How to enable 30 second skip on Comcast Tivo

[cypherstream]

Thanks to Chunky Monkey over at AVS Forums for initially posting this information. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12974226#post12974226

Can you verify this works? If it works then I'm SOLD on the Comcast Tivo. If it doesn't, well then I'm still on the fence.

Instructions for enabling the 30-sec skip backdoor on the Comcast DVR with TiVo Service:

Go to TiVo Recordings list and play back a recording.

Enter the following key sequence on the remote control:
Rewind
Slow
Fast Forward
Play
3
0
Advance

(The Advance key (aka skip-to-tick key) is the key that looks like ( ->| ) .)

The user will hear a chime sound to indicate that the 30-sec skip backdoor has been successfully enabled. The user can enter the same key sequence again to turn off the 30-sec skip backdoor.

With the 30-sec skip backdoor enabled, and while in "Play" mode in Live TV, a recording, or an ON DEMAND program, pressing the Advance key ( ->| ) will jump ahead 30 seconds. While in "Fast Forward" or "Rewind" mode, pressing the Advance key will jump to the next tick mark on the trickplay bar.

If the set-top box is restarted, the 30-sec skip backdoor setting is not maintained. Following a restart, the user will need to enter the backdoor key sequence to re-enable the 30-sec backdoor.

[markjrenna]

This is FANTASTIC news!!!

[BlackBetty]

This is indeed great news. I've heard a lot of folks ask/beg for this feature.

[VivaLasVegas]

I've been using DirecTivos for years now, but I'm leaving D* b/c I can't get HD - no line of sight.
I've been trying to decide between the HD Tivo and the Comcast DVR w/Tivo. I've been hung up on 2 issues. One is the 30 sec. skip and the other is the recording capacity. 20hrs of HD doesn't seem like a lot. I was hoping that they would support an external hard drive.
But for no money up-front, I'm willing to try the ComcasTivo and see how it goes. If this 30 sec skip is true, I'll be much happier.

[BrendaS104]

it WORKS! I just did both remotes and OMG this is wonderful!

[markp99]

Excellent. Must try tonite when I get home.

[Snappa77]

Yes it works. You'll hear a single chime if done correctly.

[threejean]

Schweet, thanks!!

[ily]

it WORKS! I just did both remotes and OMG this is wonderful!

I just did this on the Tivo remote, and the Advance button on that now does a 30-second skip. I've also got a Logitech Harmony 880 - does anyone know whether it has a button for Advance so I can do 30-second skip on that as well?

[boxerboys]

I had to manually learn the Advance, Previous, Enter, TiVo, Thumbs Up, and Thumbs down on my Harmony; they either were not in their DB or they did not work.

I was using a Harmony One; but probably the same for 880.

[VivaLasVegas]

I have a more recent Harmony. You'll need to use the interface on your computer to map certain commands to the keys that are available. I remember one screen that shows a grid with all of the Harmony buttons and which function is assigned to each one. And there's also a list of all of the device functions. You can add device functions to un-used buttons or change around or remove commands from the buttons.

Anyway, if the Tivo remote had the 30-sec-skip enabled, then the advance command on the Harmony will do the same thing.

[Evil Otto]

Has anyone else found that the 30 sec skip works at first, but after that it seems to do the same thing as the 'instant replay' button (skips backwards a bit)? Do I just have a lemon?

[ily]

Anyway, if the Tivo remote had the 30-sec-skip enabled, then the advance command on the Harmony will do the same thing.

I used the Harmony software to map "Advance" to the >| button, and it not works like a charm. Thanks!

[ily]

Has anyone else found that the 30 sec skip works at first, but after that it seems to do the same thing as the 'instant replay' button (skips backwards a bit)? Do I just have a lemon?

I haven't had any trouble with mine since I activated the 30-sec skip a few weeks ago.

[markp99]

The 30sec skip will reset if the unit is restarted.

[abi_allan]

Lol i gone crazy :P lemme try this at home tonight:cool:

[prlaba]

I noticed that the key-press sequence for enabling the 30-sec skip feature ends with pressing the Advance key. (The standard TiVo keypress sequence for the 30-sec skip features doesn't include pressing the Advance key.)

Does that mean you are actually assigning the Advance key to the 30-sec skip function? And if so, does that mean you could assign a different key to the feature?

As much as I adore the 30-sec skip feature, it does makes it less convenient to quickly skip to Live mode when watching a broadcast in "behind" mode; the Advance key, which normally toggles between a broadcast's start and end (live mode), now performs the 30-sec skip function. To get to Live mode, I have to press the Advance button multiple times (assuming I'm "close" to Live mode), or press Fast Forward then Advance multiple times to skip forward by ticks until I get to Live mode.

I would prefer instead to assign the Slow Motion key (the one below Pause) to the 30-sec skip function, since I hardly ever use that key. That would be the best of both worlds for me.

So my question is: Can I press the Slow key instead of the Advance key at the end of the backdoor keypress sequence, to assign the 30-sec advance feature to the Slow key instead of the Advance key?

I'm reluctant to try this for fear of enabling some unknown "feature" or putting my Comcast+TiVo DVR into a state that I can't easily undo!