My Silver R10 is now BLACK! (Pictures)

bareyb · 10-29-2005, 12:05 AM

Well I finally upgraded my Series 1 (Black) to the new model R10. I LOVE it. What an improvement! Pretty much addressed any issues (speed) I had with my previous DirecTiVo but it also created one new one... It only comes in silver and all my other equipment is black. I've seen a lot of interest in a black R10 so I thought some of you might be interested to see how they look painted. The top picture is obviously "before" where I masked off all the buttons and the bottom shots are how it looks now.

Basically all you need is some masking tape, an exacto knife and some black "plastic paint". If you have ever seen an episode of "American Chopper" where Justin or Nub are painting a gas tank, then you probably know the basics of masking. Just run the tip of the exacto knife in the groove around the buttons and peel off the rest (see picture) I also put a square around the DirecTv Logo just to make it look more factory.

If you get any tiny "nicks" or ragged edges around the masking, you can use a black "Sharpie" to touch up and they won't show at all. The picture below shows the twins back in their rack where they belong.

myph · 10-29-2005, 12:12 AM

I never realized until you posted this just how much silver stands out from all my black home theater components.

bareyb · 10-29-2005, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myph

I never realized until you posted this just how much silver stands out from all my black home theater components.

The Silver color really stood out in my rack too. Virtually EVERYTHING in there is black. The two silver TiVos were all I could see through the glass. Not a huge deal, but I do think this looks better. I think the black is kinda "classy" looking.

roboshh · 10-29-2005, 12:21 AM

Looks great!

chrishicks · 10-29-2005, 12:35 AM

that looks really good. much better than the sorta zebra stripe look of my stuff.

I have one dtivo on the top shelf - silver
my reciever on the next shelf - black
2nd dtivo on 3rd shelf - silver
svhs vcr below that - black
dvd recorder - silver
comcast motorola hd box - silver
region free dvd player - black
pioneer ld player - black

Edmund · 10-29-2005, 01:35 AM

I couldn't stand the look of the PSRV83 Proscan vcrs.

bareyb · 10-29-2005, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edmund

I couldn't stand the look of the PSRV83 Proscan vcrs.

Really? I rather like them... Of course since they are black you really don't see them in there with the door closed anyway.

Arcady · 10-29-2005, 01:57 AM

I just put the lid from a standalone 140 series tivo on each of my silver units. No paint required.

bareyb · 10-29-2005, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcady

I just put the lid from a standalone 140 series tivo on each of my silver units. No paint required.

This post is useless without Pictures...

Seriously. I have no idea if you are kidding or not, but if you aren't then post a picture. I bet other folks would love to try if that's for real...

gastrof · 10-29-2005, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bareyb

This post is useless without Pictures...

Seriously. I have no idea if you are kidding or not, but if you aren't then post a picture. I bet other folks would love to try if that's for real...

I forget if it's PTV or Weaknees, but someone out there sells extra/replacement faceplates for TiVos. They'll even give pushbutton front panel controls to a TiVo that didn't have it before.

Apparently they're pretty compatible with any TiVo (except series 1s...grrrrr), so it could be another way of achieving what you've done.

By the way, I thought I noticed a very familiar VCR in that unit. Love the Proscan 83 myself. Have two, one actually working. (

)

Missed getting an extra remote (the dubbing controls) on eBay, because some foolish person wanted it to control an RCA TV set and VCR.

I felt like saying "You can get the RCA version of this remote ANYWHERE! The Proscan version is the only one with the dubbing control buttons! Don't do this to me!"

Some people are just SO insensitive!

Arcady · 10-29-2005, 02:56 AM

I'm not sure what good a picture would do, but I have another dead 140060 on order, and I'll take pics when I install the outer parts onto my last silver Samsung 4040 next week.

DPMGR39 · 10-29-2005, 03:13 AM

I have so many electronic devices it useless to try to keep them all one color.

Billy Bob Boy · 10-29-2005, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bareyb

Well I finally upgraded my Series 1 (Black) to the new model R10. I LOVE it. What an improvement! Pretty much addressed any issues (speed) I had with my previous DirecTiVo but it also created one new one... It only comes in silver and all my other equipment is black. I've seen a lot of interest in a black R10 so I thought some of you might be interested to see how they look painted. The top picture is obviously "before" where I masked off all the buttons and the bottom shots are how it looks now.

Basically all you need is some masking tape, an exacto knife and some black "plastic paint". If you have ever seen an episode of "American Chopper" where Justin or Nub are painting a gas tank, then you probably know the basics of masking. Just run the tip of the exacto knife in the groove around the buttons and peel off the rest (see picture) I also put a square around the DirecTv Logo just to make it look more factory.

If you get any tiny "nicks" or ragged edges around the masking, you can use a black "Sharpie" to touch up and they won't show at all. The picture below shows the twins back in their rack where they belong.

Tre Chic!

herdfan · 10-29-2005, 05:15 PM

I have an HR10-250 that is going to get that treatment as soon as my Media room is finished.

Nice job!

DesignDawg · 10-29-2005, 08:10 PM

Those two directivos are stacked. HOW GHETTO.

rhuntington3 · 10-29-2005, 08:56 PM

Wow, cool!

LlamaLarry · 10-30-2005, 07:39 AM

DA50ES?

Gunnyman · 10-30-2005, 08:43 AM

very very nice.
My dTivo is the only silver piece of equipment I own. Thankfully it's pretty well hidden by the door in my Entertainment Center.

bareyb · 10-30-2005, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LlamaLarry

DA50ES?

You are correct Sir. You have a good eye for the classics.

LlamaLarry · 10-30-2005, 02:12 PM

Well, I've had mine for 7 or so years and have found no real reason to replace it. One of these days I'll have to get a new HDTV to replace my similarly ancient 36" XBR2 and will likely get a new reciever with HDMI switching and HDMI/component upconversion. I have replaced the DA50ES' LCD remote control with a Harmony 880 though.

I hate the new silver components though.

Good job on "fixing" yours.

bareyb · 10-30-2005, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herdfan

I have an HR10-250 that is going to get that treatment as soon as my Media room is finished.

Nice job!

The paint I used was made by Rustoleum. It's "Textured Black Paint for Plastics". It has a very fine texture to it just like the type of paint that is often used on electronics equipment. Creates a nice matte finish that looks totally stock. I bought it at OSH along with the X-Acto Blade which cost me about 10 bucks total.

The trick is to tuck as much masking tape into the groove around the buttons (and the little TiVo guy) as you can with your thumb and fingernail. This scores the surface slightly and makes for an easy cutout with the X-Acto blade.

Of all the projects that I've done which involve "paint" I have to say this was one of the most painless. Very little mess and no brushes or hands to clean up. Simply pulled off the cover (need Torx bits though) and masked off the buttons. It was shockingly easy for the amount of satisfaction I got out of it. I probably would have upgraded to the R10 sooner had I known how easy it would be to get one in black.

bareyb · 10-30-2005, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LlamaLarry

Well, I've had mine for 7 or so years and have found no real reason to replace it. One of these days I'll have to get a new HDTV to replace my similarly ancient 36" XBR2 and will likely get a new reciever with HDMI switching and HDMI/component upconversion. I have replaced the DA50ES' LCD remote control with a Harmony 880 though.

I hate the new silver components though.

Good job on "fixing" yours.

Thanks Larry. I can say that the same goes for me almost exactly with my DA50ES. I can find no compelling reason to change it. I use the built-in power to drive my outdoor speakers and the preamp outputs go to my Amp which feed my surround sound speakers. I also dumped the remote years ago in favor of an MX-500.

One day in the coming years I plan to get into HDTV but so far there aren't enough channels to justify the hassle. The day DirecTv broadcasts the main Network channels in HDTV is the day I dump my current TV and receiver and jump head long into HDTV!

herdfan · 10-30-2005, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bareyb

The day DirecTv broadcasts the main Network channels in HDTV is the day I dump my current TV and receiver and jump head long into HDTV!

Looks like someone will be getting an HDTV for Xmas.

At least if you are in the San Francisco DMA. Detroit is up and the top 12 should be one by the end of the year.

transpizzle · 10-30-2005, 03:08 PM

Wonder how it would have looked with the directional pad left silver?

bareyb · 10-30-2005, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herdfan

Looks like someone will be getting an HDTV for Xmas.

At least if you are in the San Francisco DMA. Detroit is up and the top 12 should be one by the end of the year.

If not this Christmas than next. I fugure by then all the bugs will be out of it and the prices will probably continue to drop.

bareyb · 10-30-2005, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by transpizzle

Wonder how it would have looked with the directional pad left silver?

I thought about that and thought it would look pretty trick too. In the end I felt like it might be too much contrast (it's really shiny and it's REALLY silver) against the matte black finish. Plus it's easier to just mask off the little plastic plug.

transpizzle · 10-30-2005, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bareyb

I thought about that and thought it would look pretty trick too. In the end I felt like it might be too much contrast (it's really shiny and it's REALLY silver) against the matte black finish. Plus it's easier to just mask off the little plastic plug.

It looks great the way it is, but I couldn't have resisted leaving that part silver. I think it would make it stand out quite nicely. Better yet, someone could photoshop yours (HINT!!!) and see what it would look like when left silver.

bsnelson · 10-31-2005, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DesignDawg

Those two directivos are stacked. HOW GHETTO.

What does that say about me?

Er, uh, I mean.. Fo' Shizzle!

(and that's only five of the seven - the other two are at the bottom of that rack)

Brad

sda3 · 10-31-2005, 01:57 AM

How can you keep up with that much TV 14 recordings at once!!

bsnelson · 10-31-2005, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sda3

How can you keep up with that much TV 14 recordings at once!!

It's not easy. All of the units are hacked, so I can programmatically make a "master" Now Playing list that includes all units. We use them to record the NHL Center Ice games (all of them), and I have a homemade scoring system that scrapes the scoresheets at nhl.com and produces a composite "index" that suggests how exciting a given game might be based on about 20 or so aspects of the game.

It doesn't report who won, though, so we can pick a game with a big index and be pretty sure that it'll be interesting to watch no matter who wins.

Unfortunately, it's manual programming for the NHLCI games as I still don't have a distributed scheduler.

Brad