a lot like the Matrix. It cannot be explained - you have to see it for yourself.
Alright, I've been rocking the Tivo for about a week now and I'm completely down. I've just been working the one line in, but have decided I'd like to get on the "full fuctionality" bandwagon. I've ordered a Multi Switch (2 in/4 out) off of ebay. When it gets here I was just going to take the one line inside the house upstairs and split it into two right behind my tv. Is there any reason I shouldn't. I mean it looks like technically I should take this thing outside the house and run both LNB lines into it and then run 3 lines into the house (I have one unit upstairs (Tivo), one downstairs (normal)) but I'd rather not have to fuss with drilling a bigger hole in the outside wall. Thoughts from those in the know.
Well, the most compelling reason is that it won't work. Basically, a DirecTV receiver uses the cable for very basic communication with the LNB. If the receiver is putting one voltage on the line, then it's telling the LNB that it wants channels on the even transponders. If it's putting another voltage on the line, it's telling the LNB that it wants channels from the odd transponders. So if you were just to do a simple split like you're proposing, one tuner might be putting one voltage on the line for one set of channels, while the other one might be putting the other voltage on the line for the other set of channels. And when it gets to the combiner, there's no telling what voltage will end up heading to the LNB. So at the very least, one tuner will not the get the channel it wants. That's what you're going to have to do. Basically, what the multiswitch does is send one voltage on one line to the LNB for one set of channels and the other voltage on the other line for the other set of channels. Then, when a receiver puts one voltage or the other on the line, the multiswitch just connects that receiver to the appropriate LNB connection. So yeah, you'll need three separate cables running from the various receivers to the multiswitch.
Damn...I had a feeling that was gonna be the answer. I actually called somebody who was selling one of those splitters on eBay (he was some electronics shop guy from Arkansas) who at the risk of blowing a sale told me the same thing (but in a combination of HillbillyMumble and TechnoSpeak that made my head spin). I think Obie's suggestion of buying the $99 2nd TiVo from DirecTV coupled with slipping the installer a couple extra bucks to hook me up proper will be the choice. By the way, Kelly, your choice of reciever goes down well in my household...the missus is in one of the Philips TV spots that runs on US Soccer matches...looks like the sponsorship works!
Thanks ElJ. I was hoping to avoid more masonry drilling, but a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. I didn't even think about the differing voltage thing. Hell, I don't think too much period. Footix, the whole Philips thing did play a small part of it. It tipped the scales a wee bit when deciding between similair units.
I'm thinking about getting the Tivo as well, actually the wife has been bugging me for a while! So experts, do you think the Directv $99 deal is good or should I go to Best Buy or some place. I already have directv, so is it just a matter of plugging in the phone/sat cables, contacting directv to turn on the service and I'm all set? I'm also thinking of buying a Multimedia PC - has anyone tried Tivo with one?
You are better-off buying from D* directly because they'll do the install and you need the card in the back of the Tivo to get the sat signal. I don't think you are going to find any Series 1 Tivo for under $100 at BestBuy.
Not that anyone cares, but I spent all day yesterday with masonry drill bits, silicon caulking, spools of cable and what not and used my new ($12.50 on ebay) multiswitch to hook up a second line to my Tivo. My question is this: what the *#*#*#*# did people do before Tivo? Man this stuff is the bomb. The full functionality really makes the machine rock. My favorite cooking show that I always miss ("Good Eats") is now on season pass. I was watching the Man Utd v. Southampton game the other day, missed a bit when I went to the kitcen, come back and just rewind the damned thing. A-maz-ing. The wife wanted to watch some show while the movie I'd been waiting to see was coming on at the same time. No worries, record the flick for later and watch the wifey's show keeping the domestic scene tranquil. Put me down for the convert who has become a zealot.
I'm ordering a 2nd TiVo from DirecTV this weekend, ensuring a proper installation unlike my original one-liner...like I need more TV to watch.
You think life was bad without TiVo now that you have it, look at me: I'm moving to a condo building where I can't get satellite, which means I will have had and lost DirecTivo. The condo is a great deal and we're happy about moving, but to get a new standalone TiVo (and lose the two tuners, which is like the greatest goddamn thing ever) with lifetime sub is going to set us back $500. When my wife and I talk about the TV situation in our new place it's like somebody died.
Obie-- I've heard (but haven't investigated) that there are standalone TiVo's with lifetime subscription available on eBay for less than $300 for the package...no idea how it all works, but might be worth investigating.
Obie, You have my sympathy. BTW I just discovered that Tivo, or at least the unit I have, automatically deletes programs after a set amount of time unless you tell it to do otherwise.
Only if it needs the space for new recordings. FYI, it'll never delete one of your explicit recordings to make room for a suggestions - suggestions are the lowest priority thing on a TiVo, both in recording priority and disk-space priority. The ~35 hour space limitation is why I added a 120GB hard drive. I've got about 100 hours of recording space now, and had my original 40GB hard drive controller not gone "bonk" during the upgrade, I'd have about 135 hours. (Actually, looking at the information screen on my TiVo over the internet - another cool hack - I've got 127 hours of video on it right now, and 57.5 hours of it are suggestions.) I'll never manage to fill my TiVo up. As a matter of fact, I had stuff 8 months old on my TiVo when I did the network upgrade (I lost those old recordings due to an error on my part that hosed my TiVo installation, and I had to restore from a backup.)...
Got it installed yesterday...but the directv guy did a bad installation and I ended up fixing stuff last night. Pretty cool stuff, can't wait to fill up the 40 hours or whatever how much space I have! BTW, has anyone tried to hook up a DVR to a PC with a DVD burner to copy shows to DVD?
I don't have a DVD burner, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn last night. I've got a "CacheCard" installed, that uses RAM to cache the MFS database on the TiVo (in layman's terms, makes the UI hella fast) and it also includes an ethernet connection. I've got it on 100Mbit/s LAN to my PC, and I turned off encryption on the TiVo (only exists on DirecTiVos) so I can pull the raw sat feed directly onto my PC. I can DiVX the World Rally shows for my brother-in-law (he doesn't get Speed at college), or watch shows on my PC streaming from the TiVo, or archive stuff. Extraction is typically verboten on www.tivocommunity.com, but there is good help for the CacheCard and ethernet hardware there. You can go to www.dealdatabase.com for the extraction hacking info. I don't know if you can do this with Series 2 DTiVos (I have a Phillips DSR6000 Series 1), but I love it on mine. Funny how I don't really use it beyond what could be considered "fair use". Maybe because uploading the full-quality video to the internet would take days for a movie. My hacked TiVo's stats: Phillips DSR6000 Series 1 35 hour Replaced 40 GB disk with 120 GB disk Installed CacheCard w/ ethernet port and 256MB RAM (capable of using 512MB chips) Running TiVoWeb+ (web access) thru an authenticating proxy Running telnet, ftp, mfs_ftp (extraction), tpopd (send email to the TiVo to show up in "Messages"), vserver (streaming video over the LAN), and S.M.A.R.T. monitor.