Travel Technology - A Question about TiVO

I find myself missing a lot of my favorite shows this season, or not having time to watch TV except on weekends. I was thinking about getting a TiVO or ReplayTV...but I have one question first...

I know TiVO dials up and downloads program listings from their service, but I have a "weird" cable system. The university takes the feed from Comcast, and slices and dices it...so we have a totally different lineup than normal paying cable customers. Will this work with TiVO? Is there any way to give them a copy of our lineup, and have them support it?

Ideas?

First, everyone should have TiVo.

Now, as for your question, I don't know the answer, but a couple of suggestions. First, it is conceivable, but perhaps not probable, that listings already exist for your system. Last I knew, Tivo got its listings from Tribune and the available lineups can be found at site below:

http://www.zap2it.com/index

A LOT of info can be found at the following user discussion forum:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/

Finally, I thought there was some Tivo number where you can ask about channel lineup problems but can't find it. Might be able to go through general customer service number. Tivo can be found of course at:

http://www.tivo.com/

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MagMile:
Now, as for your question, I don't know the answer, but a couple of suggestions. First, it is conceivable, but perhaps not probable, that listings already exist for your system. Last I knew, Tivo got its listings from Tribune and the available lineups can be found at site below:

http://www.zap2it.com/index
</font>

wow, cool...that site DOES have listings for our whacked out cable system! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/cool.gif I'll have to look into buying one now http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

Only a little longer before I join the list of official TIVO owners. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

Love my TiVo. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

Now, if they could just come up with a way that I could check program listings and program my individual TiVo via my laptop and the web, while on the road.

The thing dials into TiVo central every day anyway. Why couldn't it deliver my "orders" to my TiVo that way?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PremEx:
Love my TiVo. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

Now, if they could just come up with a way that I could check program listings and program my individual TiVo via my laptop and the web, while on the road.

The thing dials into TiVo central every day anyway. Why couldn't it deliver my "orders" to my TiVo that way?</font>

I think ReplayTV or SonicBlue or whatever it's called these days does something like that. They also allow ethernet connected units to send video to each other, which is a little difficult given the size of the files and the current speed of broadband.

What I'd like is an easy way to get my TiVo recordings onto my laptop when I'm traveling. There's similar software that I could run on a PC that does this, but I'd rather do it all on the TiVo.

First of all, I concur with everyone else here who loves their TiVO. I was talking about it with some friends the other night and decided I would give up DVDs, WAP, and the GPS in my car before I would give up TiVO. I have it on the bedroom TV, and find that I now watch much more there than on the HD set downstairs.

PremEx, you need to visit the TiVO Community link that MagMile posted above. You can do both of those things with tivonet. If you're a geek at all, one of the perks of TiVO ownership is that you get a system that is extremely hackable and can be made to do many, many things that aren't in the owner's manual.

-alan in seattle

If you have a SSW (226 deg) facing room, put up your own satellite dish, record and watch until you are blue in the face. The info is d/l via the dish and some via the telephone line to the TiVo.

You can also register it at another location, put up the dish, attch the phone line and record oodlies, then pick up the TiVo, take it to your dorm room and watch until you are blue in the face. Repeat as required.

MisterNice.

I've been a happy ReplayTV user for about 3 years. I agree with what the TiVo users have said about their units - you soon can't imagine how you'd live without one.

One feature that ReplayTV has had for over a year is exactly what someone posted about above: the ability to access your unit via the web. You can see the schedule of all the programs for the next week, and pick any that you want to record. You can also see the content of what you already have recorded and delete something if you need to make room for something new. It's important to note that this works with all models of ReplayTV - you don't need the newer broadband-enabled units. All of the web stuff is actually done through their web servers, and your unit downloads any new instructions you make over the web each night. So, the only drawback is that you can't make same-day recording requests remotely.

Whichever brand you choose, I'm confident that you'll be more than satisfied with your purchase.

I loved my Tvio, but hope yours never needs repairs. The power supply blew on mine, went back to the factory at the beginning of August, and now they are telling me it will still be at least another 10 weeks till they replace it. When you get a loaner from them it won't be a TVIO unit, just a receiver.

They hook you on it, then they deny you the ability to watch it because it takes them five months (probably more) to replace a simple part. If it wasn't under warantee, if they didn't lie and tell me a week or so....

I am also a rabid TiVo owner! Once you get one, you will never be without it until they pry it from your cold dead fingers! It completely changes the way you watch television. An added benefit is the fact that it's Linux based, and hence an open system. Their are many documented enhancements & hacks for TiVo units.

I predict Personal Video Recorders (PVR's) like TiVo will be in the majority of homes in 10 years...much like the VCR's of the past and DVD players of today.

Check out Deal Database Hacking Forums (http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum) as well as the earlier mentioned Tivo Community Forums (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/)

[Edited because I felt like it!]



[This message has been edited by Pointfreak! (edited 11-07-2002).]

Panasonic just released a DVD recorder with a built in HDD that I've been thinking of purchasing. I looked into TiVo, but I like the idea of recording to DVD and I'm not sure I would really make use of the enhanced scheduling capability of the TiVo unit.

...?

Now if any of them would allow recording of HDTV formats, that might sway my mind.

birdstrike

birdstrike,

I was in the same boat as you, not thinking I would make any use of the scheduled recording capability. I have never taped a TV show in my life.

I think it's one of those things you have to live with to appreciate. Especially in TiVo's case, it's not so much the scheduled recordings as the season passes, TiVo's suggestions, showcases, and the like. Get one. I promise you will be glad you did.

Have you noticed how fanatical TiVo owners are? A client just told me a joke: What's the worst place to be at a party? Between a TiVo owner and a wall.

True.

-alan in seattle

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by alanw:
Get one. I promise you will be glad you did.</font>

Double my money back? http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

I suppose I could record to the TiVo, and then spool the results I want to keep to DVD.

Retail therapy!

birdstrike

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by birdstrike:
I suppose I could record to the TiVo, and then spool the results I want to keep to DVD.</font>

Why? Just get a Tivo, upgrade the disks (2 x 180gb) and have over 450 hours to save stuff on. A lot more convenient than messing with DVD-Rs...

http://www.ptvupgrade.com/site/products/configurator.asp

birdstrike, that's exactly what I do.

I just hit "Record To VCR" on TiVo, and then hit "Record" on this puppy (http://www.prodcat.panasonic.com/shop/NewDesign/ModelTemplate.asp?ModelId=16077&show_all=false&product_exists=True&active=1&ModelNo=DMR-E30K&CategoryId=2596).

...and I've got a DVD!

I never use the TimeSlip on the Panasonic DVD burner or even use the tuner on it (and wouldn't use the HDD either). TiVo manages all my content, and then I just export it to the DVD burner.

(Blank DVD-Rs have now come down in price to 3 bucks each!)

skofarrell, while you can have tons of storage on your TiVo, that doesn't help you if you want to share programs with others or take your favorite shows on the road with your laptop's DVD player. And I wouldn't consider TiVo as a long term media archive solution for most people.

[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited 11-12-2002).]

Premex, that is a nifty solution, but in the 6 months I've had my Tivos (I have 2 156 hour DirecTivos), I've never had the occasion occur where I've needed (or wanted) to archive to tape. I diligently setup the VCR to the Tivo...and never used it. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif My Directivos are maybe half full.

I typically take Blockbuster movies with me when I'm on the road, and then only on pacific trips.

Until the price of both DVD-Rs and the blank media comes down to the commodity level (ie VCR), I'd rather spend the money on more Tivo disk space.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PremEx:
birdstrike, that's exactly what I do.

I just hit "Record To VCR" on TiVo, and then hit "Record" on this puppy (http://www.prodcat.panasonic.com/shop/NewDesign/ModelTemplate.asp?ModelId=16077&show_all=false&product_exists=True&active=1&ModelNo=DMR-E30K&CategoryId=2596).

...and I've got a DVD!</font>

I like it. I think Fry's will get a visit this weekend.

Now all I need is a Dish System receiver and
life will be complete.

Cheers,

birdstrike

&gt;&gt;Fry's will get a visit&lt;&lt;

You will be glad you did, and you too will join the cult of TiVo!

As for archiving to DVD, the TiVo BECOMES the archive. If you have a little computer skill you can even backup the hard drives if you desire. My VCR & DVD havent even been turned on all year. I never taped shows either, but now after being on the road, I come home to all the Lettermans, Soprano's and Six Feet Unders I missed...all in order to watch when I want. I hardly ever watch anything live anymore.

..and as for your HDTV comment, if you get a DirecTiVo (DirecTV reciever & TiVo combined) it records the actual satellite data stream before decoding the video, so when you play it back it's exactly as if it were being fed down the satellite. Even the HDTV channels. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by Pointfreak! (edited 11-12-2002).]

Pointfreak,

It's true that the DirecTiVo records the digital bitstream direct, but it does not (and can not) record HD channels. The DirecTiVo receiver can't tune the HD channels on the 119 (HDNet, HBO-HD) and 110 (SHO-HD) satellites. Even if it could, HD's 19.5 Mb/s bandwith would eat up a 120GB drive pretty darn quick.

-alan in seattle

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PremEx:

I just hit "Record To VCR" on TiVo, and then hit "Record" on this puppy (http://www.prodcat.panasonic.com/shop/NewDesign/ModelTemplate.asp?ModelId=16077&show_all=false&product_exists=True&active=1&ModelNo=DMR-E30K&CategoryId=2596).

...and I've got a DVD!

I never use the TimeSlip on the Panasonic DVD burner or even use the tuner on it (and wouldn't use the HDD either). TiVo manages all my content, and then I just export it to the DVD burner.

(Blank DVD-Rs have now come down in price to 3 bucks each!)
</font>

So I'm thinking about getting a recordable DVD so I can view programs on my laptop when I'm traveling. In addition to the Panasonic recommended by PremEx, I'm also considering the Phillips DVDR985, which would seem to have the added advantage of recording on rewritable media (DVD +RW) that can be viewed on other DVD players. Whereas I think the Panasonic's DVD RAM would not be playable on most other machines. Any corrections or suggestions for other machines would be much appreciated.

I'm also wondering whether there's convenient non-DVD solution. E.g., by either recording the TiVo output onto a PC. Is there an easy way to do it after the initial setup, with just a couple clicks? Or, e.g., by using TiVo-like software on a PC. Are those software anywhere close to TiVo? Doesn't have to be quite as good, but would want to do season passes.

Just FYI, you can play DVDs recorded on the Panasonic on any DVD player.

It's just that you must go through the short "Finalization" process first that converts the disc into standard "DVD Video" format.

I know associates that didn't understand why they couldn't play their DVDs on their laptops. I had to explain the Finalization process to them. Then everything worked just fine for them.

Once you "finalize" your disc, you can no longer record or make changes to it.

Player compatiblity is only an issue when you are swapping discs between machines before the Finalization process has occured.

At least that's my understanding.

MagMile,

I do something similar to what you mentioned with TV programs - I can run the output of the TiVO into my HTPC and save as an DiVX-encoded video file. Sometimes I also download programs in DiVX format from a P2P network and save these to my laptop.

If you have a big hard disk, this is much more convenient than having to juggle a stack of discs. More important to me, it drastically reduces battery consumption since WMP typically reads an average DiVX movie in a few big chunks rather than constantly running the DVD drive. I typically get about 2 hours using DVD and about 4.5 hours with HDD programs. I've got the entire first season of Six Feet Under in my My Videos folder now, and can watch them at my leisure.

-alan in seattle

alanw, sounds like a good idea. Is there a particular program you'd recommend to convert/transfer into divx format?

So it only took 2 years, but I finally bought a TiVO. I've had the thing hooked up for about 3 hours now, and I am totally addicted. I've flagged about 20 shows to 'season pass' already, so I ordered a 160gb HD to upgrade it with... ;)

FYI - I got the Series2 40 Hour model (TCD540040) for $177 - $100 MIR.
Costco has it for $179 on their website, and Circuit City (who had it in-stock at $199) was more than happy to pricematch 110% for me.

Ok, I'm off to sleep while it records a bunch of stuff overnight for me. :D

So it only took 2 years, but I finally bought a TiVO.

I bought one two weeks ago (80 hour model). Now that I know what it can do, I wish I had bought one two years ago. I'm not watching any "live" TV anymore. I even record the news broadcasts so I can zap commercials.

I'm waiting for "Tivo to go" so I can start downloading to the laptop. From the TIVO board, looks like it might be in this quarter.

So it only took 2 years, but I finally bought a TiVO. I've had the thing hooked up for about 3 hours now, and I am totally addicted. I've flagged about 20 shows to 'season pass' already, so I ordered a 160gb HD to upgrade it with... ;)

FYI - I got the Series2 40 Hour model (TCD540040) for $177 - $100 MIR.
Costco has it for $179 on their website, and Circuit City (who had it in-stock at $199) was more than happy to pricematch 110% for me.

Ok, I'm off to sleep while it records a bunch of stuff overnight for me. :D


I just got mine Wednesday night. I had a bit of a backlog of Passions on tape, but I'll be finished with that by tomorrow, so then I can really get into the TiVo experience. I went with the 40 and an upgrade plan as well; luckily I won't be in charge of the technical crap.

I have three Replay TV 4500's for three years now. I can watch a show recorded on any of them from any other, program them from the web, and have my photo collection running on all of them. I can download shows to my laptop over the network and run them from my hard drive on the plane. Best feature is the commercial advance-on the Replay TV, it can skip commercials automatically on the play back, so all but the last three minutes of a show no commercials. Keeps my 5 year old from seeing most of the ads. Really sucks when I am on the road and I can't rewind live TV in the hotel when I miss something...

Once in a blue moon my series two will lock up, but other than that (4 times a year), it's great. I got one of the reconditioned 60 gig versions about 18 months ago. I got the lifetime service before it went up, and haven't regretted it one moment.

I do have to reduce the season passes when I'm out of town for more than 2 weeks. I also use basic quality for most shows since I don't have a huge widescreen tv.

Told you so Mark :D

Seriously, I NEED a small tivo I can slide in my laptop bag and bring with me to any hotel I'm staying at... There is nothing worse than being forced to watch CN N Headline news AND commercials :D

It's amazing how many people still don't have a Tivo, every single person I know that bought one has that "how did I live without it" thing :)

It's amazing how many people still don't have a Tivo, every single person I know that bought one has that "how did I live without it" thing :)
I couldn't agree more!

One caveat: Tivo has enabled DRM measures which will allow some PPV and other content to be automatically deleted from the DVR after a set interval or prevented from tivoing at all.

I couldn't agree more!

One caveat: Tivo has enabled DRM measures which will allow some PPV and other content to be automatically deleted from the DVR after a set interval or prevented from tivoing at all.

IMHO anything that keeps the networks happy is what Tivo should do...

I wonder when something like TIVO will be available in Europe, specifically Germany...or is it already? :confused:

I'd love to have that.

IMHO anything that keeps the networks happy is what Tivo should do...
Including disabling FF and 30-second skip during commercials?

I wonder when something like TIVO will be available in Europe, specifically Germany...or is it already? :confused:
Tivo is available in the UK.

Oddly enough, it isn't available in Canada.

http://freevo.sourceforge.net/

It uses xmltv to get listings, which has a listings source for Germany, so you should be in luck.

Of course, as an attorney, you'll want to check local laws to make sure that it's legal to record and 'time-shift' television programs like this... ;)

Including disabling FF and 30-second skip during commercials?

S-P-S-3-0-S was the first thing I did once setup was complete... ;)

P.S. I woke up this morning to find that the TiVO automatically recorded a few shows for me... a real random assortment, but 1 interesting show anyway. I guess it'll get better once I give it more thumbs up/thumbs down hints.

http://freevo.sourceforge.net/

It uses xmltv to get listings, which has a listings source for Germany, so you should be in luck.

Of course, as an attorney, you'll want to check local laws to make sure that it's legal to record and 'time-shift' television programs like this... ;)

Thanks a lot, markbach :).

Told you so Mark :D

Seriously, I NEED a small tivo I can slide in my laptop bag and bring with me to any hotel I'm staying at... There is nothing worse than being forced to watch CN N Headline news AND commercials :D

It's amazing how many people still don't have a Tivo, every single person I know that bought one has that "how did I live without it" thing :)

Maybe a laptop running Windows Media Center?

Anybody know of a way to tell how much space remains on the TIVO drive? I really don't have a sense of how many shows/movies/programs can be recorded.

Anybody know of a way to tell how much space remains on the TIVO drive? I really don't have a sense of how many shows/movies/programs can be recorded.


other than go to he bottom of the NP list, and click on INFO, then simply CHANNEL up to the top counting the number of hours, half hours, etc. in your head.

If this is a regular stand alone TIVO, it is much harder since one can record in three differant levels of quality, all with differant levels of usage of the hard drive.

If this is a DIRECTV tivo, then this will give you a pretty spot on idea of how much is still there.

have you upgraded the TIVO before?

Tivo is available in the UK.
Well, kind of.
The Tivo service is still available, but Thomson stopped making the actual Tivo boxes some time ago.

AIUI Tivo subcontracted the marketing to a company with a competing product :confused:

They still go on ebay though and even if there isn't a local number in your country you can stick an ethernet card in and get the schedules over your broadband connection.

I've got two, and haven't watched live TV for years :D

I've got the TiVo up to 229 hours (http://photos.markbach.com/tivo/tivo23) (that's 9.5 days) of recording time. Amazing. :)

I've wanted one for years, just waiting for the service to get to me. The on the road thing looks promising.

other than go to he bottom of the NP list, and click on INFO, then simply CHANNEL up to the top counting the number of hours, half hours, etc. in your head.

Similar to this, you can count the amount of space that the Tivo Suggestions are taking up (the shows you didn't ask it to record, but it did). Tivo won't delete a show that you asked for in order to record a Suggestion, so the amount of space that the Suggestions are taking of is roughly equivalent to the "empty" amount of space left.

Similar to this, you can count the amount of space that the Tivo Suggestions are taking up (the shows you didn't ask it to record, but it did).

We have programmed our Tivo to not record anything other than we've requested. It had some interesting ideas about what we wanted to watch, which rarely meshed with ours. It was simpler to disable this than to keep deleting its independent choices.

So it only took 2 years, but I finally bought a TiVO. I've had the thing hooked up for about 3 hours now, and I am totally addicted. Mark, are you using a satellite service or cable for your programming?

I'm awfully close to buying one to use with my Comcast service. My current $10/month 10-channel HBO deal is going to end next month, and since HBO's original programming has slipped I'm considering using that $10/month towards the TiVo service instead.

I've got the TiVo up to 229 hours (http://photos.markbach.com/tivo/tivo23) (that's 9.5 days) of recording time. Amazing. :)

The upgraded HDTivo (2 300gb drives) 77HD hours / 515 SD Hours (DirecTV "best" quality) have made the "ultimate" Tivo contest kind of useless now :)

Mark, are you using a satellite service or cable for your programming?

I have "basic+extended" analog cable with HBO (channels 2-78).

The upgraded HDTivo (2 300gb drives) 77HD hours / 515 SD Hours (DirecTV "best" quality) have made the "ultimate" Tivo contest kind of useless now :)
:mad:

The upgraded HDTivo (2 300gb drives) 77HD hours / 515 SD Hours (DirecTV "best" quality) have made the "ultimate" Tivo contest kind of useless now :)

Yeah that was until Sony revealed their 1Tb Vaio PC with 6 tuners in Japan.

Kind of make Tivo look like a toy :D

We have programmed our Tivo to not record anything other than we've requested. It had some interesting ideas about what we wanted to watch, which rarely meshed with ours. It was simpler to disable this than to keep deleting its independent choices.

You don't need to delete them at all. TiVo will delete them if it needs space before it deletes anything else, and since they appear at the bottom of the now playing list (by default) they really shouldn't interfere with your use of TiVo.

The right thing to do, actually, is to rate the programs that it's recorded as suggestions (using thumbs up, thumbs down), which will make future suggestions better and better.

-David

The interface isn't nearly as good, but I love my time warner digital dvr. If I could figure out a way to record a digitally scrambled show while watching another (and without adding extra boxes), I might switch to Tivo.

other than go to he bottom of the NP list, and click on INFO, then simply CHANNEL up to the top counting the number of hours, half hours, etc. in your head.

If this is a regular stand alone TIVO, it is much harder since one can record in three differant levels of quality, all with differant levels of usage of the hard drive.

If this is a DIRECTV tivo, then this will give you a pretty spot on idea of how much is still there.

have you upgraded the TIVO before?

Thanks for your suggestion....I hadn't thought of adding it up "manually."

No, I haven't upgraded the TIVO before. I've only had it for 3 months, so wouldn't think that I need an upgrade. Do you think otherwise?

Thanks for your suggestion....I hadn't thought of adding it up "manually."

No, I haven't upgraded the TIVO before. I've only had it for 3 months, so wouldn't think that I need an upgrade. Do you think otherwise?


I mean upgrade the capacity of the hard drives, or drives. After 3 months, you are most likely completly hooked and in need of more space.

I finally made the leap last week and bought a unit while I had a coupon to get the Best Buy price down to the Amazon price. I also was a weenie and bought the four-year extended warranty (which I do on about 1% of my purchases) as that would also protect the $299 lifetime sub. It means that I can't hack this model, but I think I can live with that, as if I fall in love with it that much to hack at it, I'll be buying a refurbished one for the bedroom and will hack that one instead.

There is a bunch of CYA you can do, to be able to turn the unit back to original state if you want to be able to hack it.

as well, some people use EXTERNAL USB drives for their TIVOS. Of course, this too is a hack

best thing, pull the original drive when it is new, or keep it to the side. Upgrade the drive to a new drive/s and then if anything happens, just stick the original back in.

Tivo is available in the UK.

Oddly enough, it isn't available in Canada.

What is the Rogers PVR? Available at least in Toronto. Isn't that the same thing? If not, what am I not understanding about TIVO

This may be a newbie question please go easy if it is a really dumb question.

ShortHaul

What is the Rogers PVR? Available at least in Toronto. Isn't that the same thing? If not, what am I not understanding about TIVO

This may be a newbie question please go easy if it is a really dumb question.

ShortHaul

TiVo is a DVR, but not all DVR's are a TiVo.

TiVo is the brand name of a DVR, it's considered to be the best DVR available.

TiVo is a DVR, but not all DVR's are a TiVo.

TiVo is the brand name of a DVR, it's considered to be the best DVR available.
Qualification: By those that don't own a ReplayTV :D