Tivo with Directv, problem with Tivo box

[klueck]

I am new to this forum so pardon me if the answer has been posted. I haven't been able to find anything to help me that is current.

We have 2 Tivo boxes that we have had at least 5 years. Tivo was pretty new when we bought them. They are Phillips boxes and one of them only will record 40 hours. One is getting quite noisy (the fan I think) but works fine. We decided to get a new box as this one has certainly been well used and we got our money's worth out of it.

We got a Tivo box from Walmart and found out it isn't not supported by Directv and we will return it. We were advised by the Directv rep to get one that is directv supported maybe from Best Buy.

Also...I had some conversation with a Directv installer/technician and he said that Directv is intending to quit supporting Tivo sometime in the next 6 months. I don't want to have to switch over to Directv DVR's!!!! For one thing they can't be as great as Tivo and also I don't want to have to rent them!

We currently pay $6.00 for monthly DVR service and an additional $5 for the 2nd Tivo receiver.

We never had or checked into getting Tivo any way other that Directv as we have been happy with them.


My questions....(and pardon me if these are stupid questions )...

1. IF Directv no longer will support Tivo, how/where do I get it?
2. Can I continue to receive Tivo as cheaply?
3. We also use our Tivo/sattelite when we travel in our motorhome and want to be able to continue to do so.
4. Can I keep my Directv and still have Tivo after they no longer support it?
5. I am concerned the noisy fan may cause a fire hazzard????


Thank You

[hc130radio]

I have DirecTV and Tivo. Both work fine. DirecTV and the installer are correct. They do not support Tivo, but Tivo supports DirecTV, if that makes sense.

1. To make Tivo work with DirecTV, you'll have to use the IR control cables. When you go through the initial tivo set up, the Tivo will ask you if you are using cable or satellite. When you choose satellite, it will ask what service and where you are and what kind of channels you get. This will tell the Tivo what and which guide data to download.

The IR cables come into play when you want to change the channel. Basically, whenever you change the channel on your Tivo, the Tivo will change the channel on the DirecTV box. You will have to mount the IR sensors in front of the DirecTV box.

2. Not sure. I opted for the lifetime option a few years ago.

3. I'm sure you can, just as long as you have an internet/phone connection to download the guide data.

4. Yes. Tivo and DirecTV have partnered to develop a box, expected to come out in 2010. http://www.tivo.com/mytivo/directv-signup.html

5. Maybe if the fan stops working and the box overheats. I'm sure you can find spare parts out there on ebay or something.

[TonyTheTiger]

You don't say what type of 'TiVo' you have but from what you are paying, I would guess that they are DirecTV receivers with TiVo service and not standalone TiVos. You are paying $6.00 for DVR service and $5.00 for a second receiver, which is paid to D* not TiVo.

The technician is most likely wrong and TiVo-based receivers will continue to work for some time to come. People on this board are still using old Ultimate TV boxes too.

As for the fan, it can be easily replaced, as can the hard drive, whicch with a bigger capacity, will give you much more storage space. Information can be found in the TiVo Upgrade Center (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=25) and Underground (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=14&f=8)areas of this forum.

[Wings&Wine]

>>> 1. To make Tivo work with DirecTV, you'll have to use the IR control cables.

hc130radio, (or others)

Please tell me a good place to get new IR control cables. I moved my Tivo from one state to another, and in the process, I converted to DirecTV. I set my Tivo up today to work with the DirecTV cable box, but I don't have the IR Blaster, control cables, or whatever I need.

Thanks !!

[hc130radio]

IR "blasters" or control cables. Here they are on the Tivo.com website for $6.99.

https://www3.tivo.com/store/accessories.do#A00009

[Wings&Wine]

Thanks for the reply. I think you probably know the answer to this question also, so I'll ask another.

That Tivo link you gave me shows the IR Control Cable for $6.99.

But it also shows the Serial Cable with this info...
10' serial cable for use with your TiVo Recorder and most DIRECTV receivers and some cable boxes.

I do have a DirecTV receiver, so I might be tempted to use the Serial Cable instead of the IR Control Cable. But that option appears not to be a correct one, since my receiver does NOT have that DIN8 serial connector on it. It has a USB and a telephone connector, but the rest are audio/video connectors. Apparently not all DirecTV receivers are created equal, so I need to stick with the IR Control. ???? (That wa ultimately a question! :-) )

[ggieseke]

A few of the DirecTV branded boxes (D11, D12, H20) that have a USB port can use a third-party adapter that converts the TiVo serial cable to USB. More info at http://www.patersontech.com/products/usbtvtranslator.aspx

I have 4 TiVos and 4 older Hughes receivers and just use IR. It's a bit slower on the channel changes, but at least for me it's just as reliable and a lot cheaper.

[Wings&Wine]

OK, thanks...

I'll order the IR Control, since I'd rather not have to get a USB/serial adapter. I sorta wonder why the Serial cable wasn't fitted with a USB connector, but I guess that's one of life's little mysteries.

[classicsat]

It isn't a matter of a cheap connector, but at least a USB to serial chip, which the TV Translator has, including a microcontroller to translate between TiVo serial commands (for older DirecTV receivers), and serial commands for newer receivers.

[BobCamp1]

OK, thanks...

I'll order the IR Control, since I'd rather not have to get a USB/serial adapter. I sorta wonder why the Serial cable wasn't fitted with a USB connector, but I guess that's one of life's little mysteries.

If you have the H20 and only get HD locals, you have to use the USB cable.

What is the closest big city are you in?