TIVO and Direct TV

[eaglesight]

I have a TIVO Humax DRT800 with DVD recorder that I used when I had Dish Network. Now I have Direct TV in my new home and want to use my TIVO with my new service
Do I have the DRTV source flow from the receiver to the TIVO then into the TV or should it go through the TIVO then to the DRTV receiver and then to the TV.

What I am really curious about is how TIVO's program guide will work with the DRTV guide.

Any responses would be apprecisted. Thanks

[briguymaine]

I just switched from Adelphia to Directv last week so I'm familiar with the setup!

Dish --> Directv receiver --> Tivo (preferably the s-video input or higher if possible) --> TV

The menus don't conflict at all, you will be able to use the tivo guide by itself without ever seeing the dtv guide. I stuck my receiver out of the way so I can't even see it. One thing you will see is a dtv channel info banner when you change channels, but you can set the Dtv channel banner to turn off after 2 seconds so then all you see is the Tivo banner.

One issue that I had was asking Dtv if Tivo would be able to control the receiver with serial connections, I was assured yes, no problem. The installer came and left me with two D11s which don't have serial ports, after a couple of frustrating phone calls they sent me two D10s which do have serial. So I'm changing channels with ir blasters until the serial cables come from Tivo.

[eaglesight]

Thanks , fortunately the connection to the receiver and TV now is S video but I don't know for sure if there is a serial port on the receiver. I just got it last month but I shouldn't assume that it is the newest version receiver.
I had that IR problem with my old DISH setup, man what a piece of crap, so hopefully serial will prevail.
Thanks again for your help

[briguymaine]

my serial cables arrived! When you plug them in and switch the channel changing setting in Tivo from IR to Serial, the directv channel banners completely disappear, sweet. Now it's like I never left Adelphia, directv's menus and channle banners are gone, it's beautiful.

Edited a couple of days later...
This, in my humble opinion, is the best set up I could imagine. Crystal clear digital sat feed and Pioneer 810 Tivo. Oh man, it is nice.

[swjenk77]

I also have a Direct TV and Tivo set up and what I'm struggling with is the easiest way to set up the boxes so that I can watch one program while recording another. Any suggestions?

[Chester_Lampwick]

I also have a Direct TV and Tivo set up and what I'm struggling with is the easiest way to set up the boxes so that I can watch one program while recording another. Any suggestions?


Well you certainly can watch a previously recorded show while recording a live program. You can't watch a live show other than the one being recorded though. If you really need to do this, you'll need a second DirecTV receiver, one for watching live TV, one for the TiVo. Of course you won't be able to pause the live TV or anything.

Get used to time shifting, record some shows with east coast feeds, conflicting ones 3 hours later with west coast feeds. Then never watch anything live. You can't save any time by watching live TV because you can't skip commercials.

See ya,
Roger

[Rottluver]

Well you certainly can watch a previously recorded show while recording a live program. You can't watch a live show other than the one being recorded though. If you really need to do this, you'll need a second DirecTV receiver, one for watching live TV, one for the TiVo. Of course you won't be able to pause the live TV or anything.

Get used to time shifting, record some shows with east coast feeds, conflicting ones 3 hours later with west coast feeds. Then never watch anything live. You can't save any time by watching live TV because you can't skip commercials.

See ya,
Roger
Actually that is not totally correct. ALL 3 of my DirecTV Tivo boxes have dual tuners which means that I can either record 2 shows at once, watch one and record another or watch a previously recorded one while recording one or two at the same time. DTV Tivo units are big on dual tuners. :D

[Chester_Lampwick]

Actually that is not totally correct. ALL 3 of my DirecTV Tivo boxes have dual tuners which means that I can either record 2 shows at once, watch one and record another or watch a previously recorded one while recording one or two at the same time. DTV Tivo units are big on dual tuners. :D

It seem he said Direct TV and TiVo, implying two separate units. Not nearly as handy as the DirecTiVo. Also the forum is DVD TiVo units, and there hasn't been a DirecTV one of those.....

[Rottluver]

It seem he said Direct TV and TiVo, implying two separate units. Not nearly as handy as the DirecTiVo. Also the forum is DVD TiVo units, and there hasn't been a DirecTV one of those.....
You presumed he meant that he had two seperate items and I presume he has the same setup I have had for over 6 years. I personaly have never seen a Tivo for DTV that didn't have the tuner incorporated with it....not saying they don't exist, but it seems like using 2 pieces of equipment when one can do the same job is overkill/a waste. And what does the forum this is in have to do with the question the guy asked? :confused: He didn't ask anything about DVD's. ;)

[classicsat]

There is no TiVo spcecificallt for separate DirecT|V receivers.
There is either the standalone Series 1/2 TiVo which will work with nearly any satellite cable or other provider, or the integrated D-TiVo, which works with DirecTV only, with its built in tuners.

[Sactowriter]

Hi everyone. I live in the innkeepers apartment of a historic inn where I get free DirectTV through their hotel account. This means, according to DirectTV, that I can't get their DVR. All the rooms get the same channels, but because of the kind of account it is, I can't get a DVR.

Would it be possible for me to get a Tivo so I can record my shows? I am really good at computer technology, but not so much with TV setups, LOL. Please help me! I want to be able to record and watch my shows when I want. Thank you!

Oh, and what kind of Tivo should I get and what cables do I need, etc?

[CuriousMark]

Hi everyone. I live in the innkeepers apartment of a historic inn where I get free DirectTV through their hotel account. This means, according to DirectTV, that I can't get their DVR. All the rooms get the same channels, but because of the kind of account it is, I can't get a DVR.

Would it be possible for me to get a Tivo so I can record my shows? I am really good at computer technology, but not so much with TV setups, LOL. Please help me! I want to be able to record and watch my shows when I want. Thank you!

Oh, and what kind of Tivo should I get and what cables do I need, etc?

It sounds like they have a system where the DirecTV receivers drive a cable company style signal to the rooms. Are those signal analog or digital? In other words can the TV sets in the rooms receive and play HD? If so, it is digital. If not, it is probably analog only.

For analog get any series 2, 3 or Premiere (but not Premiere Elite) TiVo DVR. They will work fine.

For digital and HD, get a TiVo Premiere.

You connect the cable from the wall to the DVR and the output of the DVR to the TV set.