I suppose my 2TB drive is FULL

[Stuxnet]

It looks like TiVo Suggestions has finally filled up my 2TB drive, lol... I'm guessing that 'cause there's only "0" programs in my "Recently Deleted" folders... My drive status shows 274 HD hours of free space... maybe the 421 TiVo suggestions aren't counted since they're eliminated whenever space is needed for a Wishlist or Season Pass...

I'm growing to like the "suggestions" feature... even though it's wrong 80% of the time, because it gives me the ability to watch something w/o commercial interruption... I don't recall watching a live program recently... even the NBA fiinals... which I started an hour after tip-off, and still made it to the live ending...

[steve614]

Do you go to the trouble of rating your suggestions?
If not, you should. It'll help the Tivo fine tune your likes and dislikes.

[tunarollz]

Right; suggestions don't count against your disk capacity reading

[rugbyfan45]

Steve614 is right on. One of my favorite things about TiVo is how the suggestions got better and better the more I rated programs. I always liked that you could also search not just by show but also by actor, director, etc.

[Stuxnet]

Do you go to the trouble of rating your suggestions?
If not, you should. It'll help the Tivo fine tune your likes and dislikes.I tried that for awhile, but it quickly grew tedious with all the keypresses and the fact that I wasn't familiar with many of the programs. Instead, I'd prefer that TiVo track what I watch and what I record, and make recommendations accordingly.

[ecoblue]

I didn't worry about rating my TiVo's Suggestions--I just rate the programs I watch and the TiVo figured out the rest.

[HerronScott]

Mine does a decent job after about 4 years now of just the ratings that get applied by recording shows and creating season passes.

Scott

[Stuxnet]

Mine does a decent job after about 4 yearsThat's something to look forward too... only 3 more years :D:D:D

[ZeoTiVo]

I tried that for awhile, but it quickly grew tedious with all the keypresses and the fact that I wasn't familiar with many of the programs. Instead, I'd prefer that TiVo track what I watch and what I record, and make recommendations accordingly.

if you watch a suggestion and like it - then give it a thumbs up. Do not like it - one thumbs down. let the rest sort itself out

[SpiritualPoet]

Those key presses are easier with the new Slide remote.

[ducker]

love suggestions.. it's like.. if I don't feel like watching what I have recorded.. can check down there, versus watching live TV where I'll have to watch commercials.

[steve614]

For those that use suggestions off and on, or not at all...
You can still rate suggestions by going to Find Programs -> Tivo Suggestions. Here, Tivo keeps a list even if you don't use suggestions.

If you do use suggestions, you can go to this list and quickly rate shows/movies if you know for sure you like or dislike them. Highlight then :up: (or :down:).

[lrhorer]

Steve614 is right on. One of my favorite things about TiVo is how the suggestions got better and better the more I rated programs. I always liked that you could also search not just by show but also by actor, director, etc.

:up::up::up:

[lrhorer]

Mine does a decent job after about 4 years now of just the ratings that get applied by recording shows and creating season passes.
All three of mine started doing an excellent job after about 6 weeks.

[Stuxnet]

For those that use suggestions off and on, or not at all...
You can still rate suggestions by going to Find Programs -> Tivo Suggestions. Here, Tivo keeps a list even if you don't use suggestions.

If you do use suggestions, you can go to this list and quickly rate shows/movies if you know for sure you like or dislike them. Highlight then :up: (or :down:).

I forgot that menu selection... good reminder. Thanks.

[lrhorer]

I tried that for awhile, but it quickly grew tedious with all the keypresses
"All the key presses"? You have to be kidding me. One, two, or three leisurely button presses while watching a show does not constitute "All the key presses".

and the fact that I wasn't familiar with many of the programs.
Familiar, shamiliar. You don't need to be familiar with anything. Start watching a suggestion that looks like it might be interesting. If it's bad, hit 1, 2, or 3 thumbs down, depending on how bad, and delete the show. If it's good, hit 1, 2, or 3 thumbs up and finish watching the show. Over time, fewer and fewer awful programs will be recorded and more and more good ones.

Instead, I'd prefer that TiVo track what I watch and what I record, and make recommendations accordingly.
Who says what you record and watch is always good? First of all, if it was a suggestion in the first place, it's value is generally in doubt until you take a look. Secondly, although I rarely manually choose anythng to record, there have been plenty of times I selected something tht sounded interesting, only to find it lousy. Three thumbs down. Delete.

[Stuxnet]

Start watching a suggestion that looks like it might be interesting. If it's bad, hit 1, 2, or 3 thumbs down, depending on how bad, and delete the show. If it's good, hit 1, 2, or 3 thumbs up and finish watching the show. Over time, fewer and fewer awful programs will be recorded and more and more good ones.That's may work for you, but I'm not up to wasting time watching an unknown program, even ten minutes of a program, just because TiVo's algorithm relates it to something vaguely associated to something my family watches.

Add to that the myriad of specialty channels that cable co's pump into our homes, and the overall lack of program quality available today... the "suggestions" usefulness is more towards catching up on forgotten series, and movies featuring my favorite directors, actors, etc..

I suppose "suggestions" could work for a single user, but when everyone in a household with varied interests provide the inputs for TiVo's suggestions, then the "suggestions" are much more useful than randomly program watching.

IMO the suggestions are basically a convenient repository to check out when you're seeking commercial-free entertainment. YMMV.

[aridon]

We set our box to not record the suggestions. No thanks there is enough crap we already record and don't get a chance to watch as it is. Between that and netflix I need more options like another hole in the head.

[lrhorer]

That's may work for you, but I'm not up to wasting time watching an unknown program, even ten minutes of a program, just because TiVo's algorithm relates it to something vaguely associated to something my family watches.
If you don't want to watch it, then don't. Without doing so, however, you will never know if it is perhaps the best thing on the DVR.

The relationships are not vague, however, and one can clearly see them by hitting the <Info> button. If it is something you cearly don't like - which early on is often enough the case, then give it a thumbs-down or three.

the "suggestions" usefulness is more towards catching up on forgotten series, and movies featuring my favorite directors, actors, etc..
To be sure. Indeed, one of the main uses I have for the Suggestions is recording old series I like without elevating their priority to the same as a Season Pass.

IMO the suggestions are basically a convenient repository to check out when you're seeking commercial-free entertainment. YMMV.
I have no idea what you mean by that. Relatively few of the suggestions on my machines are commercial free, especially as opposed to scheduled programs, which are almost 100% commercial free. Regardless, Suggestions are much more powerful than that. They offer the user a very powerful management tool as well as being a watchdog for obscurely scheduled pograms of meaningful content.

[lrhorer]

We set our box to not record the suggestions.
That's certainly up to you. There is, however, no down side to recording suggestions. They don't waste space. They don't increase wear and tear on the DVR. They don't create any management headache for the user. It doesn't cost extra.

No thanks there is enough crap we already record
Then may I suggest (no pun intended) you quit recording crap and allow Suggestions to record stuff that is not crap?

and don't get a chance to watch as it is. Between that and netflix I need more options like another hole in the head.
I think it very possible my TiVos record significantly more than yours, and by a wide margin I don't have anywhere nearly enough time to watch all of it. The point of Suggestions is not to increase the quantity of material avaialble, although it certainly can do that, but rather to increase the overall quality of content provided to you. It also provides a very powerful tool for managing the content on the TiVo. Anything which your household considers a "must" to record and keep should be set up via Season Pass, Wishlist, or specifically selected recordings. Most people, however, have things they like to watch from time to time, and would like to have available when the mood hits, but don't want to watch on a weekly basis, or at least ones for which they are not chuffed to miss an episode here and there. Individually they are not top priority, but collectively they may be considered a significant resorce.

[ZeoTiVo]

If it's bad, hit 1, 2, or 3 thumbs down, depending on how bad, and delete the show. If it's good, hit 1, 2, or 3 thumbs up and finish watching the show.

I would be careful of the 2 or 3 thumbs down. It is more than just an indicator of that one show.

You may watch say some old sci-fi show like "Cleopatra 2525" and like it because it is campy and has good looking women, but not for its sci-fi aspect. However you give it 2 or 3 thumbs up and you are now a Sci if lover as far as TiVo is concerned.

[steve614]

Yup. Most of my ratings are just one thumbs up or thumbs down. I leave some shows neutral (no rating).
Some shows I really like are two thumbs up, those are very few.

[lrhorer]

I would be careful of the 2 or 3 thumbs down. It is more than just an indicator of that one show.

You may watch say some old sci-fi show like "Cleopatra 2525" and like it because it is campy and has good looking women, but not for its sci-fi aspect. However you give it 2 or 3 thumbs up and you are now a Sci if lover as far as TiVo is concerned.
'No question about it. That's the whole point of having multiple thumbs. If one hates everything about the show, however, 3 thumbs down it is. It didn't take my TiVos long to know that "reality" shows, game shows, sports, and soap operas of any sort were not to be considered. They also don't try to record anything starring Adam Sandler, Leonardo DeCaprio, or Rob Schneider, or directed by George Romero or Wes Craven. Humphrey Bogart, Harrison Ford, Clint Eastwood, Stephen Spielberg, and Alfred Hitchcock are another matter.

I don't think I've ever seen Cleopatra 2525, but I do like a lot of SciFi films. My TiVos know this.

[atmuscarella]

I don't think I've ever seen Cleopatra 2525, but I do like a lot of SciFi films. My TiVos know this.Series with 30 min shows available on Hulu+, good looking fighting women in tight skimpy outfits. Not much else to say about it.

[pbcanney]

I dont understand what the goal here was.
Was it to see how much stuff it took to fill 'er up?

[netringer]

Do you go to the trouble of rating your suggestions?
If not, you should. It'll help the Tivo fine tune your likes and dislikes.

I tried that for awhile, but it quickly grew tedious with all the keypresses and the fact that I wasn't familiar with many of the programs. Instead, I'd prefer that TiVo track what I watch and what I record, and make recommendations accordingly.

I didn't worry about rating my TiVo's Suggestions--I just rate the programs I watch and the TiVo figured out the rest.

THIS! You can rate the suggesstions but the point is to rate anything you like or hate! You can rate shows AND MOVIES in the guide.

I love it when a short time after I set soem thumbs I see shows in suggestions that really are new things that I like, or even things I know about but hadn't rated that TiVo knew I would like.

Rate all paid programming as three thumbs down.

[lrhorer]

I dont understand what the goal here was.
Was it to see how much stuff it took to fill 'er up?
No, the goal is to fill it up. Every interesting program recorded on the TiVo is worth something. The more programs, the more valuable the TiVo is. Uninteresting programs are worth nothing. Reducing their number allows more room for programs that are worth something, not to mention eliminating any time the user might spend dealing with worthless programming. The point of Suggestions (and the other automated utilities) is to increase the number of interesting programs, decrease the number of uninteresting programs, and reduce the amount of time and trouble required of the user to increase the former and eliminate the latter.

The number of programs it takes to fill up the TiVo is probably at most a matter of academic interest.

[pbcanney]

I have hundreds of hours of programs recorded on videotape
however, I dont have vcr that works
or the time or want to go through them

[edit]
and what about a backup in case the drive fails?
I lose at least one a year on my network

[ZeoTiVo]

No, the goal is to fill it up. Every interesting program recorded on the TiVo is worth something.

The point to repeat here is your implication that it is not really the goal of filling up a hard drive. Heck just record all Law & Order and CSI and you can fill any hard drive.

The real goal is to get a bunch of programming you like and in a quantity to satisfy any type of viewing.
I pull down National Geographic 5 minute shorts and rocketboom. I love having some 5 minute as I wait for some other reason.

then the 30 minute comedies or shows like cash cab or wheel of fortune for more fill in times to just chill with the TV.

Then we have the list of prime time shows that many in the family want to watch. All ready to go. Plus if "SO you think can dance" is picked - I can MUTE Mary or even skip entirely over the nonsense that is sure to be in each show. Or I can even go off and do something different while other watch, knowing the shows I like will be on the list and waiting.

and these prime time shows bring up a really big benefit in having a large drive. I can set up the new shows to record and keep all until I delete. I can let it record 2 or 7 or the whole season BEFORE I start watching. If they cancel the series I can just delete them and not be as upset about investing time in a show and getting into it just to have it canceled on me.

[Shanezam203]

I have a 1tb drive, what is a good way of knowing if it is close to full or not?

If I have recordings in Suggestions is that safe to say it is not FULL? will it delete Suggestions before it deletes anything else recorded in Now Playing?

Thanks,

Shane

[steve614]

Yes. The fact that you have shows in the Suggestions folder indicates that your drive is not full, regarding shows that YOU care about.
Regarding free space, look at your Recently Deleted and Suggestion folders.
When both of those reach zero your drive is full.

IIRC if you use Suggestions Tivo will delete Recently Deleted first, then suggestions, and next start on your Now Playing List.

[Shanezam203]

My recently deleted has 6 shows, and suggestions has 27. So the recently deleted 6 should be purged 1st, then the Suggestions (27) THEN what something that was set to delete after a set date? Does it go by priority or date?

I'm just curious, so far I have not lost anything that I know of; I have an external 1tb drive.