Before you ask—please check these top answers for TiVo questions!

[ccwf]

Note: Please post TiVo questions in a http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/images/buttons/newthread.gif (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=4).

This thread is for pointing out useful links, not for asking general TiVo questions. Using new threads helps ensure your questions gets seen and helps keep the information in this thread easy to find.

Since a number of good, definitive posts/sites on various TiVo® topics now exist and are often frequently repeated or referenced in posts, since the increasingly stale TiVo Community FAQ (aka TiVo Forum FAQ) and Before you ask--please read these FAQs! (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=39088) thread do not include them, and since answers to some questions are hard to find with a the forum's search (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/search.php?s=) facility, I thought it might be a good idea to have a thread listing top sites/posts for various TiVo information.

Note: I'm deliberately choosing not to use a Q&A format (leaving that to the FAQ) in order to focus on building a list of a relatively modest number of the most informative TiVo links (and briefly explaining why people would want to look at them) rather than having a huge list of answers for specific questions.

This post is divided into three sections: General TiVo Infocontains links to more TiVo sites, news, and other TiVo info
TiVo Tips & Tricksgetting the most out of your TiVo
Specific TiVo Issuestop answers about certain problems
Top Links to General TiVo Info: Check TiVo's Customer Support (http://customersupport.tivo.com/userWelcome.asp?) area and the new TiVo Help Forums (http://forums.tivo.com/), which allow searching TiVo's web site and have links to answers for top questions, a troubleshooting guide, and more.
The TiVo Community Forum Search Page (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/search.php?s=) allows searching this site for information.
Many of the Most Viewed Recent Help Center threads (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/forumdisplay.php?forumid=4&pagenumber=1&sortfield=views&sortorder=desc&daysprune=100&x=16&y=7) are very useful. After all, useful threads tend to be often-viewed.
Moderator Gary Sargent's TiVo Portal (http://www.tivoportal.co.uk/) site and TiVo topics only in this forum. Read this thread for many TiVo answers and news. (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=37326) sticky thread are good collections of TiVo information, much of which is not UK-specific. (For example, included are technical explanations of exactly how the First Run Only option and 28-day rule work (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=287138#post287138) and links to MrTickle's graph of hard drive sizes vs. recording hours (http://www.mrtickle.demon.co.uk/tivo/drivespecs.htm) at various quality settings and the thread listing available TiVo Web modules (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=145233).)
How many hours can your record at different quality settings? See TiVo's article How Many Hours of Programming Are Available on a Series2 DVR? (http://customersupport.tivo.com/tivoknowbase/root/public/tv1219.htm) For other models, see MrTickle's graph of hard drive sizes vs. recording hours (http://www.mrtickle.demon.co.uk/tivo/drivespecs.htm). All sizes are approximate due to slight variations in actual hard drive sizes and other factors.
DrStrange's PVR Comparisons (http://www.pvrcompare.com/) site has reviews, feature charts, and comparisons of TiVo and other popular DVRs.
TiVo Community/Forum FAQ (http://www.tivofaq.com/) has answers to many questions, but some of the info is quite out of date. At this point, I would try it after trying the other sources of info.
What can you do with the Home Media features? See the left menu and guide on the right at the New TiVo Service Features (http://www.tivo.com/4.9.asp) page, JavaHMO's feature list (http://javahmo.sourceforge.net/index.html) and screenshots (http://javahmo.sourceforge.net/screenshots.html), TiVoToGo (http://www.tivo.com/4.9.19.3.asp)™, and the TiVo Community Forum's TiVo Home Media Option (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/forumdisplay.php?forumid=35) forum. If you are a developer, also see TiVo's Developer Resources (http://www.tivo.com/developer/) page and the TiVo Community Forum's HME Developer's Corner (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=42).
Additional info can be found at TiVo's company web sites in the U.S. (http://www.tivo.com/), UK (http://www.tivo.co.uk/), and Japan (http://www.tivo.jp) and at DirecTV's DIRECTV® DVR WITH TIVO® (http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/imagine/TIVO.dsp) cluster of pages. Also see TGC (http://www.tgc-usa.com/) (TiVo Greater China).
There's also the AVS Live Chat (http://www.avscience.com/avslive.htm) area.
What is considered “First Run”? What is the “28 day [no re-record] rule”? See TiVo Rich's explanation (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=2257163#post2257163) or Gary Sargent's (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=287138#post287138). Note: Both of these explanations are general and don't cover some of the low-level details.
If you're wondering how in the world to get TiVo to do something not mentioned in the manuals, possibly it just can't. See the Frequently Made Suggestions (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=40569) and other threads from the TiVo Suggestion Avenue to see some of the features people would like TiVo to support. Note that many commonly requested features (including soft padding (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=40565), a free space indicator (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=40563), and batch play/save (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=40562)) can already be partially or completely performed now via clever techniques or in an unsupported fashion through undocumented codes and/or hacks.
Official TiVo personnel at TCF: TiVo_Store (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=3509), TiVoBji (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=51904), TiVoDataGuy (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=2654), TiVoLiz (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=77606), TiVoOpsMgr (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=932), TiVoPony (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=22926), TiVoRich (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=17639), TiVoShanan (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=25274), TiVoJerry (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=116964) (and slacy (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=25487) and formerly TiVo_Ted (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=1450) , JustRichard (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/member.php?u=24664)/TiVolutionary (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/member.php?u=95), and JustBill (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=17120)/TiVoBill (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=24772)/BillDailey (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=12470))
TiVo All-Stars (http://forums.tivo.com/pe/RepositoryFileDownloadServlet/10105164/TiVo%20All-Stars%20Guidelines.htm): ccwf (http://forums.tivo.com/pe/features/featuredmember.jsp?featuredMemberID=10100201), bedelman (http://forums.tivo.com/pe/features/featuredmember.jsp?featuredMemberID=10100301), phone1/phone549 (http://forums.tivo.com/pe/features/featuredmember.jsp?featuredMemberID=10100302), stevel (http://forums.tivo.com/pe/features/featuredmember.jsp?featuredMemberID=10100303), rsnaider (http://forums.tivo.com/pe/features/featuredmember.jsp?featuredMemberID=10100401), dirtypacman (http://forums.tivo.com/pe/features/featuredmember.jsp?featuredMemberID=10100403), megazone (http://forums.tivo.com/pe/features/featuredmember.jsp?featuredMemberID=10100501), sinanju (http://forums.tivo.com/pe/features/featuredmember.jsp?featuredMemberID=10100502), classicsat (http://forums.tivo.com/pe/features/featuredmember.jsp?featuredMemberID=10100601), mdscott (http://forums.tivo.com/pe/features/featuredmember.jsp?featuredMemberID=10100701), curiousmark (http://forums.tivo.com/pe/features/featuredmember.jsp?featuredMemberID=10100801), mawhite (http://forums.tivo.com/pe/features/featuredmember.jsp?featuredMemberID=10100901), jimisham Top Links to TiVo Tips & Tricks: TiVo has a number of non-technical Tips & Tricks (http://www.tivo.com/4.4.asp) at their web site (e.g., partial instructions on dealing with special characters in WishLists).
The Advice from a veteran to a newbie (consolidated) (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=71440) thread contains a large assortment of tips for TiVo users.
Often, people ask if they can watch a show live while recording something else. For more info, see The Watching Live While Recording Something Else Thread (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=143314) by ZikZak.
For TiVo DVRs that have them, what do the standby and power buttons do? They put the TiVo into standby mode, the effects of which are explained by stevel here (http://archive.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=1284173#post1284173). They do not actually turn the TiVo off since the hard drives should last longer if left constantly on and spinning. Do not unplug the TiVo on a regular basis. Also, don't turn off the cable/satellite receiver that you use with TiVo.
Window button (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=160497)want to know what it does?
One of the big TiVo features lacked by competitors is the WishList™ (name-based recording is the generic term). ccwf's post (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=1604478#post1604478) from the “I don't use Suggestions/Wishlist” thread lists many uses of the WishList feature (some non-obvious).
Want to WishList only sports events and not “classic” reshowings? Want to WishList your favorite sports team but not include pre- and postgame shows? See the tips in this thread (http://archive.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=131021).
Ever wished that TiVo could pad only when the padding won't cause a conflict? Have problems handling slightly overlapping shows? A technique called “semi-soft” padding can often deal with these situations. It was first introduced by moderator Gary Sargent in the link called Limitations of hard padding, and how to simulate soft padding in V2.5.5 (http://archive.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=407194#post407194) from his sticky thread above. The technique is explored in more detail in the HOWTO: limited, "semi-soft" padding (http://archive.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=76850) thread. For specific instructions on using the technique for the conflicts between CSI and NBC's ER, see this post (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=1444408#post1444408). When semi-soft padding is not enough and true soft padding is desired, see Stuart Anderton's Automatic soft padding running on the TiVo (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=136658) thread about his hack named “endpad”.
For the TiVo shortcut key sequences, special dial codes, thirty second skip, and some of the other undocumented things you can tell TiVo to do using the remote, see the New Almost Complete Codes List (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=122090) thread (text descriptions, generally the most current), Drosoph's TiVo Codes List (http://tivo.drosoph.com/) page (tabular format), and AltOrgPhpWiki's TiVo Diagnostics (http://alt.org/wiki/index.php/TivoDiagnostics) page.

If you have backdoors enabled and want to learn more about Advanced Wishlists, see sanderton (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=13849)'s thread Hidden menu in Wishlists adds new features! (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=61381) For some of the other things possible with TiVo, see this Daily Mail sample output (http://www.deepinthejungle.com/Tivo/dailymail.htm), the List of All TiVoWeb Modules (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=145233) thread (TiVo Web is now preïnstalled on Series 1 drives by at least one forum sponsor), the soft padding info above, and information available at TiVo-hacking web sites. Top Links Dealing with Specific TiVo Issues: Zap2It (http://www.zap2it.com/) is a convenient way to see what lineups are available in an area and is run by TMS, the same organization that provides guide data to TiVo. (Note: TiVo's over the air lineups are not the same as Zap2It's. Rather, they are assembled from Zap2It's information from cable lineups in the area.) For reporting guide data problems, see Reporting Lineup Issues to TiVo (http://customersupport.tivo.com/tivoknowbase/root/public/tv1051.htm). Issues that can't be reported through that form can be emailed to <lineup@tivo.com>. TMS can also be notified directly about lineup and program data errors by following the instructions at Zap2It's Feedback page (http://www.zap2it.com/index/feedback). For special problems, contact TiVoDataGuy. To report or stay informed about new guide data problems for particular programs, see the forum's Season Pass Alerts (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/forumdisplay.php?forumid=10) area.
For help in hooking up TiVo, TiVo's web site has detailed diagrams for some configurations (this TiVo hookup illustration (http://customersupport.tivo.com/tivoknowbase/root/public/tv1024.htm?) diagrams one configuration and has links at the end to others). Electrophobia's TiVo Wiring Guide (http://www.electrophobia.com/tivo/) has simple diagrams for many more configurations. (DVD recorders can be hooked up as if they were VCRs.) If you have a HD cable box, see the Hookup Instructions: Motorola DCT5100 or DCT6200 w/ HDTV and A/V receiver (http://forums.tivo.com/pe/action/forums/displaypost?postID=10129431) or Hookup Instructions: Motorola DCT5100 or DCT6200 w/ HDTV and NO A/V receiver (http://forums.tivo.com/pe/action/forums/displaypost?postID=10131781). Those setups should also basically work for Scientific Atlanta HD cable boxes.
For help in getting TiVo to change channels reliably with a particular cable or satellite box (or to see if TiVo works with a particular box at all), see the Cable/Satellite Box Compatibility & Codes List (http://www.web-i18n.net/~ccwf/TiVo/compatibility/top_answers) thread. The thread includes information for particular boxes like recommended IR codes and placement and if serial control is supported. It also has links to related information like how to enable serial control and build IR tent/forts. After proper setup, you should expect to miss no more than one channel every few months with most boxes whether using serial or IR.

Also covered are what to do if TiVo suddenly has problems sending the number 6 in a channel and some other problems with particular boxes, like not accepting the first digit of a channel. Gary Sargent has a page (http://www.tivoportal.co.uk/) of analogous info for UK boxes, which was the inspiration for the U.S. version. Both of these lists are actively maintained and tend to contain more current information than is found elsewhere.
DaveLessnau has terrific summary posts listing things to try for remote (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=1201083#post1201083), modem/daily call (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=1357153#post1357153), and generic channel changing (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=1086893#post1086893) problems. (Again, see the Cable/Satellite Box Compatibility & Codes List for specific channel changing problems with various boxes and for more recent info.) In a similar vein, ccwf has steps to try for failed loading (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=1504915#post1504915) and other corrupted guide data problems, and liztdog911 has a list of things to look at for possible hard disk failure (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=1603949#post1603949) (“stoppling/stopples“ is/are a classic symptom). Also see The "Help! My Tivo is Stuttering/Freezing/Crashing/Clicking" Thread (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=150747) by ZikZak. See the Failed while loading series (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=142821) thread for more info on problems with TiVo being unable to use new guide data.
No (land) phone line? Want to connect TiVo to a network, e.g., in order to get guide data over the Internet or use HMO for standalone TiVo DVRs? For TiVo DVRs with a USB port, a USB network adapter is required. See TiVo's Recommended Adapters (http://www.tivo.com/adapters) and the link to the larger list of adapters at the bottom. For wireless, also see TiVoOpsMgr's detailed post about wireless (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=1607132#post1607132).

Some wired adapters can even be used for initial guided setup with the ,#401 undocumented dial prefix. (If you have trouble getting the prefix to work, Dan posted a step-by-step procedure (http://archive.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=1719695#post1719695). If you powered the TiVo DVR up without everything ready to go beforehand, you may need to reset it by going into demo mode (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=2832909&&#post2832909).)
For TiVo Series2 DVRs preinstalled with 3.x software, only certain wired adapters work for initial guided setup (http://archive.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=1155402#post1155402).
For TiVo DVRs preinstalled with 4.0 software, it should also be possible to use the older supported wired adapters (http://www.tivo.com/adapters) to perform initial guided setup.
For DirecTiVos (DirecTV DVRs with TiVo) w/ USB, a hack is also required to enable the USB ports.
For TiVo DVRs without USB ports (non-Series2), see the TurboNET, AirNET, and CacheCARD upgrades from the forum sponsors at the top of the page.

If you have a firewall that blocks outbound traffic, you will probably be interested in knowing what ports to open (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=162316) on the firewall. Thanks to Dave Platt, embeem, and DaveLessnau for the info on wired adapters that work with 3.x.

Want to use TiVo with VoIP (e.g., Vonage)? Try the Vonage Question (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=167909) thread.
Why is your TiVo changing channels and recording even though you haven't told it do so? What are those entries in the Now Playing list with the TiVo logo? Don't worry, these are called “suggestions” and are mostly harmless. For more info, see TiVo's article What Are TiVo Suggestions? (http://customersupport.tivo.com/tivoknowbase/root/public/tv1037.htm)
If you are having flickering or brightness problems, see the thread TiVo adjusts brightness. (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=141010) If you have a Motorola DCT6200 or DCT5100 cable box and have a flicker problem or incorrect colors across the top two-thirds of the screen, instead see the entries for those boxes in the Cable/Satellite Box Compatibility & Codes List (http://www.web-i18n.net/~ccwf/TiVo/compatibility/top_answers/DCT-flicker_color).
If your TiVo remote is sending erroneous signals to your Zenith TV, see Edmund's posts from the Remote mishaps (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=91483) thread.
If your TiVo exhibits occasional kazoo-like audio distortion, see the Bad audio from Tivo? / "Intermittent" "squealy" audio / "Kazoo" Audio (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=56879) thread. Listen to this audio sample (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/kaokulkfusgygar/tivo.mp3) to hear if you have this problem.
Do you suffer temporary audio loss with an RCA TV and possible video problems, with both fixed by power-cycling the TV? You have a defective TV. (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=156709) :(
Is volume abnormally low on your TiVo? If all sound is low, including TiVo's sound effects, then the problem may be the audio output op-amp (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=1095905#post1095905). If volumes are different for different TiVo outputs, the problem could be voltage supply to an op-amp (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=1157000#post1157000). Check recordings made before the volume problem developed and/or alternate inputs to see if it might be a problem with one of the TiVo's inputs. If not, then the problem could be swapped resistors (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=1157000#post1157000) that produces improper voltage and the eventual failure of a voltage regulator. Here (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=1135680#post1135680) is a picture of the place to check the voltage. Good soldering skills and equipment are needed to correct (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=1639994#post1639994) the problem.
How does one tell how much free space is remaining? As mentioned above, no method exists in the normal interface. A common workaround is to total the hours used by suggestions since suggestions are generally deleted first.

For TiVos accepting the S0RT (http://tivo.drosoph.com/#SORT) code, Now Playing can be sorted to show the order in which shows will expire for deletion. With backdoors, tvlog can be searched for disk usage information and some TiVos also have a backdoors Disk Space Usage (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=1609090#post1609090) screen. Additionally, an on-screen free space indicator (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=1654055#post1654055) hack is available. Again, see The Free Space Indicator Thread (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=40563) for further general discussion of this topic.
Want to copy recordings from TiVo to a DVD or computer? Dan203 summarizes the methods available here (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=1667799#post1667799). Want to edit out the commercials, too? See the thread Tivo to PC, edit out commercials then burn to DVD. Possible? (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=149029)
Want to control TiVo with an RF remote? (RF lets you control TiVo over much longer distances and through walls.) Many options (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=21785) are available (see the second page).
Have a DCT6200 cable box and incorrect colors on the top half of the screen? See the following threads for Motorola's diagnosis and fix for the problem (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=158346) and a poster-submitted possible workaround (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=149501).
Why is video quality worse after installing TiVo?

First, check these samples of TiVo DVR video output (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=209816) to see whether or not your video quality is notably different from what is shown there. Many more examples of TiVo video quality can be found at the C/J/K Dramas (http://www.web-i18n.net/~ccwf/CJK-Dramas/top) board, including the thumbnails below.
http://www.web-i18n.net/~ccwf/img/sig/CJK.jpeg (http://www.web-i18n.net/~ccwf/CJK-Dramas/top)

Second, TVs are shipped with sharpness and contrast set way too high for optimum home viewing, and TiVo and other digital devices make the problems with the factory default settings very visible. Ideally, calibrate your TV with the Avia or Video Essentials DVDs (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=193054) (available at some public libraries). HDNet test patterns (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=186282) can also be used. Proper calibration is the most important thing that can be done to improve video quality, whether or not using TiVo. At the very least, turn sharpness and contrast way down.

Third, if using cable without a cable box, make sure the input signal quality is good. Weak signals and overly strong signals can both cause video problems, more so with TiVo and other digital devices (DVD recorders, cable modems) than with analog TV sets. Some cable companies will send a person out to measure signal quality with a meter. That is the best way to go. Signal quality is also shown on the diagnostics pages of Scientific Atlanta Explorers (http://www.web-i18n.net/~ccwf/TiVo/compatibility/top_answers#Scientific_Atlanta) and many web-accessible cable modem diagnostics pages (http://192.168.100.1/).

Finally, fundamentally, standalone TiVo DVRs perform lossy compression on the video signal, which means some information/quality is lost. MPEG compression artifacts will be introduced (blockiness, loss of detail in dark areas,…). “Grain” (clumpiness) should not be introduced, however.
Please contribute by posting other important TiVo links. :)

[JPriller]

It's only a little way down the page right now, but: <bump>

Great page, Charles, how long did it take to throw together?

[ccwf]

I've been thinking about writing such a post for many days now and finally sat down and pounded it out this morning. I started with a test post this morning to see if the forum allows em-dashes in thread titles, so between that and the time I finished the post was about 3&frac12;&nbsp;hours. Hopefully, for that amount of effort, people will find it useful. :)

[ZikZak]

Great post! Somebody should sticky it to the top!

[Gerg]

You missed "42"!! (but really: <bump>)

Gerg

[Marco]

Awesome collection of info, and drafted on Christmas to boot. :up: Definitely sticky that thing, mods.

[David Platt]

Originally posted by ccwf
Somehow, I had omitted the link for the TiVo Web modules list.


Just goes to show you that this thread isn't just for newbies-- I didn't even know there was a thread listing all the TiVoweb modules. I think I need to pop in to the UK forum every once in a while!

[Marco]

Bump! Needs sticky!

[SolidTechie]

Originally posted by ccwf
I thought it might be a good idea....

Great work... I agree, it's a superb resource.

On behalf of everyone who is going to find this post useful in the days weeks months and years to come,

I thank you.

[Tider]

Great post !

I am a newbie and I have one question on the wiring diagrams.

I have an older JVC tv which only has 1 video input.
This is my eqipment: DTIVO, DVD RECORDER, DVD PLAYER, VCR, A/V RECEIVER, plus an outside antennae feed.

I tried to run my video feed from my Dtivo and DVD recorder, which I recently bought , through the receiver , but was unable to see the picture on my tv. I ran a S-Video in to the receiver and a composite out to the tv because I haven't had a chance to pick up any S-video cables.
I was wondering if this the reason I can't see a picture on my tv. Incompatible cables?

I'v temporarily ran my S-video from my DTivo straight to the tv and it's working fine. My audio is working fine from my Dtivo and the DVD recorder running to my receiver. I'm just unable to see any type of picture from my DVD recorder.

I want to be able to send recordings from my Dtivo to the DVD recorder so I can burn them to DVD-R and also record from my antennae onto the DVD recorder.

Is this possible or do I need some type of RF modulator?
Any suggestions on how I should wire this setup.

[ccwf]

You should post new questions in a new thread. Otherwise, this thread may get cluttered with random questions like Lori's similar, older thread did.

However, the likely answer to your question is that most A/V receivers do not convert between S-Video and composite. If you feed them S-Video inputs, then they output only S-Video.

[SolidTechie]

How about a:

Help, I booted my TiVo drive attached to an XP computer! link?

It's here (http://tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=117404)

I appreciate, that this may not be the correct list to add this link, if you feel that is the case, I'll happily remove this post....

[ccwf]

It is out of scope for this part of the forum.

However, people do ask here about that issue sometimes (newcomers—such questions belong in the TiVo Upgrade Center (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=25) part of this site; read JAB's guidelines post Replacing Hard Disks and Modems / Posting About Problems with Your Upgraded TiVo (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=67235) for more info) and are sometimes misadvised by forum veterans that a complete restore from backup is necessary, which isn't true. So, for now, I think it is worthwhile to keep your post in this thread, although I'll leave it out of the summary post.

[amberbamber]

I have directv in two rooms with a descrabler box in each room. I have a series2 stand alone tivo that I just bought in the living room.
I also like to watch live tv at times. I would imagine most newbies to this do until we get use to how tivo works.
We like to watch shows that are on at the same time we usually watch one and record the other.

I'm thinking the best way for me to do this on the bigscreen tv is to run a video signal in from the bedroom to the big tv. While tivo is recording the one channel I will switch to the other digital signal from the bedroom. I'm guessing the only things I will need is the video&sound cables plus an rf remote control to control the satellite box in the bedroom. This wont work for everyone unless they have a bedroom very close to the living room.

I wonder if directv makes a dual tuner box thats does not have tivo built in...

Great thread!

[skst]

My solution is: cable -> TiVo -> VCR -> TV. I put TiVo into Standby when I want to watch "real live" TV or use the VCR to record something. ZikZak's claim notwithstanding, I have actually run into situations where I need to record two things and watch a third at the same time because not one of them was being repeated. (Darn that broadcast television.) ;)

You might want to check one of these threads:

"The Watching Live While Recording Something Else Thread" (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=143314)
"How to set up VCR with record one and watch one channel with cable box option????" (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=151437)
"Recording a channel while watching another channel?" (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=150700)

[jcrobso]

Hi, I'm a new member. Purchased a Tivo for my Church. The church has an interal cable system. The Tivo will be used in a remote location from the main service for
time delay. Since Tivo uses downloaded programing is there any way to manualy programe the unit to record the church service . The books that come with the unit don't discuss this option. Thanks John

[ccwf]

Please post questions in a separate thread and not in this one. Originally posted by ccwf
Note: Please post TiVo questions in a http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/images/newthread.gif (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/newthread.php?s=&action=newthread&forumid=4).

This thread is for pointing out useful links, not for asking general TiVo questions. Using new threads helps ensure your questions gets seen and helps keep the information in this thread easy to find. Anyways, the answer is that you should email the lineup@tivo.com address to see if they can add a custom lineup for you.

[sisodals]

Okay, I read my books, I went to the TiVo web link. I called the Cable company and followed the directions I got from the TiVo web site about hooking up TiVo to watch one channel while recording another. The Cable company does not want to help unless I have them come out for a paid visit. The tiVo site info did not get me working. Best I have got is I can record a channel but I get no sound and now I also have no sound on TiVo when watching Live TV on Tivo. I am wondering if the DCT-6200 has something to do with all this but can not really point any fingers a this point.

I am ready to go Postal on the Tivo as nothing seems to help and I am very Frustrated.

I would appreciate any and all assistance I can get here.

Ray Siso Jr.
sisodals@bellatlantic.net
:confused: :confused: :confused:

[sisodals]

Okay it is now past 8 PM and I have Good News and BAD News.

The Good News is that the TiVo did record a program and it does have sound.

The BAD News is that it did not record what I told it too record. it gave it the title of the show I asked for but did not record 60 minutes. I think it recorded the channel I switched too just before I turned the TV off. Tomorrow I will look again at the directions for Recording one Channel while watching another and see it I can fathom something from that menu. If not I will return and see if someone has any additional ideas. Other than changing the Audio cables from the In to the Out connections nothing else has been changed.

More tomorrow.

Ray Siso Jr.

[IDSmoker]

Are there any resources available that detail all of the differences between the Series 1 and Series 2 stand-alone Tivos?

[Morris Herman]

I am looking for a way to use the INPUT button on my TiVo remote with my Mitsu 55813.

I can use the INPUT button to switch between all of my inputs but my TV requires a SELECT or OK to confirm selection.

How do I do that with my TiVo remote? I have tried SELECT and ENTER and it does not work. What do I need to do?

[northrk]

In answer to Morris Herman about TV input...

try to set the Mits TV to non NetCommand (NC) mode

1. Move the slide switch at the top of the
Mits remote to the TV layer.
2. Press and hold the POWER button on the
remote control.
3. Enter the three digit code of 000, and then
release the POWER button on the remote
control.

This may enable the TV input button on the tivo remote to toggle to different inputs without the NC menus. Refer to your manual if this does not work and you wish to set it back to NC mode. I think the code is 197 or 935.

Try posting this question at remotecentral.com

[cktb2793]

.

[CH1]

Having checked these, can't see answer to my problem. Was running TiVo with no problems using a multiscart switcher plugged into the Aux scart socket so I could switch from Video to DVD without having to keep switching scarts. Unfortunately having just got a Freeview box (Bush - from a remark in the catalogue I think its a Goodmans clone) - this has to use the Aux scart. Is there any way I can still use my scart switcher & the Freeview box?
Thanks to anyone who can help! CH

[Moonbaby]

Great Thread It really answered 2 questions I had didnt even have to ask AWESOME...

[David Bott]

hold

[jgrove]

I wanted to point out that the following link appears to have gone bad:

Cable/Satellite Box Compatibility & Codes List

web-i18n-net/~ccwf/
TiVo/compatibility/top_answers

(Please note my intentional typos in the URL (extra line breaks), as the vBulletin system says I can't post a URL until after I make 5 posts... So I had to munge it up. I guess the system forgot all the posts I made years ago...)

-James Grove

[ronholl]

This should not be so tough. After around a month, I finally got upgraded to 7.1a and tried to transfer a show to my computer. Got around 1 minute and then it was interrupted. When I go to my TIVO, it shows no network adapter. Based on some other threads, I changed the dynamic IP to a statis IP. This did not seem to help, I continue to lose connectivity to the network adapter. The adapter is a Netgear MA111, which is definitely supported (even has a TIVO icon on the box). I unplug and replug the USB and it regains connectivity, but the transfer does not go any further.

I tried using the web server stuff from other threads. I see the Now Playing on the PC but when I try to download, it times out and nothing happens.

Perhaps this is just not ready for prime time, but seems that others are successful. Any help or suggestions would be most appreciated. I find this to be extremely frustrating.

Thanks a lot.
Ron

[ronholl]

I think I put the above question in the wrong thread. Sorry about that, I started a new thread under a different section.
Thanks!

[johnpgalla]

How do you post a new message?

Thanks

[grady]

thanks for the info...

[Justin Thyme]

Another Kudo for this great list, and an apology for not being able to contribute.

I have answered a lot of questions on filters and I wish I had a good suggestion for on filter/codec advice. It is one area of weakness in this excellent list.

One of the largest source of problems I see on the TTG forum concern problems associated with incompatible DirestShow filters, or problems that would be solved through more intimate knowlege of filters. The ultimate source of these problems are never in Tivo software, but as far as the user can be expected to understand, they never had the observed problem until they started playing .tivo's- therefore they make the understandible inference it is some sort of Tivo problem, so they come here rather than the Sonic, Microsoft, or Nero sites which in any case provide little information of perceptible relevance to their problem at hand.

"How to" lists are difficult to compose because of the combinatorial possibilities between multiple filters and video software interactions. Even for a help line technician, it would be a daunting task to construct a good decision tree for guiding a user through trouble shooting steps. There are some rules of thumb but they only work 90% of the time. For example- simply installying Tivo recommended codecs won't work in all cases because they may not be assigned the highest priority. Unistalling all codecs and only installing a recommended codec is not workable either because this will disable many desktop video applications or games.

Lastly, there is some dodgy territory when you start talking about graphedit. It is the best way I know to give naive users a visual clue about what is going on under the hood, but some good faq type sites I have for that are, shall we say, dangerously close to the dark side of the force.

I'll see if we on the TTG forum can't concoct a reasonable enough cookie cutter set of instructions for the most common problems and "90%" solutions.

[ccwf]

Since we're getting an increasing number of questions on hooking up HD cable boxes, I've added links to detailed posts on HD cable box wiring.

Also added recent report that temporarily configuring for demo mode may help in resetting a TiVo DVR to allow initial guided setup over broadband.

[yas123]

johnpgalla]How do you post a new message?

Thanks[/QUOTE]

[yas123]

How do you post a new message

Thanks

[yas123]

Get

[yas123]

Sorry

[ccwf]

Added TGC (TiVo Greater China). Changed status of TiVoBill, mawhite, and Jimisham.

[petestrash]

Just thought I'd point out a dead link.

The link to the kazoo-like audio distortion sample is no longer valid.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/kaokulkfusgygar/tivo.mp3

Peter.

[Alpinemaps]

There seem to be a number of broken links in this FAQ. Any chance someone in charge of the FAQ could update?

[ccwf]

There seem to be a number of broken links in this FAQ. Any chance someone in charge of the FAQ could update? Just post some examples, and I'll fix them.

[Alpinemaps]

Just post some examples, and I'll fix them.

Of course, there's only one that pops out at me now. :mad: I swear there were at least three that I was looking at yesterday. I don't have a lot of time right now, but will try to go back through it to find the specific examples as soon as I do.

Here's the one that I did find upon re-examination very quickly tonight:

Some wired adapters can even be used for initial guided setup with the ,#401 undocumented dial prefix. (If you have trouble getting the prefix to work, Dan posted a step-by-step procedure.

The link at 'step-by-step procedure' seems to be broken.

[onthenose]

ok newbie here, but i have a question. I never had a tivo before so here is the question. Lets say i want to record a program that normally comes on at 12 midnight, but this being a sports channel, a baseball game has went into extra innings, going right past the normal 12 oclock airing of my program, will tivo be able to pick up on this and start recording when my program comes on say at 1:13 in the morning? Thanks to anyone who can answer me.

[Syzygy]

Good question, onthenose — I had the same question when I was a newbie back in 1999. (The short answer, at least in the USA, is NO.) Also, I asked "If not, why not?"

Local stations (in the USA and maybe everywhere) have access to the start and stop times for programs and commercials (embedded in the teletext portion of the broadcast signal), but consumer devices aren't supposed to be allowed to see this data, for fear of making commercial-skipping easier. It may not even be there in digital broadcasts.

A post in a TiVo UK thread titled Overrun recording option mentions Britain's Programme Delivery Control (http://archive.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=407268#post407268), and succeeding posts in that thread tell us why TiVo can't make use of it, how it doesn't work all that well anyway, and why it's going to disappear eventually ('cuz it's analog-only).

We're all stuck with having to manually pad every show that might run long or be shifted forward by a live event that doesn't end on time.

[mjohn]

Hope I'm in the right area and yes checked the compatiblity list and saw that my sat receiver MAY not be compatible ... I have a Humax drt800 with lifetime and a Philips 5353c sat receiver that was supplied by Directv ... cannot use the IF cables, tried at least 20 times to program remote to accurately change channels even with Tivo and Humax on the phone with me ... so the only other way to link Humax to the sat box is with the serial cable ... which of course the Philips has no port for ... do I need another receiver with the port or what ... any suggestions would be appreciated thanx, MJ

[ccwf]

Hope I'm in the right area and yes checked the compatiblity list and saw that my sat receiver MAY not be compatible ... I have a Humax drt800 with lifetime and a Philips 5353c sat receiver that was supplied by Directv ... cannot use the IF cables, tried at least 20 times to program remote to accurately change channels even with Tivo and Humax on the phone with me ... There's actually a specific entry for the 5353 in the compatibility list. It indicates that IR should work with code 10038 at medium speed but is, unfortunately, not reliable.

[dandmb50]

what is the beacon and how do I get it?
I downloaded the TivoDesktop but it says I do not
have the beacon??

[neverpay6]

Read all the Q & A...

I went to tivo web site, tried an all code search.

Does anyone know the remote code for my KEF KIT 100, home theatre to control mute and volume.

P.S. Went to kef web site, no help

Thanks

Kevin Moran

[GPOET99]

I just purchased a series 2 80 hour TV Box - I have Bellsouth Americast Cable and the channel changing seems to be incompatible with Tivo. Any help on what the correct IR code is to make this work or how to make it work. Thanks G

[Lanisatu]

Are there any threads or recommended websites for setting up a Tivo in Canada? Hardware isn't a problem. I'm looking for resources about the software setup, particularly for a series 1 Tivo.

If what I'm trying now doesn't work, I'll post a question in a new thread.

[Lanisatu]

Any help on what the correct IR code is to make this work or how to make it work.

If you're using an IR control cable, you only need codes for your TV power and for volume. You don't need a code to change channels. Make sure you've positioned the end of the IR cable over the sensor on your cable/ satellite box and that there isn't other infrared interference that's causing the problem. There is information in the "cables and accessories" section of your manual about how to make an IR tent if you need to.

[nolanvoyd]

I am genuinely appreciative of the FAQ. I'm a forum newbie, but to be honest, I was dumped into this forum because the TiVo support webpages are terribly inadequate. I don't have a lot of time to join an internet forum, and especially not time to dig through so much information to be thoroughly acquainted with what has been discussed in the past.

I've tried to be a good internet citizen and perform a search for "service update" and "hour, possibly longer" (among other keywords related to my question) and the sheer volume of topics that come up is just too much to read, especially when I have already spent 20 minutes looking through posts.

This is not directed at the good people here, in particular. I'm just wondering whether there's a way to contact TiVo and ask them to improve their tech support pages.

The FAQ and content here is a LOT of text to read, and if I were interested in joining an online community, I'm sure I'd have much pleasure to browse leisurely through all of the wonderful topics here. Unfortunately, I need quick answers to questions (the kind that is formated in a logical list like TiVo has on its website) ... and TiVo has room for improvement in this area.

I realize that some people may be offended anyway at my post. I mean no offense. I'm an active member of other internet forums, and appreciate the frustration of outsiders coming in and asking dumb questions that have been rehashed ad nauseum. But this is a VERY active forum, and there's just too much for the average person who wants to spend less than 30 minutes to find the answer to a single question.

That's why this is directed at the good folks at TiVo. TiVo, are you there? Can you hear me?

[laurap414]

Can someone please point me to a post or site which details how to run the kickstart codes? All of the posts I have read (including this one) point to a url that no longer exists: http://alt.org/wiki/index.php/TivoDiagnostics.

Thanks,
Laura

[tooper12]

i have read all the reply these were really interesting

[skynet]

hey there. I still have the series2 tivo in the box. Received as a gift, sort of, but have a question for anyone. The service fees listed at tivo's website does not have a lifetime service listed. I was at Cnet, and read a review on my unit and saw a statement that said that a lifetime subscription was $300.00, but now I see for $299.00 it gets you only 3 years! Is there a lifetime subscription? Was there ever? Since I have the tivo, I figured I'd use it and get rid of my $18 plus dollars a month my cable company (COMCAST) is charging me to rent their cablebox/DVR. Any feed back to this would be appreciated. thanks.

[stevel]

Got a Series 1 standalone TiVo (Sony SVR-2000, Philips HDR312, etc.) and want to use it for manual recording (time and channel) without a subscription? Most can, with the exception of some late production run SVR-2000s.

The deciding factor is which TiVo software version it shipped with from the factory (which then determines a PROM version.) If it was earlier than 2.0, then unsubbed recording is allowed. There is not a reliable way to determine this on your own. Furthermore, if a Clear and Delete Everything has been done, this flag indicating this capability is cleared.

Note that the software version currently on the box does not matter. Version 3 is the latest available for Series 1 boxes.

To enable manual recording, contact TiVo Customer Care and ask them to reference support article 14-29-02. You will give them your box's TiVo Service Number and they will determine if it is eligible and, if so, enable the flag for you. Once that is done, have the box make a "daily call now" to reacquire the feature. You can also send a PM to TiVoJerry with the TSN and this request.

See this reply (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=6373765#post6373765) by Jerry for more details.

[billmar123]

My Tivo froze and I powered down to reboot. Now all I get is the "your recorder is starting up, please wait a moment. Can anyone help?

Thanks

Bill

[zimmett]

I have TIVO the DS DVR 40, some 3 years old. Keep getting signal strength satellite 1 or 2 on a clear day. Tried resetting the receiver with test satellite signal strength.
Keeps coming up with satellite 101 and transponder 9.Tried resetting the test satellite signal to 72 and transponder @ 2.
At 101 now gives 84 and 86
On 72 gives 92 and 94
On a cloudy day I usually get 65 to 70 on 101 and 80 to 85 on 72.
I cannot change the DVR to 72. Each time I try this it automatically goes back to 101 when I recheck the Test.
Top of screen says: Check the reception from a range of transponders on each satellite. Azimuth 232, elevation 32 and tilt 60 in degrees.What in the world does this mean and why can't I change the Test Satellite Signal??
As you probably know the picture goes out when the signal goes near or below 60
Any help would be appreciated!

[zhwdiana2008]

Great post! Somebody should sticky it to the top!

:up: