Series 1 to DirecTV HD Receiver - IR or direct connection

[wbrproductions]

Hello,

Apologies if this topic has been covered, but after extensive searching, no luck. I've got a TiVo Series 1 recorder that I'm keeping alive, and a brand-new DirecTV HD receiver. Is there a cable out there (like the serial cable connector) to change channels on the receiver thru the cable, rather than with the IR blaster?

There's an open USB jack on the DirecTV receiver. My existing IR blaster isn't working too well now. I'm aware of the limitations of connecting old-school Tivo with new-school HD.

Thanks much,

wbrproductions

[stevel]

See here (http://forums.tivo.com/pe/action/forums/displaypost?postID=10296416) for tips on placing the IR emitter on a DirecTV H20. See Paterson Technology (http://www.patersontech.com/) for an adapter that will allow you to use a connection between the TiVo and USB port on the H20.

[wbrproductions]

Wow, that was fast. Both questions answered. Thanks much to stevel!

[travelmad]

I have Series 1 with lifetime subscription, recently bought an HDTV, and am seriously considering getting DirecTV's HD receiver (w/o DVR). I believe this would be the H20.

I've done some poking around on the forums to get info on whether this is do-able, and I understand that the DirecTV H20 receiver can be hooked into the TiVo--although I can't record in HD. That's fine with me, but my question is: can I ever see the HD channels on my television in HD if the signal is running through the TiVo first? Or do I have to get a switch box to send the DirecTV signal straight to the television when I want to watch those channels?

Any other information on how to set up this configuration would be really appreciated. Except for being a TiVo early adopter, I am a technological ignoramus and don't even know what an IR blaster is. I would love to get the "For Dummies" version!

[stevel]

Any signal that passes through your TiVo will be in standard def. Note that TiVos have no inputs that are capable of carrying a HD signal.

The IR blaster is the LED on a plastic stick which comes with your TiVo (there are actually two of these sticks, wired together.) On the other end of the wire is a miniature phone plug which plugs in to the IR OUT jack of your TiVo.

You can use the USB connection on the H20 to have the TiVo control it if you get a special adapter (and a serial control cable) from Paterson Technology (http://www.patersontech.com/)

[wbrproductions]

Hello Travelmad (and stevel),

I'm currently operating in the mode you are attempting. Its a little bit wonky but it works. If you use your tivo in best quality mode you can get decent (not HD but not bad) video out in 16:9 format. If you wanna watch TV in realtime (not fun for a 7 yr tivo user) switch your TV to HD (great for sports, etc).

I also bought a Logitech Harmony remote (H659) which allows for using your tivo to control channels but your tv (or stereo) for volume etc, or use any combination of devices simultaneously. This got rid of the sea of remotes on my coffee table...

I bought the device Steve suggested, which allows you to mate your H20 to your Series1, along with the Serial connector that you may or may not have already. If you dont have that connector, search for tivo serial cable on ebay - you can get 'em for about 3 bucks. This is a more reliable connection than the IR blaster, which is the little remote control cable which you probably have to control your tivo if you don't have a serial cable...

To answer your question directly - I've got high quality (also much cheaper on ebay) S-Video cable running from H20 to Tivo to TV. I've also got an HDMI cable running from H20 to TV. The Harmony remote can be setup to provide easy switching of TV source from Tivo to HD depending on what you are watching. But, if you are trying to run both H20 and Tivo source thru the same cable - as Steve said, you won't be able to, as S-Video is the best you can do into the Tivo.

Hope that's not too much information. Swiching from regular Directv to HD is still worth it, even with the series1 tivo, IMO.

Thanks again to Steve for the previous advice.

[travelmad]

Thank you guys VERY much!! I think today is the day I am going to get out there and order DirecTV. It looks workable. I will have to look through my big bag of TV-related cables (I kept everything that came with the TiVo, bought in 2002, and also the TV) to see if I have the serial cable, S-video connector, and HDMI connector. I know my TV has the HDMI input, at least.

I think my TV's remote can be set up to switch the input from the TiVo to the DirecTV box, now that I think about it. I already use the TiVo remote to change channels and volume, and just use the TV remote on those rare occasions when I need to switch inputs from the TV to the DVD or VCR. I'll check on that, because I would like to actually see the HD channels in HD...after I spent all that money on it!

[classicsat]

A 2002 TiVo won't have HDMI (might come with the DirecTV HD receiver though), and the newest DirecTV boxes have USB only, so need the aformentiond Paterson box, which may need the TiVo Serial cable.

[travelmad]

Hi again! OK, I have now got my DirecTV installed. I have looked all over the place, but I do not have the IR emitter that (supposedly) came with the TiVo when I bought it in 2002. I have no way now of using the TiVo remote to change channels on my DirecTV H20 receiver, and to my great dismay, the TiVo will only record whatever is already playing on the H20--even if TiVo thinks it's recording something else.

I checked out the Paterson Technology serial cable. Unfortunately, the TiVo control outputs (serial and IR) are mini-jacks only, while the Paterson has a USB connector on one end and an RS-232 connector on the other. My DirecTV box has the USB port, but my TiVo doesn't have an RS-232 port. (And the TiVo-branded cable that turns a mini-jack into an RS-232 is out of stock. :( ) So it looks like I will have to go the IR emitter route.

My next question: do you have a suggestion on which IR emitter to buy? I'm reading the various posts on where to stick the stick-on piece of the emitter, and I'm now thinking that some emitters must be more reliable than others. The H20 seems to be particularly picky as far as the location of the emitter. There is a TiVo-branded one, but it doesn't seem to be the stick-on variety.

Help! The Sopranos starts next week! Thanks :)

[stevel]

If you buy the Paterson adapter, you also need the TIVo serial control cable which is included with most TiVos, or you can order it from the TiVo store. It says this on the Paterson site.

My favorite emitter is the Xantech 282M, but the Smarthome-branded emitter is fine too (just a bit clunkier-looking). There shouldn't be a noticeable difference in reliability among the stick-ons.

[travelmad]

OK, I have to correct myself. I just had a brain wave as to the location of another bag of mystery electronic cables in a desk drawer, and came up with not only the TiVo IR emitter, but a TIVo serial control cable as well. A miracle! (This just occurred in the last five minutes, so apologies for the mistaken post above.)

I read the "Cable/Satellite Box Compatibility" thread and came up with these instructions (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=4136067&&#post4136067) for sticking the IR emitter to the H20. Now for the really stupid question. The emitters are L shaped, with a long and a short side. Which side gets pasted to the H20 unit? Do they go lengthwise in line with the long side of the receiver, or perpendicular to it? Should the LED (which is on the inside angle of the "L") be facing a particular direction? And finally, do I just stick them right on the front of the box and leave them there forever?

If this doesn't work then I will order the Paterson cable.

Thanks for your patience and quick replies.

[stevel]

You asked this in the TiVo.com forum too, and there's some good replies there (including one from me.)

[travelmad]

Yes, thanks. I didn't know you were on both forums. I am up and running now--DirecTV channels are changing via the TiVo remote, thanks to your help. I really appreciate it.

I have one more issue--TiVo's "customize channels" function isn't working to filter the DirecTV channel lineup--but I will look for an answer in other threads, since I suspect this one should be dealt with somewhere.

[stevel]

If you mean that the TiVo doesn't know what DirecTV channels you subscribe to, that's right - you have to tell it. If you mean that you are not seeing the effects of channel filtering in the guide, you have to change the guide settings to show Favorites or "Receive" channels only. See the message at the bottom of the guide screen for what to push to get to that option.