Am I computing space correctly?

[newsposter]

Since I've now lost programs twice, I want to make sure I'm doing this right. I assume all HD stuff is 5x the space of SD (realizing some may be less and some more). Therefore, since the machine is rated at 250 SD, I figure as long as I keep it at 220 hours or under, I'm safe right?

I dont want to SUID stuff because I heard that really messes with space issues.

I'll go down the NP list and count the SD stuff at one hour then when I run across a 1 hour HD item, I'll add 5 to the total instead of one. I thought I had this down pat but then last week lost 2 old programs.

Regretably when i saw the old stuff was lost, i just started deleting stuff without adding everything together because i was scared of losing more so i have no idea what i had at that time. oops

And my understanding is that tivo will not actually delete stuff until the moment a new program needs that space, no matter how full/far out the ToDo list is right?

[DavidS]

This is one of thie uses of turning on Suggestions; the length of the suggestions list is a useful indicator of available space.

I can't help on the 1 to 5 ratio. However, keep in mind that the bit rate of recording is variable; shows with much action take up more space than shows with little action.

[newsposter]

but suggestions appear in the NP list in the same order (by date/alpha etc) right?

if so, that's way too much clutter for me. But thanks for the suggestion. the only way I'd turn on suggestions was if they were always at the bottom when you sorted by date

[SpankyInChicago]

but suggestions appear in the NP list in the same order (by date/alpha etc) right?


No. Your requested programs appear first, sorted by date descending. Then suggestions appear below your last requested program, sorted by date descending. In other words, your requeted programs and the suggestions are not intermingled.

[DavidS]

My recordings are sorted by date in the default mode. Suggestions are all at the bottom.

By the way, because of VBR recording, you can't realistically expect 250 SD hours. That's why it says "up to" 250 hours. The original 35 hour DTivos usually topped out at under 30 for most people.

[newsposter]

No. Your requested programs appear first, sorted by date descending. Then suggestions appear below your last requested program, sorted by date descending. In other words, your requeted programs and the suggestions are not intermingled.

ok beat this in my head for me. Right now I have programs back to October. (actually I do have 4 under SUID now that think about it). If tonight I turn on suggestions, and still have the now playing list sorted by date, even todays stuff will be under the SUID stuff from October?

and will suggestions ever record HD stuff or from OTA?

[DavidS]

Yes - under everything

Yes - suggestions will record HD

Yes, I think, it will record OTA. I can't see why it wouldn't; I'd have to check my list to be sure.

[Dssturbo1]

the ratio is more like 1 hour HD is = to 8 hours SD. so use 8X instead of 5X for the guessing, and as always YMMV.

[KSbugeater]

The capacity is rated at 250 hrs SD or 30 hrs HD. This computes to 8.3:1 ratio, HD to SD. For sitcoms or dramas with low action, I would say that counts as 7:1, but for sports with lots of action and scene changes, I'd count 10:1.

5:1 is too little, even for slow-moving shows. You're probably underestimating the space for your HD programs.

Now don't forget that if you record off-the-air using the antenna, everything is still HD in bandwidth, even if it has sidebars and the content is SD.

Your last assertion is correct, and TiVo is pretty accurate when it warns you as you set up recordings when old programs will be deleted before the minimum 2 day saving time.

I have most of my space taken up by SUID, (75% or more) but I have not noticed any performance issues. I like that it warns me about the ramifications of SUID or scheduling new shows... then I can make an informed decision about recording priorities, or I can say to myself, "As long as I watch Show A before Show B records Tuesday..."

My 10-250 is 10 months old and I have yet to experience the slowdowns that many report.

[newsposter]

Welp so much for that post that said most shows are 5-1 and lost was 8-1 :) that's what I was going based on. I never thought of the 250/30 thing

And I'm well aware of the OTA thing but thanks. Posted about it for the other newbies a few weeks ago when I had my first deletion :) taught me a lesson.

[Cheezmo]

SD shows tend to run about 2-2.5 Mb/s
OTA HD shows tend to run about 16-18Mb/s
DirecTV HD shows (except the movie channels) run about 12-15Mb/s
DirecTV HD movie channels run about 6-10Mb/s

It would be pretty hard to calculate all that looking a Now Playing list if you ask me. 4X, 6X, 8X depending.

You can see what kinds of bitrates the various channels are sending at http://www.widemovies.com/dfwbitrate.html

[newsposter]

My GOD! What does tivo think. I went to the suggestions and what they say , I'd never watch!!!

And these will get deleted to make space right :) Wife is already furious she'll have to look at some of these in the list.. I told her not to go to the bottom of the NP list :)

[TyroneShoes]

I have two HR10s, and virtually everthing I record on them is prime-time HD from the big 6 and PBS. When they were about 2/3 full I calculated that they would record about 39 hours for the 30-hour and 97 hours for the 83-hour, based on what they already had recorded and what they said they would record from the history ("future", actually, but listed in "History"). Then, at the end of the November sweeps when they were almost full, it appeared that each would be within an hour or so of their 30 and 83 hour claims.

So I think the average that DTV guestimated is pretty close. But it does depend on the signal. For instance, the ".1" feed of the local FOX affil broadcasts at a rate that varies every few seconds from anywhere from 8.5 Mbps, to 15.5 Mbps, at least during prime time. They are using some variable type of dynamic bit rate streaming, apparently. The local UPN affil broadcasts at a steady 14.2-14.5 all of the time (and they don't even have a HD UPN feed). Thats probably reflective of normal VBR, but a conservative application of it. As it averages out, however, 30/83 hours turns out to be pretty much 30/83 hours, at least how I'm using them.

If you assume a 15 Mbps average rate, that comes to 6750 MB per hour, which comes to just about 200 GB for a 30-hour, 250 GB HR10. Factor in base 2 numbering on drive capacity and partitioning for the OS and reserved space for DTV, and that's about right. They probably limt the capacity to 90% of that just to avoid drive problems, too.

[john-duncan-yoyo]

My GOD! What does tivo think. I went to the suggestions and what they say , I'd never watch!!!

And these will get deleted to make space right :) Wife is already furious she'll have to look at some of these in the list.. I told her not to go to the bottom of the NP list :)

Make sure you give thumbs up to what you like and thumbs down to what you hate. The Suggestions get closer to what you want as it gets more information to work with. TiVO seems to record spanish shows early on to see if you speak spanish.

[newsposter]

one shortcoming of the sony vl900 remote is no buttons easily mapable for up/down or even slo mo...oh well. They are just placeholders anyway. And maybe something good will record some day

[rifleman69]

Make sure you give thumbs up to what you like and thumbs down to what you hate. The Suggestions get closer to what you want as it gets more information to work with. TiVO seems to record spanish shows early on to see if you speak spanish.


Yep, just thumbs up The Simpsons and see what you get from suggestions.