2 TVs 1 Tivo, Remote Control situation?

[alvinmathew88]

Hey Tivo Folks,

I just picked up my first Tivo HD from a blockbuster for a Benjamin. Ive searched the forums, and i havent found a real answer to this question.

So if I have two Tvs (One HD via HDMI (Samsung), One SD via Composite (Sony)), How do i control the Tivo so i watch one live show on the Samsung and one live show on the Sony?

There was a mention of IR extenders, but how would that work, wouldnt the Tivo just change the main tv's channel as well?

Im confused.

- Alvin

[rocko]

You don't. Both set can be set up to watch the same thing but different simultaneous displays ? Nope.

[pdonoghu]

Hey Tivo Folks,

I just picked up my first Tivo HD from a blockbuster for a Benjamin. Ive searched the forums, and i havent found a real answer to this question.

So if I have two Tvs (One HD via HDMI (Samsung), One SD via Composite (Sony)), How do i control the Tivo so i watch one live show on the Samsung and one live show on the Sony?

There was a mention of IR extenders, but how would that work, wouldnt the Tivo just change the main tv's channel as well?

Im confused.

- Alvin

While the Tivo can record two shows, it only outputs one video stream at a time. That video stream can be either one of the live tuners, or a previously recorded program. You can connect both TVs, but they will display the same video.

[alvinmathew88]

Can a premiere put out two video streams?

[NJ_HB]

Can a premiere put out two video streams?

no

[jshaffernc]

I have 5 TVs and 2 TiVos. One HD, One DT. Both are in the basement. I use modulators to broadcast the DT TiVo over the house cable network on channel 123. I use Cat5 HDMI extenders from a company called Outdoor Speakers Direct (or something like that)to broadcast the HDTiVo to two of the TVs. The powered Cat5 extenders are workin' fine to about 75' on one TV, and 50' on the other one. It's a complex arrangement involving powered HDMI splitters, etc. But it works.

For remote, I use IR extenders over RF. They work poorly from one room, and flawlessly from another. Beware of LCD interference when you place the sending devices. IR over RF is available on eBay quite reasonably. All the brands seem to use the same frequency, and end up talking to each other easily. I have one receiving unit by the HDTiVo, and one by the DT. All the remote signals go both places, so you have to use TiVo's method for sorting them out (switch on the remote.)

Also, beware lightning. The HDMI ports are terribly sensitive to power surges. I lost one in each TV a few weeks ago. You can imagine the difficulty isolating the problem. Cost me $200 per TV. Bonus, though. The new Vizio mainboard on one of my TVs has updated firmware, so it's actually a little better pic, and a different menus.

[rocko]

I have 5 TVs and 2 TiVos. One HD, One DT. Both are in the basement. I use modulators to broadcast the DT TiVo over the house cable network on channel 123. I use Cat5 HDMI extenders from a company called Outdoor Speakers Direct (or something like that)to broadcast the HDTiVo to two of the TVs. The powered Cat5 extenders are workin' fine to about 75' on one TV, and 50' on the other one. It's a complex arrangement involving powered HDMI splitters, etc. But it works.

For remote, I use IR extenders over RF. They work poorly from one room, and flawlessly from another. Beware of LCD interference when you place the sending devices. IR over RF is available on eBay quite reasonably. All the brands seem to use the same frequency, and end up talking to each other easily. I have one receiving unit by the HDTiVo, and one by the DT. All the remote signals go both places, so you have to use TiVo's method for sorting them out (switch on the remote.)

Also, beware lightning. The HDMI ports are terribly sensitive to power surges. I lost one in each TV a few weeks ago. You can imagine the difficulty isolating the problem. Cost me $200 per TV. Bonus, though. The new Vizio mainboard on one of my TVs has updated firmware, so it's actually a little better pic, and a different menus.

Right. In other words, a TiVo can output one stream to as many TV's as you want.

[mattack]

Can a premiere put out two video streams?

The only 'mainstream' DVR I know of that can output two separate video streams is a DISH (satellite) DVR, and IIRC, it's an older version, not even the current thing they lease.