NEED HELP!! Old Philips box - "Couldn't connect" message?!

[1peter5.8]

[FONT=Tahoma]Please can someone help me?!?! My mom 'passed down' her first Tivo, a Philips PTV300, when she got a DVR. It was still working, etc., and I only live 2/10 mi. away from the main house... but she failed to inform me of the time period you need to let the thing make its call in, etc., and the 'grace period' passed. Now it keeps saying it can't 'connect', consequently it can't download the new phone numbers. And I've tried everything I could think of!! The Tivo people refuse to help and the Philips people want $20 hr to help!!

I was ready to give the stupid thing back when I discovered this site and decided to give it one last shot! THANKS to anyone who can help me!!!!! :o Vicki

[Dan203]

Since you're only a short distance from your Mom's house I assume the number she was using is still local to you, so I don't think that's the issue. I guess it's possible that the particular number she was using is no longer valid. If that's the case then there is an option in the phone setup screen to change the number it's using. If that's not the problem then I would verify that the phone line you have connected to the TiVo is working, and also turn off the Phone Available Detection and Dialtone Detection settings. If it still doesn't work then it's possible the modem is blown. Those old Philips units had natoriously flaky modems and it's possible that your phone line had enough voltage to cause it to blow, even though it was fine at your Mom's house.

Does the unit have lifetime service? Because if not you're much better off just getting a new TiVo from TiVo.com. They currently have a deal going where the TiVo itself is free and all you have to do is pay for service. If it does have lifetime service, and it truly is a PTV300, you should call TiVo and see if it's eligable for a grandfathered transfer. There is a loophole in the system that allows all units which had lifetime service before January 2000 to transfer that service to a new TiVo one time.

Dan

[1peter5.8]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! You are my new hero!