LG HDTV, TWC HD Cable Box, Tivo S2

[davidgibb88]

Hi guys, I think this has probably been done to death but here I go again :up:

I have my HD Cable box (Time Warner) no set up with my HDTV and that is working fine. I don't know how to set up my Tivo S2 to work with this. I basically want it to work how it did before I got the HD.

Currently the Cable box is connected to the TV using Component Cables (green, blue, red cables). The Coax cable goes from the wall to a splitter, one end of the splitter goes to the HD Cable Box the other to the Tivo box.

I realise I cannot record in HD using the S2 but I still want to use the Tivo interface, remote etc, canthis be done? I have 2 cables with the red, white and yellow connectors not plugged in anywhere so far and a spare double headed coax cable. Anyone know were I go from here (in very basic language :))???

Please help, I love my Tivo and don't want to have to give it up for some cable DVR

[RonDawg]

One of the red/white/yellow cables needs to be plugged in from the TiVo's output (either one will do) to a similar type of input on your TV. That will allow you to view any content already on your TiVo, and if you are happy with only being able to "TiVo" the analog channels, you need not do any more than this.

If you want to be able to view the digital channels through the TiVo, the setup is a little more complex. You will need to take the other set of red/white/yellow cables and run them from the TiVo's input to a similar type of output on the cable box. So that the TiVo can change the channels on the cable box, you will need to either run a serial cable or else an IR "blaster" between the two units.

Serial cable is preferred as it is more reliable and easier to set up, but an increasing number of boxes don't have the proper connection at all, and many that do have had them disabled by the cable provider. If this applies to you, you will need to use an IR blaster which mimics the IR commands from the cable box's own remote.

Here is the setup diagram. (http://www.tivo.com/setupandsupport/technicalsupport/setupmytivodvr/How_Do_I_Set_Up_My_Single_Tuner_DVR_with_a_Cable_Box_or_Sate llite_Receiver_and_a_VCR_.html) You will also need to re-do Guided Setup for "Cable with Box."

If your Series 2 is a single tuner, you can remove the splitter and just run the cable straight from the wall to the cable box, for the best picture quality. If you have a Series 2 Dual Tuner, keep the splitter as you've installed it so that you have some dual-tuner capabilities. Note that if you have an S2DT, you can only tune two analog channels, or one analog and one digital channel simultaneously.

Also note that a few HD cable boxes do not downrez the HD channels; the Scientific Atlanta 3100HD is one of them. Otherwise you should be able to record even the HD channels, just not in HD of course. When viewing the HD channels in HD, you will need to switch to the HD input on your TV (whatever controls the Component input), but I recommend using the TiVo's remote to change the channel. I also recommend hitting the record button when viewing an HD channel, that way the TiVo doesn't change the channel on you.

[davidgibb88]

Thanks Ron mate,

I now have the Tivo working perfectly on the AV Input.....one last problem though is when I go to my component input for the HD the picture is perfect but I have no sound. Think I have only one audio out on the cable box but need (red, yellow, white) wire from cable to Tivo and the component audio from cable to TV (2 outs). The Cable box is a Motorola DCT5000 DCT6000 series if this helps anyone to fugire out what I have done wrong?

Again thanks again, this forum is a real life line for some of us here and the help of the more experienced users is greatly appreciated :up:

[RonDawg]

one last problem though is when I go to my component input for the HD the picture is perfect but I have no sound. Think I have only one audio out on the cable box but need (red, yellow, white) wire from cable to Tivo and the component audio from cable to TV (2 outs).

You will need an RCA cable splitter, available at many electronics stores.

Here's one such example from Radio Shack: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102980

http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1C-2265316w345.jpg