Dual Tuner S2: First impressions=

[Gospel]

Hi all,

Today I set up the new Dual Tuner Standalone S2. Set up was flawless and did not require a phone line. I have a wired network so I can't comment on wireless setup.

After set up, the first thing that I noticed was the audio sounded lik was mono despite stereo being selected in the settings. I set it to mono then live TV. Then back to the audio settings and set it back to stereo. It seemed like I had to do this for both tuners.

Here are some new things that I have noticed that is dual tuner related. Pressing the Live TV button switches between tuners. This can be kind of confusing. When chaning channels, the TiVo switches to the other tuner and cnages the cahnnel on that one. Of course, it doesn't do this last one if the other tuner is recording something.

This new TiVo seems to be mich more responsive (faster) than my 240 S2 unit. Right now, I am transfering all the keep-until-I-delte shows. I've recreated many of the saeason passes and wishlists

[Hmm, the new TiVo suddenly rebooted. Don't know why. It showed some garbled video, cleared up, then rebooted. Looks like it is coming back up OK.]

Wishlist:

1) Two front red lights indicating which tuner is recording or if both are recording.
2) Hidden code to display which tuner I am viewing.

That is all for now.

Well, back to the set up. I'll report anymore reboots if they occur. Now I need to turn the 30 sec skip back on. :(

Enjoyl ife!
Steven

[MickeS]

Wishlist:

1) Two front red lights indicating which tuner is recording or if both are recording.
2) Hidden code to display which tuner I am viewing.

Uh... why? "It's recording on tuner 1 now"... and what would you do with that information?

Personally, I've never understood why they have the recording indicator on the front... maybe so it's easy to tell if it's recording if you need to unplug it, but other than that I can't think of a reason...

Thanks for the little write-up though. I hope that reboot doesn't indicate HD failure... :eek:

[Arcady]

After you get used to having dual tuners, you will realize that you don't care which tuner is doing what. Many of these DT threads remind of when the DirecTiVo came out years ago.

[tazzftw]

Uh... why? "It's recording on tuner 1 now"... and what would you do with that information?

Personally, I've never understood why they have the recording indicator on the front... maybe so it's easy to tell if it's recording if you need to unplug it, but other than that I can't think of a reason...

Thanks for the little write-up though. I hope that reboot doesn't indicate HD failure... :eek:
If you're recording something, then you can't watch another channel on it, er duh.

Also, my friend's Mediacom DVR has two lights for each tuner.

[Gospel]

Uh... why? "It's recording on tuner 1 now"... and what would you do with that information?
:eek:

I mainly want to know if both tuners are busy without having to check the Now Playing List. That means I have to watch a chennel being recorded or an already recorded show.

BTW, I like it that when flipping between tyo live shows (pressing Live TV), each show is being buffered. And swthing in this manner doesn't restart the buffering like pressing the Enter/Last on the remote for the older S2.

Enjoy life!
Steven

[b3ar]

If it works like the D* boxes, the "info" screen should tell you as well.

[iDriveX]

Yeah, as a pretty hardcore TiVo user I totally don't care what is doing what. My DT can record to its heart's content. I don't have any overlapping season passes. I got the Dual Tuner so that if it's recording something I don't have to hear my Girlfriend bitch that there's nothing in the Now Playing List to watch.

[BlackBetty]

Many of these DT threads remind of when the DirecTiVo came out years ago.

Give it a rest :rolleyes:

[ZeoTiVo]

are you doing MRV from a 240 to a DT on a wired network to transfer thos KUID shows ?

don't leave us hanging, what is the speed man. real time ? 2x faster that real time ? what is it :confused:

[Sirshagg]

I mainly want to know if both tuners are busy without having to check the Now Playing List. That means I have to watch a chennel being recorded or an already recorded show.

BTW, I like it that when flipping between tyo live shows (pressing Live TV), each show is being buffered. And swthing in this manner doesn't restart the buffering like pressing the Enter/Last on the remote for the older S2.

Enjoy life!
Steven

If it's anything like the previous dual tuner models then when watching anything you can click on the info button and on the right hand side you can see the status of each tuner, even switch between them.

[rainwater]

If it's anything like the previous dual tuner models then when watching anything you can click on the info button and on the right hand side you can see the status of each tuner, even switch between them.

Yes, its exactly like that.

[Billy66]

After you get used to having dual tuners, you will realize that you don't care which tuner is doing what. Many of these DT threads remind of when the DirecTiVo came out years ago.

It is funny. Bill Clinton was Presidnet when we discussed this the first time. :D

[ZeoTiVo]

It is funny. Bill Clinton was Presidnet when we discussed this the first time. :D


I thought it was AL Gore who invented the Presidnet :p

[Billy66]

:)

[jmorgans]

So what happens if the channel numbering scheme is different for analog cable vs. digital as with Time Warner NYC? Suppose I'm recording a movie on HBO, now I want to watch NBC live, which is channel 4 on digital and 14 on basic analog. Do I need to consider that only the analog tuner is available and therefore punch in channel 14? Or is the tivo smart enough to know that if I punch in channel 4, I really want analog channel 14? Which guide will come up if I press "guide?"

Thanks,
Jeff

[Lukej]

So what happens if the channel numbering scheme is different for analog cable vs. digital as with Time Warner NYC? Suppose I'm recording a movie on HBO, now I want to watch NBC live, which is channel 4 on digital and 14 on basic analog. Do I need to consider that only the analog tuner is available and therefore punch in channel 14? Or is the tivo smart enough to know that if I punch in channel 4, I really want analog channel 14? Which guide will come up if I press "guide?"

Thanks,
Jeff

Wow, I have never heard of that. Does this mean that the entire lineup is digital (even 2-99)? It must be, for how can they offer two different lineups otherwise on the same system, right?

[Dennis Wilkinson]

Wow, I have never heard of that. Does this mean that the entire lineup is digital (even 2-99)? It must be, for how can they offer two different lineups otherwise on the same system, right?

Doesn't have to mean that, no. A digital channel can be mapped to any channel number by a cable box. Comcast in many areas broadcasts 2-99 as both analog and digital. Analog tuners get the analog flavor, of course, while their own cable boxes are mapped to get strictly digital versions.

[CloudsBreak]

I wana get one but I'd prefer to wait for the S3's to come out... I'm not in a big hurry bec I ot a chea series 1 on ebay with lifetime for just over 100 bucks... nice thing about it is that it wualifys for the one time lifetime xfer... so this will bring me some nice change if i ever sell it sein as how lifetimes r gone.. but also good thing to is i have a unused lifetime sub for the S3 when they come out hehe... I know this is to far ahead to think but if anything what does everyone think the next TiVo past the S3 will be like... assuming that make anything past the S3

[cwerdna]

After you get used to having dual tuners, you will realize that you don't care which tuner is doing what. Many of these DT threads remind of when the DirecTiVo came out years ago.
While it doesn't matter for DirecTivo since both tuners on a DirecTivo have the same lineup, it CAN matter for this new dual tuner unit.

If person has an analog cable feed coming in thru the coax in and has a cable box, the lineups will be different and it will matter. I'm kinda curious as to all the details of the experience.

[Arcady]

This is TiVo.

It will tell you if it can't do what you want. It will not stop recording to change channels unless you want it to. How can you be on this forum and not understand that TiVo just works?

[cwerdna]

This is TiVo.

It will tell you if it can't do what you want. It will not stop recording to change channels unless you want it to. How can you be on this forum and not understand that TiVo just works?
You talking to me? I've been a Tivo user since 2001 (version 1.3 software) and a DTivo user since November 04.

The dual tuner unit w/2 mistmatched lineups is going to have to deal w/some special cases and certain behavior that doesn't exist on DirecTivos.

[Lukej]

The dual tuner unit w/2 mistmatched lineups is going to have to deal w/some special cases and certain behavior that doesn't exist on DirecTivos.

Yes. For example, TIVO might be using the digital cable input tuner to record on a channel that I have on the analog RF input too. Then I wouldn't be able to watch some other channel on digital, whereas if I could assign which tuner records what, I would make sure that the RF input is always used first for recording, freeing up the more extensive lineup. Then again, maybe TIVO has thought this up already.

[puckettcg]

Anyone bought a new DT from weaknees? Since the e-mail from TIVO offering the new DT, I've been in turmoil debating whether to get it or wait until the S3. Ultimately, I made the decision based on space considerations - I really didn't have any conflicts with scheduling. I have two single tuner 80 Hour TIVO's, and I have to work really hard to keep them from exceeding their capacity. There are shows I'd like to TIVO, but wouldn't have room, and I've transferred 19 shows to my desktop. My kids are now begging me to add their shows. I'd send one out for an upgrade (there is no way I'd attempt upgrading myself), but I can't live without it.

So, I broke down, and instead of buying the DT from TIVO, I bought a 450 hour box from Weaknees. Once it arrives, I'll probably send one of my other boxes out for an upgraded hard drive. I really enjoy saving up whole seasons and watching them during the summer or other "rerun" seasons.

Does anyone know whether or not the DT is eligible for the MSD if bought from weaknees? Or if its not, does the box I'm currently paying full price for get the MSD instead. I don't have bundled pricing.

[BlackBetty]

So, I broke down, and instead of buying the DT from TIVO, I bought a 450 hour box from Weaknees.

what did that cost you?

[LifeIsABeach]

what did that cost you?

$450 after rebate.

http://weaknees.com/tivo.php

[BlackBetty]

$450 after rebate.

http://weaknees.com/tivo.php

Dang. you could do this yourself for $240

$80 TiVo S2 DT from Amazon
$160 400GB Seagate drive from Best Buy
-------
$240 total cost

[puckettcg]

I could - but it was worth it to me not to have to attempt an upgrade that I have no idea how to do. The posts on upgrading the hard drive are in a foreign language - it took me a week of reading posts to figure out how to burn a DVD without the software crashing.

[BlackBetty]

I could - but it was worth it to me not to have to attempt an upgrade that I have no idea how to do. The posts on upgrading the hard drive are in a foreign language - it took me a week of reading posts to figure out how to burn a DVD without the software crashing.

ok fair enough :)

[TonyD79]

When chaning channels, the TiVo switches to the other tuner and cnages the cahnnel on that one.

If this is so, this is different behavior than the DirecTivo dual tuner.

It changes the channel on the tuner you are watching unless the next channel is the same as is on the other tuner. Then it flips tuners.

Example: You are watching channel 3 on tuner A and channel 4 is on tuner B. You push the channel up button, then you flip to channel 4 on tuner B. Tuner A remains on channel 3. Now you are watching tuner B. You push the channel up button to go to channel 5. Tuner B changes to channel 5. Tuner A is still on channel 3.

If you were watching channel 3 and the other tuner was on channel 22, then the tuner you are watching goes to channel 4 and the other tuner remains on 22.

Or did I just misread what you wrote?

[Gospel]

Wishlist:
...
2) Hidden code to display which tuner I am viewing.

I found the answer for #2: S-P-S-InstantReplay-S.

It shows a status of both tuners which indicates which one I am using and and which one is recording. A resent post pointed to a code list that was pointed here. The above code stood out. Now that I found it, I doubt that I will use. I'll keep the status bar up until the next reboot which will occur sometime tomorrow.

Enjoy life!

[CloudsBreak]

I found the answer for #2: S-P-S-InstantReplay-S.

It shows a status of both tuners which indicates which one I am using and and which one is recording. A resent post pointed to a code list that was pointed here. The above code stood out. Now that I found it, I doubt that I will use. I'll keep the status bar up until the next reboot which will occur sometime tomorrow.

Enjoy life!
I've never been real big on codes the only one I know is the 30 sec skip... how do you enter the codes with letters... I know this sounds dumb but its late here and I havent slept much , lol...

[Einselen]

I've never been real big on codes the only one I know is the 30 sec skip... how do you enter the codes with letters... I know this sounds dumb but its late here and I havent slept much , lol...

S-P-S is Select Play Select but I am guessing you may have known that as that is the same start to the commercial skip code. InstantReplay is refering to the Instant Replay button. I am just gussing you were tired and your brain was not processing the code at all and something didn't click.

[CloudsBreak]

S-P-S is Select Play Select but I am guessing you may have known that as that is the same start to the commercial skip code. InstantReplay is refering to the Instant Replay button. I am just gussing you were tired and your brain was not processing the code at all and something didn't click.
Ya it prolly was me bein tired and my brain not "clicking" lol but I got it now hehe

[bud8man]

What I want to know is will this unit do a better job with my Digital Cable?
I have a 240, 80 hour unit that when hooked up to digital cable was subject to a pixelation issue which drove me crazy. My 540, 140 hour unit hooked to basic cable never showed the problem.
I assumed the 240's hard drive was going.
I was assured that the hard drive was going when I recently switched the units and the 240 was in the bedroom and very noisy. I assumed the drive was dying a slow death.
I moved the 240 to the basement to deal with the sound.
Last night watching the NASCAR race on the 540 I had a 5 minute break of digital pixelation and bad sound.
Dang...now my 140 hr unit with the most space is screwed.
WHY!!?!?!?!?!

[c3]

Maybe something is wrong with the cable box or how the source was encoded/decoded. Hook up the box directly to the TV and see if you observe similar problems, with fast moving programs such as NASCAR.

[bud8man]

With the old TiVo it happened in Movies and on NASCAR, so last night when I saw it on the newer unit I was like YIKES.
Problem is it was not until like 4 hours into the race.
To watch cable with out TiVo...what is the point of having the TiVo....I know all in the sake of making it work....
So can I assume I am the only one who experiences this with my Scientific Atlanta 4200 explorer unit from cablevisionless?

[Dennis Wilkinson]

I see some artifacts like you describe even when not watching through my TiVos -- even your analog cable channels may be digital at some point during the path from the studio to your home and subject to this. One of my local PBS stations has horrible macroblocking sometimes, and it's in their feed.

I think the suggestion was merely to see if you see these artifacts when the TiVo is taken out of the picture, that way you know if something is indeed wonky with the TiVos or if it's on the cable company side of the equation.

[Ruth]

Anyone bought a new DT from weaknees?

. . . .

Does anyone know whether or not the DT is eligible for the MSD if bought from weaknees? Or if its not, does the box I'm currently paying full price for get the MSD instead. I don't have bundled pricing.

Yes, and yes. The DT is eligible for MSD (assuming you have a qualifying lifetime or contracted box). I have a lifetimed S2, and I just bought a 180 hour DT from Weaknees and I am getting the MSD pricing on it. And I've been assured I will get the $150 rebate as well. You do need to keep service for 1 year on the DT or else pay the $150 cancellation fee.

The DT is my third TiVo, and it's awesome so far. What I am most impressed with is how much they have simplified set-up. It is much quicker and much easier than it used to be, even over a phone line (I don't have a second wireless adapter yet). In particular, for cable and IR blaster users, it's just so much more simple. You don't have to know the exact name of your cable lineup, and you don't need to scroll through a million IR codes and try them all out. You don't even need to understand the concept of an IR code. Instead setup guides you through it -- you just have to pay attention and answer questions like "Did your TV just change to channel 12?" It's much more accessible to the average user -- and advanced users can still get the technical information and make changes in the menus if they want. I give TiVo a big :up: for the improvements in this area.

One question: My DT isn't running the SW version that has one-button delete and the recently deleted items folder. Anyone know whether/when I'll be getting that?

[Dennis Wilkinson]

One question: My DT isn't running the SW version that has one-button delete and the recently deleted items folder. Anyone know whether/when I'll be getting that?

None of them are; not ready yet (the work for the new box and the recently deleted stuff were apparently done in parallel and need to be merged.)

Anyone who would really know when to expect an update couldn't and/or wouldn't tell you.

[Ruth]

Anyone who would really know when to expect an update couldn't and/or wouldn't tell you.

Isn't that always the way? :D

Thanks for the info. It's not a big deal or anything, I was just curious. I'll take that second tuner over one-button delete any day of the week!

[bud8man]

I see some artifacts like you describe even when not watching through my TiVos -- even your analog cable channels may be digital at some point during the path from the studio to your home and subject to this. One of my local PBS stations has horrible macroblocking sometimes, and it's in their feed.

I think the suggestion was merely to see if you see these artifacts when the TiVo is taken out of the picture, that way you know if something is indeed wonky with the TiVos or if it's on the cable company side of the equation.

I have confirmed that TiVo without cable box works fine, TiVo with cable box looks like a dirty DVD (once every few hours of recording).

Next time I see the problem I am going to extract it and make an mpg of it for review.

[Dennis Wilkinson]

I have confirmed that TiVo without cable box works fine, TiVo with cable box looks like a dirty DVD (once every few hours of recording).

Interesting. That seems to point a finger at the cable box itself (or, potentially, the set of inputs you have it connected to on the TiVo, but it seems unlikely that two TiVos would exhibit the same problem.) The rest of the input pipeline (most specifically, the MPEG encoder) is the same in both cases.

Does this happen at specific points in the recording (i.e. always at the beginning, always at the end) or at random points? I remember there being an issue a few revs of the software back where some people with fairly specific models of cable boxes would see pixellation at the beginning of their recordings, but I thought that had been cleared up.

[bud8man]

In the most recent case it was closer to the end of the race, but I was scheduled to record another hour or two for padding.
I have a direct cable feed to my cable box.
I output the cable box to the tivo via s-video and left/right audio.