30 second skip broken

[rbienstock]

I just got a new Series 3 unit, and try as hard as I can, I am unable to program in the 30 second skip hack. I have three other Series 3 units, and it works on all of them. I'm playing a recorded show and done S P S 3 0 S at least 50 times, and it never takes. I've also tried hitting Play before sending the command sequence and also Clear, but neither of these make a difference either. Has this feature been disabled? Is there any way I can get this programmed? If I can't get 30 second skip, I can't use this box. I'm really desperate. Please help.

[rvsj]

Has the new unit had time to update to the latest firmware yet?

[bkdtv]

You might try SPS30S while on a time delayed live program. Tune to a live channel, pause live TV for a few seconds, hit play, then do SPS30S.

If that fails, make sure the batteries in your Series3 remote aren't low.

The TiVo can also be very slow to respond to remote commands for the first 48-72 hours while guide data is indexed (processed) for the first time. You may not be able to enable 30s skip until that 48-72 hours is up.

[ado]

You can't use your tivo over 30-second skip. Are you kidding? Why is this feature so important, I never use it and i think that fast-forward works much better.

[BanditWS6]

I've never used it either, but I can see how one would become dependent on it. Sorta like how I became so dependent on TiVo in general, I "couldn't use" the cable company's crappy DVR and have now put myself in CableCard hell to get what I want. But it will all be worth it in the end!

All I can suggest is to try what others here have stated. I don't know of any rule by which certain S3 boxes don't accept the 30 second skip hack, although I've heard it can take multiple tries to activate (though you said you tried it a whole bunch of times already.)

I agree on the remote being slow to respond during the initial setup period. Try entering the commands a little slower, or waiting for a couple of days until the indexing is done and response picks up.

[drjlb]

Is it an S3 remote or a univerasal remote. Perhaps the speed at which the codes are being sent are too fast for the TiVo? You may have to alter the time between sends on a universal remote. If you do it really slowly (1 sec) between buttons, you should be able to eliminate this possibility.

[Wheens]

Are you assigning "SPS30S" to a button? You must hit a button after you enter the sequence in order to assign the function to a button.

[jbernardis]

Are you assigning "SPS30S" to a button? You must hit a button after you enter the sequence in order to assign the function to a button.

This is simply untrue - you don't assign this shortcut to any button and you do not need to press an extra button afterwards. Just enter the sequence SPS30S while playing a pre-recorded program, and it is automatically assigned to the skip-to-tick button.

[mattack]

You can't use your tivo over 30-second skip. Are you kidding? Why is this feature so important, I never use it and i think that fast-forward works much better.

You are free to think that fast forward works much better.. A lot of us don't agree. Why are you trolling in this thread?

[bedelman]

I've found that hitting the Clear key at the beginning of the sequence can help -- to the point where I can invoke the sequence even from Live TV (instead of the usual case of doing so on a recording)

Also note that if you invoke the 30 second skip with the code, that performing the sequence a second time will remove the hack.

With the latest software, the 30 second skip now also survives a reboot.

[bkdtv]

I prefer FFW for skipping commercials, but 30s still has other uses, such as skipping the 30s between pitches in MLB and the 30s between most downs in football.

[ado]

I agree that it could be useful and i'm not trolling, I just think that a tivo has a lot more to it than 30-second skip. I wasn't sure why everyone thought this feature was so important and that without it the tivo simply wouldn't do. Happy new year! :D

[pl1]

I agree that it could be useful and i'm not trolling, I just think that a tivo has a lot more to it than 30-second skip. I wasn't sure why everyone thought this feature was so important and that without it the tivo simply wouldn't do. Happy new year! :DI absolutely live by the 30SS. If it was taken away, I would flip out. I watch hockey and by NHL rules, commercials can only last 1.5 min. That is exactly 3 skips. Most every program has breaks in increments of 1 min. So, it is always a good guess that it is 4 skips for 2 min or 6 skips for 3 min. Real popular shows go 10 skips for 5 min which is an outrageous number of commercials. Anyway, that is one of the most important features TiVo offers in my opinion.

[rbienstock]

Well, I figured out the trick: you have to watch the light that indicates that a command has been received. 90% of the time, when I use the supplied Series 3 remote, when I press Select, I get two blips. The other keys only give a single blip. If one quickly and gently taps the select key, then one gets only one blip and then the command works. Given that there are three Selects in the command series, there are plenty of ways for the sequence to get screwed up, but after about 15 tries after figuring it out, I finally got it to take.

[bkdtv]

Sounds like the batteries in that S3 remote are low, or you have something else in the room causing IR interference.

ake sure you disable the backlight on the S3 remote, as that will increase battery life from 2-3 months to 8-12 months.

[Wheens]

This is simply untrue - you don't assign this shortcut to any button and you do not need to press an extra button afterwards. Just enter the sequence SPS30S while playing a pre-recorded program, and it is automatically assigned to the skip-to-tick button.

Sorry, my bad. I didn't read the OP correctly and answered as if he was using an universal programable remote.