Tivo w/ Comcast .. and A-B cable.

[unixguy]

Hey everyone ..

I need some help here. I have just moved to Dallas and have A-B cable. I decided to get the Motorola DVR and I dont like it at all. I miss my tivo.


1. I have two cables comming out my wall. If I get a reverse splitter to turn the two cables into one to go into my tivo .. will that work ?

2. If that doesnt work what is the best way to connect it?

thanks
unixguy

[Rod Adams]

I'm in a similar boat.

Short answer:

If you are getting a converter box from the cable co (definately happening if you're going digital), then connect the TiVo to the output of that.

Otherwise, you pretty much have to pick the A side or the B side. Thankfully for me, almost all the channels I ever care about are on the B side, so the decision was easy. I then did a trick w/ my old VCR to get exactly one channel from the A side available. (By calling the VCR a Dish setup, where I get only that one channel.)

Your idea of a "reverse splitter" just flat out will NOT work, and will likely screw up the CATV throughout your house.

If you really must get stuff from both sides, and do not want to get a converter box from the cable co, consider getting two TiVos, and hooking one up to each side.

I _really_ wish I could set up the TiVo to do IR blaster to the VCR to get the rest of the A side channels...

[unixguy]

how can find out what is on my A side and what is on my B side?

[Rod Adams]

Cable Company should have a listing somewhere. Check their website, looking at the various lineups.

Most reliable method is to hook it straight up the the RF jack on your TV and see what comes in.

Note that if you get any premium channels at all, you'll need a cable converter of some sort to descramble them. (the DVR you got from them does that for you.)

[ab3tx]

zap2it is the cleanest way to see which are A or B, Comcast's site is somewhat confusing. Compare "A" vs. "B" vs. "Digital" to see how the different feeds are numbered. I've been stuck on A/B in Dallas and Plano for over a year, and I have a digital box (with standard service, no digital package) feeding my TiVo. Serial control works perfectly to control the cable box, and I didn't have to choose which feed to use. As Rod said, the "reverse splitter" won't work. Also, don't fret too much, when TimeWarner takes over any day now, their first priority is to complete the "single line" upgrade. Some parts of Far North Dallas have been upgraded, but any further areas are on hold until after the transition.

Welcome to Dallas!