Watch live and record another - not answered in FAQ

alextrainer · 09-19-2006, 06:22 PM

I have a Sony 2000 model TIVO and cable box (Scientific America). I bought a splitter and followed the instructions in the FAQ so I can watch one channel live while TIVO records another. The result is that I can only watch live or record via TIVO the first 99 channels.

There has to be a way to connnect with the splitter to allow me to watch TIVO live or record all 200 channels (the channels 1-99 don't require the cable box - channels 101-200 do) and watch at least channels 1-99. I have Monster cables and A/V (red/white/blue) cables also. Help!!!!

stevel · 09-19-2006, 06:25 PM

The TiVo should be connected to the cable box output, and therefore the cable box tunes in the channel. You would be able to record any channel you subscribe to. Use the S-Video and left/right audio connection for that.

The splitter should have been installed between the wall jack and the cable box input, with the second splitter output going to the TV. You would use the TV to select the channel to watch live, but would be restricted to only the analog, unscrambled channels (unless your TV supported CableCARD and you had one.)

alextrainer · 09-19-2006, 10:22 PM

Thanks.

So the splitter is used from the wall and one side goes to TV input and the other to cable box input. How would I connect the AV (red/white/yellow cables) - from what input to what output?

Once it is set, I would tune my TV to which of the following :AV1, AV2, AV3, channel 3 or channel 4 to watch TIVO while and not while it is recording and what to watch live TV while TIVO is recording?

Thanks.

Stephen Tu · 09-19-2006, 10:34 PM

AV out from cable box into Tivo AV input.
Tivo AV output into any of the TV's AV inputs, set TV input accordingly.

You will probably have to rerun guided setup on the Tivo to make sure it is set to take input from cable box and the correct input (composite or S-video).

Tune to TV tuner to watch live TV while Tivo recording something else. You will only be able to watch 1-99 on the TV.

snafu · 09-20-2006, 11:19 AM

I need help with a slightly different setup but I think it is close enough to include in the thread.

In my previous setup I had a TIVO S1 and DISH DVR. I really like the ability to have the TIVO record of the antenna or the DISH. This gave me the ability to not only record two channel at the same time (one on the TIVO and one of the DVR) but also playback independantly.

I've switch from satellite to FIOS. The FIOS STB is considered a "cable" box which isn't a big deal EXCEPT guided setup will only let me select cable box not cable box with antenna.

Is there any way to get TIVO to recognized the cable box and a secondary input of antenna?

gastrof · 09-21-2006, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snafu

I need help with a slightly different setup but I think it is close enough to include in the thread.

In my previous setup I had a TIVO S1 and DISH DVR. I really like the ability to have the TIVO record of the antenna or the DISH. This gave me the ability to not only record two channel at the same time (one on the TIVO and one of the DVR) but also playback independantly.

I've switch from satellite to FIOS. The FIOS STB is considered a "cable" box which isn't a big deal EXCEPT guided setup will only let me select cable box not cable box with antenna.

Is there any way to get TIVO to recognized the cable box and a secondary input of antenna?

I suppose some SERIOUS hacking might make it possible, but nothing I know of in the ordinary Guided Setup would.

I don't think that discussions of that type of hacking would violate the rules here, but you would have to take it to the "TiVo Underground" forum in the "Underground Playground" section.

The biggest problem I see with this is that cable channels under 14 normally come in on the same frequency as Over-The-Air channels of the same number. Also, higher OTA channels do at least share channel NUMBERS with cable channels. VERY difficult for the TiVo to keep all that sorted. From what I understand, your satellite channels had a very different numbering range. Is that right? Could be why TiVo was able to set up a combo of satellite and OTA, but not cable and OTA. Plus, in many cases the only way to GET the OTA channels when you have satellite is to use an antenna, whereas they usually are right there with cable.

One other possibility-

Since FiOS offers a DVR box, have you considered using your TiVo for Over-The-Air channels, and a FiOS DVR for recording from the FiOS line?

snafu · 09-21-2006, 08:12 PM

Thanks for the reply gastrof. I think the reason OTA and Satellite coexist is because they are on different inputs but since I never had local channels via Sat maybe you are right.

I know this. I have to get this resolved. Perhaps you're right maybe TiVO ends up only accessing OTA channels.

I'm curious if there is a different options that I'll try tomorrow. I'm hoping to split the cable feed and provide it to both TiVo and the STB. From what I read, I'll only get the analog FIOS channels but that's more than over the air. The deal breaker is whether TiVO will recognize the channels and the guide will still work.

It's not optimal but it will untether my TiVO and STB. Short of this working I'll have to consider giving up TV or getting a used TiVO