Official Toshiba RS-TX Owners Club

[CaccaMucca]

Just FYI - My RS-TX20 has had no problems burning a DVD before or after the upgrade. TiVo Basic only. I have used Maxell DVD-RW 2x, and DVD-R: Fuji (TY Japan) 8x, Verbatim 8x. I have even burned DVD-R while watching a TiVo recording and it slows down the save a bit (25 or so minutes normally), but no coasters. I have not checked all of these DVDs for playability, since I am archiving programs on them, but from what I read on here it seems coasters / partial burns with errors give error messages... I suppose I should check the DVDs to make sure they are good more often though.

Just tried the Memorex DVD-RW just now, "NO GO".

Any idea how to load the old code back on Toshiba RS-TX20s? Then we have to prevent the code from being overwritten.

If TIVO thinks that this is just an inconvenience for saving TV programs, let me tell you something, TIVO is preventing me from backing up my home videos on my DV camcorder of my little baby to the DVDs.

Is it too early to talk about a class action lawsuit?????

[CaccaMucca]

Just FYI - My RS-TX20 has had no problems burning a DVD before or after the upgrade. TiVo Basic only. I have used Maxell DVD-RW 2x, and DVD-R: Fuji (TY Japan) 8x, Verbatim 8x. I have even burned DVD-R while watching a TiVo recording and it slows down the save a bit (25 or so minutes normally), but no coasters. I have not checked all of these DVDs for playability, since I am archiving programs on them, but from what I read on here it seems coasters / partial burns with errors give error messages... I suppose I should check the DVDs to make sure they are good more often though.

While your Fujis are working on yours, my Fuji DVD-R 8Xs are not working. Coasters everytime, even after powering down for 8 hours.

[TiVoEvan74]

What were the Memorexes? 2x? 4x? 8x?

What happens if you try it again? (One of the pluses of the -RW)

It's beginning to sound as if one needs to stick to 2x for best results, although a TDK DVD-RW 4x that came with the Humax DVD TiVo worked fine. As did a Memorex DVD-R 8x... but that was only 1 try.

[CaccaMucca]

What were the Memorexes? 2x? 4x? 8x?

What happens if you try it again? (One of the pluses of the -RW)

It's beginning to sound as if one needs to stick to 2x for best results, although a TDK DVD-RW 4x that came with the Humax DVD TiVo worked fine. As did a Memorex DVD-R 8x... but that was only 1 try.


Repeated 3 times, all failed. Memorex is a 4X.
Does anyone know where I can purchase a 1x, 2x or a 2.4x?

[jjohnson_123]

You can purchase 1x in CompUSA stores, if you have any near you. The 1x are CompUSA house brands.

I also found K Hypermedia 4x DVD-Rs and purchased a 10 pack for $7.88. The first burn last night was a success. But this morning, a burn with the same 4x media did not work (wasted a dvd).

I returned to the 2x Memorex DVD-RWs. I had 2 successful burns Thursday night. 3 attempted burns on these DVD-rws this morning did not work.

I reported this issue to Toshiba. I need to put a call into Tivo (although I did email them based on TivoEvan's suggestion). It's just that the phone queue for Tv is usually a 1/2 hour wait.

That's it for now. I'll keep following these posts and I'll post any successes. Hopefully, everyone will continue to do the same.

Just as I was about to post this I was streaming music to my machine. The music stopped. I thought it was just a dropped signal. But the tivo restarted itself. I've never had that happen before. One change I've done recently is connect a USB wireless g netgear adapter (purchased from the Tivo store) and started using the home media features (photos and music).

[CaccaMucca]

I'll keep following these posts and I'll post any successes. Hopefully, everyone will continue to do the same.

Just as I was about to post this I was streaming music to my machine. The music stopped. I thought it was just a dropped signal. But the tivo restarted itself. I've never had that happen before. One change I've done recently is connect a USB wireless g netgear adapter (purchased from the Tivo store) and started using the home media features (photos and music).

I'll keep posting the same don't worry. I'm going down to Staples and ordering DVD-R 1X-2Xs.

So, I got 8 month of use out of $500 machine, $600 - $100(TIVO rebate).
Works out to $62 a month. $500 door stop.

[jjohnson_123]

I fully understand your concerns. You purchased the machine for its tivo tv-watching/recording functionality, but your secondary reason (and very high on your list) was to archive family movies).

I do believe that tivo support does monitor this forum, so we do need to express our concerns (repeatedly and often).

With that said, I've played with the 2x DVD-RWs during the day. Not only does media seem to be important in a successful burn, but so does the amount of content you're trying to burn. For example, after many RW failures, I successfully burned 8 minutes (at high quality) of video that was transferred from video tape. Encouraged by this, I then upped the ante to as much as 36 minutes with a successful burn. This of course is not acceptable and we should not have to reduce content on a dvd and keep our fingers crossed for each successive burn.

Good luck and I hope that tivo provides a resolution as soon as possible.

[Jadd777]

Thank goodness for this site. I was going crazy until I found this site describing the similar problem of being unable to burn DVD's all of a sudden. The internal error notice occurring at about 98% completion started today for me. I have had my Toshiba RSTX 20 for about a month and have burned almost daily. It's worked without any problems on about 25 memorex 4X, and about 50 memorex 8X. Now I can't burn anything. With so many people reporting the same problem within a relatively short period, it sounds like a system error. I'll try unplugging it overnight but I don't want to reboot it because I have alot of things on the hard drive I don't want to lose. I hope Tivo and Toshiba are responsive to this problem and undo or fix whatever they did. I don't like lawyers, but this is the kind of thing they talk about in class action suits. I just want my Tivo working.

[CaccaMucca]

Thank goodness for this site. I was going crazy until I found this site describing the similar problem of being unable to burn DVD's all of a sudden. The internal error notice occurring at about 98% completion started today for me. I have had my Toshiba RSTX 20 for about a month and have burned almost daily. It's worked without any problems on about 25 memorex 4X, and about 50 memorex 8X. Now I can't burn anything. With so many people reporting the same problem within a relatively short period, it sounds like a system error. I'll try unplugging it overnight but I don't want to reboot it because I have alot of things on the hard drive I don't want to lose. I hope Tivo and Toshiba are responsive to this problem and undo or fix whatever they did. I don't like lawyers, but this is the kind of thing they talk about in class action suits. I just want my Tivo working.

The problem started when TIVO forced upgrade the Toshibas to 7.2.That is the problem. I hope the word gets out and Toshiba will not be able to sell another Tivo box, not with all the problems.

[tivofanatic]

I would not be a part of the Toshiba Owners Club, but I just purchased a Toshiba Tivo after my Pioneer Tivo quit burning DVDs. Little did I know it was a software problem. I found this out by having a brand new Toshiba that burned about 10 DVDs and then no more. I'm hoping the software issue will be resolved quickly so I can start burning DVDs again.

[CaccaMucca]

I would not be a part of the Toshiba Owners Club, but I just purchased a Toshiba Tivo after my Pioneer Tivo quit burning DVDs. Little did I know it was a software problem. I found this out by having a brand new Toshiba that burned about 10 DVDs and then no more. I'm hoping the software issue will be resolved quickly so I can start burning DVDs again.

I know Toshibas are having problems, Pinoneer is affected, too?
What others are affected?

[TiVoEvan74]

It's still interesting to me that the reports of problems are coming from Toshiba units and not from the Humax (or at least rarely). Suggests something in the Toshiba hardware itself interacting with the new OS, doesn't it? In which case, it's up to TiVo and Toshiba to get together and fix this!

I'm still curious. After a DVD-RW fails, what happens if you try burning again? I realize any failures are unacceptable, but at least that way you still have another shot at burning whereas with the -Rs you have an instant frisbee.

[ashu]

I reiterate - I have one of each (Toshiba RSX-20 and Humax DRT-800) - burns complete succesfully on both.

Fuji Made In Japan (hence, Taiyo Yuden) 8X DVD-Rs, burn in approximately 17-23 minutes one ach (I usually burn hours worth of MEdium Quality recordings). Of course, I will run out of Fujis someday. I'm afraid to try anything but TaiyoYudens!

[rrman]

It's still interesting to me that the reports of problems are coming from Toshiba units and not from the Humax (or at least rarely). Suggests something in the Toshiba hardware itself interacting with the new OS, doesn't it? In which case, it's up to TiVo and Toshiba to get together and fix this!

I'm still curious. After a DVD-RW fails, what happens if you try burning again? I realize any failures are unacceptable, but at least that way you still have another shot at burning whereas with the -Rs you have an instant frisbee.

Well, this thread is for Toshiba owners, so Humax-only owners would not be reading this thread (whether or not Humax has problems, I don't know, since I don't read the Humax threads). I have a Toshiba and have burned half a dozen DVDs, and haven't had any problems. But, that's not exactly statistically significant (but at least has been problem free). I use Memorex 4x DVD-Rs.

[MT-Hand]

ashu,

Are your units un-modified? And if you have upgraded the HDs, did you increase the swap files?

From what I've gleamed from these forums, most of the people expereincing these post-7.2 DVD burning problems (at least with DRT's) have large HD's but haven't increased their swap.

My DRT-800 had been working (and burning) steadily for ~5 months when 7.2 hit. For the first week or two everything continued working well. Then it started to generate coasters at ~97% done. Part of the time, it would reboot itself at the point of failure. This was using the same media that had been working perfectly for months. After extensive troubleshooting, multiple reboots, and more coasters, Humax sent me a (refurbished) replacement. After getting service transfered to the replacement and re-entering all my Season Passes, I was able to burn a few disks before this one started exibiting the same problems. In fact, this one was MUCH worse. Even without burning discs this one would reboot itself every 10-15 minutes. Since this was useless, I pulled my original unit back out of the return box and reconfigured it. Maybe it couldn't burn discs, but at least it could work as a normal TiVo.

To make a long story short (okay less-long), I have now received my 3rd rebuilt unit from Humax. On a whim at one point, I decided to try burning a disc on my original unit again (after it had been unplugged for a day) -- it worked. At the moment, I have my original unit and the 3rd replacement unit. They both burn successfully immediately after a restart (if I'm not asking it to do too much at once), but gets progressively less stable over time or with successive burns.

Now I'm trying to decide which one to send back!
I'm also trying to decide if it's worth tryng to increase the size of the swap on one of these to see if that could solve the problem -- even though I they still have the stock HD's.

Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Todd

[jjohnson_123]

Just received a call from Toshiba. Excellent customer service by the way. He said a 7.2.1 patch is about to be released. We should have it by month end - which is less than a week a way. So watch for it.

[TiVoEvan74]

What great news! I was beginning to wonder whether I kept a potential lemon!

[ashu]

ashu,

Are your units un-modified? And if you have upgraded the HDs, did you increase the swap files?



Humax DRT800 upgraded from 80GB to 300GB (Seagate 7200.7) with a doubled swap file (255 MB, IIRC), Toshiba RSX-20 unmodified. Both running 7.2

So there. I think :)

It REALLY susks that some folks are having issues, all I'm saying is that if 7.2 caused them, EVERYBODY would be having them. There just seems to be a batch of BAD BAD hardware out there. That dies over time.

Note - I AM using 80-pin cables in my Humax (replaced the 40 pin default cables). This may be a red herring, because the controller may not even be 80-pin-capable (as in, can't take advantage of it). Who knows!

[DarkShadows]

Just received a call from Toshiba. Excellent customer service by the way. He said a 7.2.1 patch is about to be released. We should have it by month end - which is less than a week a way. So watch for it.


I received the same call from Toshiba yesterday as well, I guess our complaining to Tivo/Toshiba paid off in the end.

Thanks to all that made the call and or emails!!

[windracer]

Just to chime in (late), my stock TX20 has had no problems burning DVDs on 7.2.0 using TDK media.

[DaisyChain]

The more this goes on with no clear word on a timeframe** for a software fix... I feel more disgusted with TiVo and more cynical.

I really feel now they did this intentionally.

There have been rumors that TiVo in future is going to phase out its DVR boxes and license their program only to cable companies - obviously, tv and movie studios do not want cable co's making it easy to copy their shows. Therefore I'm sure that would have been a condition of the cable companies - "stop allowing DVD copies in your machines." There have also been rumors about TiVo making it so that shows can't save past a couple days and shows can't be saved or copied (as the case may be) at all.

Also the thing with the floating logos for ads, so we can't even fast forward past ads any more, they want us to see it. I can understand that somewhat... although it is NOT what we paid for... BUT... To charge us for a DVd burner, then INTENTIONALLY disable it???

Isn't that illegal?! Talk about planned obsolescence!!!!!!

*note I have no proof of this, but, tell me they didn't know this would happen? They developed the download didn't they? And Humax owners report the same thing. **I now see someone was told a patch will be out soon. I am sorry but I wil believe that when I see it. :( Maybe this was all just a dry-run for future DVR disabling. Who knows?? I do know that I just bought this thing and this wasn't funny. Bad show TiVo.

[larrs]

I received the same call from Toshiba yesterday as well, I guess our complaining to Tivo/Toshiba paid off in the end.

Thanks to all that made the call and or emails!!


I received the same call yesterday. At least they are consistent!

[larrs]

If Best Buy truly made you believe you could get the rebate, you at least have grounds for return if nothing else (and I'd push for them to honor the rebate themselves).

Drew

BB has done this for me numerous times in the past. They are usually pretty easy to deal with.

[sledhed]

While your Fujis are working on yours, my Fuji DVD-R 8Xs are not working. Coasters everytime, even after powering down for 8 hours.

Wow, I wonder what the deal is here. I see where there is an update coming maccording to posts before this, I hope it does not fix your problems and in the process cause mine problems. Maybe they used different firmware? for different dvd recorder hardware? And mine happened to be a new enough model that it was compatible with the firmware? I just burned another Fuji 8x DVD-R the other day and no problem. Never have made a coaster (at least to my knowledge since many times I record to archive shows and don't play the entire dvd immediately...)
:confused:

Edit: I wonder how many people are running with a nearly-full HDD. I think ours is generally never more than half full. I was wondering if there was a correlation; thinking fragmentation / swap file issues (but I really have no idea).

[DaisyChain]

Well, my machine was brand new when this happened. I think the software update came shortly after I bought it, and I'd only had time to make one disc prior! That time it worked perfectly - the next times, coaster, after coaster, after coaster. I tried various things before coming here (I didn't hack it or anything though; just tried making sure it wasn't recording during it or playing another show... like that).

So it wasn't that it was an older machine. I think it may be that some were made in another factory though with a slightly different part in there somewhere or maybe a sturdier HD? Who knows? Some people are not having this issue at all. I doubt an update will mess theirs up; IMO this was deliberate and some sort of test. Maybe they tried to get away with it and see if we went along? Maybe this new fix will also plant something else on the HD to see who's dubbing what? Who knows. I just wish they'd left it alone.

I do think in future they will disable or make obsolete the ability to dub shows though. But for now maybe they ran into legal trouble or something. I do think it oughta be illegal if it isn't, to purposely disable what someone just paid for. False advertising at the VERY least.

I also don't think I had many shows on the machine when I was first making coasters... I just think it was something in the download. When are they gonna fix this again - and what form will it take? What do we have to do to fix it? I am getting sick of plugging it in and out every time.

[CaccaMucca]

I wonder how many people are running with a nearly-full HDD. I think ours is generally never more than half full. I was wondering if there was a correlation; thinking fragmentation / swap file issues (but I really have no idea).

I tested that theory of gull or defraged hard drive 1 Oct. Reformatted my drive, basically started over. Only after 6 shows recorded at medium quality, I was getting DVD burn failures. So, here I wait for 7.2.1; I'll believe it when I see it.

My number 1 reason for purchasing the RS-TX20 was to save my home videos on the DVD, number 2 was TIVO and not other way around.

TIVO has left me with a bad taste in my mouth with this upgrade.

My co-worker has Comcast and he rents a DVR from the cable company for $6.99 and he can record 2 different shows on his hard drive while watching a third and it has all the features like TIVO. $6.99 is cheaper than the monthly fees charged by TIVO.
I currently have Adelphia which is getting split into two and being obsorbed by Time Warner and Comcast. I just hope my area goes to Comcast.

I'll have to hookup my Toshiba Qosmio laptop to act as a DVD burner. Oh, well.

I just want to thank everyone emailing and calling Toshiba and TIVO as I have to correct the 7.2 problem.

Once the DVD burning issue gets solved, I'm thinking about opening my box up and see how the thing is built. I found where some have replaced a 40 pin chip with there own and program. This might prevent any future software updates.


My equipment: Hardware: Toshiba RS-TX20 --> $500 door stop
Software: 7.2.0

[jjohnson_123]

Wow, I wonder what the deal is here. I see where there is an update coming maccording to posts before this, I hope it does not fix your problems and in the process cause mine problems. Maybe they used different firmware? for different dvd recorder hardware? And mine happened to be a new enough model that it was compatible with the firmware? I just burned another Fuji 8x DVD-R the other day and no problem. Never have made a coaster (at least to my knowledge since many times I record to archive shows and don't play the entire dvd immediately...)
:confused:

Edit: I wonder how many people are running with a nearly-full HDD. I think ours is generally never more than half full. I was wondering if there was a correlation; thinking fragmentation / swap file issues (but I really have no idea).
In the past week, I've been testing the dvd burning issue in my own unscientific way, trying to find a common denominator for the problem. I'm beginning to think that it has nothing to do with the recording media - as long as it is in the realm of the required 1x - 8x -R or -RW media.

I was frustrated last weekend because I was getting internal failures on my recordings, irregardless of the media.

But last weekend, I had transferred the highlights of 3 older vhs tapes from my Sony vcr to my Toshiba RS-TX60. One block of video was about an hour, another a 1/2 hour, and two or three other pieces of video - all over five minutes but under 12 minutes. After repeated tries, I was only able to capture the smaller videos to 2x DVD-RWs. I ended up deleting the hour piece and the 1/2 piece.

During the ensuing week, I only had recordings that were made from my TIVO season passes. I made multiple burns - all successful - from the direct Tivo tuner to hard drive recordings. Feeling pretty good about things, I grabbed my original Fujifilm 8x DVD-Rs and made a burn of Alias episodes. It burned fine even with my Tivo to Go server running and while another show was recording that evening (my stress test).

So, today I pulled out a video tape of last year's West Wings and recorded from my vcr to my Tivo. I popped in my 2x DVD-RW and tested things out. Guess what? It failed. So, in my case, I think it's a factor of dubbing from a VHS tape to the Tivo via the composite link in the front of the Toshiba (these are the RCA inputs - yellow, red, and white).

My question: Could this be a problem when converting from tape, whether it be a vcr or camcorder, to digital storage? This may explain why some people have been saying that they haven't experienced the problem - that is, they're not recording from an external source. Here's where I'm not very knowledgeable; is this an encoding/decoding problem with the software? Or is that the wrong terminology.

At any rate, I'd be interested if those who were having burn failures were recording originally from external sources, or were they just simple season pass recordings that wouldn't burn. In my case it's just the vcr to tivo recordings that I can't save to dvd.

Let me know. Thanks.

[stampar]

Was hoping to be able to do some basic editing of my home videos once transferred to the RS-TX' hard drive. No can do. Can't even edit the TITLE of a transferred video. It is likely there is something I don't know, since I'm new to this.
Also, once saved to DVD - loss of quality is noticeable even though recorded in the HIGH mode.
Any help will be tremendously appreciated.

[TiVoEvan74]

A data point here... my only burnings, all successful, were from TiVo recorded shows.

By the way, can one add shows to a DVD-RW that already has a few things burned to it? Or can you only burn an entire disk?

[azitnay]

Was hoping to be able to do some basic editing of my home videos once transferred to the RS-TX' hard drive. No can do. Can't even edit the TITLE of a transferred video. It is likely there is something I don't know, since I'm new to this.

The TiVo hardware isn't really suited for heavy editing.

As for editing the title, you get to choose a title when you record from the VCR in the first place.

Drew

[azitnay]

By the way, can one add shows to a DVD-RW that already has a few things burned to it? Or can you only burn an entire disk?

No, the DVD-RW will have to be erased first.

Drew

[TiVoEvan74]

Thanks, Drew. I suspected as much... By the way, I have tried transfering shows between DVD burning units (one Toshiba, the other Humax) and, alas, even with that, one cannot burn to a DVD. (It's odd because the message that shows up and the manual both imply that it doesn't work if it's between incompatible TiVos rather than that MRV precludes DVD burning, which seems to be actually what's going-- that is, different encoding for MRV'ing vs. recording and then DVD'ing.)

[azitnay]

Yeah, even though the other TiVo does record in a DVD-compatible format, it seems some of the metadata required for burning is lost during the MRV. This is certainly something that could potentially be fixed in the future, but it remains to be seen whether or not that'll happen.

Drew

[WaterBug]

Hi all. My apologies if I'm not posting this correctly, I'm new to posting on this thread.

Because I also own a RS-TX20 I have been following the thread concerning the issue with the 7.2 upgrade. I've been having the same problem trying to burn dvds since the upgrade.

Also, I've had another problem that I haven't heard anyone else mention, and that is playing rented DVDs. I keep getting an invalid media type error message. This started at the same time as the upgrade. Did anyone else experience the same thing?

I've tried the rebooting experiment to no avail. Am looking forward to the patch someone referred to earlier. Hopefully that will help.

[TiVoEvan74]

We rented a DVD once from a store... and got something like that... turns out that the DVDs get scratched and mis-handled; in fact, the store manager said it's been worse than with VCR tapes!!

Now, as to the DVD-R burning... just had our first failure with a Tosh RS-TX60... after several successes... and we'd been at 7.2 for a while.

Interestingly, when I put the blank DVD in, it hung the system and I had to unplug it. I can't remember if I removed the DVD before putting it back in or not (perhaps it wasn't positioned well), but it came up fine. I arranged for the saving of 3 movies on the DVD... and it all started up fine.

But then, rather than usual quick drop from 58 minutes to 50 to 41 before setlling into a realistic time count down... it slowly went from 59 to 58 to 57... unlike any other DVD we've burned before. We've only used Memorex DVD-R 8x, so my presumption on this one is that something is wrong with the DVD.

We're not burning again until our DVD-RWs come in or the Tosh promised 7.2.1 patch comes out.

[DaisyChain]

I tried to solve the problem by using TiVo to Go. WELL. I am now even more ticked off at TiVo for hanging us all out to dry. Shouldn't it be illegal to purposely break something that someone has bought??

It took three hours and we're on high speed internet... to get a half hour show onto my laptop from the TiVo hard drive. The sound was very quiet. I could barely hear it.

So I tried to do a freeze frame and image capture from there? It would not make one. The image just floated around the screen once I took the snapshot with my (totally separate) image program.

Ok - So I looked for a way to burn it onto disc from TiVo to Go. There is no way to do so. Guess what?

The TiVo website takes you to a link where you have to spend $50-100 for yet another program which ALLOWS you to burn the shows onto a disc on your computer. Now, wait a minute... I already BOUGHT the TiVo with burner in it... then went through the trouble to put it onto my computer... and now to burn it onto disc from my computer, they want me to spend more money...

AFTER they already disabled the burner I just BOUGHT from them???

TiVo - I'd like to introduce you to a very painful method of storing discs.

[TiVoEvan74]

another aspect to the burn failure... in creating the disk, I inadvertently when to Done creating name before I had selected any characters... and got the DVD followed by date title... I backed off that and then entered characters... I assume that has nothing to do with it, but is the only difference in creating the DVDs... could there be a software program glitch with naming?

[stampar]

The TiVo hardware isn't really suited for heavy editing.

As for editing the title, you get to choose a title when you record from the VCR in the first place.

Drew
Thank you for replying.
Oh, well, who's talking about HEAVY editing? How about some basic things, like taking out a minute of blank screen in my video tape already on the HD? You can't even pause the Recording to the hard drive.
Second point: If I made a mistake in titleing and do not want it to go to the DVD I plan to burn, can I EDIT the title?
And one more: Is there a way to output the HD of RS TX by Firewire/USB to a computer for transfer/editing?
ED
:confused:

[azitnay]

2) No... Just don't make a mistake :).

3) Yes, this is what TiVoToGo does.

Drew

[stampar]

2) No... Just don't make a mistake :).

3) Yes, this is what TiVoToGo does.

Drew

It DOES NOT transfer video - only music & photos for Mac OS X
(see TiVo Desktop 2.2)
I will still keep the unit, but for limited use, since most of my expectations have evaporated.
Thanks

[tw67jw]

I just bought an RS-TX20 that had no remote. I purchased a One-for-All URC-6131 remote, and have programmed everything, easlily, EXCEPT the RS-TX20. Anyone out there have a code that will work? I've tried the search function & nothing happens. Emailed OFA, & they're out until Tuesday, of course. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I too have purchased the TX-20 without a remote - Toshiba tells me that the Universal Remotes will not work and provide all TIVO functionality... did you ever get this resolved?

[hawks67]

It's November 2....has anyone heard anything regarding the Toshiba 7.2.1 patch that they said was coming out at the end of October?

Anxiously waiting..... :)

[azitnay]

It DOES NOT transfer video - only music & photos for Mac OS X
(see TiVo Desktop 2.2)
I will still keep the unit, but for limited use, since most of my expectations have evaporated.
Thanks

You never mentioned you were using a Mac.

You might be able to transfer using Galleon, and then use Virtual PC to (slowly) transcode to an MPEG your Mac can handle (a process not discussable here).

Drew

[azitnay]

It's November 2....has anyone heard anything regarding the Toshiba 7.2.1 patch that they said was coming out at the end of October?

Anxiously waiting..... :)

7.2.1 is rolling out slowly (see other posts on these forums), but there's no priority list or anything, so it's kinda luck of the draw at the moment.

Drew

[CaccaMucca]

It took three hours and we're on high speed internet... to get a half hour show onto my laptop from the TiVo hard drive. The sound was very quiet. I could barely hear it.


Okay, first let me make some assumption here:

1. Your laptop is wireless and you transferred the program using wireless.
2. You were inside your house, since you could not hear the Toshiba making any sound, during transfer.


Since you were inside your house, your own network, your high speed internet that you've subscribed doesn't even come into play. In other words, your transfer was contained within your network.
I suggest going hard wire, plug into your network using CAT5 cable.
Try the transfer again. It should be faster in orders of 4 times or more.


Anyway, it does stink that one has to transfer programs out of Toshiba RS-TX20 to another device just so we can burn the programs on to DVDs.

November 2nd and we are still on 7.2.

[dsb]

Hope I didn't screw up by posting this again - just noticed the "Official RS-TX 20" thread.

Anyway, I have an RX-TX 20 which I have been most satisied with. Rarely a problem that can't be corrected by powering down and then powering back up. But I decided to try TIVO TO GO and now I've run into a problem. The RS-TX 20 won't recognize the Linksys WUSB11 ver 2.6 network adapter (Tivo says its should work...). Tried just about everything I can think of but it won't recognize the adapter. The green power light on the adapter comes on as soon as you plug the USB cable in (its USB A male to USB A male which is a little weird, but that's the way Linksys made this particular adapter). Any ideas greatly appreaciated.

Thanks,

Dave

[windracer]

I'm using a Netgear WG111v2 on my Toshiba, but have a Linksys WUSB11 v2.6 on my 140 box.

Have you tried the other USB port?

[CaccaMucca]

It's November 2....has anyone heard anything regarding the Toshiba 7.2.1 patch that they said was coming out at the end of October?

Anxiously waiting..... :)


Nov 3 - Still no 7.2.1

[pilamm]

I guess I'm a little late in the game as far as talking about the RS-TX20 but I just recently picked one up as an "open box" special at Best Buy. Nothing was marked as missing or defective so I thought I could get a pretty good deal. Here's my main question for anyone currently using the device:

When you use the device to view live TV and you have your source connected through S-video (or any input), do you have to place it in Standby mode when you turn the TV off for the day? I am getting mixed signals from Toshiba tech support. One rep says you do, one says you don't, you always leave it on.

The reason I ask is when I leave it on, say overnight, and go to watch TV in the morning, the video shown is from a pre-recorded time and I must press Play and Advance to get caught up to the live image. Pressing the Live TV button does nothing to catch me up to real time. Also, I cannot control my satellite until I do so because I am looking at past events. This seems wrong to me and also to the techs.

If I leave it on and go through the steps to watch live TV, the response of the recorder to remote commands is very delayed and the image frequently skips or gets jittery. One tech claims this is because I have used up the 30 minute live TV memory and this is why it must be placed in Standby. The other seems to think I may have a problem with a video connection or the box.

It also seems wrong to have to put the unit in Standby when not in use because it turns the display clock off, which I assume is there to function as a standard clock, much like a VCR.

The manual doesn't offer general operating instructions. Anyone have any experiences to share?

[Runch Machine]

I always put mine in standby, though you don't have to. As far as where you are in the buffer, if you have been using it and are behind real time, you will remain behind until you catch up or put it in standby. I don't know how you would get to the beginning of the buffer over night unless you press pause and let it sit there.

By the way, if you have Directv as your satellite provider I would urge you to get a DirecTivo receiver. It's a Directv receiver with a Tivo DVR built it. Picture qualitly is much better and it has two tuners so you can record two shows at the same time. The Tivo fee is also cheaper at $6.00.

[DaisyChain]

CaccaMucca: Thank you for your reply and the info/feedback. Much appreciated.

You are correct - I made the transfer using a wireless router. One of the ones recommended by TiVo on their website (btw I tried to get another one for the other TiVo DVR, and can't find them now. It does seem they're doing all they can to stop us from transferring or dubbing anything?).

The time length isn't so much an issue that I'd want to spend still more money on more equipment (even $10) but thank you for the option. Who knows, I may yet do that. Oh, and the no-sound or low-sound meant on playback (of the transferred show) in my computer. Not of the machinery in use.

The real issue proved to be that I still can't dub the program! After all that. Not even a screenshot. But as for dvd transfer - there is no way in the TiVo desktop program to allow it.

I went back to the TiVo website? And guess what - they want you to shell out $50 or $100 more (depending how many bells/whistles you get) to buy a software program that will let you make the dvd on your computer.

Sheesh, do they get us coming & going or what?! Needless to say, I'm not buying the software program when I've already just bought a brand-new machine supposedly able to do the same thing.

If they never come out with a patch, I predict class action lawsuit. Disabling everyone's DVR has got to be illegal. Truth in advertising and all that.

But as for myself, I'll just find another way to make Dvds that doesn't involve TiVo at all - while pushing pins in a tiny effigy of Tubey or whatever its name is. No way to treat customers, TiVo.

Btw, I am able to make one disc a day in the DVR from prerecorded programs, if I use the unplug-DVR machine-for-at-least-half-an-hour-before-burning option. But no more than once a day.

[baltman]

Hello everyone

I have a RS-TX20 and am trying to network this. I go to settings network and see that the tivo box has an ip address of 192.168.2.106 and I can ping it from my laptop but when I try to connect to the Tivo Service I get a failed to negotiate please try again. I have 3 usb network devices for this all on the tivo tested list and get the same results. Can anyone assist.

Thanks

[Kracko]

Hello everyone

I have a RS-TX20 and am trying to network this. I go to settings network and see that the tivo box has an ip address of 192.168.2.106 and I can ping it from my laptop but when I try to connect to the Tivo Service I get a failed to negotiate please try again. I have 3 usb network devices for this all on the tivo tested list and get the same results. Can anyone assist.

Thanks

Do you have any other tivo's on the network? Can they talk to the tivo servers? Do you have a firewall?

On my firewall I have the following ports open, 2190 and 8101.

Maybe this link will help: http://customersupport.tivo.com/knowbase/root/public/tv2073.htm

[baltman]

Ok This is what I have for equipment.

(1) Directv D10 Receiver
(1) Toshiba RS-TX20 Digital Media Server
(1) USB200M hard wired network
(1) SMCWBR14-TG 108mbps wireless Broad Band Router

Directway Internet Satelite Service (DW6000)

If I use the phone line I can connect to the Tivo Service but when I change to Network I get failed to negotiate.

I have the basic tivo service not the plus.

Any help would be great. Thanks

[CaccaMucca]

Hello everyone

I have a RS-TX20 and am trying to network this. I go to settings network and see that the tivo box has an ip address of 192.168.2.106 and I can ping it from my laptop but when I try to connect to the Tivo Service I get a failed to negotiate please try again. I have 3 usb network devices for this all on the tivo tested list and get the same results. Can anyone assist.

Thanks

I'm assuming that your computer(s) or laptop(s) that you have on your network is able to surf the internet. If not, you need to address it before moving on.

There are two options you could have used to program the IP address on your RS-TX20:

1. Using a default setting - DHCP, this is where your router hands out the IP address dynamically
2. Using a manual setting - you would have to program the addresses in manually

If you used option #1, you have a firewall, router and/or a network issue.
If you used option #2, you don't have the correct default gateway programmed into your Toshiba. Maybe you have a duplicate IP address programmed on another device.

That is unless you have some other device on your network, let's say an iMac that is handing out IP addresses because you have the DHCP service enabled.

Your RS-TX20 has or acquired address ending with 106.
My guess is the router started with 101 and gave out 6 addresses, which means that you have 5 other devices on the network? Are they having issues surfing the internet? Try powering down one device at a time, including the router and RS-TX20 and see if anything changes.

You may have a latancy issue with your internet satellite connection. Which means your RS-TX20 is looking for a connection response faster than your network can provide and it is timing out. For example, the network can get the connection response in 4 seconds but RS-TX20 is looking for it in 3. There is nothing you can do about this short of hacking the Toshiba and programming it by extending the time out value. If you are able to do that, you and I need to get and make millons fixing everyone's problem and coming up with new programs.


Let us know what you find.

[CaccaMucca]

CaccaMucca: Thank you for your reply and the info/feedback. Much appreciated.
Anytime.


I made the transfer using a wireless router. One of the ones recommended by TiVo on their website (btw I tried to get another one for the other TiVo DVR, and can't find them now. It does seem they're doing all they can to stop us from transferring or dubbing anything?).
I don't think TIVO had TivoToGo in mind when they recommended wireless solution for connecting up the boxes. With TivoToGo, everyone should connect their TIVO boxes using a wired network cable into their network. This is my professional opinion as a network engineer.

I still can't burn even after powering the Toshiba down for more than 8 hours.
I've stopped burning all together for now. It is a software issue and TIVO must come up with a patch before too long. My DV tapes of my home videos are stacking up because I can't tranfer them onto DVD.

[DaisyChain]

So are mine! I have several three-hour NFL games that I was burning for someone - many of them on highest setting! My HD is all but full all the time, and I have what, 140 hours of room built in?? This is ridiculous.

I likely will not be sending any more shows to the laptop, since I can't burn them from there anyway. I don't want to pay $50 more when I already bought a machine that should dub on its own and it's brand new. If anything TiVo should at LEAST give us that software as a consolation prize. For FREE.

I mean they messed it up in the first place, right?! sigh.....

I was able to burn a few discs after powering down unplugged totally etc., for just over half an hour each time. Then plugged it in and it will burn ONE disc only. It doesn't seem to matter if I choose separate shows as long as it is one disc.

However yesterday I burned part 1 of an NFL game and tried to do part 2 after unplugging and replugging again? And it would not. It failed not long into it. Internal error. I thought maybe it had to be 24 hours apart. Tried again today and the same thing - internal error, failed. Two more coasters! I also would like TiVo to send us all a batch of free DVD-R's to replace all the ones ruined by this machine they've rendered all but useless.

Seriously - some enterprising lawyer should get on this. And I have not sued anyone before in my life. But this is just w-r-o-n-g.

If I can't burn any more discs after this I will wonder whether (hey alliteration!) TiVo's 7.2 is like a virus that gets worse as time goes on. Will it eventually stop us from keeping shows more than a day or two, also? Isn't that the test they used a while ago? Why would they do that if they were never going to use it. Well anyway it would not surprise me too much!

If they come out with 7.2.1 and it fixed all this like new (I just want it like it was prior to 7.2) I will eat a little crow and apologise. But as of now I am still waiting. They also put nothing on their website so they are not exactly owning up to this!

[DaisyChain]

PS baltman I had the same problem - my laptop would NOT recognise TiVo at all. Not at all! We had everything set up like we're supposed to and the right part off their website and hubby had adjusted the port on the firewall for our router. Well HIS computer recognised it just fine but mine still would not.

I did not have a separate firewall so I thought. So I just could not figure out what was wrong! Then something 'told me' to look at Windows Programs and lo and behold it had a Windows Firewall already installed on the machine and it was ON. I had to turn it off and restart and still no TiVo showing... I looked and somehow the firewall was still turned on.

Well this time I got it to turn off and lo and behold - hello TiVo! So maybe this will help you. See if you have a firewall on your computer you didn't even know about. The router has its own but if you got a computer already loaded up, they may have installed a Windows firewall in there without your even knowing - I have XP.

Hope this helps.

[TiVoEvan74]

My RS-TX60 continues to burn DVDs fine (both -R and -RW). I had one Memorex DVD-R that failed, but it hung the machine when I inserted it making me think there was something with it to begin with.

I know that's no consolation to those who are having problems... but it does mean that the problem isn't universal. Could there be a TX 20 vs. TX 60 difference?

[CaccaMucca]

My RS-TX60 continues to burn DVDs fine (both -R and -RW). I had one Memorex DVD-R that failed, but it hung the machine when I inserted it making me think there was something with it to begin with.

I know that's no consolation to those who are having problems... but it does mean that the problem isn't universal. Could there be a TX 20 vs. TX 60 difference?
I don't know if TX60s are having problems. I know TX20s and some Pioneer models are affected. My TX20 started out with 1 or 2 coasts, and now everyone of them are. Hope yours are not just starting.

[Runch Machine]

I'm having trouble with getting the digital optical cable to stay in. Is anyone else here having that problem?

[ber]

Well DaisyChain....i hear your pain....my machine seems ok for the moment...after i switched to DVD-RW 2x's but i went thru the same frustration you did...and would love to be reimbursed a carton of DVDs for all those ruined by the upgrade...particularly given that this upgrade did not really benefit any of us...we have a DVR....we don't need TIVOTOGO....not to mention having to power down every nite...to simply burn single discs like you are doing.....i am just thankful for forums like this...so that people don't feel alone in their problems,...otherwise pre-internet...you might simply think it was an isolated problem in your own unit...and not something systemic....with a great number of (but clearly not all) of the units.

Lets hope the new version comes out ASAP...i wish TIVO would at least post something directly on their cite...acknoweldging that there is an issue and updating us a bit from time to time...on the date....late Oct did not happen obviously...so when!!!

[ZeoTiVo]

It does seem they're doing all they can to stop us from transferring or dubbing anything?).you know if you did not lace everything with TiVo conspiracies, you might get more help on the TiVo forum.
Oh, and the no-sound or low-sound meant on playback (of the transferred show) in my computer. Not of the machinery in use.

The real issue proved to be that I still can't dub the program! After all that. Not even a screenshot. But as for dvd transfer - there is no way in the TiVo desktop program to allow it.

I went back to the TiVo website? And guess what - they want you to shell out $50 or $100 more (depending how many bells/whistles you get) to buy a software program that will let you make the dvd on your computer.making DVDs is not an easy thing and it takes a lot of power on the PC. Browse through the TiVoToGo/HME forum on this site. You will find talk of Nero Express that can burn from .tivo files. Did your PC come with Nero ? Also you will find talk of DirectShowDump - this will get you mpeg files from .tivo files and then you can burn it with whatever you have. A little research goes a lot further than a lot of conspiracy theory.
Sheesh, do they get us coming & going or what?! Needless to say, I'm not buying the software program when I've already just bought a brand-new machine supposedly able to do the same thing. yes, TiVo is trying to give you and others a bad custome experience, it really fits right into their subscription model where the customer is their real asset. But like isaid above there are ways to burn on the PC without buying naything else and that forum I mentioned is full of threads on how to do it. You will aslo want to lookup codec - it is the codec being used on the PC that is giving you the sound and other playback porblems. Start a thread in the TiVoToGo Forum if you do not find what you need - many will help you there with how to burn on a PC using TiVoToGo without buying anything else.
If they never come out with a patch, I predict class action lawsuit. Disabling everyone's DVR has got to be illegal. Truth in advertising and all that. DRINK ;)
But as for myself, I'll just find another way to make Dvds that doesn't involve TiVo at all - while pushing pins in a tiny effigy of Tubey or whatever its name is. No way to treat customers, TiVo. again some research and taking advice like using a wired network will get you into DVD making a lot quicker. The wireless adapters will be a problem for a while. The problem with wireless is that the USB drivers for such hardware is very new on linux - which is what TiVo uses. The adapter manufacturers do not make the linux drivers and thus open source or in house development is all that TiVo can do. As you have seen - the open source drivers are only passable and not very good for large chunks of data. I think TiVo is working on releasing its own adapter and thus can concentrate in house work on that one adapter, but even that will be difficult in the short term. Your best bet for TiVoTogo is to use a wired connection, but their is no conspiracy afoot, just an environment of no good drivers available for linux wireless.

Btw, I am able to make one disc a day in the DVR from prerecorded programs, if I use the unplug-DVR machine-for-at-least-half-an-hour-before-burning option. But no more than once a day. I also am not having burning issues on the hardware I received. It really does suck that an assembly line run seems to be out there that is just not working correctly. Sorry if this has been discussed further up in the thread but have any of you called Toshiba ?

Has anyone tried calling TiVo CSR and ask get included in the 7.2.1 early rollout to to see if it does fix the problem. You might also try emailing TiVoOpsMgr (look him up in the members list here) as he can give you more detail on what is happening with this bug and if 7.2.1 is meant as the patch, etc..)

[baltman]

I'm assuming that your computer(s) or laptop(s) that you have on your network is able to surf the internet. If not, you need to address it before moving on.

There are two options you could have used to program the IP address on your RS-TX20:

1. Using a default setting - DHCP, this is where your router hands out the IP address dynamically
2. Using a manual setting - you would have to program the addresses in manually

If you used option #1, you have a firewall, router and/or a network issue.
If you used option #2, you don't have the correct default gateway programmed into your Toshiba. Maybe you have a duplicate IP address programmed on another device.

That is unless you have some other device on your network, let's say an iMac that is handing out IP addresses because you have the DHCP service enabled.

Your RS-TX20 has or acquired address ending with 106.
My guess is the router started with 101 and gave out 6 addresses, which means that you have 5 other devices on the network? Are they having issues surfing the internet? Try powering down one device at a time, including the router and RS-TX20 and see if anything changes.

You may have a latancy issue with your internet satellite connection. Which means your RS-TX20 is looking for a connection response faster than your network can provide and it is timing out. For example, the network can get the connection response in 4 seconds but RS-TX20 is looking for it in 3. There is nothing you can do about this short of hacking the Toshiba and programming it by extending the time out value. If you are able to do that, you and I need to get and make millons fixing everyone's problem and coming up with new programs.


Let us know what you find.

Thanks for the reply.
I am not having problems with the other devices on the network. I have my linux webserver on this and no problems getting out or to it. The others are three wireless laptops and 1 desktop and 1 linux server. So it must be the timeout delay. Well I will see if I can change the timeout delay on this . Do you know if I can telnet to this system since I can ping it or do I have to remove the HD and put it in my other pc and then hack from there.

Thanks.

[ashu]

Darn it Zeo ... if you try to get me drunk on a Monday morning, how am I supposed to concentrate on work?

I am looking into bringing a lawsuit against you .... ooops ... glug-glug!

[hawks67]

Wow, what a mess! I myself called Toshiba this morning, as so many other forum members have done, to inquire about this infamous fix-it-all 7.2.1 patch. First thing they told me was that TiVo was in charge of rolling out the patch. I was very suspicious of this statement, since I wholeheartedly trust the posters here on this forum infintely more than a first-level CSR from Toshiba, but alas, I did then call TiVo.

Here is a very close representation of the play-by-play with Tia, the TiVo Level One CSR I got on the phone:

Me: I really, really, really need to get this 7.2.1 patch
Tia: Have you been put on the priority list?
Me: No, but I guess that's what I'm aiming to do here, so yes, please
Tia: No problem, please give me a minute and I'll take care of that for you
<couple minutes go by>
Tia: OK, I have put you as high on the priority list as I possibly could. You should expect to receive this patch within three to six days.
Me: DAYS???!?!?!? <small whine> :eek:
Tia: Yes, I'm sorry, there are lots and lots of people on this priority list, but you should get it within about three days.
Me: OK, well, I guess that'll have to do. Now, this WILL fix everything, won't it?
Tia: Yes, the 7.2 patch should take care of your concerns
Me: 7.2? You mean 7.2.1, right?
Tia: No, this 7.2 patch covers the issues with the 7.1 release.
Me: I have it on good authority that the patch I'm referring to is 7.2.1 and covers the issues with the 7.2 release.
Tia: You already have the 7.2 patch? Oh, then you're OK. What problems are you having? :confused:
Me: <long description of DVD burning problems, random rebooting, etc)
Tia: Let me transfer you to second level support.
<several minutes go by with major-league bad hold muzak>
Isaac: Thanks for holding, can I help you?
Me: <description of 7.2.1 patch and performance issues>
Isaac: Yes, we are currently in the process of distributing 7.2.1, and it is our hope that it will address these issues.
Me: We are having all sorts of problems burning DVDs, and our system reboots randomly from time to time.
Isaac: Well, the rebooting issue is probably something that is hardware-related, although some customers receiving 7.2.1 may see some improvement in this area. If not, then you will need to have your machine serviced. The DVD burning issue is something that 7.2.1 is intended to address. Please hold a few minutes while I research the issue a little further and get more details about 7.2.1.
<continued hold muzak, featuring flutes this time>
Isaac: Yes, I have confirmed that we are attempting to address that DVD burning issue with 7.2.1.
Me: Terrific, is there any way I can get on the priority list for that, like the other person was going to do for me for 7.2?
Isaac: No, not yet. It may be another little while, maybe a month or two before that 7.2.1 release will be ready.
Me: <astonished> But I had been informed that this release was supposed to happen at the end of October! :eek:
Isaac: Yes, but we decided to hold off a bit. This is going to have to be an entirely new software release.

So if Isaac is to be believed, and he did sound entirely credible, our burning issues are going to continue through Christmas, most likely. I suppose we should be grateful that this time they're actually going through the proper software testing and analysis portion of development and not just shoving out a patch like they did with 7.2. :down:

But right now I don't exactly feel grateful. :mad:

[Tiresius]

My RS-TX60 continues to burn DVDs fine (both -R and -RW). I had one Memorex DVD-R that failed, but it hung the machine when I inserted it making me think there was something with it to begin with.

I know that's no consolation to those who are having problems... but it does mean that the problem isn't universal. Could there be a TX 20 vs. TX 60 difference?

I have a TX 20 and have never had a failure burning DVD's.(knock on wood)

I sympathaize with those having the problems, but the fact that some units are working leads me to believe that this really is a bug and not some conspiracy by Tivo to screw their customers with DVD burners. That doesn't excuse them for shipping with such a bad bug though - that's just not good service anyway you slice it.

Since the supposed fix(7.2.1) is complete and currently being rolled out I think the only course of action is to wait for 7.2.1 to hit your machines and see if it's really fixed. It would be nice if Tivo could somehow prioritize the DVD units in the upgrade since some of them really need the bugfix badly.

Oops, my bad. I just reread some posts and it seems there is now a question as to whether 7.2.1 is even out and that it may be a month away. Anybody actually seen 7.2.1 yet?

If anybody has seen it, did it fix the problem?

[azitnay]

7.2.1 priority list:

http://research.tivo.com/72.1priority/

Drew

[DarkShadows]

Thanks Drew, I just sent off my request for the new patch.

[ber]

Thanks Drew, I just sent off my request for the new patch.

YES I second the thanks to DREW!!!! Good job in getting this info to us....lets all keep our fingers crossed....and obviously report back here with results!!!!

Robert

[baltman]

Wow, what a mess! I myself called Toshiba this morning, as so many other forum members have done, to inquire about this infamous fix-it-all 7.2.1 patch. First thing they told me was that TiVo was in charge of rolling out the patch. I was very suspicious of this statement, since I wholeheartedly trust the posters here on this forum infintely more than a first-level CSR from Toshiba, but alas, I did then call TiVo.

Here is a very close representation of the play-by-play with Tia, the TiVo Level One CSR I got on the phone:

Me: I really, really, really need to get this 7.2.1 patch
Tia: Have you been put on the priority list?
Me: No, but I guess that's what I'm aiming to do here, so yes, please
Tia: No problem, please give me a minute and I'll take care of that for you
<couple minutes go by>
Tia: OK, I have put you as high on the priority list as I possibly could. You should expect to receive this patch within three to six days.
Me: DAYS???!?!?!? <small whine> :eek:
Tia: Yes, I'm sorry, there are lots and lots of people on this priority list, but you should get it within about three days.
Me: OK, well, I guess that'll have to do. Now, this WILL fix everything, won't it?
Tia: Yes, the 7.2 patch should take care of your concerns
Me: 7.2? You mean 7.2.1, right?
Tia: No, this 7.2 patch covers the issues with the 7.1 release.
Me: I have it on good authority that the patch I'm referring to is 7.2.1 and covers the issues with the 7.2 release.
Tia: You already have the 7.2 patch? Oh, then you're OK. What problems are you having? :confused:
Me: <long description of DVD burning problems, random rebooting, etc)
Tia: Let me transfer you to second level support.
<several minutes go by with major-league bad hold muzak>
Isaac: Thanks for holding, can I help you?
Me: <description of 7.2.1 patch and performance issues>
Isaac: Yes, we are currently in the process of distributing 7.2.1, and it is our hope that it will address these issues.
Me: We are having all sorts of problems burning DVDs, and our system reboots randomly from time to time.
Isaac: Well, the rebooting issue is probably something that is hardware-related, although some customers receiving 7.2.1 may see some improvement in this area. If not, then you will need to have your machine serviced. The DVD burning issue is something that 7.2.1 is intended to address. Please hold a few minutes while I research the issue a little further and get more details about 7.2.1.
<continued hold muzak, featuring flutes this time>
Isaac: Yes, I have confirmed that we are attempting to address that DVD burning issue with 7.2.1.
Me: Terrific, is there any way I can get on the priority list for that, like the other person was going to do for me for 7.2?
Isaac: No, not yet. It may be another little while, maybe a month or two before that 7.2.1 release will be ready.
Me: <astonished> But I had been informed that this release was supposed to happen at the end of October! :eek:
Isaac: Yes, but we decided to hold off a bit. This is going to have to be an entirely new software release.

So if Isaac is to be believed, and he did sound entirely credible, our burning issues are going to continue through Christmas, most likely. I suppose we should be grateful that this time they're actually going through the proper software testing and analysis portion of development and not just shoving out a patch like they did with 7.2. :down:

But right now I don't exactly feel grateful. :mad:

I have this system with Software version 7.2.0-elm-01-2-656 and have no problems burning my DVD's. I thought I would try this as I see everyone saying they have problems. I came home today and burned to DVD's one after the other.

I am using the Memorex 4X DVD-R media. I even test this to make sure I could play the recording and there where no problems. This is the original system with no hacking done.

[DarkShadows]

I have this system with Software version 7.2.0-elm-01-2-656 and have no problems burning my DVD's. I thought I would try this as I see everyone saying they have problems. I came home today and burned to DVD's one after the other.

I am using the Memorex 4X DVD-R media. I even test this to make sure I could play the recording and there where no problems. This is the original system with no hacking done.

I used the Memorex 8X recently a 50 pack spindle, I got 40 in a row then 3 coasters, then two good burns, then the system locked up again.

It's be an on again off again deal with my unit.

[DaisyChain]

Humax machines are also having problems.

My guess is, on the Toshiba models, some were put together at a different factory and may have slightly different parts inside, making them less vulnerable to glitches for some unknown reason. This type of thing is often subcontracted.

An update: After bouncing around like it was possessed, I did try to make a burn later on and it burned a disc. It definitely messes up if TiVo starts recording a live show during it, though. I don't think that's what went wrong that one time it got an error (after 24 hrs. of not trying at all) but I'm not sure. Anyway, it's working again now - as long as I unplug the machine at least half an hour first.

Of course, it could always stop again! LOL What a laborious way to have to burn discs!

[Punchey]

I'm considernig upgrading from an SD-H400 to an RS-TX20. Is there anything I should consider before doing so? As I understand it, the TX20 has darker blacks (crushed blacks) that make the image too dark. But then I've heard that for some people using Humax recorders, 7.2 fixed it. Is the same true for the TX20? And if you were me, would you make the move to upgrade?

Thanks!

[TiVoEvan74]

I just upgraded from an SD-H400 to both a Human and Tosh DVD burning unit... definitely worth it... the infinite space afforded by the DVDs is an asset...

Plus the extra space, especially of the RS-TX60, is wonderful!

[Punchey]

Any problems with crushed blacks and/or picture quality moving from the SD-H400 to the RS-TX?

[TiVoEvan74]

don't know what crushed blacks are... we're not particularly discriminating about picture quality having had over the air for years. We're among the group (probably a minority) who finds BASIC quality recording quite fine... and as a result gets 200+ hours of recording with our RS-TX60.

The only thing I can tell you is that we didn't see any difference in picture quality between the two... but then again, as mentioned, it's not that big a deal to us (however, I'm sure that if there were major differences--colors way off, poor reception, scattered colored pixels, etc.--we would have seen that.)

[hawks67]

7.2.1 priority list:

http://research.tivo.com/72.1priority/

Drew

Fantastic! While I, like everyone else, feel lucky to have someone like Drew on our side, what does it say about TiVo's development and customer service when he knows more than their supposed second-level support? I mean, it's simply pathetic that I can be told by TiVo that 7.2.1 is potentially two more months away while their own site has a page allowing Series Two customers to sign up for the very same patch.

"Frustrating" doesn't begin to cover it, but thank goodness for Drew!

[Punchey]

TivoEvan74, that's good to hear that there's no perceptible difference between the two. From what I've been told and from what I've read, "crushed blacks" is where darker areas of the picture are too dark and detail in them is lost. And from what I've heard, the overall picture on the RS-TXs is excessively dark. But if you haven't noticed this, then either you've gotten one with fixed hardware, or 7.2 fixed your problem. Because I tend to think you would have noticed it, judging from what everyone is saying.

Thanks for your input!

[TiVoEvan74]

Well, I don't know about that! We put up with fuzzy over-the-air pictures for years and even pixelated TiVo recordings because the visual quality wasn't a high priority--and we have small TVs.

People with larger TVs and who are more sensitive and particular about visual quality are the ones reporting the issue-- so, if I were you, I'd even start a separate thread asking for input on this very issue. You want to see if any particular folks report that the problem has been fixed!

[ber]

Well, I don't know about that! We put up with fuzzy over-the-air pictures for years and even pixelated TiVo recordings because the visual quality wasn't a high priority--and we have small TVs.

People with larger TVs and who are more sensitive and particular about visual quality are the ones reporting the issue-- so, if I were you, I'd even start a separate thread asking for input on this very issue. You want to see if any particular folks report that the problem has been fixed!

I haven't had a problem at all with the Toshiba pic quality....i have a 43" Sony (not HD)

[ZeoTiVo]

Fantastic! While I, like everyone else, feel lucky to have someone like Drew on our side, what does it say about TiVo's development and customer service when he knows more than their supposed second-level support? I mean, it's simply pathetic that I can be told by TiVo that 7.2.1 is potentially two more months away while their own site has a page allowing Series Two customers to sign up for the very same patch.

"Frustrating" doesn't begin to cover it, but thank goodness for Drew!

actually it was the TiVo Customer Service employee "TiVoJerry" who posted the priority list in the coffeehouse discussion thread in the thread titled "7.2.1 ......... " I highly reccomend reading the Coffeehouse discussion forum - it is all about TiVo and I get a lot of info from there myself.

another employee TiVoPony had stated before that there would be no priority list for 7.2.1 - hence my advice to call in and get on the early rollout.

This means it was a very recent decision to have the priority list so the Customer Service reps on the phone just had not gotten the official word yet that they could start to tell customers about it. I think it was all a timing issue and the fact that CSR's are told to be careful in what they say so that one voice of what will really happen goes out from the CSR center.

the ACTUAL rollout of this at regular volume may be a month or two away but they are ready to let people who ask for it get it as a final round of "lets see how it does out on the customer base"

[Punchey]

TivoEvan74:
I see what you mean. I actually did start a thread, but amazingly, despite all the people who've complained about the picture quality issue, not a single person has replied to that thread to say whether or not their picture quality has changed or stayed the same after 7.2.

I haven't had a problem at all with the Toshiba pic quality....i have a 43" Sony (not HD)

That's good to hear! I'm more encouraged now about taking the plunge. :) Thanks for the input.

[ZeoTiVo]

Well, I don't know about that! We put up with fuzzy over-the-air pictures for years and even pixelated TiVo recordings because the visual quality wasn't a high priority--and we have small TVs.

People with larger TVs and who are more sensitive and particular about visual quality are the ones reporting the issue-- so, if I were you, I'd even start a separate thread asking for input on this very issue. You want to see if any particular folks report that the problem has been fixed!


I have a Toshiba 32inch TV that I had my SD H400 on and then switched it out for the RS-TX20. I record most things at Best quality and have no problems with the picture quality, though I can see some pixellation if I look for it. It is not something that bothers me with TV shows however.


NOTE- though that I first looked at a Sony WEGA (HD set or SD set) becasue of its good rep. but the analog cable picture being fed to either in the store looked awful. Put in a DVD though and it looked great.

Then I looked at the Toshiba (Non HD) I did buy and the analog cable on it looked great as it did a much betetr job with the colors, had a real depth of color to it, and the filters on the TV were optimized for SD. A DVD played on it looked great as well to me though it suffered from only being interlaced.

anyway I bough the Toshiba to get a MUCH better SD picture and gave up a littel bit on the DVD picture for it.

I submit that the person's TV/method of hook up may play a major role in how noticeable the crushed blacks and other imperfections are

[Punchey]

Thanks for the feedback! So you would say that you didn't notice any TiVo quality difference between the SD-H400 and the RS-TX20? The thing I've been hearing is that in settings below Best, and possibly High, result in an almost unwatchable picture in dark scenes. Or at least those are the complaints. I never know just how much salt to take with such complaints though.

So do I take it from what you were saying that the DVD playback quality on the SD-H400 is better than on the RS-TX20? Or did I misunderstand?

All in all, with the great feedback from you guys, I'm leaning toward going for the TX20. Thanks again!

[ashu]

I have a TX20 AND a SD-H400 connected to the same TV via a receiver. I ran out of component switching inputs on the receiver, so my SD-H400 is SVideo connected (although the receiver then upconverts it). The same show waatched on the two units
a. TX20-component-receiver-component-SD Flat screen JVC TV
b. SDH400-SVideo-receiver-upconverted_component-SD Flat screen JVC TV

ALWAYS has a looking better. Of course, I've introduced a possibly flawed Component upconversion into the pipeline, but the gist is - on a 27" SDTV (the best out there), the TX 20 is just fine.

Lest I forget, I record almost everything (but sports/cartoons - High) in Medium Quality. NOTHING at Best!

[CaccaMucca]

TivoEvan74, that's good to hear that there's no perceptible difference between the two. From what I've been told and from what I've read, "crushed blacks" is where darker areas of the picture are too dark and detail in them is lost. And from what I've heard, the overall picture on the RS-TXs is excessively dark. But if you haven't noticed this, then either you've gotten one with fixed hardware, or 7.2 fixed your problem. Because I tend to think you would have noticed it, judging from what everyone is saying.

Thanks for your input!

My Toshiba images were darker than the same images through my VCR.
I'd compare it switching back and forth using my receiver. One day I decided to try a Monster cable and replaced the existing ones connecting up to my Toshiba. You guessed it, the pictures were as bright as my VCR. No more dark pictures, no more crushed blacks.

For those having issues with any display images with any video devices, try these 3 things:

1. Try replacing the cable with a quality one, ie. Monster Cable.

2. If you are going through a receiver or sort, try a different port. If you have it going into VCR1, try VCR2 or the VIDEO.

3. Try plugging into your TV directly and bypass your receiver. Maybe it is your receiver or some unknown adjustment features that you don't know about.

[ashu]

PLEASE don't say MONSTER and QUALITY in the same sentence, unless you're using the adverbs OVERPICED and BAD as well :)

Monster is a load of overpriced crud. Nothing more.

[Punchey]

Thanks to the both of you for the added input!

ashu:
It is good to know that you see good quality even at Medium. If you dislike Monster cables (I also think they are very highly priced), what cables do you recommend that are affordable?

CaccaMucca:
This is a very interesting testimonial. I'll definitely keep it in mind if I notice any problems with the brightness of the unit. However, according to some old threads I read, someone hooked up some equipment to the outputs of these units and found that the black level output is at 0. I don't have any idea what that means, but according to those in the thread, that was too low and it's supposed to be some higher value. So according to them, the problem was coming from the unit itself. But then later, someone said that 7.2 fixed a similar problem on their Humax. So I thought maybe it was something in the software.

But now if you fixed the same problem by changing cabling, that's really puzzling. But good information nonetheless. I will keep it in mind. thanks again!

[ber]

I have not yet got 7.2.1- hopefully soon since i filled out the priority request in the link Drew provided....Once anyone gets the upgrade- i would certainly appreciate some feedback on whether it addressed successfully the problems with DVD burning.

[ashu]

Monster is no better than the standard,w ell-packaged RadioShack or no-big-brand-name cable at CC/BB. CaccaMucca may have replaced some Stone Age cabling with Monster, which would POSSIBLY be an improvement :)

[MrParrish]

:) I Have the Tx60 and the new download cured it of the tempermental burns.
I was having problems about every fifth disc no matter what type I used. After the 7.2.1 upgrade I've had no problems whatever burning discs, even the 8x fly like a pro. The overlap upgrade is great too! Been reading this thread for a long time and since no one had commented on the after effects I thought I would chime in.

Rick

[CaccaMucca]

Monster is no better than the standard,w ell-packaged RadioShack or no-big-brand-name cable at CC/BB. CaccaMucca may have replaced some Stone Age cabling with Monster, which would POSSIBLY be an improvement :)

I got the Stone Age cable from you Caveman. :) LOL!!!
So, when having problem with video and/or audio, try replacing the cable first.

[CaccaMucca]

:) I Have the Tx60 and the new download cured it of the tempermental burns.
I was having problems about every fifth disc no matter what type I used. After the 7.2.1 upgrade I've had no problems whatever burning discs, even the 8x fly like a pro. The overlap upgrade is great too! Been reading this thread for a long time and since no one had commented on the after effects I thought I would chime in.

Rick

I'm still waiting for 7.2.1. Tomorrow would be day 3 since I've signed up using the priority list.

[Fragster14]

I'm using the RS-TX60, and while I haven't had any problems with burning dvd's and such, I have noticed that it displays colors very poorly. Since I have HD, and my digital cable box can output two signals, I have an HD signal going straight to the TV that I switch to when I want to watch HD (Damn Tivo for not even being able to DISPLAY HD) and then I let it go through the DVR for regular TV channels and such. But there is a serious image quality difference between viewing a signal thats straight from the cable box on one component video input and the DVR signal from another component input. Both use the same brand of video cables (monster), so I have to assume that it's not a cable issue, and it's definately not a TV issue because it looks great through the cable box, but bad on the tivo. Basically, the colors are skewed. For example, people's faces all appear yellow, simpson style, when viewed through the Tivo. The colors are too vibrant and extreme. You get used to it after awhile, but when I switch over to watch HD for awhile, then switch back to the tivo, it's downright painful to watch. As far as I can tell, there isn't a way to change the color settings on the tivo itself.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me? Sorry if this issue has been covered before, I will continue to search for answers on this thread and others. Thanks!

Edit: I'm also using the 7.2.0-elm-01-2-565 software version, if that helps any.

[windracer]

Basically, the colors are skewed. For example, people's faces all appear yellow, simpson style, when viewed through the Tivo. The colors are too vibrant and extreme.
Maybe this is due to the MPEG encoding being done by the TiVo?

Can your TV store different brightness/contrast/tint settings for each input? You might need to "tune" your settings (using something like Avia) for the component input that the Toshiba is connected to.

It's also possible, I suppose, that there's something wrong with the component outs on the Toshiba. I just have standard analog cable, going out via component to my plasma, and there's definitely a quality difference, but the colors look normal.

[DarkShadows]

I'm still waiting for 7.2.1. Tomorrow would be day 3 since I've signed up using the priority list.

I got the update last night, three days exactly after I signed up via the Priority delivery system.

[scottt]

I got the update 2 nights ago, and I didn't even know about the priority list until today (been under a rock for the last few days).

[DaisyChain]

you know if you did not lace everything with TiVo conspiracies, you might get more help on the TiVo forum.

Way to attempt to vilify me, ZeoTivo. When did I say that no one was helping me here??? They've been great. But then they don't seem to take it personally if I criticise TiVo et al.

Others here ARE actually helpful and do not feel the need to virtually slap my face for stating the truth. If you don't feel TiVo is giving us a hard time look around you. I am not the only one saying this. If you don't feel TiVo is doing this on purpose then they must have created and tested an 'upgrade' while being complete idiots. It had to have been obvious to them that it would cause burns to fail - and they shipped it out anyway. What does that tell you?

What does it also tell you that they have already tested software which will purposely disable the ability to keep shows past a day or two? They've already test-marketed that.

Kindly do not paint me as some conspiracy nut just because I call a spade a spade. Or do you work for TiVo - I wouldn't be surprised. Don't answer that - it is a redundant question and frankly, I don't care.

You answered my post without intending to help. Also your half-hearted replies such as they were, were useless, since you clearly had not even read my prior posts and the replies some HELPFUL people gave to them - or my follow-ups. If you had not, then kindly do not pull attitude. You just make yourself look silly.

If you had read those posts you'd realise that the sound issue wasn't a sound issue after all and the wireless vs. wired transfer is also no longer of importance.

I also am not having burning issues on the hardware I received. It really does suck that an assembly line run seems to be out there that is just not working correctly. Sorry if this has been discussed further up in the thread but have any of you called Toshiba ?

(bold marks, added)

Again - you haven't even READ the THREAD and you are spouting off to me?? Nice.

First - if you haven't got burning issues then what do you know about what frustration some of us are experiencing with this? I just bought a brand-new TiVo and they sent out a software 'upgrade' which disabled it. Since you haven't experienced it and have no empathy either, why bother to post at all??

Then when I saw that you haven't even read the whole thread to know what the heck you're talking about - that tore it. YES people have called Toshiba, and TiVo, over and over again. We were promised a patch which is nowhere to be found and there's no word on when it WILL come out. They promised it by the end of October. At least READ the THREAD before you spout off to someone next time with your 'advice', fair enough?

A little research goes a lot further than a lot of conspiracy theory.

And a little research goes a long way before spouting off at a total stranger. This from the guy who's giving me advice I don't want, and who hasn't read the thread to see which issues were already resolved before smarting off to me. I don't WANT to do all that (downloads, using other programs on my computer, etc.) - and I should not HAVE to. I already bought the freaking DVR plus burner a short time before TiVo purposely (otherwise you are calling them incompetent idiots - which is it?) disabled it.

As for their 'customer service model' or whatever - do their customers really matter so much, in light of the reports they've sold out to the cable companies? Just wait and see - not that I expect you to admit you were wrong once this all plays out. I already explained what I think has happened and why. I'm not just spouting off about little green men. I'm not going to reiterate my reason for thinking they've sold us out in view of where TiVo's future will be. Go back and actually read the thread.

And, save the sarcastic crap for someone who's impressed.

[CaccaMucca]

DaisyChain,

There are few posters that are on Tivo's payroll and their work is to vilify posters that complain about Tivo and defend Tivo at all cost. I totally agree with you about Tivo being on a slow death and on their way out. For example, I'm waiting for Comcast to come into my area next year. They have a DVR that records 2 different channels while viewing a 3rd at the same time with 2 hours of buffer for each program for $6.99 a month with all the features of TiVo. That is almost half the price of TiVo's monthly subscription charge.

Enough said, let's talk about 7.2.1.

I got my update last night and my burn problem is NO MORE!!!
I've successfully burned 2 disks and started to move programs off my hard drive. All this, while recording live broadcast with no coasters!

I'm using the same media, Fuji 8X, that worked without any issue before 7.2; failed miserably during 7.2; and now works again with 7.2.1.
Now, Tivo people, please tell me again that it is not the software and it was my media or my defective RS-TX20. NOT!!!

I want to take this time to thank everyone that complained by phoning and emailing Tivo and Toshiba. Our voices and complaints were heard loud and clear. I'm also sure our continued posting on Tivo Community got on the radar of many potential buyers on the fence debating if they wanted to purchase a Tivo box. OUCH!

Too bad it took 2 month to fix it.

So, now that our $600 boxes are back in action, how do we block Tivo from forcing unwanted updates down our throat? We need some kind of hardware blocker. Hey, even Microsoft asks, 'Do you want to install the update?" before shoving it down our throat.

[DaisyChain]

Thank you very much CaccaMucca. I appreciate your understanding!

And I agree with everything you said!

I hear ya about Comcast. Cable updates tend to take way longer than they should around here (although in the midst of a large city!) which is one reason I bought the DVR in the first place - ironic. The clerk actually told me that he had heard that the software had been licensed to cable companies and TiVo was phasing out the hardware/DVR side of their business. I recall telling him that was okay, as long as it worked at least a couple years as that was likely as long as it might take our local cable co. to get the same thing. Maybe that was a rash decision on my part. Then there was a small part of me that thought "and well this might be a rumor." He sounded pretty assured though - I also note that it's near impossible to find a new, in-box machine like I have. So maybe it's true after all.

I also notice that TiVo doesn't have the necessary wireless thingys on their website any more - not sure what's up with that considering they're pushing the computer burn software but who knows. Maybe they are gonna (as someone else mentioned) come out with their own wireless whatevers. (But that's neither here nor there for me... I just want what I bought to work as it should. Just a random thought.)

That is GREAT to hear that 7.2.1 took care of the problem. I'm still a bit spooked that this happened at all - what was this about?! Were they just trying to see if they could sneak it in and whether we'd kick and scream? Or was it a test run. Who knows. Anyway I'm glad it works as it is supposed to, for you now! I think it's not too much to ask that a machine work as promised. Something similar would be Windoze forcing a download on us (to use your analogy and extend it a bit?) and the fix would cost more money or downloading software we didn't want. People would rightly be screaming about that too.

So, now that our $600 boxes are back in action, how do we block Tivo from forcing unwanted updates down our throat? We need some kind of hardware blocker. Hey, even Microsoft asks, 'Do you want to install the update?" before shoving it down our throat.

Too right! I couldn't agree with you more. I'm disappointed in this whole episode and I just hope they do not repeat it.

Sorry for all your 'coasters', it's great to hear that there's light at the end of the tunnel though (assuming it will be the same with mine!). Unplugging the thing and waiting to burn a single disc is getting old... Thank you so much for posting this great news.

:D

[Bimwad]

Way to attempt to vilify me, ZeoTivo. But then they don't seem to take it personally if I criticise TiVo et al.

Criticism is one thing, conspiracy theories are something else altogether. The flip side of the Pollyanna Tivo-huggers here, if you will.

I hate to respond to trollish comments, and I don't have an urgent interest in the DVD burning issues, so I declined prior comment, but ZT is entirely correct in his interpretation of your comments, if not perhaps the residual effects. Judging by the lack of comment from some of the other veterans, I'd say he's correct about the latter, too.

You repeatedly accuse TiVo of purposely disabling one of the prime features of the product without any proof.

Even assuming that a struggling company like TiVo would ever consider such an ill-advised strategy that would hurt its current customers, as well as discourage potential new customers, any rational personal would ask why TiVo would do so? How many reputable companies do you know of that would purposely incur such anger from its customers?

If TiVo wanted to disable the DVD burning feature, why allow it to work intermittently instead of shutting off the feature altogether? Or do the TiVo engineers have some sick sense of humor to tease and torture us at the command of their evil masters?

You were not alone in experiencing the DVD burning issues, yet the only one who suggested, if not screamed, that it was the result of a intentional action worthy of a legal response.

TiVos are software-based devices, and all software has bugs, particularly when a major revision is involved. Despite their best efforts, people who write software and provide tech support do make mistakes. If their efforts to identify, rectify, and implement solutions to problems don't occur quite as quickly as we'd like, one must be patient instead of resorting to creating fantastic explanations and threatening legal action.

Your comments, all on the record here, seem to belie any understanding of how technology, and technology companies function.

Thankfully, 7.2.1 seems to provide a solution to the burning issues, and hopefully, it will result in less "spouting," too.

Just calling a spade a spade.

[DaisyChain]

Oh, puh-lease. :rolls eyes:

Do you work for TiVo? Nevermind; don't answer that.

First - you all (both) need to take a chill pill. Seriously.

Second - I did not EVER threaten anyone with a lawsuit. I said I would not be surprised if one resulted, which is entirely different. I have no interest in suing TiVo.

Predicting what may result is one thing. I predict the sun will rise tomorrow. Am I responsible for that now, too?

Nor was I the only one saying that it might happen. So what? People post opinions on an opinion forum.

"Conspiracy theories" - give me a break?! I never used the word conspire, or conspiracy. I love how some of you seem so threatened by what I think of what TiVo did, that you want to make me sound like some Area 51-ite or some grassy knoll obsessive. Nice.

Actually, those are some strong allegations you are making. Very interesting how personally you are taking some of this, considering you say you are not interested in the topic and have no stake in the issue of burn failure:

I don't have an urgent interest in the DVD burning issues, so I declined prior comment

So why post? I mean, why would you care at this point? And, why take it personally? Seems you're working awfully hard to stir dying embers and ash into an allout flamewar. For what purpose?

You repeatedly accuse TiVo of purposely disabling one of the prime features of the product without any proof.

Hmmm. I'd say the amount of complaints about what happened with 7.2 is (reasonable enough) "proof" that it caused burn failures. It cost a lot of people a lot of trouble and inconvenience, not to mention the cost of ruined discs and in some cases, I think, postage to send the machine in, etc. But accuse them outright of disabling it - that isn't what I recall and was not my intention. I recall saying something like "is this what is happening?". Totally different. (As far as 'assumptions' - well who sent it out - TiVo, wasn't it?) But I already spoke to all this, and you know I did. I'm only posting now to try ot make it clear that I did not say I was going to sue. (And frankly if I had, so what?)

Another point neither of you address: Why could TiVo not have simply ASKED us if we wanted this download? Easy enough. If they didn't know it would cause massive burn failures, why not? What about reports they test marketed something designed to stop shows from being saved past a day or two? What about reports they've already sold to the cable companies and are phasing out their machines?

But just why are you and ZeoTivo so interested anyway? When you both say at the same time you have no stake/interest in this? Interesting.

but ZT is entirely correct in his interpretation of your comments

Very subtle. Opinion stated as fact (isn't that what you take exception to??). But I think if you want to know how to 'interpret comments' you should ask the one who made them, no? I wonder why you didn't just simply do that. I'm right here. Ask me. Rather than tossing out words like trollish, conspiracy, screaming, etc. But - you're not that interested. So then why post?

The attempt to gather support and imply 'silent assent' - re: 'nah nah, the veterans don't like you either' - is also strange. (Do you really want to start a flamewar over an issue that has frankly been resolved?) But frankly, I always found board-cliques an odd notion anyway. We should all be equal here. And if TiVo royally screwed some of us over, we have every right to gripe about it without - whatever you two are - getting up in our grills about it. Pardon some of us (not just me), if we have another opinion. But why single me out? Because I wonder why TiVo did what it did? I'm allowed to have an opinion.

If TiVo wanted to disable the DVD burning feature, why allow it to work intermittently instead of shutting off the feature altogether?

Your comments, all on the record here, seem to belie any understanding of how technology, and technology companies function.

Most hard drives can be 'tricked' into momentary resuscitation simply by unplugging the computer. It is pretty hard to totally disable one without a virus or simply erasing it, as far as I understand. But why are you asking me? You as much as called me stupid and ignorant as concerns hardware. But you're not really asking me, though, are you? Nope - just making a lot of insinuations and accusations. You know. Like you accuse me of doing. And again - for what purpose? You can skip my posts if you dislike them. I can't 'skip' being able to use the DVR as intended and sold. But the topic isn't supposed to be me - it's about, well, you know what it's about. If you want to make it about me and how you think I reek, start a new thread :p

Also - I do have an interest in how all this shakes out. I have a TiVo, and a TiVo which was affected by the 'update'. What is your reason?

You asked why anyone would purposely disable part of their technology. Or wait - you're not really asking me. Well, I'll answer. :p Ask them! Funny how you go on about proof anyway (and 'matter of record'). This is a message board! Not a court of law. It is a forum for posting opinions. "Prove" to me that I am a conspiracy nut! Or irrational. Or a troll. Didn't stop you from saying those things did it? That was your own opinion based upon what you saw in front of you. And maybe you were angry.

Gee, I wonder why people would be angry at a $600 doorstop? (I'd like to see a Windoze 'update' installed w/out asking users, which forced people to do a hard reboot every time they used their computer! That hasn't happened and people say much worse about Windoze and Gates than anything anyone expressed here.) But again:

If they did not do this on purpose, then they were incompetent. Wouldn't it have to be one or the other? That is my opinion (and that of some others here too). Period. Hey, at least I was upfront about why I cared. Now can we all move on. Thank you. (Cos after all, you're not all that interested!).

[garrock]

I put my name on the 7.2.1 update priority list thanks to the link posted by Drew on 11/7, and after three days my RS-TX20 box was updated. This forum definitely preserved my sanity, and pointed me in the right direction, as the update appears to have solved my problems.

As with everyone else, I too received the 7.2.0 update in late summer and initially had no problems. I installed a wifi adapter to get rid of the phone line, and merrily recorded programs and burned DVDs. Then I started to burn coasters, with burn failures occurring both early and late in the burn process. At first it was intermittent, perhaps 1 in 10, and eventually became 9 in 10 failures. Occasionally, the unit would spontaneously reboot during a burn session. I was prepared to return the unit until finding this forum. I discovered a work around from this board: record to a 2X -RW disk, and copy it to -R or +R format on my computer.

I received the 7.2.1 update yesterday, and have burned several of the shows I had stored without problems. I have yet to discover the update's other attributes, but this fix is enough for me. Thanks to all on this board.

[MrParrish]

Hey, DaisyChain, ZeoTivo, BimWad, CaccaMucca.....you guys are missing a key element of all this!

Wouldn't a discussion of burning issues inevitably lead to a flaming????????

Sorry, Coudn't resist!

Okay, now you can all join together and villify the newbie.

MrParrish

[CaccaMucca]

I received the 7.2.1 update yesterday, and have burned several of the shows I had stored without problems. I have yet to discover the update's other attributes, but this fix is enough for me. Thanks to all on this board.
That is what this board is all about. I began posting shortly after the 7.2 upgrade, maybe we should call it downgrade, with my theory tying the burn issues with 7.2, I'm just glad it is over for now.
As I've stated before, there are a lot more people that read about issues with 7.2 than Tivo would have liked. You yourself is one of them.
I'd like to thank again everyone involved for complaining and emailing Tivo and posting their experiences and issues.

"As an individual I was but a voice in the wilderness, but as a group we were a chorus and were heard by Tivo"

[CaccaMucca]

Well, here we go again. The errors are back. I've successfully burned 3 DVDs in a row after getting 7.2.1 and just now made 3 coasters. I've unplugged the RS-TX20 for now.

Toshiba RS-TX20, Tivo box with dvd burner with 7.2.1 software / firmware fails to burn DVDs! < --- this line is for anyone Goggling.

I must have used up my allotted 3 burns.

Houston, we still have a problem.

CRAP!!!!

[hawks67]

Well, here we go again. The errors are back. I've successfully burned 3 DVDs in a row after getting 7.2.1 and just now made 3 coasters. I've unplugged the RS-TX20 for now.

Toshiba RS-TX20, Tivo box with dvd burner with 7.2.1 software / firmware fails to burn DVDs! < --- this line is for anyone Googling.

I must have used up my allotted 3 burns.

Houston, we still have a problem.

CRAP!!!!

I second that. We actually didn't even get the allotted 3 burns. Just the same old crapping out just before the finalization step. Restarted several times, no effect. Confirmed that we have 7.2.1.elm yadda yadda yadda.

I would just LOVE to know how others have managed to successfully burn with the "upgrade". Is there a magic phrase we need to chant? Do we need to rub garlic on the TiVo unit? Sacrifice our first-born?

Sheesh.

:mad:

[Kracko]

I received 7.2.1 last night and now today I can't copy from my video camera to the Tivo. I was able to do so all week as I've been copying tapes like mad. I tried restarting the Tivo and pulling it's plug for 2 minutes all to no avail.

I called Tivo support but they told me I have to go through Toshiba support which is only open M-F according to Tivo's recording.

[CaccaMucca]

I second that. We actually didn't even get the allotted 3 burns. Just the same old crapping out just before the finalization step. Restarted several times, no effect. Confirmed that we have 7.2.1.elm yadda yadda yadda.

I would just LOVE to know how others have managed to successfully burn with the "upgrade". Is there a magic phrase we need to chant? Do we need to rub garlic on the TiVo unit? Sacrifice our first-born?

Sheesh.

:mad:
I left my Toshiba RS-TX20 unplugged, power, for more than 8 hours, I just finished burning my 3rd successful DVD. Wish me luck on my 4th one. I could not burn even one DVD with 7.2, so this is an improvement for me.
This time I had my network sniffer plugged into the network to see what all goes on between my RS-TX20 and Tivo. Only saw multicast and broadcast traffic, whch means that my 5 port router is acting like a switch. I'll have to dig up my 4 port hub and retry another time.

As soon as I get enough space on my hard drive, I'll try transferring my home video DV tapes and see if that piece is working. By the sound of what Kracko posted, that piece is now broken and this time it is the RS-TX60s. Fix one issue and break another.

[CaccaMucca]

I received 7.2.1 last night and now today I can't copy from my video camera to the Tivo. I was able to do so all week as I've been copying tapes like mad. I tried restarting the Tivo and pulling it's plug for 2 minutes all to no avail.

I called Tivo support but they told me I have to go through Toshiba support which is only open M-F according to Tivo's recording.
Now you know how some of the owners of RS-TX20s and other units felt, when we were getting the run around. I was even told to mail in my Toshiba because I have defective hardware. Of course, I didn't.
Are you using the DV input on the front or RCA jacks in the back of the unit to copy your movies?

[Kracko]

Now you know how some of the owners of RS-TX20s and other units felt, when we were getting the run around. I was even told to mail in my Toshiba because I have defective hardware. Of course, I didn't.
Are you using the DV input on the front or RCA jacks in the back of the unit to copy your movies?

I'm using the DV input on the front of the unit.

[MrParrish]

Okay, it's established that the new software upgrade fixed the problem for some of us, didn't do nada for some of us, and created a new headache on camera recording for at least one of us
.
Did it cripple anyone who had no problems before?

It would seem logical that if it didn't then the previous problems were hardware related and do indeed fall at Toshiba's doorstep.

Mr P

_____________________
(1) Tivo Series2 80hr

(1) Toshiba RS-TX60

[CaccaMucca]

Okay, it's established that the new software upgrade fixed the problem for some of us, didn't do nada for some of us, and created a new headache on camera recording for at least one of us
.
Did it cripple anyone who had no problems before?

It would seem logical that if it didn't then the previous problems were hardware related and do indeed fall at Toshiba's doorstep.

Mr P


Oh, you sound like another company man.
So, whose door step does Pioneer and Humax fall on?
Doh!

[CaccaMucca]

My RS-TX20 just locked up and rebooted on its own while I was channel surfing. I'll keep it unplugged for now. I did manage to burn 5 more DVDs since yesterday. That makes the score 8 to 5. 8 successful burns, that is better than 0 to 13 I would have gotten with 7.2.
7.2.1 is still buggy. Not as stable as 5.4 or whatever I had before this whole mess started. My guess is another patch in 3 months, Tivo might call it 7.3 this time.

Still have not tested recording using DV input. Maybe I'll test that later on today.

At this stage, I'd give up the Tivo feature on my $600 box for a stable DVR with a DVD burner. Yes Tivo, please delete the Tivo function off my RS-TX20 and just leave me with a basic DVR w/dvd burner. At least that way I won't have to put up with this CRAP. I should have just paid $400 for a regular DVR with a burner. But NO! I had to buy the $600 one that included a Tivo because Tivo was a mature product and I always wanted a Tivo. But now, I have an equivalent of a $49 box. Not even that. $49 boxes don't reboot in the middle of watching a program or channel surfing.

We may actually be witnessing the demise of Tivo here. This can definitely be one of the catalyst.
- DirecTV moving away from using Tivo software. They will be using there own Tivo like software. No royalty, lost revenue.
- Toshibas, Pioneer, Humax etc. might stop producing Tivo w/DVD burner boxes all together due to poor consumer demand as the word spreads of all the issues with buggy software. Best Buy, Circuit City, Sears, etc. won't want to put up with returned units, complaints for consumers, you get the picture.
- Better offer from the cable companies; $6.99 a month versus $12.99 for Tivo like box and best of all, you don't have to shell out any dough for the box. You rent it. $6.99 pays for all. That means instead of shelling out $600 and $12.99 a month thereafter, my $600 would have bought me 86 months of viewing, that is 7 years, for a better box. Do the math. 3 turners, record 2 programs while viewing a 3rd, 2 hours of buffer space for all 3 tuners, not 30 minutes.
- Tivo subscribers like myself have cancelled month subscription due to buggy software. Why should I be paying for something reboots and requires to be powered down half of the time. Lost revenue, hurting the bottom line.

Writing is on the wall.

[Kracko]

Did it cripple anyone who had no problems before?



I consider what it's done to me, crippling. I had no problems before the update.

[TiVoEvan74]

RS-TX60 still working fine, burning DVDs without a hitch, even after 7.2.1

I even burned several today while it was recording other shows (8x DVD-R and 4x DVD-RW). So, the problem is clearly not universal and, in fact, might be related to a particular run of the hardware.

I'm beginning to think there's a problem with *some* RS-TX20s and burning. I would return the product under warranty, even if you have to do it again. Alternatively, see if your state has "lemon" laws and if you can force Toshiba or your reseller to take your unit back and refund your money.

I would also find a higher up at Toshiba and request a refund with a nice formal letter (mentioning legal action otherwise) and phone call.

The only caveat--and you've probably already done this--is to make sure that you are only using the exact DVDs specified in the manual... that is, no 8x, no 4x, and that they are certified with whatever DVD standard the manual states. It shouldn't matter, but who knows, you might get lucky.

[CaccaMucca]

I'm beginning to think there's a problem with *some* RS-TX20s and burning.
I know you are just suggesting some helpful advice and this is not against you. Some of us are frustrated with our $600 door stop.

We had no problem with burning on 5.4 software. Our problem started with 7.2 upgrade, so it is not a hardware issue. How else would you explain same issues that Pioneer, Humax, etc. are having??? Are they hardware issues as well????
Problem is with Tivo. That's right, I said it and everyone can quote me on it.


Maybe I could get on a 5.4 priority list.

[Kracko]

Follow up: I just unplugged my RS-TX60 for an hour and now it sees the signal from the video camera again. I'm back in business.

[garrock]

The other day I was glad to announce that, having received the 7.2.1 update for my TX20, my burning problems were over.

Today I announce the party is (again) over.

I attempted three burns today (having successfully burned three dvds after the update). The first was successful, the second failed due to 'internal error', and the third created a spontaneous reboot of the box (I presume the burn failed as well, but the box is powering back up as I type this).

My unit is four months old. Prior to receiving the 7.2.0 update, I must have burned over 100 dvds. I also added a wifi adapter after the 7.2.0 update--is anyone aware if that is a potential source of instability of these systems?

[DarkShadows]

I attempted three burns today (having successfully burned three dvds after the update). The first was successful, the second failed due to 'internal error', and the third created a spontaneous reboot of the box (I presume the burn failed as well, but the box is powering back up as I type this).

I received the update on Thursday and since yesterday I made 30 burns with two coasters.

Only three failed copies after 36 attempts, although I had two in a row on the last two I tried tonite. All of them internal errors but the system did not reboot itself.

I will see how it goes with the rest of them.

[CaccaMucca]

The other day I was glad to announce that, having received the 7.2.1 update for my TX20, my burning problems were over.

Today I announce the party is (again) over.

I attempted three burns today (having successfully burned three dvds after the update). The first was successful, the second failed due to 'internal error', and the third created a spontaneous reboot of the box (I presume the burn failed as well, but the box is powering back up as I type this).

My unit is four months old. Prior to receiving the 7.2.0 update, I must have burned over 100 dvds. I also added a wifi adapter after the 7.2.0 update--is anyone aware if that is a potential source of instability of these systems?

Garrock and all, powering the RS-TX20 down for more than 8 hours after the initial 7.2.1 upgrade seemed to have solved the burn problem with me, so far anyway. Simple reboot won't do, at least it didn't work for me. Without having inside information on how the Tivo software works, I can only guess there is a file(s) or something, the software looks at the clock when it first powers on and if that something is too old like 8 hours or more, deletes or flushes it and creates another. Maybe this something must be created using 7.2.1.
The program even feels different, more responsive, which is good news. That is my theory and I'm sticking to it until something else changes. :p

7.2.1 - jury is still out.

[Kracko]

I burned 20 DVD's tonight, successfully.

[castledown]

Can someone can help me please. I have a TiVo unit purchased two years ago and I love it! But now I'm thinking I'd like to get rid of a box and reduce cable clutter AND add a DVR DVD recorder. The RSTX 20 was advertised in a Sears ad flyer in today's paper. Of course, when I went to Sears, they said they were sold out and they don't expect to get more in. What's up with this? The clerk suggested that I shop online at Sears and they may have them. I checked; they do.

But I have questions: what exactly can the DVD recorder do? For example, if I record a TV show to TiVo and then decide that I want to make a DVD of that show, can I do it? Or is this a situation where I need to tell the DVD recorder to record the show and leave TiVo out of the loop?

If I use the DVD recorder, can I stop it and start it manually to edit out commercials?

Aren't there licensing/copyright issues with recording DVDs? For example, would I have been able to make a DVD of the Paul McCartney in St. Petersburg concert that was on the other night?

Any help you can give would be appreciated! Thanks! Paula

[MrParrish]

Not a company man. In fact I just went through a lengthy and frustrating time trying to get a replacement unit from Tivo that worked for the series 2. Two units in a row were lemons. I had to call Headquarters in California to finally get some action. But that's another story.

However, the point about Humax etc. is well taken. It can't be hardware if it's
affecting all the DVR's. Didn't get to have any experience with the 5.4 software because 10 minutes after I connected my Tosh it got the 7.2.0 update. I just presumed my burning problems were the unit from the outset.

And I was too rash in my assessment of the overall performance of 7.2.1. I'm back to a 5-1 ration of burns and coasters.

So much for being optimistic.

Mr P

[TiVoEvan74]

Is it affecting the Humax to the same extent as the Toshibas? Is the RS-TX60 affected as much as the TX20? We really don't know, do we? I see far more complaints on these boards about the TX20 and far fewer about the Humax... but we don't know relative ownership share.

It clearly isn't a universal problem at all... in fact, it seems to be a small, but unfortunate, minority of the DVD units. If it were widespread, there would be far more complaints and there wouldn't be as many success stories.

It seems as if it must be a hardware-software interaction... otherwise, if it were purely software, then ALL units with the software would be having the problem. I wonder if we could start pooling information about when the units were manufactured and where (is there a sticker or other number that would tell us?)

As to the 5:1 ratio of burns to coasters... what's the media, speed and -R or -RW, and brands? Which TiVo?

5/6 successes is actually quite good compared to some people's experiences! Still unacceptable, though...

[ber]

Just thought i would tenatively chime in...busy weekend...so i have not had a chance to play around with my machine significantly....but got the 7.2.1 update...so far 2 for 2....the 2nd on an 8X disc...which was where i was primarily having my problems previously....will update by tomorrow...given i have lots of stuff to burn this evening....glad that most people have seen some sort of improvement...event if it isn't back entirely to 5.4 times

[ashu]

(Instead of imlpying and insisting, unscientifically, that this is a TiVo/Toshiba or 7.1, 7.2, 7.2.1 problem,) Should we, perhaps, be concerned about the quality of mass-produced DVD burning drives? They're now dirt cheap almost to the point of being sold at or below cost.

I see from your commetns about burning 10s and hundreds of DVDs that you folks having issues are HEAVY burner users. I've burnt, PERHAPS, 10-20 on my Toshi TS-X20 and 25 on my Humax DRT800 in nett toal of 29 months of ownership (7 and 12 respectively). Maybe the burner/laser or something dies after a while? I've had PC drives (DVD burning drives) die spontaneously and abruptly become incapable of completing a burn. After a year or two of light use. This sounds similar (a few weeks of VERY heavy use)

Just a thought!

ps: And not to cast aspersions on any of you, but I'm curious whether you're distributing content to your friends or archiving everything in sight just for the heck of it? Really - 100s of DVDs? :eek:

<edit> In case it isn't apparent, the drive used in both these devices is a variant of the Pioneer 108Z (commonly available, and likely a variant of the NEC 3540-A. IIRC!

[mickeymaker]

Can someone can help me please. I have a TiVo unit purchased two years ago and I love it! But now I'm thinking I'd like to get rid of a box and reduce cable clutter AND add a DVR DVD recorder. The RSTX 20 was advertised in a Sears ad flyer in today's paper. Of course, when I went to Sears, they said they were sold out and they don't expect to get more in. What's up with this? The clerk suggested that I shop online at Sears and they may have them. I checked; they do.

But I have questions: what exactly can the DVD recorder do? For example, if I record a TV show to TiVo and then decide that I want to make a DVD of that show, can I do it? Or is this a situation where I need to tell the DVD recorder to record the show and leave TiVo out of the loop?

If I use the DVD recorder, can I stop it and start it manually to edit out commercials?

Aren't there licensing/copyright issues with recording DVDs? For example, would I have been able to make a DVD of the Paul McCartney in St. Petersburg concert that was on the other night?

Any help you can give would be appreciated! Thanks! Paula

You use the DVD burning TiVos just like any other TiVo. You have the option of dumping anything that has been recorded onto DVD (you don't need to know in advance that you want to record it to DVD). You can't transfer shows from other TiVos and then burn them to DVD on this one (it has to originally record on the TiVo that is going to burn the disc). I really like the DVD recorder option....

You might want to try your local Best Buy to find a RS-TX20. They are clearancing them out for $399, plus you still get the $150 rebate if put service on it for a year. The store might be able to order one from a different store if they are out of them. I just picked mine up tonight--it was ordered from another store and was open box so I only had to pay $359.99 (and I still get the $150 rebate).

[castledown]

Thanks for taking the time to respond. You say that on this Toshiba machine I just make DVD's as I did before. On my old machine (the one I have now, actually), I never made one. There was an option to "record to VCR" only and I never used that either.

I'm really excited about the new features and I know I'll use them. My husband went ahead and ordered it tonight at Sears. Probably no tthe cheapest around. I assume he paid full bore ($399) but we will apply for the rebate. Besides, Sears let's us finance. We already have an account with them.

[windracer]

Thanks for taking the time to respond. You say that on this Toshiba machine I just make DVD's as I did before. On my old machine (the one I have now, actually), I never made one. There was an option to "record to VCR" only and I never used that either.
What he meant is that there's really no difference when it comes to using the unit as a TiVo.

As for the DVD burner, you can't record a currently showing program directly to DVD. You have to record the show on the TiVo (like you do on your current box) and then later you can save the show to DVD if you want ... but you can't do editing, so you can't take out the commercials.

Also, you cannot burn transferred shows onto DVD, so once you have that second TiVo, you won't be able to use MRV to move a show from your old TiVo to the Toshiba and then burn them to DVD. :(

[CaccaMucca]

Really - 100s of DVDs? You need 100 DVDs to get 5 good ones with all the failures. :eek:

I archive few shows for later viewing. My hard drive is alway full from my wife's recording. Hers can stay on the hard drive but mine has to be moved off.

What is hers is hers and what is mine is hers.

[CaccaMucca]

Also, you cannot burn transferred shows onto DVD, so once you have that second TiVo, you won't be able to use MRV to move a show from your old TiVo to the Toshiba and then burn them to DVD. :(She could use the RCAs in the back to record the playback onto her RS-TX20.

[TiVoEvan74]

mickeymaker, good luck getting the rebate! Doesn't the fine print say that it doesn't apply to demo, used, open box units?

[CaccaMucca]

I have another theory, theory #2, #1 was posted few messages above.

Why are there more posts during weekdays and not on weeknights or weekends? We are so connected, We are constantly checking email messages, surfing the net and posting messages on several BBSs while at home. Hmmm ....

CaccaMucca's Theory #2.

A lot of posters work for Tivo and they post during their day shift at work. It makes sense, this is a Tivo run board. That is what I'd do if I was Tivo. You can tell by their posts, their messages scream company man. Some may even post under multiple names, supporting each others posts. :eek:

(Instead of imlpying and insisting, unscientifically, that this is a TiVo/Toshiba or 7.1, 7.2, 7.2.1 problem,) Should we, perhaps, be concerned about the quality of mass-produced DVD burning drives? Case and point #1, always blame it on the hardware. It is not Tivo's fault. Unscientifically? :confused: We've proven that it is the software. Read the thread.
I see from your commetns about burning 10s and hundreds of DVDs that you folks having issues are HEAVY burner users. I've burnt, PERHAPS, 10-20 on my Toshi TS-X20 and 25 on my Humax DRT800 in nett toal of 29 months of ownership (7 and 12 respectively). Maybe the burner/laser or something dies after a while? I've had PC drives (DVD burning drives) die spontaneously and abruptly become incapable of completing a burn. After a year or two of light use. This sounds similar (a few weeks of VERY heavy use) Case and point #2, always blame it on the hardware. It is not Tivo's fault. RS-TX20s have not been around 2 years and some of us are complaining only after few weeks of use. I like you bring in your 29 months of total use. Bait and switch, make it sound older than Noah. LOL. I had my RS-TX20 for 10 months which 3 of them, it was out of commission due to software issue.
ps: And not to cast aspersions on any of you, but I'm curious whether you're distributing content to your friends or archiving everything in sight just for the heck of it? Really - 100s of DVDs? :eek: Case and point #3, change subject. If you can't shift blame, redirect attention. In Tivo's eyes, one can't be using a DVD burner except for illegal use. One can't have extended family and have a need to make multiple copies of home videos of ones little girl for family members. Due to Tivo's software, I couldn't even do that for 3 months.


In case it isn't apparent, the drive used in both these devices is a variant of the Pioneer 108Z (commonly available, and likely a variant of the NEC 3540-A. IIRC! Case and point #4, change subject. If you can't shift blame, redirect attention by introducing something to confuse the masses.

[ber]

You need 100 DVDs to get 5 good ones with all the failures. :eek:

I archive few shows for later viewing. My hard drive is alway full from my wife's recording. Hers can stay on the hard drive but mine has to be moved off.

What is hers is hers and what is mine is hers.


Hey CaccaMucca....are you still having burning problems....i did plenty of testing yesterday and 7.2.1 seems to have been the solution for my problems....

[ashu]

Whatever floats your boat ConspiracyMucca - I mean, CaccaMucca.

Again, I wonder

Really - 100s of DVDs? :eek:


And seriously, I've gone through all the same software versions as you have, with my Toshiba (AND my Humax). I've burnt a DVD everytime a new software came along, and it has always burnt successfully. So your "I've proved its the software" statement IS flawed.

If you want no constructive analysis and possible altternative wyas at trying to understand the root cause of the issues you're seeing, then you should be on www.tivosucks.com or www.iamalwaysright.com. Not here.

<edit> And, ohh joy, so i can't add 12 and 7. So it's 19 total months. Typo. Are you jumping with joy now? Is your Toshiba suddenly burning DVDs successfully now? :p

[kommanderskull]

I've been surfing this forum and the web for several hours trying to determine if the refurbished RS-TX20 unit at Overstock is worth buying. A new customer coupon knocks the price down to $316

Initial comments in this forum about the toshiba were glowing. More recent comments make me a little more hesitant.

I'd like to hear some input fom current RS_TX owners. Would you risk getting a refurb? Do the recent software problems make you hesitant to even recommend a new RS-TX?

I appreciate any advice.
Thanks

[CaccaMucca]

Hey CaccaMucca....are you still having burning problems....i did plenty of testing yesterday and 7.2.1 seems to have been the solution for my problems....

All set. I was getting 50% fail rate with 7.2.1 until I powered the unit down for 8 hours. Please see my theory #1 above. :)

[windracer]

A lot of posters work for Tivo and they post during their day shift at work. It makes sense, this is a Tivo run board. That is what I'd do if I was Tivo.
This is not a TiVo-run board ... it's a subset of the AVS Forum. Yes, there are TiVo employees that read and participate here, but I highly doubt they are using multiple names to make TiVo look better ...

If you want the TiVo-run board, go here (http://forums.tivo.com/pe/index.jsp?WT.svl=body).

I've been a TX20 owner for several months now, and have yet to burn a single coaster. Like Ashu, though, I don't seem to be burning the quantity you are. The TX20 is my third TiVo so I mainly use TiVoToGo and MRV. Really the only time I use the burner is when I need to make some discs to take some shows on an airplane trip for my daughter.

[windracer]

She could use the RCAs in the back to record the playback onto her RS-TX20.
Yes, there's always the analog hole.

[emmpee]

Hey guys,

The response time on my RS-TX20 is awful slow. It is significantly and noticeably worse than the S1 and S2 standalone boxes I have used.

Has anybody else experienced this? Is there any fix for it? I have software 7.2.1...

Thanks,
Mike

[DaisyChain]

CaccaMucca - did someone just call you a 'conspiracy theorist', too? LOL

To what do such types attribute so many people complaining about the same thing, I wonder? By singling one or two of us out and ignoring the sheer numbers of us with the same tech problem, I guess they're thinking it's a conspiracy themselves? All of us are just making this up don't-cha know ;)

Otherwise one would think they'd quit the silliness and just stop hassling us over a quite legitimate complaint we all are having.

Mr Parrish - LOL on the "burn/flame" pun. Hee

N E way.... to topic - I got the patch; I was excited at first... then I actually ran out of discs and had to wait a day until I could really test it. See, it worked at first but then I recalled I'd unplugged it before that anyway. (The patch installed upon replugging-in). Ok, so more discs (which I only had to buy because so many of the previous pack were ruined) & another test run.

It made a few burns... then for no reason it began making coasters again. Another unplug; a successful burn and maybe two and then more coasters. It made no less than five coasters trying to burn the same thing. I finally gave up on that one. I did the restart thingy or whatever... (not unplugging it but just resetting) and that seemed to help.

The following day, it mostly made successful burns; only a couple of coasters. Of all the above burns, (mostly due to multi-parters, by the way - not necessarily that many separate items) at least one was made during a live show taping at the same time. Well, it also did a reboot where it powered down on its own, though.

Overall there seems to be little rhyme or reason to it; BUT at least it is burning now without having to unplug it for a half hour EVERY - SINGLE - TIME I want to use it. That's nice in itself. Of course - if 7.2 had never happened, it would be working as it's supposed to.

LOL on the accusations some of us just wore out our machines with too many burns. Mine was brand new! Have some of these guys even read the thread?? Also ITA with CaccaMucca (and no, we're not the same person, LOL) that some of the posters are logging on from work. :COUGH COUGH: ;)

Not that it matters much. It's kind of amusing actually. Well, that's my updated report. The patch seemed to improve things for now, but, it's hardly optimal or fully functional either.

[mickeymaker]

They didn't exclude open-box items. It excludes pre-owned, second party, demo and display DVRs. My receipt doesn't say open box and I have the UPC codes, so I should be all set :)

[TiVoEvan74]

That's good news on the open-box... and good for you on the rebate!!

Say, folks, maybe there are a bunch of bad units, with some flaky hardware that the 7.2 OS somehow made worse! That is, DVD burner issues or hardware probs interacting with the software...maybe there are some lemons.

And no I don't work for TiVo and am not a TiVo employee masquerading as regular user, yet our DVD burners are working fine--before and after 7.2.1!

But I certainly wouldn't be happy if my unit kept turning out coasters, or I had to go through a bunch of superstitious rigamarole with unplugging the unit for X number of hours (have you all remembered to hop up and down on your left foot 13 times while it's unplugged? If not, that's the source of your problems, right there!)

[Exubesq]

I have a few things recorded which exceed 2 hours and would need to be on more than one disk - which is a pain. I tried buying some DVDs which should have had double the capacity but my TX20 says "no disc" or fails to recognize the type. Any suggestions?

[azitnay]

I'm assuming you bought dual-layer media -- the RS-TX20 doesn't support them in its current form.

If you want to put a recording that's longer than two hours on a single DVD, you'll have to record it at medium or basic quality.

Drew

[Exubesq]

Thanks for the response, even though it makes me less than happy!
Is that a hardware limitation that I 'll have to live with 4ever, or a software issue that may someday be resolved?

[azitnay]

The DVD drive used in the RS-TX units reportedly does support dual-layer media, so there's no hardware reason why it couldn't happen.

It wouldn't just be a trivial software change, so I wouldn't get your hopes up, but we can always hope.

In reality, though, dual-layer media is still (usually a lot) more than twice as expensive as single-layer media, so unless you really need the extra capacity, it's still much more cost-effective to stick with single-layer media.

Drew

[ZeoTiVo]

I have another theory, theory #2, #1 was posted few messages above.

Why are there more posts during weekdays and not on weeknights or weekends? We are so connected, We are constantly checking email messages, surfing the net and posting messages on several BBSs while at home. Hmmm ....
.

Because I have a life and do not sit on the forum at night at home. I work in software development for a large financial institution and have time between compiles and meetings adn project deadlines to follow my interests.

notice that in October and early Novemebr I was not around much. big project at work. now we are in year end system freeze mode and I have some more time on my hands.

your theories are not making for a postive picture of the person posting, while the "company men" all seem to have a grasp of what the true issues are.

PS I also do not make regualr heavy use of the DVD burning on my RS TX20 but I have burned something like 10 in a row on more than one occasion. A set of Rock Star:INXS for a neighbor :eek: and multiple DVDs for the kids/Dad for road trips.

only one coaster the whole time - but the next burn of the exact same stuff worked fine. Most likely a physical media problem.

[ZeoTiVo]

CaccaMucca - did someone just call you a 'conspiracy theorist', too? LOL

To what do such types attribute so many people complaining about the same thing, I wonder? By singling one or two of us out
so you post a statement by some "salesguy"
A recent software update (7.2) seems to have messed with all the DVD recorder TiVo units. Seems deliberate to me. The Humax ones are also having this problem.
<snip>
A sales guy told me that TiVo is phasing out the DVD player/burners, and is going to focus on selling their software/hardware to cable companies instead. As such I bet they had to cut a deal making it harder or even impossible to save and burn shows. That way the TV networks and movie studios don't lose out.
then turn up your own rumor, in the next post -
The more this goes on with no clear word on a timeframe** for a software fix... I feel more disgusted with TiVo and more cynical.

I really feel now they did this intentionally.

There have been rumors that TiVo in future is going to phase out its DVR boxes and license their program only to cable companies - obviously, tv and movie studios do not want cable co's making it easy to copy their shows. Therefore I'm sure that would have been a condition of the cable companies - "stop allowing DVD copies in your machines." There have also been rumors about TiVo making it so that shows can't save past a couple days and shows can't be saved or copied (as the case may be) at all.

Also the thing with the floating logos for ads, so we can't even fast forward past ads any more, they want us to see it. I can understand that somewhat... although it is NOT what we paid for... BUT... To charge us for a DVd burner, then INTENTIONALLY disable it???

Isn't that illegal?! Talk about planned obsolescence!!!!!!

*note I have no proof of this, but, tell me they didn't know this would happen? They developed the download didn't they? And Humax owners report the same thing. **I now see someone was told a patch will be out soon. I am sorry but I wil believe that when I see it. :( Maybe this was all just a dry-run for future DVR disabling. Who knows?? I do know that I just bought this thing and this wasn't funny. Bad show TiVo.then try and bail out by saying you have no proof of all the junk you just posted.
Clearly you are upset because you have a DVR that does not work. I can understand that you are upset. I would be upset as well if I had a unit that did not work. but if you post conspiracies - then you are a conspiracy theorist. It is really that simple.
NOTE- each quote is a separate post. You are a busy conspiracy theorist ;)
So it wasn't that it was an older machine. I think it may be that some were made in another factory though with a slightly different part in there somewhere or maybe a sturdier HD? Who knows? Some people are not having this issue at all. I doubt an update will mess theirs up; IMO this was deliberate and some sort of test. Maybe they tried to get away with it and see if we went along? Maybe this new fix will also plant something else on the HD to see who's dubbing what? Who knows. I just wish they'd left it alone.

I do think in future they will disable or make obsolete the ability to dub shows though. But for now maybe they ran into legal trouble or something. I do think it oughta be illegal if it isn't, to purposely disable what someone just paid for. False advertising at the VERY least.I tried to solve the problem by using TiVo to Go. WELL. I am now even more ticked off at TiVo for hanging us all out to dry. Shouldn't it be illegal to purposely break something that someone has bought??I went back to the TiVo website? And guess what - they want you to shell out $50 or $100 more (depending how many bells/whistles you get) to buy a software program that will let you make the dvd on your computer.

Sheesh, do they get us coming & going or what?! Needless to say, I'm not buying the software program when I've already just bought a brand-new machine supposedly able to do the same thing.

If they never come out with a patch, I predict class action lawsuit. Disabling everyone's DVR has got to be illegal. Truth in advertising and all that.
Drink
Now I tried to help you by pointing you to the TTG/HME forum where there was lots of info on how to use Nero express and also free ways using directshowdump that would give you an mpeg and let you use any DVD burning software on your PC easily. Also pointed out you would have to research codecs as that was your playback problem on the PC. You chose to ignore this and instead focus on the negative again. NOTE others just tried to ignore all the negative stuff I have quoted here. I am not that way though and will call people on what they post when they post such as you have.Way to attempt to vilify me, ZeoTivo. When did I say that no one was helping me here??? They've been great. But then they don't seem to take it personally if I criticise TiVo et al.

Others here ARE actually helpful and do not feel the need to virtually slap my face for stating the truth. I am sure few would think all your quotes here are the truth. Most would call it threadcrap, perhaps along with my repsonse to you as well - but if we can all tone down the nonsense we can get back to readable posts about real problems and answers.
to contiunue your postIf you don't feel TiVo is giving us a hard time look around you. I am not the only one saying this. If you don't feel TiVo is doing this on purpose then they must have created and tested an 'upgrade' while being complete idiots. It had to have been obvious to them that it would cause burns to fail - and they shipped it out anyway. What does that tell you?
it tells me nothing - in this thread are people with Toshiba DVD burner models with problems and just as many if not more without problems.

[CaccaMucca]

Also ITA with CaccaMucca (and no, we're not the same person, LOL) that some of the posters are logging on from work. :COUGH COUGH: ;)At least we can burn without coasters. Now to figure out how to block the software updates.

Thanks :)

[MrParrish]

I've been burning DVD's (Both Sony -R's and Fujifilm -R's ever since my last post and have had no coasters since the 7.2.1 upgrade. I did have three the day after the update.

The only problem I've experienced lately on the 60 is it not recognizing the Fuji discs as a valid media format a couple of times, but re-insertion took care of that.

Since then everything has burned. The Sonys are 4x and the Fuji's are 8x. I've noticed no difference in the burn time from one to the other.

On other topics, the few company people I've encountered on these forums have turned out to be quite helpful with problems I've experienced with my Tivo2 and have even passed my information along to people at Tivo that have called me and offered immediate solutions.

The other night when I was experiencing problems with having switched my home phones to Vonage and Tivo incompatability with that service a customer service rep on the phone from Tivo suggested the Tivo Community forums to find solutions for things that Tivo doesn't support through customer service. So they know that people are coming up with workarounds etc. I think that pretty well
supports the fact that they don't run the forums, but they do monitor them.

By the way, I haven't yet found a solution to the Vonage problem. Tivo 2 can be networked with the computer, but my old Tivo 1 I gave my son still has to call in and as yet I can't get it to do that with Vonage. Just a word to the wise if anyone's considering a switch.

Mr P

[DaisyChain]

Look, Zeo, post all the snark you want in my direction - it's not about me. As I said, if someone wants to divert attention from a very legit discussion (and not even answer the points, but just make fun overall) it says all I need to know about them. You know what? At this point it amounts to trolling. This thread is about the Toshiba having problems due to 7.2, not personal flamewars. Again if you wanna start a thread about nothing but what you think of me, fine. But I tried to end this a bit ago. Fair warning you'll be wasting your time if posting to me ABOUT me, because I'm not reading such posts any longer. It's ridiculous.

Look, if someone wants to spend their free time slagging strangers on the internet that's their business. But I don't have to read it.

I do have to wonder why some who say they have no problem with it, waste time taking potshots at others, but that's again their business, not mine. The issue here is supposed to be 7.2 and what it caused to happen in many of our machines at home. As for our not being techo-geeks, boohoo?! Do we have to be, to deserve a working DVR? I mean what does that have to do with anything? The issue here is that 7.2 caused it not to work. All the trolling, slagging and insulting in the world doesn't change it, but keep trying. It's almost amusing - you're so earnest.

Tivosomeone said:

But I certainly wouldn't be happy if my unit kept turning out coasters, or I had to go through a bunch of superstitious rigamarole with unplugging the unit for X number of hours (have you all remembered to hop up and down on your left foot 13 times while it's unplugged? If not, that's the source of your problems, right there!)

Another one who thinks this is funny or worth taking potshots at some of us. Umm, all I know is that it worked. Many of us saw it happen. But you wouldn't know about this, since yours never stopped working in the first place, right? I do have to wonder what stake some of you have in this since there's nothing here for you to discuss? Since yours never stopped working and all. You can believe we see little green men and hop on one foot to get results if you want to. Doesn't make it true, though. Nice spin though. Hmm, isn't it interesting how all the fanboys have Tivo in their user names....

CaccaMucca - So far so good. Since 7.2.1 other than at first, it's been doing better. Haven't had any coasters since last post. Oh but we're just insane and it was all a hardware problem. We're so ignorant, aren't we?? LOL Silly us!

[TiVoEvan74]

Ah, come on... you've really mis-read my crack about jumping up and down on one foot! Re-read the post. I'm mocking the TiVo tech support advice on this problem not you all! (In both that post and an earlier one in this thread, I expressed concerns about this and asked questions about what's causing it!)

I think it's a travesty that people have units that are turning out coasters and I cannot believe that the tech advice is such rigamarole as unplug for so many hours... with different people getting *different* number of hours as advice.. and people repeatedly being forced to do all sorts of crazy things to get their units burning again (the point is, that's like being asked to jump up and down on one's left foot 13 times!). You shouldn't have to go through all that. And then it turns out that it doesn't solve the problem in any event for many people!

And even 7.2.1 isn't a universal fix, either, apparently!

You're now taking potshots at the very people who, even though we've had no problems, are sympathetic to your plight and angry with both TiVo and Toshiba for not fixing what is obviously a serious, though not universal, problem (and one that is likely an interaction of software & hardware). I'd save your vitriol for them (TiVo & Toshiba) & not us!

[alanpgh]

I have had an RS-TX20 since it came to market, and I love it (even if it's not an HD recorder).

I recently added TivoToGo via a Netgear 801.11 WiFi, and it is great! I like the link to my photos and iTunes Music folders on my PC. Is there a plan to add video streaming in the future, or is it available now through the appropriate plug-ins?

I have some videos (MPG, MOV, AVI, WMV, DV, etc.) on my PC that I'd like to view via TivoToGo. (I can convert to almost any format.) Also, I would like to view some of the Video Podcasts that are in my iTunes folder. I know I am asking a lot. Any suggestions are appreciated!

Thanks,
Alan

[azitnay]

It's more of a file transfer than streaming, but as long as you can get your video files into an appropriate MPEG format (see http://customersupport.tivo.com/knowbase/root/public/tv251080.htm for details), you can use the new TiVoToGo functionality in 7.2 to transfer them from a computer to a TiVo.

Drew

[ZeoTiVo]

I think it's a travesty that people have units that are turning out coasters and I cannot believe that the tech advice is such rigamarole as unplug for so many hours... with different people getting *different* number of hours as advice.. and people repeatedly being forced to do all sorts of crazy things to get their units burning again (the point is, that's like being asked to jump up and down on one's left foot 13 times!). You shouldn't have to go through all that. And then it turns out that it doesn't solve the problem in any event for many people!

And even 7.2.1 isn't a universal fix, either, apparently!


I agree with all the above. Has anyone who received 7.2.1 and it did not fix the problem start demandinga in warranty RMA yet ?
7.2.1 does not seem to be a patch for this burning issue. I asked in another thread and never got confirmation from an actual TiVo employee.

Recent events seem to be pointing back at bad units for those with problems that got some help from just the physical aspects of applying some software. I say this because a TiVo is designed with two system partitions and your TiVo runs from one of those at a time. when any new software update is applied the TiVo applies it to the other partition and then restarts and boots from the other partition. So a patch does make for a significant physical chnage that could account for the differences in burning some are seeing.

[ZeoTiVo]

I know I am asking a lot. Any suggestions are appreciated!

Thanks,
Alan

see my answer in the other forum you posted this question to
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=3482340&&#post3482340


PS - posting the exact same question in multiple places is considered bad form as well. :)

[alanpgh]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. Sorry for the double posting.

Thanks again,
Alan

[DaisyChain]

Evan - Ok, I'm sorry. My bad. I don't recall reading that 'tech support' had told people to unplug their TiVos. I remembered some of us stumbling across that by accident. So criticising it sounded like criticising the people who had this happen to them. All I read in the thread was that tech support said they didn't know about the issue, and/or could not advise.

In fact it was also one of 'us' who said to sign up for the 7.2.1 patch - not one of the TiVo hoo-rahs on the message board (whoever they are in real life). So it seems like all or any help we've gotten has been due to consumers' own efforts.

The 7.2.1 did fix the issue it seems - so it does seem to be an 'answer' of sorts. We're left wondering just what happened and why (to our burners; old and new all stopped working at the same time - after 7.2). Anyway, Evan sorry I mistook your intent. My sincerest apologies.

ZeoTivo - do NOT carry this 'discussion' over into PMs. Bluntly put, I dont want to talk to you here, that means even less so in my personal Inbox. Kindly do not PM me again with more insulting crap. (I will only skim it at best, anyway. I did give you benefit of the doubt - unwisely - but as soon as I see another potshot at me from you - DRINK - ;) I stop reading).

Thank you!

[windracer]

PS - posting the exact same question in multiple places is considered bad form as well. :)
I pointed him to this thread when I saw his original question in another, non-TX20-related thread.

[ZeoTiVo]

I pointed him to this thread when I saw his original question in another, non-TX20-related thread.


yah, I saw that after I made the post here. He was really looking for info on how to use TiVoToGo so in that other thread I was pointing him to the HME/TTG forum here. This is turning into a big place, hard to find your way around at first. :)

[TiVoEvan74]

OK, I can now directly empathize with those who are churning out unsable lumps of plastic!

After virtually complete success burning Memorex DVD-R 8x, TDK DVD-R 8x, and Ridata DVD-RW 4x disks, today I had two TDK disks fail and one Ridata in a row-- on the same twelve 1/2 hour shows (archiving Body Electric). And I'm on 7.2.1 !!! (I did NOT have any problems with 7.2 at all on either a Toshiba or a Humax!)

The great thing about DVD-RWs is that one can simply burn the disk again! That worked, but the TDK disks are toast. I notice that the DVD burner makes far more noise, more fan whooshing, more whatever with the TDKs than with the others, even when it is successfully burning them.

My reaction? It's not to blame Toshiba or TiVo but myself for using 8x disks. They are not the correct ones, at least not as specified in the manual, and so I should expect failures. Fortunately, I got them on sale at Circuit City-- a 25 pack for $8 after tax. Won't be buying them again. I'm going to stick to -RWs.

Now let's see if I can successfully burn the BEs on the 4th try with the RWs. I did burn them twice before several weeks agao--once with the Memorex and once with the TDK--in the pre 7.2.1 days.

SUPERSTITIOUS SIDE NOTE: These were also the first consecutive disks I burned without doing my usual WAIT UNTIL the TIVO HAS finished preparing the disk and the green status bar appears, BEFORE exiting the burn screen. Instead, I exited right away and rummaged around the Now Playing menu, even deleting some things.

I just wonder if that could have something to do with it!

[jsquare]

One simple question: Is the Black Level bug fixed with the newest update?

I'm having such a hard time with picture quality settings ever since I replaced my old S1 with an RS-TX20 last week. The Rome series from HBO are very dark to begin with and last night was the season finale but was barely watchable.

My setup is simple:
Dish Network(SVideo)->RS-TX20->Sharp 55" HDTV(Component also tried SVideo)

DVD playback seems fine, so the problem must be related with the MPEG encoder or line input levels, I was thinking of adding a video enhancer/processor between the Dish receiver and the Toshiba to see if that will make any difference.

[CaccaMucca]

SUPERSTITIOUS SIDE NOTE: These were also the first consecutive disks I burned without doing my usual WAIT UNTIL the TIVO HAS finished preparing the disk and the green status bar appears, BEFORE exiting the burn screen. Instead, I exited right away and rummaged around the Now Playing menu, even deleting some things.

I just wonder if that could have something to do with it!

I believe it has everything to do with it, just like when Tivo is recording live shows, you shouldn't burn DVDs; at least I don't do it due to higher failure rates. One of few times my Tivo crashed and rebooted on its own, I was burning DVDs and scrolling through my play list. This is why I also spectulated that Toshiba RS-TX20 was under powered.

[dpz]

boo-yah

Regarding the problems I've been reading about, at the least I'll end up with 75% more hours than I have now, replacing both my TiVo and DVD player with one less remote, and a clock display that will always be correct via TiVo Basic over my home wireless network. :up:

$469 at Amazon - $100 gift cards - $150 rebate - free shipping - no tax = $219.

-dp

[CaccaMucca]

boo-yah

Regarding the problems I've been reading about, at the least I'll end up with 75% more hours than I have now, replacing both my TiVo and DVD player with one less remote, and a clock display that will always be correct via TiVo Basic over my home wireless network. :up:

$469 at Amazon - $100 gift cards - $150 rebate - free shipping - no tax = $219.

-dp

I don't see them giving away a $100 gift card. $100 gift card is what you will use toward the unit?

[dpz]

I don't see them giving away a $100 gift card. $100 gift card is what you will use toward the unit?

Citibank gave me the Amazon gift card in appreciation for my helping contribute a disturbing amount to their credit card business, so I used it per my Master Plan. Given how the 7.x software killed the Weaknees upgrade on my Series2, there was only so much of my own money I would allow myself to use for another TiVo of any sort. Someone else's money, however, no problem. :p

-dp

[bluesy]

Hello folks,

This is my first post here but I have read every post on my unit, the RS-TX20, before posting this.

I've had my unit for about 8 months or so and have been relatively happy. Just one month ago I switched from basic to plus service, and I like the added features. The feature I DON"T like, that has come to bug me recently, is similar to one I've read affecting many others -- the DVD recording problem. But my problem seems a little more broad. If I put a commercial CD or DVD in the DVD drive, it isn't recognized. If I put a DVD-R or DVD-RW that I recorded some weeks back into the drive, it won't recognize those either. And finally, if I try to save a program to DVD, it never even gets started.

In each of the above scenarios, when I insert the disk and close the drawer, it tries to load. I hear a faint mechanical sound from the drive every 5 seconds or so -- sounds like it's trying to engae the disk but not successfully. Eventually it sorta times out and it stops.

My firmware upgraded to 7.2.1 on 13 Nov, and I recorded a few DVDs since that time, but today it all died rapidly. I've tried restsrts, power-down restarts, and am besdide myself trying to figure out what to try next.

I see lots of notes from others plagued by flaky DVD recording since recent firmware changes, but I haven't heard anyone else say that they couldn't get a previous good disk to load. My gut tells me the DVD drive may have "burnt-out" but it still seems to be talking to the firmware at a certain level.

So, my frantic question is -- is there anything I could try next? Has anyone else had problems getting commercial DVDs and CDs to load?

I haven't called any tech or customer support lines yet, but that may be the next step. But there seems to be a lot of smart and sharing folks here I thought I'd talk to first....

Any ideas??

Larry

[bpbunn]

My RS-TX has an issue where it freezes up every week or so. After it restarts, it's fine, sometimes for a week, sometimes a few days. This is very unnerving - - could happen at any time.

Anyone have this problem or can suggest a solution? Firmware? Power issues?

[Goods]

How can I get the 7.2.1 software. Ever since 7.2.0 I've burned nothing but coasters - about 20 of them.

[azitnay]

http://research.tivo.com/72.1priority/

Drew

[Goods]

Thanks for the link!

[Goods]

Just got 7.2.1 installed and tried burning a DVD. No go - "internal error" message. Does the "Reset DVD Settings" do anything beneficial?

This sucks.

[slyone]

My RS-TX has an issue where it freezes up every week or so. After it restarts, it's fine, sometimes for a week, sometimes a few days. This is very unnerving - - could happen at any time.

Anyone have this problem or can suggest a solution? Firmware? Power issues? I too have started encountering this exact phenomenon! What a royal pain. Before that, I found the unit may go thru a complete boot up when turning on tv- this was also very random but somewhat consistent. It seems it would happen right when you want to see something! Now this new problem of just freezing up-picture hangs on tv as well! I found the only fix is to unplug and replug in the Tivo unit! Any fixes guys? I do enjoy the PVR function but this box is a real flakey one?? software version-7.2.1. :down:

[TiVoEvan74]

Some people have reported success with unplugging the unit for several hours. Have you tried that? Or have you tried the restarting option (just don't pick the option that deletes everything--it's labelled as such).

Larry, if you don't hear other suggestions from more knowledgeable and experienced users by tomorrow, I'd call customer/technical support.

The failure to read previously recorded DVDs or commercial ones definitely suggests to me a problem with the unit and is different from the other problems I've read about on these boards. Good luck with it! And let us know what happens.

[CaccaMucca]

Citibank gave me the Amazon gift card in appreciation for my helping contribute a disturbing amount to their credit card business, so I used it per my Master Plan. Given how the 7.x software killed the Weaknees upgrade on my Series2, there was only so much of my own money I would allow myself to use for another TiVo of any sort. Someone else's money, however, no problem. :p

-dp
Thanks for your reply.
On the cheap, I might just have upgraded my RS-TX20 to a TX60.
I think I could have sold my TX20 for top dollars on ebay, seeing that it is a flawless unit. (wink wink)
No burn issues, never locks up, never freezes, never randomly reboots, just flawness. (wink wink)
Wow, I just realized what a piece of sh*t this unit really turned out to be.

5.4 or whatever I had before the 7.20 is what I wish for my Christmas. Oh, yes, and world peace. I have a feeling I won't get my wish. :(

[CaccaMucca]

Just got 7.2.1 installed and tried burning a DVD. No go - "internal error" message. Does the "Reset DVD Settings" do anything beneficial?

This sucks.

I had the same issue. Unplug, remove the power to the unit, for 8+ hours and give it another shot. See my theory #1, in my earlier post.

I need to unplug my unit again, it is turning out coasters.

[slyone]

never locks up, never freezes, never randomly reboots, just flawness.:(

I too have all these issues with mine as well! So what seems to be the fix? Does Tivo or Toshiba know and/or are they working on a solution? TIA! :confused:

[Goods]

I had the same issue. Unplug, remove the power to the unit, for 8+ hours and give it another shot. See my theory #1, in my earlier post.

I need to unplug my unit again, it is turning out coasters.

Thanks. Tried it and so far 2 good burns.

[FrankNL]

Hello folks,

This is my first post here but I have read every post on my unit, the RS-TX20, before posting this.

I've had my unit for about 8 months or so and have been relatively happy. Just one month ago I switched from basic to plus service, and I like the added features. The feature I DON"T like, that has come to bug me recently, is similar to one I've read affecting many others -- the DVD recording problem. But my problem seems a little more broad. If I put a commercial CD or DVD in the DVD drive, it isn't recognized. If I put a DVD-R or DVD-RW that I recorded some weeks back into the drive, it won't recognize those either. And finally, if I try to save a program to DVD, it never even gets started.

In each of the above scenarios, when I insert the disk and close the drawer, it tries to load. I hear a faint mechanical sound from the drive every 5 seconds or so -- sounds like it's trying to engae the disk but not successfully. Eventually it sorta times out and it stops.

My firmware upgraded to 7.2.1 on 13 Nov, and I recorded a few DVDs since that time, but today it all died rapidly. I've tried restsrts, power-down restarts, and am besdide myself trying to figure out what to try next.

I see lots of notes from others plagued by flaky DVD recording since recent firmware changes, but I haven't heard anyone else say that they couldn't get a previous good disk to load. My gut tells me the DVD drive may have "burnt-out" but it still seems to be talking to the firmware at a certain level.

So, my frantic question is -- is there anything I could try next? Has anyone else had problems getting commercial DVDs and CDs to load?

I haven't called any tech or customer support lines yet, but that may be the next step. But there seems to be a lot of smart and sharing folks here I thought I'd talk to first....

Any ideas??

Larry

Hi Larry

I had the same problem. Called Toshiba, who told me that although it was outside their three month warranty period (what kind of warranty is that, just enough to get it out of the box) they would make an exception and pay for the repair and parts. I sent it to them and they replaced the DVD writer as well as the Hard disk. Got the unit back in ten days. Great service. It has version 5.4 on it now, I presume it will update itself soon... Oh, joy!

Frank

[FrankNL]

All

I tend to just turn off the TV but not put the RS-TX20 in standby mode. Is there any reason to put it in standby mode apart from the obvious wear on the HD? (the unit would keep on recording the current channel to disk continuously).

The reason why I do not do it is plain old lazyness, it is too much effort to go into the menu, then to settings and then standby.... just a button on the remote would be nice.

Frank : confused:

[azitnay]

Putting the unit in standby doesn't save on any HD wear... The unit still records the 30-minute buffer even when in standby.

Since the RS-TX units' RF is always passthrough-only, standby is often a useless feature on these boxes. One example of when you could use it is if you have the audio out directly connected to an always-on receiver, and you don't want the sound to continue to play after you turn the TV off. There are better ways IMO to take care of this situation, however.

I've never used the standby feature of any TiVo regularly.

Drew

[ber]

Just got 7.2.1 installed and tried burning a DVD. No go - "internal error" message. Does the "Reset DVD Settings" do anything beneficial?

This sucks.

Does anyone know for sure that 7.2.1 (which worked ok for a short while...and is now giving me coasters regularly) in fact was aimed at addressing the writing problems with the Toshiba DVR's....my sense now is that it was simply an interim release allowing for clipping, etc....but did not address the burn/internal error problems....

My problem is just with 8X discs....i am frustrated...so from now on in...it will be a two step process to archive....(1) burn onto my sony 2x dvd-rw's,...which burn fine .(2) then put that disc into the computer and burn onto the much cheaper 8x dvd-r's.

How is everyone else doing that saw some interim improvement with 7.2.1?

Thanks

[azitnay]

I know people claimed phone support reps told them "an upcoming software update" would address the burning issues, but I don't think I've never seen anyone official from TiVo claim the same on these boards.

I believe the main bug 7.2.1 addressed was the "stutter on resume from pause" problem on 140 boxes.

Drew

[slyone]

Off topic slightly: If you were to ask me, I would simply say that the Toshiba/Tivo boxes are the worst bug laden electronics I have ever seen! Ya know all the Microsoft bashing over the years..haha I have NEVER had such a pc. of crap though it may be both Tivo and Toshiba at fault here (software is terrible and hardware isn't much better) For me luckily, I was able to pick these up (2 in house) for $100.00 ea. still seems like a waste of almost $300.00 (with extended warranties-Thank God I got that anyways!) Frankly I am extremely displeased and surprised just how awful the performance and operation of these are. Maybe the folks writing the software code are the flunkies who didn't work out at Microsoft? I don't have too much use for the writer since my PC will blow the doors off anything else(hardware or software). I do like the convenience (esp. for the kids) of the DVR concept/abilities but could certainly see how Tivo could lose customers' too other competing factions. Just my .02 so far...These units will go thru a "start-up procedure at random, when you least expect it but usually when you become extremely interested in a particuliar broadcast or pc. of news and you miss it, or the new problem is it has started freezing and you have to unplug it for a minute to continue operation! Worst of all is we are just suppose to accept this unbelievable annoyance and live with it! It baffles me in todays technically advanced times that a product can not achieve "BASIC OPERATION" esp. from the Co. who is supposed to be one of the originators of that particuliar technology. I had to wait for a software fix which seems to have done nothing except bring more annoting problems and bugs. They (Tivo) seem to not care but should probably bring in some real software developers to fix these problems.

[alanpgh]

I guess I've been lucky. I've had an RS-TX20 since it came on the market. No problems with the Tivo or the DVD Recorder functions. Just my 2 cents.

Alan

[jklma]

I have experienced similar problems. My guess is ...it seems to happen when the hard drive is full or close to capacity . I wish there was an indicator of some sort or even something similar to a low battery indicator flashing on the unit or TV screen. Seemed to happen more when I first received the latest firmware update.

[slyone]

I have experienced similar problems. My guess is ...it seems to happen when the hard drive is full or close to capacity . I wish there was an indicator of some sort or even something similar to a low battery indicator flashing on the unit or TV screen. Seemed to happen more when I first received the latest firmware update.

I don't believe it has anything to do with a full hdd. (been there/done that=no problem) Mine started (has only done the freeze a couple times) since latest S/W update. I'm glad I got the Xtended warr.! I don't think these are available anymore are they? If replacement :) wonder what they (BestBuy) might offer? :D

[SystemJinx]

I guess I've been lucky. I've had an RS-TX20 since it came on the market. No problems with the Tivo or the DVD Recorder functions. Just my 2 cents.

Alan

X2

MY RS-TX20 has worked flawlessly since day one. No bad burns and no freezing.

[FrankNL]

Putting the unit in standby doesn't save on any HD wear... The unit still records the 30-minute buffer even when in standby.

Since the RS-TX units' RF is always passthrough-only, standby is often a useless feature on these boxes. One example of when you could use it is if you have the audio out directly connected to an always-on receiver, and you don't want the sound to continue to play after you turn the TV off. There are better ways IMO to take care of this situation, however.

I've never used the standby feature of any TiVo regularly.

Drew

Thanks Drew. The 30 minute buffer is a blessing and a pain in my family. We often pause a program for something like a phone call, and then continue viewing the same program. Sometimes we accidentally change channels while watching and loose the content of the buffer, thus loosing 30 minutes of programming!! Is there anything we can do, apart from always pressing record when we pause a program?

Frank

[azitnay]

Not really... Just record everything you watch. I always recommend not relying on the 30-minute buffer. Even if you don't overtly change the channel, assuming you have suggestions turned on there's always a chance it'll change on its own.

Drew

[meebs]

Purchased Dec '04. Worked fine, loved it. Then 11 months later (Nov '05), unit would not boot up. Called Toshiba tech support. Still under warranty so parts covered. Sent to repair facility in Alabama. $40 shipping UPS ground, $72 for labor. Unit was back on my doorstep in 14 days. (Never realized how much I would miss my TIVO). Work order said the hard drive AND DVD drive were replaced. Just hooked the unit up yesterday. Now, for some reason, it says DVD: Loading . . .. DVD door won't open either. Bummed, especially if I'm gonna have to send it back in for another repair.

[barkowitz]

Hello All!

Count me in as a Toshiba owner as well. Bought my unit just before Thanksgiving from Best Buy. Bought an RS-TX20 marked down from $599 to $399 with the $150 TiVo Rebate and a 12% Best Buy coupon. Total cost (after rebate) will be $201.99. Not bad for 140 hour hard drive and DVD burner.

Love it so far. The set up and config worked fine. I got TiVo Plus service, and I have transferred programs to the unit and from it using the HMO. I've also burned programs off my hand-held video camera and it works great. DVD burning is also working fine.

My question (and I'll admit to not reading the previous 32 pages, so sorry if it has already been answered) is why doesn't my DVD burner recognize programs which have been recorded on another Series 2 Tivo. I can transfer the recordings to the DVR and watch them, but it won't let me burn them to DVD. The Manual does say "Programs transferred to this DMS from a different kind of TiVo DVR via the Multi-Room Viewing feature cannot be saved to DVD."

My question is why? Is there anything I can do to fix this? One of the reasons I bought the unit was to transfer old programs from the old DVRs. I know I could save to VHS and then record from VHS, but I would lose quality and why bother...

Any ideas?

[azitnay]

The easy answer (when the source TiVo isn't a DVD burner unit) is that the programs aren't recorded in a DVD-compatible format, and transcoding them into the proper format is a task not suitable for a TiVo with its limited resources.

When the source is a DVD unit, it still doesn't work, but the reason isn't quite as good (supposedly the MRV doesn't preserve some metadata necessary for burning).

Regardless, you can only burn programs recorded directly on the box. If you're willing to use "Save to VCR" on the source unit and "Record From a Video Camera or VCR" on the destination unit, you can copy in an analog fashion and then burn, but if that doesn't suit you, you can always use TiVoToGo and burn from a computer.

Drew

[rcobourn]

Purchased Dec '04. Worked fine, loved it. Then 11 months later (Nov '05), unit would not boot up. Called Toshiba tech support. Still under warranty so parts covered. Sent to repair facility in Alabama. $40 shipping UPS ground, $72 for labor. Unit was back on my doorstep in 14 days. (Never realized how much I would miss my TIVO). Work order said the hard drive AND DVD drive were replaced. Just hooked the unit up yesterday. Now, for some reason, it says DVD: Loading . . .. DVD door won't open either. Bummed, especially if I'm gonna have to send it back in for another repair.

I would definitely open this unit up and check the cables to the DVD drive. Probably came loose in shipping.

[TiVoEvan74]

If you really want to silence the TiVo and save wear and tear on the hard drive, switch to a channel that you don't receive. You'll get a blue screen, with a message that there's no channel (or the input is flakey), and, AFAIK, it stops recording.

I wish these things would have a sleep mode... it would save some wear and tear and make them work better for bedrooms. There is an advantage to a VCR after all!

[Kracko]

Actually hard disks have a longer life span if they don't spin down. I have three computers at home. Each has two hard drives in them. I have another connected via USB and (I'm probably going to regret saying this) none of them have ever died on me and I NEVER turn off my machines or let the hard drives go into "sleep" mode.

I also manage many servers where the hard drives never spin down and I can only recall one drive over the past 10 years that has gone out on me.

[TiVoEvan74]

Yeah, I've heard that and knew right away I'd get that response!! :-)

That it's supposed to be the stopping and starting that wears out the drive, right? Rather than the spinning round and round. Anyone cite controlled studies that tested this?

Actually, the main part of my post had to do with someone earlier in the thread wanting to turn off recording... and I believe that switching to an unreceived channel does that.

And wouldn't not writing to the drive increase its longevity?

[patel]

I have a Toshiba RS-TX60 and Dish 322 satellite reciever. I can't get the channel changing to work so my DMS unit is unable to change the satellite receiver and therefore I can not use any of the TIVO functions......I have checked all the connection...I have created a tent.....I have tried 2 IR Blaster cables.....I have used multiple codes including 10001 and 10011.......any more suggestions. I tried to check whether the IR blaster is working by using a digitable camera to see if there was any light that was picked up..but honestly did not see anything. Is it possible that the DMS unit's IR port is not working or is there something else I can try to check? Please help and I am desparte given this is my fourth week of trying to get some help

[Banzai]

I'm becoming a new RS-TX20 owner this week, as soon as UPS pays me a visit. Currently, I have an 80-hour Series 2, and I'll be hooking up with the multi-service discount for the forseeable future.

There's just one TV here, so I'm planning to have both units hooked up to it (my television will support two video inputs). The trick is that I'm on digital cable through a Comcast box, and clearly both units can't control the box without causing a digital train wreck. Best solution I can think of is to simply hook one of the units directly to the cable and just lose a few extra channels on that one.

I've browsed the forum a bit and seen a couple of spooky horror stories, so am hoping for the best. No sense being worried until I've given it a try, but any tips are welcome!

[CaccaMucca]

I've read where some users got 7.2.1a on their Tivo.

Maybe Tivo heard our compaints of buggy 7.2.1 on burning DVDs.

Drew, any priority link for the 7.2.1a?


Thanks,
CaccaMucca

[azitnay]

TiVoPony claims 7.2.1a was not a bug fix release:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=3544442#post3544447

Drew

[ber]

Anyone have the following problem....while burning a disk....(about 50-% burn correctly now)....i get an "internal error"....but the disk continues to spin....and efforts to remove the failed save disk are impossible...the machine just reads "loading"....the only way to get the disk out is to unplug the system

[DarkShadows]

Anyone have the following problem....while burning a disk....(about 50-% burn correctly now)....i get an "internal error"....but the disk continues to spin....and efforts to remove the failed save disk are impossible...the machine just reads "loading"....the only way to get the disk out is to unplug the system

That's happened to me too many times to count, I have learned not to burn whilst the unit is recording a show just in case that happens.

Happened to me during the World Series and I missed half an inning because the unit had to reboot.

[CaccaMucca]

Anyone have the following problem....while burning a disk....(about 50-% burn correctly now)....i get an "internal error"....but the disk continues to spin....and efforts to remove the failed save disk are impossible...the machine just reads "loading"....the only way to get the disk out is to unplug the system
Welcome to the club.
It happens to me all the time. I'm getting maybe 1 successful burn out of 6 attempts. It doesn't matter what media I use, including approved ones, and I even leave the Toshiba alone while burning.

Unplugging doesn't help, at least not with my unit anyway.

All this started when TiVO upgrading my Toshiba to 7.2.0.
They didn't ask if we wanted the stupid upgrade that broke our boxes, they just shoved it down our throats, rendering my $600 box useless. I would have been better off with a straight DVD Recorder. Hind sight is 20/20.

Toshiba is losing sales and coming out looking bad because of TiVO. Toshiba should do something about it.

[CaccaMucca]

TiVoPony claims 7.2.1a was not a bug fix release:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=3544442#post3544447

Drew
Thanks Drew. I don't think TiVO would admit that their software is buggy, even though my 2 year old daughter points to the little TiVO Man and yells "BUG".

I'm just hoping that TiVO might fix things on a sly and incorporate in the 7.2.1a release.

[ber]

That's happened to me too many times to count, I have learned not to burn whilst the unit is recording a show just in case that happens.

Happened to me during the World Series and I missed half an inning because the unit had to reboot.

Thanks for the feedback...yes DarkShadows...i tried to burn while my TIVO was taping a show which i was planning on watching later...and so i missed a portion of it while i had to reboot...good advice...don't burn while either watching or taping a show...or do so at the peril of missing the show!

I was hopeful that this last version software upgrade would fix all the burning issues...it clearly has not...in fact it is unclear whether it was aimed at all at addressing the Toshiba Humax burning...i wish TIVO would at least admit the problem...I know from this board that not everyone has a problem, but for those of us who do a lot of burning it is unfortunate to have to have 0 sense on whther burns will be successful....i had my machine for five months before the infamous upgrade...1 disc failure out of appx 100! NOw i am batting on 50% and as inidcated previously typically burn onto a more expensive DVD-RW disc so that i am not throwing away half of my supplies...oh well...

[JackieLL]

I've found something that works for me. I thought I'd pass it along.

Background:
My rs-dx60 started burning about 50% coasters. I'd reboot and then I'd get maybe one or two good burns before it went back to the same ol' internal-error song.

What I did:
1 - Stopped using 8x DVD-Rs and only used 4x
2 - Ensured that, to the extent possible, the TiVo was doing nothing else while it was burning. I.e.: nothing being recorded (other than, maybe, the 30-minute buffer), nothing being watched, etc. I even kept it on the recording screen by hitting the up and down arrows between "return to...(saving will continue)" and the option below that. (Or at least, I assume that toggling between those two options periodically prevented it from defaulting back to watching TV.)

What happened:
After rebooting, I started doing the above. I haven't burned a bad one since, and I've burned about 15.

Conclusion:
Something seems to have worked. The 4x? The nothing-but-burning? Both? Dunno. But it worked. So, is it a pain to do that fiddling? Yup. Should I have to do it? Nope. But it works.

Good luck.

Post script:
Kindly do not flame me for the fact that this wasn't a scientifically-conducted, placebo-present (ha, ha) test of thousands of burns designed to pinpoint the precise reason for TiVo's failure and my subsequent end run around its failure. If you don't like my attempt to help others, then poop on you -- and keep it to yourself.

;)

[DarkShadows]

I was hopeful that this last version software upgrade would fix all the burning issues...it clearly has not...in fact it is unclear whether it was aimed at all at addressing the Toshiba Humax burning...i wish TIVO would at least admit the problem...I know from this board that not everyone has a problem, but for those of us who do a lot of burning it is unfortunate to have to have 0 sense on whther burns will be successful..

What strikes me as odd in regards to the update is the fact that many of us myself included, contacted Toshiba when this issue first surfaced. They were also kind enough to contact me and others by phone to let us know of the 7.2.1 update that was coming down.

That to me implied, mistakenly on my part I suppose, that the burning problems would be addressed with this update.

Oh well, I am just glad for this message board because I would have sent my unit back to Toshiba three or four times by now if I had thought it was a hardware only issue.

Going to do a bunch of burning this weekend with my 1x-8x Staples DVD's again will report on it later.

[davegardner]

I'm considering purchasing a TX20 or TX60, and the IR cable is listed as included, but it's unclear whether a cable, or capability, is provided to connect directly to a cable boxes serial interface for changing channels. That would seem to be the ideal method. Can you guys confirm whether I can do this? Thanks.

[azitnay]

My TX20 came with a serial cable.

Note, however, that there's no guarantee you'll be able to use serial control with your specific cable box.

Drew

[ber]

What strikes me as odd in regards to the update is the fact that many of us myself included, contacted Toshiba when this issue first surfaced. They were also kind enough to contact me and others by phone to let us know of the 7.2.1 update that was coming down.

That to me implied, mistakenly on my part I suppose, that the burning problems would be addressed with this update.

Oh well, I am just glad for this message board because I would have sent my unit back to Toshiba three or four times by now if I had thought it was a hardware only issue.

Going to do a bunch of burning this weekend with my 1x-8x Staples DVD's again will report on it later.

Definately report back...i agree with an earlier post in the week that using 4X or in my case 2X discs definately do improve the chance of a successful burn....what got me a bit suspicious on the 7.2.1 update is that it had "clipping protection"...which is a great function....but i am beginning to think that that was the exclusive reason for the update. I wish they would publish with each update exactly what changes were made...so we wouldn't be out here guessing whether and update is aimed at address A, B, C or not of the above. Isn't it standard procedure- with everybody but TIVO- that when new revisions of software come out...technical information is relaeased in some form identifying bugs it fixes, new functions, etc.

[DarkShadows]

I'm considering purchasing a TX20 or TX60, and the IR cable is listed as included, but it's unclear whether a cable, or capability, is provided to connect directly to a cable boxes serial interface for changing channels. That would seem to be the ideal method. Can you guys confirm whether I can do this? Thanks.

My cable box is a Motorola and the serial connection is the only connection I have ever used, I believe it depends on ur cable company as to if they have activated that output.

[DarkShadows]

Definately report back...i agree with an earlier post in the week that using 4X or in my case 2X discs definately do improve the chance of a successful burn....what got me a bit suspicious on the 7.2.1 update is that it had "clipping protection"...which is a great function....but i am beginning to think that that was the exclusive reason for the update. I wish they would publish with each update exactly what changes were made...so we wouldn't be out here guessing whether and update is aimed at address A, B, C or not of the above. Isn't it standard procedure- with everybody but TIVO- that when new revisions of software come out...technical information is relaeased in some form identifying bugs it fixes, new functions, etc.

Well I burned 24 discs with only one coaster in this last bunch so far for me, this 50 pack of Staples DVD-rs which I got for less than 8 bucks has been the most consistent in regards to successfully burning.

[PaulaR]

Hi I just bought my new Toshiba RS-TX20 at Sears tonight it hasn't even been unboxed yet. The question is I have a few pieces of equipment that I need to connect.
1. Directv model DRD450RG
2.Toshiba 5 disc DVD player SD-2715
3. JVC RX-8010 Audio/ Video Control Receiver
4. Toshiba VCR

I have read some on the connections and would like to get the best one for the pieces that I have any help would be appreciated.

Also I was reading and want to know about the disk can you only record on the DVD-R or DVD-RW? I have about 50 of the DVD+RW.
Thanks there is alot of information on this site, not enough time in the day to read it all.

[azitnay]

I'd imagine you'd want:

DirecTV receiver -> TiVo -> TV
DVD player -> TV
VCR -> TV (possibly using coax)
TV -> A/V receiver (or feed individual components into the receiver, depending on how you like it)

No DVD+R/RW on the Toshiba... DVD-R/RW only.

Drew

[ber]

Very quiet board lately!

[gardibolt]

I'm having trouble getting this unit to talk to my network. It's fine as long as I don't use any security measures, but if I put it on WEP security it can't find the DHCP server. Any ideas? I hate the idea of having my network naked to the world, as you can imagine. :mad:

[Banzai]

Does anyone else experience blurriness in the Live365 menus on your RS-TX unit? I never noticed it on my previous Series II unit. Not a biggie, just odd...

[PaulaR]

I recently bought the Toshiba RS-TX20 and I am having a few problems. I have done everything and can't seem to figure out what to do.

I am getting alot of the shows really dark and then when they aren't dark they are really fuzzy and choppy screens. I love the Tivo effects but the picture effects are horrible at time. I am to the point of returning the unit.
I am connected to Directv and have a vcr connected. I even tried unconnecting the vcr. There aren't any connections on the back of my tv to connect the unit in direct so I am connected to the satellite and my a/v receiver.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Happy Holidays

[CaccaMucca]

All coasters today. Unplugging is not helping.

Where are the AGs when you need them? This is a message for all AGs to get together and sue Toshiba and TiVo on our behalf to fix the burn issue and refund us for all the coasters and purchase out units back if we choose to.

[CaccaMucca]

I'm having trouble getting this unit to talk to my network. It's fine as long as I don't use any security measures, but if I put it on WEP security it can't find the DHCP server. Any ideas? I hate the idea of having my network naked to the world, as you can imagine. :mad:

Yep that is right. Your wireless network is working as designed. Now, let's think this through.

Is there a place on your unit to enter any WEP configuraion???


Answer is NO.


So, no WEP support.


Go wired if you are going to use WEP.

[CaccaMucca]

Hi I just bought my new Toshiba RS-TX20 at Sears tonight it hasn't even been unboxed yet. The question is I have a few pieces of equipment that I need to connect.
1. Directv model DRD450RG
2.Toshiba 5 disc DVD player SD-2715
3. JVC RX-8010 Audio/ Video Control Receiver
4. Toshiba VCR

I have read some on the connections and would like to get the best one for the pieces that I have any help would be appreciated.

Also I was reading and want to know about the disk can you only record on the DVD-R or DVD-RW? I have about 50 of the DVD+RW.
Thanks there is alot of information on this site, not enough time in the day to read it all.

Good new is that you'll have 30 days to return the item and get your money back.

[mrmarr46]

Hi dose anyone know where I might get a User Manual for my new RS-TX 20? I bought it new never used but there was no manual. Thank You Paul

[Bimwad]

Hi dose anyone know where I might get a User Manual for my new RS-TX 20? I bought it new never used but there was no manual. Thank You Paul

http://customersupport.tivo.com/userGuides.asp?ug=dvdrecorder_toshiba

[Bimwad]

I'm having trouble getting this unit to talk to my network. It's fine as long as I don't use any security measures, but if I put it on WEP security it can't find the DHCP server. Any ideas? I hate the idea of having my network naked to the world, as you can imagine. :mad:

Does your wireless hardware adapter support WEP? Is your router properly configured? Are you using an alphanumeric or hexadecimal password (latter, preferably)? Is it correctly entered into the Wireless Settings of the TiVo?

[windracer]

Answer is NO.

So, no WEP support.

This is incorrect ... maybe you are thinking of WPA.

TiVo software 4.x and above supports WEP. When you go through the wireless network setup, you can specify if your network uses a password or not (which is the generic way of asking if you use WEP). Then you can enter the alphanumeric or hex WEP key.

If, after turning on WEP, the TiVo cannot connect to the network, maybe the OP is using MAC filtering or another method of preventing unauthorized devices from connecting to the network.

[CaccaMucca]

This is incorrect ... maybe you are thinking of WPA.
windracer - Thank you for the correction.

[oly4him]

SOS...Burning error 100% of time!
Record Failure Error reads: Cannot be saved because of an internal error.
Tried different batches of discs. Cold Booted.

Cannot get a response of any type from Toshiba.

Thanks

[CaccaMucca]

Has anyone replaced their existing DVD burner on their RS-TX20 with another, like a Sony DRU-510A or even with a 810A and burned successfully? 810A has internal buffers and writes at 16X, I picked one up at $50 from Best Buy.

Any idea how I may get the drivers to load on RS-TX20? Replacing an IDE drive with another is not a problem.

Just want to see if another DVD burner with a larger internal buffer might be the answer to our burn problems.

Any thoughts??????

[ber]

Has anyone replaced their existing DVD burner on their RS-TX20 with another, like a Sony DRU-510A or even with a 810A and burned successfully? 810A has internal buffers and writes at 16X, I picked one up at $50 from Best Buy.

Any idea how I may get the drivers to load on RS-TX20? Replacing an IDE drive with another is not a problem.

Just want to see if another DVD burner with a larger internal buffer might be the answer to our burn problems.

Any thoughts??????

CACCAMUCCA I have not replaced the burner- but have done some thought about it given these problems with burning...as indicated in my prior posts the only realiable disc that i have ever found (and even that one has ocassional problems) was a SONY RW 2X disc....burners are so cheap i would definately be up for doing it...i just don't want to damage my machine given that (with the exception of burning...it works perfect...and i have the lifetime TIVO option...so i want to keep this machine for some time!)

Excellent question though...i am looking forward to feedback...and obviously if you try this please advise! I would like to blame the new software...and certainly that caused "our" problems not ands, ifs or buts...but it appears that many individuals with the Toshiba do not have problems and my guess is it is based upon different burners

Thanks'

[twskls]

I'm new here, so I'm not sure if this has been discussed in the past.

I have a TX20, and until lastnight, it's been perfect. I was watching a DVD two nights ago, and when I went to bed, I left the DVD in the machine. Lastnight, I went to watch the rest of my movie, the TV had a TIVO icon with "Almost done. Just a few more minutes.....". The unit had "welcome" on the right side. It's been that way for over 12 hours now. Any ideas?

[windracer]

Sounds like your unit is stuck in a reboot loop. If you watch it long enough, you'll probably see it keep restarting. Try unplugging it for a few hours, then start it back up and see if it boots properly.

[chris510]

Hey all,

First time poster, hoping you guys can clear some things up for me. I have the Toshiba rs-tx20, and the source is a Directv receiver. I am unable to record anything from the Directv source, though.

If I choose to record channel 082 (cbs HD, I believe), at the record time, Tivo is automatically changing the channel to 002, and the result is a blank/black screen. I'm thinking this is because I do not have OTA currently.

Also, I was wondering what the highest resolution ouput possible was with the
rs-tx20? Thanks in advance!

[Russell G]

Hi Everyone,

I have had a TX 20 unit since the beginning of summer and have been very happy with it. I would like to get your suggestions on what DVD-Rs to buy for archiving home videos. Right now I've been using Memorex discs for transferring TV shows. The discs have worked well but I don't know about using them for transferring video I want to keep for as long as possible.
I saw a thread that suggested getting Fuji or TDK discs made in Japan, but I have not had any luck finding them in San Antonio (we do not have Staples down here).

Any suggestions would be deeply appreciated.

[ZeoTiVo]

Hey all,

First time poster, hoping you guys can clear some things up for me. I have the Toshiba rs-tx20, and the source is a Directv receiver. I am unable to record anything from the Directv source, though.

If I choose to record channel 082 (cbs HD, I believe), at the record time, Tivo is automatically changing the channel to 002, and the result is a blank/black screen. I'm thinking this is because I do not have OTA currently.

Also, I was wondering what the highest resolution ouput possible was with the
rs-tx20? Thanks in advance!


do you have channel 82 in your guide data on the TiVo.

also this sounds like a channel change issue where the 8 in 082 is being missed.
I do not use DirectTV so do not know a lot more about these issues but search around on channel changing issues.

also you should note that the TiVo will not record HD but I assume the DirectTV receiver will down convert and and put the channel as SD out the svideo or composite connection into the TiVo. But maybe the problem has to do with that ?

[chris510]

do you have channel 82 in your guide data on the TiVo.

also this sounds like a channel change issue where the 8 in 082 is being missed.
I do not use DirectTV so do not know a lot more about these issues but search around on channel changing issues.

also you should note that the TiVo will not record HD but I assume the DirectTV receiver will down convert and and put the channel as SD out the svideo or composite connection into the TiVo. But maybe the problem has to do with that ?

Yes, I have 082 in the Tivo guide data. It seems like the channel is being switched from the HD (082) to the SD (002) channel. I guess this is because Tivo will not record HD?

[KC4PE]

When will the local OTA (Air Antenna) channels on the TIVO channels selection...??

Can and will Toshiba upgrade the RS60 tuner for digital channel reception..???

Also when you record what is the upconversion, up to 480-720 or what...the quality of the recorder content always looks better than the orginal..!!
Thanks,

-Bill
Excuse me me, I may have posted this wrong..??

[Flyinace2000]

Wait! Can the internal DVD burner be replaced with a Double Layer Drive???? If it can it would be SUPER SWEET.

I think the next deal i find on a DL drive and a nice fat 300gb drive.

[inkpen45]

I'm new to this forum & have a question hopefully nearly anyone here can answer. Our family got a RS-TX20 for Christmas -- it's very nice & everything we wanted. However, we immediately noticed that when pausing or using the controls for live TV or the DVD (next track, etc.) buttons, there is an audible low double-"thumping" noise. This is even more noticeable and annoying when played through our audio system.

It's not the sound you get when going between the TiVO menus -- I turned that one off. This one is when using any live TV or DVD controls, and is a very low double-click.

We called Toshiba to ask if this was a defect and they said it was normal and could not be turned off. Were they correct? It seems this is a major flaw, since the medium-loud double-thumping sound is annoying - especially with DVD playback. I was going to return it for exchange, but need to know if this happens on all of them first.

Thanks so much.

[Totohydra]

I currently own the SD-H400 and have been very happy with it...particularly the "free" Tivo service and the DVD player.

I after archiving a zillion shows to VHS at 1x speed I am looking to buy a Toshiba with the DVD burner (been doing so for awhile because of the roller-coaster pricing).

To my horror the models have apparently been discontinued. My only options are to either buy it new from a handful of "fringe" online sellers at $600-750 or get a "refurb" off an online auction at around $400 (the price I originally had in mind).

I do not want to go the Humax route because I understand it does not have the free Tivo service. Toshiba has come out with another DVD burner PVR that has "TV Guide" service which reviews have read as being horrible (for example, with TV Guide manual recording is not even an option, getting it to work in the first place is a miracle too apparently).

This is not a good spot to be in. Just wondering if anyone had any suggestions.

[FortWorthPeg]

I just posted a newbie stupid question thread, so I thought I would drop in and introduce myself as I am in fact the proud new owner of a Toshiba RS-TX20 and just as soon as I understand fully what the heck I am doing I am quite sure I will be happy as a lark!

My name is Kim and I live in Fort Worth. Got TiVo set up last night (went to bed at 4AM!) and things are not fully operational but I am getting there. So excited to have it.

I am not a tech genious, so I am glad to have the Official Owners Club to share and learn in! Good night!

[FortWorthPeg]

I actually have a part two for you Toshiba owners!: :D
Anyone use a wireless usb adaptor for networking? I am a little confused on all of that. Does it work pretty well wireless or is wired better? Does a network connection replace the need for the unit to call through the phone line or is it in addition to? :confused:
Any success stories on what brands to buy? That won't put me in the poor house? ;) :rolleyes:

[scottt]

I actually have a part two for you Toshiba owners!: :D
Anyone use a wireless usb adaptor for networking? I am a little confused on all of that. Does it work pretty well wireless or is wired better? Does a network connection replace the need for the unit to call through the phone line or is it in addition to? :confused:
Any success stories on what brands to buy? That won't put me in the poor house? ;) :rolleyes:

Wireless works great for me. Got the Netgear MA111 (think that's the model# off the top of my head) for $5 after rebates a while back. If I remember right, the later builds of that model wouldn't work with the Tivo.

Tivo has a list of working wireless adapters on their website.

http://customersupport.tivo.com/knowbase/root/public/tv2006.htm?

[TiVoEvan74]

Wired is better than wireless... faster, no interference... but requires wiring! Wireless can work quite well, however, just slower.

If you go wireless, or wired, and have an Internet connection, you don't need to phone home via a phone.

Definitely go to the TiVo web site... they have a list of compatible wireless adapters... you do NOT want to buy anything that doesn't have their Gold star of approval... otherwise, you are asking for trouble.

What problems did you have setting up TiVo? It's usually straight-forward... and shouldn't require staying up until 4 am.!

[FortWorthPeg]

Wired is better than wireless... faster, no interference... but requires wiring! Wireless can work quite well, however, just slower.

If you go wireless, or wired, and have an Internet connection, you don't need to phone home via a phone.

Definitely go to the TiVo web site... they have a list of compatible wireless adapters... you do NOT want to buy anything that doesn't have their Gold star of approval... otherwise, you are asking for trouble.

What problems did you have setting up TiVo? It's usually straight-forward... and shouldn't require staying up until 4 am.!

I always like to go that extra mile! ;)
I posted another thread about my whole thing in DVR TiVo people forums ...
I got a display unit from Best Buy that came with nothing but a power cord! I bought an RCA Universal Learning Remote and was on my way! My roomie is usually the tech minded of us, and she had no part in the set up.
I am having issues with programming the remote (though I do have it working for basics) and I still need an IR cable in hopes channel changing will happen as it should! I am pretty clueless but getting an education! :o

[TiVoEvan74]

Sounds as if you're set... there's always a learning curve on the hi-tech stuff, especially when configuring a system of disparate parts.

By the way, the wireless adapters we use are by Linksys... they were among those TiVo lists and have worked fine (save when they are in a room with another unit and then the interference disrupts transfers between 2 TiVos... no problem "phoning" home though-- and that's a problem for down the road when you get your 2nd TiVo!

[IndyHavoc]

Hey all, just stumbled across this board and thread! Very nice. I've had my RS-TX20 for about 8 months now, and love it. Was just about to jump to to wireless with the unit, and saw that there is now a "TiVO" branded wireless adapter. From the notes about it, it "should" work, but was hoping to get some confirmation first before purchasing.

I see the discussion has started on possible replacement of the DVD burner. If anyone gets further info, add me to the list of very interested owners. I'd love to be able to drop in a D/L burner if the firmware will support it.