2 questions

[grantsa4]

Hi,
I am back with Tivo after a while. I have inheritted a Series 2 from my in laws.

Question 1 - I know there are certain features in the HD model that are not in Series 2. Is there anywhere I can find out what all of those features are, or does anyone know what features are different?

Question 2 - When a Tivo is not being used it is still pretty noisy. Is there any way to quieten it? I thought maybe standby mode, but that doesn't help. Any suggestions or is that just the way it is?

Thanks for any help.

[classicsat]

1. Look up 9.4 software threads. The video streaming features are only available on the HD models, because only their hardware supports it. There are also a few menu options only on the HD units, mostly affecting the NPL.

2. That is just the way it is. You have to unplug it, or put it in some cabinet or alternate location where noise would not be a problem.

[RonDawg]

1. Several features. Obviously the ability to decode not just HD, but to be able to tune digital cable channels and digital OTA channels without the use of an external box. For digital cable however, a CableCard is required for encrypted digital channels (in most cable systems, anything other than the OTA locals), and also to receive guide data for the non-encrypted (clear QAM) digital channels.

The Series 3/TiVoHD/XL models also have the ability to receive streams other than MPEG-2, such as the current YouTube, and the upcoming Netflix capabilities.

2. That's just the way they are. I've never found factory-spec TiVo's to be unduly noisy, and I've had 3 of them in my bedroom (not all at once!). Some people put rather noisy hard drives in them as upgrades however.

[ZeoTiVo]

first 2. the TiVo is recording the live TV buffer 24/7 so the noise you hear is very likely the hard drive that is always working. You can either put the TiVo on a channel you receive no signal on, and after a short time it would stopp writing to the hard drive. of course you would have to be always doing that - or else upgrade to a quieter drive - and get some extra room while you are at it.


now 1. aside from the obvious distinction of playing back HD and the digital outputs on the back -
Most see the series 3 models as having a superior picture and sound - even from the same analog source -
The Series 3 models can decode some types of mpeg4 which allows for YouTube streaming now and soon NetFlix streaming.