Recording what I want

[Arthur Marshall]

I really need some help here. My Tivo works too good, it records everything under the sun. How do I get it to, or tell it to only, record the programs I want.

Thanks, Art

[rainwater]

Turn off suggestions under the settings.

[pdhenry]

Turn off suggestions under the settings.Nah, that's the lazy response, and it cuts off too much of the Tivo's capability.

The TiVo can record "suggestions," which are shows that it thinks you might like based on the other shows you record, and how you rate the shows you watch.

The TiVo will only record a Suggestion when there isn't something else on that you've asked it to record. It will never delete a show you want if there's a suggestion recorded - it will delete the suggestion first. It will also never delete a program to amke room for recording a suggestion.

I think this establishes that there really isn't a downside to letting the TiVo record Suggestions for you. Now we need to let the TiVo do a better job of choosing the programs that it thinks you might like.

Try this:
Make sure you rate every suggestion the TiVo records, somewhere from 3 thumbs down to 3 thumbs up. Use multiple thumbs up or (particularly) down sparingly - for me one thumb down has been enough to keep something like 30 Minute Meals from ever being recorded as a suggestion again.
Make sure your requested programs and seasons passes are rated appropriately as well. The firmware used to give requested shows one thumb up and season's passes 3 thumbs up automatically, but I think this has changed. Go ahead and make sure the ratings reflect what you think about the shows.
In particular, make sure that shows you want to record just once and not use as the basis for future suggestions are rated neutrally or one thumb down. Once in awhile I record a couple of hours of Disney programming for whan the grandkids visit, but I make sure to reset the rating to neutral when they've been recorded. This removes any influence of having recorded that origram.

With a bit of feedback to the TiVo it will soon do a better job of deciding what shows to go find for you and you'll be happier with it.

[gonzotek]

If the OP is interested in continuing use of the suggestions, they may also want to try turning on Groups in the Now Playing list, if they aren't already on. That will place the suggestions all together into one group, at or near the bottom of the list.

Nah, that's the lazy response, and it cuts off too much of the Tivo's capability.

The TiVo can record "suggestions," which are shows that it thinks you might like based on the other shows you record, and how you rate the shows you watch.

The TiVo will only record a Suggestion when there isn't something else on that you've asked it to record. It will never delete a show you want if there's a suggestion recorded - it will delete the suggestion first. It will also never delete a program to amke room for recording a suggestion.

I think this establishes that there really isn't a downside to letting the TiVo record Suggestions for you. Now we need to let the TiVo do a better job of choosing the programs that it thinks you might like.

Try this:
Make sure you rate every suggestion the TiVo records, somewhere from 3 thumbs down to 3 thumbs up. Use multiple thumbs up or (particularly) down sparingly - for me one thumb down has been enough to keep something like 30 Minute Meals from ever being recorded as a suggestion again.
Make sure your requested programs and seasons passes are rated appropriately as well. The firmware used to give requested shows one thumb up and season's passes 3 thumbs up automatically, but I think this has changed. Go ahead and make sure the ratings reflect what you think about the shows.
In particular, make sure that shows you want to record just once and not use as the basis for future suggestions are rated neutrally or one thumb down. Once in awhile I record a couple of hours of Disney programming for whan the grandkids visit, but I make sure to reset the rating to neutral when they've been recorded. This removes any influence of having recorded that origram.

With a bit of feedback to the TiVo it will soon do a better job of deciding what shows to go find for you and you'll be happier with it.

[alansplace]

Nah, that's the lazy response, and it cuts off too much of the Tivo's capability.calling his response lazy is unfairly judgemental. it's a preference, mine as well as his.
--
Alan :D

[ZeoTiVo]

Make sure your requested programs and seasons passes are rated appropriately as well. The firmware used to give requested shows one thumb up and season's passes 3 thumbs up automatically, but I think this has changed. Go ahead and make sure the ratings reflect what you think about the shows.
With a bit of feedback to the TiVo it will soon do a better job of deciding what shows to go find for you and you'll be happier with it.
excellent response - just to clarify - a season pass will give that show one thumb up. and you want to mostly use just one thumb, up or down.

the trick is that if you hit the info button on a show and then hit enter to see more of that info and page down - you will find shows TiVo sees as similar (mainly people that had that show , also recorded these shows. adn then there are the actors and directors etc.. attached to the show.

my speculation is
one thumb effects the genre and actors with some wieght.
two thumbs says those toher shows as well
three thumbs means the director , witers and the horse everybody rode in on.

so you have law and order and liked it alright but don't want to record it but wnat it in suggestions.

give it one thumb up and it will show up as it can.
give it two thumbs up and Law and Order AND NYPD, start shoing up
give it three thumbs up and Law and order and NYPD and Hill Street Blues start showing up due to same actors in both. adn maybe the director did barney episodes in his youth, Now barney spisodes shows up due to that and three thumbs. :eek:

so the moral is use one thumb mostly and if you really like everything about a show then two and three - just stay away from three.

[pdhenry]

unfairly judgemental. I call 'em as I see 'em.

Doc! It hurts when I do this!
Then don't do that!

See, they've even ridiculed that position in a joke! ;)

[ZombiE]

Nice ZeoTivo,

I had no idea about the multiple thumbs up. That is why I start getting odd stuff in suggestions, I use three thumbs up if I really like the show.

Any idea on the multiples of thumbs down?

Z

[wilcotree]

Being new to TiVo I've always given 3 thumbs up without even thinking. I've only rated two shows thumbs down and all 3 down with those too.
("Paid Programming" was the first thing I did- 3 thumbs down!) I think I will clear all thumb ratings and start over. I would like to hear more thoughts on how thumbs affect things.

[ZeoTiVo]

well note it is my speculation as TiVo has never released specifics themselves but that is the general framework to keep in mind.

thumbs down is the same just the reverse of it tells what shows not to record as suggestions instead.

[mattack]

I really need some help here. My Tivo works too good, it records everything under the sun. How do I get it to, or tell it to only, record the programs I want.

You may want to leave suggestions turned on, for the simple reason that it's the only way that you can get a rough estimate of how much space is left on your Tivo. That's the only reason I have them turned on.

[pdhenry]

If your TiVo has a Recently Deleted folder (S2/S3), that's a better indication of free space than suggestions.

[ZombiE]

Or just use this app and know pretty much how much space you have.......

TIVO PLAYLIST (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=293241&highlight=playlist+web)

I have been using this for about 6 months now and I know how much space I have left on the Tivo at any given time. It is a great app made by dcahoe.

Z

[mick66]

Nah, that's the lazy response, and it cuts off too much of the Tivo's capability.

Considering that the question was
How do I get it to, or tell it to only, record the programs I want.


rainwater gave the only correct answer.

here's a TiVo Philosophy refresher for you

TiVo, TV your way.

[ZeoTiVo]

TiVo, TV your way.
and now the OP has the range of knowledge to decide what his way really is and choose accordingly. If he had just turned off suggestions and never learned about them how does he know it is his way?