Using Comcast remote with S2 DT

[MarieR]

I’ve searched the forums but can’t find the answer to this one. I hope someone can help, and I apologize if it has been asked and answered before.

We’ve had our S2 DT for a few days and have largely gotten over our teething problems except for one thing. I can’t get my Comcast cable remote to work for anything other than the volume. This means I can’t get On Demand or our “usual” guide/program info on other channels. We all miss the capability of setting a reminder for a show, rather than asking it to record, which was possible with the “old” guide and remote.

I can actually go to channel 1 by inputting the number on the TiVo remote, but then it is stuck on the first selection. Neither set of arrow keys work to move the selection.

Our cable box is a Motorola DCT700US, and we have nothing else hooked up to the TV. Can anybody help?

MarieR

[Stephen Tu]

For OnDemand you will have to make a direct connection between cable STB & your TV, bypassing the Tivo. E.g. if you are running S-video into the Tivo, run composite (yellow RCA jack) into the TV. You may have to use a RCA splitter for the audio if it only has one set of audio outputs. Then you change input on the TV to appropriate input to use cable box directly.

This will also allow you to use cable guide + reminders, but I don't recommend this as they will interfere with Tivo recording. There's really no great reason to do this anyway; just use the Tivo guide, and record everything. It's only a click or two to delete something after you are done, also you then never have to worry about being present to watch the start of a show, and can skip over commercials by watching previously recorded shows or delaying watching the new show until a bit a buffer has been built up.

You have to use the Comcast remote to work the cable box ondemand menus etc., not the Tivo remote which only controls the Tivo. The Tivo relays commands for channel changes only.

[Rod Adams]

If you want a single remote to control all of it, you'll have to get a universal remote that can easily handle both Tivo and your STB.

The Tivo remote/remote control of the STB are limited to having all your TV experience go through the Tivo (thus, no PPV or VOD). Thus you can change cable channels, and adjust your TV volume/input/power for proper Tivo viewing.

Likewise, the cable remote will have nothing to do with the Tivo.

With a universal remote, you'd get a single remote which could control both things, and possibly handle various coordination tasks between the two boxes for you. There are various threads throughout the forums discussing programmable remotes if you are interested in such a thing.

[MarieR]

Thank you both so much. After I posted (isn't it always the way?) I found an okay solution. If I use the TV input button on the TiVo remote, I get full functionality of the Comcast remote. Of course, any reminders I then set would only be visible if I were still in that "mode," so I can't see me using it that much; I like playing with TiVo too much. My daughter likes it though, and at least now I can get around in On Demand.

I think I agree about just setting something to record instead of a reminder. I just have to get myself in that mindset. :-) Thanks again,

MarieR

[Edmund]

If you want to comcast remote to control the tivo, try VCR code 0618.

[MarieR]

Thanks, Edmund. I'll give that a try.

MarieR