Dogs dislike Tivo

[gcsheph]

We're first time, new owners of S3HD. However, the various sounds that Tivo makes when using it (especially when amplified through the home theatre speakers) drive the dogs crazy. Sometimes I remember to mute the amp first but that's not very helpful when skipping through a commercial. Is there some way to silence all of the "tivo sounds"?

Secondarily, does it hurt (power consumption, heat, etc.) to leave Tivo on all the time. If you set standby, you see the record lights but can't monitor what's taping.

Many thanks once again.

[ah30k]

In the options screens there is a control for the 'bloop bloop" volume. i Have mine turned off completely.

At risk of starting religious wars, I think most people would advise on leaving the TiVo on all of the time so it can be sure to capture all of your recordings (and suggestions if you have them turned on).

[moyekj]

YES!! Personally I hate the Tivo UI sounds and was the 1st thing I searched for to turn off:
Tivo Central->Messages&Settings->Settings->Audio->Sound Effects Volume->Off

[Joybob]

You can lower the volumes of the effects, no need to shut em off :(

[jtkohl]

You can lower the volumes of the effects
Not low enough, though. They need another volume quieter than the quietest current setting.

[wmcbrine]

At risk of starting religious wars, I think most people would advise on leaving the TiVo on all of the time so it can be sure to capture all of your recordings (and suggestions if you have them turned on).Well, if you're talking about unplugging it (which is the only way to really turn it off), yeah, that's bad. But the OP was talking about Standby, which doesn't affect recordings... and with the Series 3/Tivo HD, you're really better off leaving it in Standby when not watching, because your recordings won't be interrupted by Emergency Broadcast System tests.

There is also some power savings in Standby, but it's probably negligible.

[MrTangent]

Well, if you're talking about unplugging it (which is the only way to really turn it off), yeah, that's bad. But the OP was talking about Standby, which doesn't affect recordings... and with the Series 3/Tivo HD, you're really better off leaving it in Standby when not watching, because your recordings won't be interrupted by Emergency Broadcast System tests.

There is also some power savings in Standby, but it's probably negligible.

I was stumped (actually bordering on being pissed off) trying to figure out how to turn off my TiVo when I first got it. Read through the manual, tried every setting, googled the crap out of it... I still can't believe TiVo didn't put an on/off button on the TiVo. Granted I can see why they would want the TiVo to be always-on but there's times (like when you're moving it) that it should have one. Most people are so ingrained to turn electronics off before unplugging them that TiVo should have put one in or at very least give ample instructions on the first few pages of the manual to tell the user that it's not necessary since the TiVo has a robust, journaled filesystem that is unaffected by power loss.

[bizzy]

i still want a 'shut down'

ive been adminning unix boxes for a decade and a half and the concept of yanking the plug on one irks me beyond belief- no matter what filesystem it's running.

[mick66]

Granted I can see why they would want the TiVo to be always-on but there's times (like when you're moving it) that it should have one.

OK, why should it have an on/off button when you are moving?

[demon]

i still want a 'shut down'

ive been adminning unix boxes for a decade and a half and the concept of yanking the plug on one irks me beyond belief- no matter what filesystem it's running.

Do what I do - use the restart feature, and right after it restarts pull the power. It's as close as you can really get...

[Pab Sungenis]

OK, why should it have an on/off button when you are moving?

It's safer to move a hard drive when it's not spinning.

[CCourtney]

I was stumped (actually bordering on being pissed off) trying to figure out how to turn off my TiVo when I first got it. Read through the manual, tried every setting, googled the crap out of it... I still can't believe TiVo didn't put an on/off button on the TiVo. Granted I can see why they would want the TiVo to be always-on but there's times (like when you're moving it) that it should have one. Most people are so ingrained to turn electronics off before unplugging them that TiVo should have put one in or at very least give ample instructions on the first few pages of the manual to tell the user that it's not necessary since the TiVo has a robust, journaled filesystem that is unaffected by power loss.

I hate having to pull the plug to power off the unit, but TiVo isn't the only one - most DVRs (and VCRs for that matter) never power off, they are put in a standby mode which disables the video output but doesn't stop recordings even ones like the SA8300 HD. Only like other AV Equipment TVs, AV Receivers, DVD Players, HTPC's, etc all have the ability to fully power down before unplugging the devices from the wall.

VCR's it's not a big deal as there's nothing really to be damaged by pulling the cord when it's in standby (recording setup is stored in EEPROM or some sort of static memory that doesn't require external power and wont be erased/corrupted by yanking the power cord.)

DVRs are more like PC's, you do have a HDD that you're potentially recording to when you have the device in Standby mode. It could be downloading guide data from the head end. And other potential activities. HDD should quickly 'park' the head when power interruption is detected, but this still gives me a bad feeling.

The reality is TiVo and other DVR makers seem to have done a fair amount of due diligence and making sure there is no ill effects from yanking the power cord with the unit powered on (whether in standby mode or not) but it still makes me feel uneasy doing it.

A button on the back that would allow the board to take things down in stages would be nice. But not given that a simple I/O switch in the back to physically disconnect the AC from the power supply would be effectively the same thing as pulling the plug, but I'd still prefer that as the transients are much shorter lived with that type of scenario.

[ZeoTiVo]

A power button on the remote is a bad idea - what if it is pressed accidentally right in the middle of a favorite show recording

a power button on the TiVo also offers the same chance for bad timing - though obviously with less chance depending on where it is located.

I assume a shutdown feature is not in the menu as that is more parts in the TiVo to faccilitate an APC shutdown. EG - need something better than the cheap unshielded power supply in there now. Cost to make is always high on TiVo's priority list.

So TiVo saves some manufacturing money and we all pull the plug. Ironically I bet we would see more angry threads if there was a shutdown feature when someone did accidentally power off the Tivo ;)

[bizzy]

Why not have one that works exactly like the restart function- thumbs down three times, then enter?

Even without a full power-off, if it halted the OS and left me at a screen that said 'Its now OK to pull the plug' I'd be much happier..

[mick66]

It's safer to move a hard drive when it's not spinning.

Tivo hard drives don't spin when they are unplugged.

[bdlucas]

i still want a 'shut down'

ive been adminning unix boxes for a decade and a half and the concept of yanking the plug on one irks me beyond belief- no matter what filesystem it's running.
I'd be irked beyond belief (or more accurately beyond opening my wallet :)) if doing a shutdown made one iota of difference, meaning that it wasn't robust against power failure.

[Krenath]

Dunno about dogs, but the TiVo UI sounds drove me crazy back when I bought my Series 1 a majillion years ago.

Haven't turned 'em back on since and disabled them first thing when I bought the S3.

[Bodie]

S1's had a standby button. Tivo got rid of it, presumably because all standby really does is turn off the video output (and apparently EBS messages, I haven't seen one of them in ages though).



The sounds aren't that bad, at least they are rather short duration. My wife doesn't even say "fast forward" anymore, she just makes the sound herself when I'm not paying attention and a commercial comes on...

[SCSIRAID]

S1's had a standby button. Tivo got rid of it, presumably because all standby really does is turn off the video output (and apparently EBS messages, I haven't seen one of them in ages though).



The sounds aren't that bad, at least they are rather short duration. My wife doesn't even say "fast forward" anymore, she just makes the sound herself when I'm not paying attention and a commercial comes on...

LOL!! My wife does exactly the same thing.... If I dont immedietely start to FF she looks at me and says padoop padoop....

[Bodie]

LOL!! My wife does exactly the same thing.... If I dont immedietely start to FF she looks at me and says padoop padoop....

Now that's funny right there!

Should we start a poll: How many people "talk" in Tivo-sounds? LOL

[stevetd]

LOL!! My wife does exactly the same thing.... If I dont immedietely start to FF she looks at me and says padoop padoop....

OMG! That is hilarious!

Now that's funny right there!

God bless the little pigmies...

[Necro]

My dog doesn't seem to mind it at all. He loves the dog whisperer. ;)

[Ferd Berfle]

Well, I've had a couple issues where pulling the plug was dangerous... With a less than firm mounting and no strain relief, I've had 2 S2's I've had to solder the power connector back to the board inside. Exuberant wiggling the power cord at the back of the TiVo in a vertical direction causes the soldered joint to break loose. Of course pulling the other end is safer, but who can find which one it is among 6 other black power cords in a power strip buried deep.


In our house it's called tooka-tooka, and it's a noun (as in "do we have enough tooka-tooka built up") as well as a verb.

[MrTangent]

i still want a 'shut down'

ive been adminning unix boxes for a decade and a half and the concept of yanking the plug on one irks me beyond belief- no matter what filesystem it's running.
Exactly. Out of curiosity, what types of Unix do you run? I'm a Linux/Mac OS X guy myself.

OK, why should it have an on/off button when you are moving?
It would, if nothing else, solve the issue of people looking for the button and being aggravated. Only after an extensive menu search, physically looking over the unit and, finally... googling, did I figure out that there is no off button. Every electronic device I've used has an on/off button. To not have one, even if it might not be technically needed, is still antithetical to most users. I just think it'd solve the aggravation if nothing else.

Now as far as answering your question, others addressed that issue. I just think there's unnecessary risk of filesystem corruption with a power yank. A "graceful exit" by way of a power down is just a lot better -- and logical to most user's sensibilities -- solution.

[berfy]

Dunno about dogs, but the TiVo UI sounds drove me crazy back when I bought my Series 1 a majillion years ago.

Haven't turned 'em back on since and disabled them first thing when I bought the S3.


Thats funny. I LOVE my Tivo's Boops!

[Graymalkin]

First thing I do when I get a new TiVo is turn off the sound effects. (Second thing is to turn off Suggestions, but that's a topic for another thread. :D)

[hastypete]

I like the sounds, BUT, I wish I could control the volume lower.
I allready have it at minimum, but still too loud.
bloop bloop!