Help: need cablecards in both S3's for MRV?

[nhaigh]

Should I be able to MRV HD content from an S3 with cablecards to one without? When I try at the moment I get an error message saying the program was recorded in an unknown format and I'm not sure if the error is a problem or a limitation.

This sumarizes what does and doesn't work so far.

Analogue SD S2->S2 works
Digital SD S3->S2 works
Analogue SD S2->S3 works
Digital SD S3->S3 fails - unknown format
Digital HD S3->S3 fails - unknown format

All programs recorded on TiVo's - no downloaded or other format stuff. All programs are clear of copy protection restrictions.

Both S3's are on 9.2a and the DVR names have updated correctly. One is new today.

TiVo support say it can take up to 24hrs for stuff to start working!!!!!!!!!!!

[kdmorse]

TiVo support say it can take up to 24hrs for stuff to start working!!!!!!!!!!!

Support is actually correct. For reasons that are beyond me, it takes a couple of daily calls, and some time, for that error to go away.

-Ken

[nhaigh]

Thanks - I guess I'll wait.

Whats more odd is I have now discovered I can TTG an HD recording to my PC then TTCB that to my other S3 and it transfers and plays OK. It just won't transfer directly.

[astrohip]

TiVo support say it can take up to 24hrs for stuff to start working!!!!!!!!!!!
The first time I tried to MRV with my 2nd S3, I rec'd that same error msg (unknown format). Scared me, because I was attempting to MRV a show that I knew was going to be frequently MRV'ed, and I was about to get pissed. The 2nd S3 was only a day or two old, and I had other issues to worry about (getting cablecards set up properly, getting the TV set up, creating all the SPs, etc), so I ignored it at the time.

The next time I tried it, a few days later, it worked like a charm. I never thought about it again (not have I seen that error again) until I read your post.

Patience grasshopper . . . ;)

[nhaigh]

Update for anyone reading this with the same error.

It started working at the point I forced the origional S3 to call home. It seems that there must be some extra piece of information both S3's need to get from TiVo to be able to transfer between one another, something that an S2 does not need.

[dshay]

Wish that worked for me. I have had an HD for about a week. Got an S3 tonight, got it all activated and working. Status shows "a,a,a", both at 9.2, both show up in each other's Now Playing lists, but I get the unknown format problem still. Even after forcing calls on both, forcing reboots, etc. The S3 still won't get the name from tivo.com (still has "Name this DVR on tivo.com" displayed), which may have something to do with it. Won't pick it up even after several (7-8) forced calls....

We will see if just time will fix it. Not sure what kind of batch process over on the Tivo side fixes this or what it relates to, but there doesn't appear to be anything you can do locally, at least not that I can determine.

[bkdtv]

dshay,

Did you follow the instructions in the TTG/MRV FAQ (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=371710) at the top of the forum?

[dshay]

Yes, FAQ was fully followed. Time cured it. This morning, I forced a reconnect and the DVR got it's name. Transfers now work in both directions. Only problem is that in one direction, in the "Now Playing" list, the other DVR just shows up as "DVR" without a name. Presumably because it changed names it somehow got confused. I tried a restart and that didn't fix it. I'm now trying a "delete all" to see if that fixes it.

[nhaigh]

Wish that worked for me. ... The S3 still won't get the name from tivo.com (still has "Name this DVR on tivo.com" displayed), which may have something to do with it. .

The support folks told me there was a delay between setting this information on the website and it hitting the servers that control the service. Once the name is poulated the servers are up to date. At that point force a call from both and I beleive MRV will start working.