please help if u can, hd tv, tivo S2 and hd cablebox

Synthohol · 12-14-2006, 08:33 PM

i dont know if there is an answer but since i love my tivos i have to ask...

ok, i have an HDTV (not used yet, still in box) and HD cablebox DVR and a S2 tivo.
i want to be able to record HD programs on the HD cable box DVR (no problem so far) but i want to also record regular non HDTV stuff on my S2.

my question is has anyone had to wire this up yet?
right now the signal goes from the street to the cablebox to the tivo to a vcr then to the TV.

i dont mind losing the vcr from the loop.
do i need a splitter for the cable wire to dvr and tivo? i dont mind recording digital programs on the cable dvr if need be but there is only one output from the cablebox via coax and 1 set of composite outs for the HDTV and HDMI cable.

i know my query is a bit involved but there has to be someone out there who has conquored this.

basically i want to be able to watch and record from both the tivo and the dvr cablebox.

none of the recordings will overlap timewise so i will be recording from either, not both at the same time (the dvr records 2 channels at once anyway) but i guess the issue will be watching from either one or the actual wireing to switch back and forth.

right now i cannot see any value to spending 700.00 on an S3 which i assume has the same 5 year life expectancy and pay monthly subscription on top of that. im not high.

the cable HD box was a free upgrade for me so i opted for a built in dVR for 10./Mo which is still cheaper than tivo service andf if the dvr box dies they replace it free.

also i already paid for a lifetime sub for a box that died so yes i can transfer the LT service to an S3 but the pricetag is ridiculas and tivo gets like 200 bucks to transfer the subscription!! (IIRC) and now there is an ad campaign in the new software? i feel a bit overwhelmed at the costly options that are supposed to make my life more enjoyable.

i still passionatly love my 2 S2's so please dont interperate anything ive said about S3 as a dig, it is what it is. just because there is a mountain in front of me it dosent mean i have to climb it nor make any sense to curse at it.

thanks in advance for even reading through my thread and much much more thanks if you have an answer!!

Steve.

gastrof · 12-14-2006, 10:11 PM

In my opinion, since the cable box is also a DVR (and a dual tuner on top of that), you do NOT want your TiVo interacting with it.

Too "lumpy" a situation. Recording onto a DVR using as a source another DVR? I know you say they'll "never" be both running at the same time, but you never can tell.

Since you say you don't want the TiVo to handle digital channels, get a splitter and divide the cable feed before it gets to the cable box.

Feed one line into the TiVo directly, feed the other to the cable box.

Now feed the two boxes into the TV using different inputs. (Put the VCR into the mix anywhere you want, if you still want it.*)

I'm guessing your TV has more than one set of inputs, so you just choose which DVR you want to watch by switching channels or inputs on the TV.

The cable box will be able to tune and record ANYTHING you get, and your TiVo will be able to get any analog cable channels (1-99) that are there on your cable feed.

Oh, and you mentioned possibly transferring the LIFETIME from a dead TiVo to a Series 3 one day? If I understand right, you won't be able to do that much longer.

*If you REALLY wanted to get extra fancy and try to feed both boxes into the VCR, you'd need a switchbox and maybe a couple other things. I won't go into that unless you really want me to.

Synthohol · 12-15-2006, 07:37 AM

here is what i have to play with fron the TV. its a philipps 42pf9631d/3

http://www.p4c.philips.com/files/4/4...37_pss_aen.pdf

so, i thought maybe if i split the cable i would have tivo on one TV input and the DVR on another and still have one more input on the TV for playstation.

the cablebox/dvr is a motorola DCT3416 1 https://www.whtvdigital.com/pdfs/DCT3400_web.pdf for the i/o ports should it help.

im *pretty sure* the tivo can get digital channels on its own??, just not the scrambled ones. i havent tried. i have a cable ready tv in the other room that gets over 100 channels, just nothing premium/scrambled.

as far as the transfer of subscription, for the 8-900.00 pricetag when all would be said and done ill take a pass.
i would have paid 200 to transfer the dead sub to my 3rd tivo but it wasnt available. the dead one only lasted 4 years and a month so i didnt even get the full 5yr expected life.

thank you for helping me configure this if you can, i just want to get all cables needed for this before my wife opens the box (tv) its a holiday gift.

gastrof · 12-15-2006, 01:18 PM

No TiVo (except for the Series 3) can tune digital channels on its own. Makes no difference if they're pay channels or not. The TiVo would have to work with a cable box to get ANY digital channels.

A Series 1 or 2 only has an analog TV tuner; This leaves them getting, on cable, usually cable channels 1-99.

Unless the TV you have "in the other room" has a digital tuner, it is NOT getting digital cable.

All it's getting is analog, and I don't know of any analog channels above 99.

If a TiVo with LIFETIME is "dead", you might still be able to transfer its LIFETIME status. Just because it's not working doesn't mean it's not listed with TiVo.

Don't know about switching it to a non-Series 3, tho'. That may not be so easy.

The only reason I know it might be doable is because twice on here people have posted who bought LIFETIME TiVos on eBay, only to later have the original owner lie to TiVo and get TiVo to move the LIFETIME to another box. This left the new owner high and dry...after they bought the box with the understanding it had LIFETIME.

Synthohol · 12-16-2006, 09:19 AM

first, thanx for the info on the tuner in the S2, saved me some trouble there.
when i bought the 3rd box the csr and supervisor from tivo refused to move the subscription.
that option was not offered until a year AFTER i paid the 3rd 299.99.

ok, so i guess the way i have it run now will be ok except once the HDTV is installed i have to move the composite out from the S2 to the TV which leaves the tivo high and dry for digital channels

hmm, i winder if there is some kind of splitter that wont screw up the tv's pictur so i can run the composite to both?

id like to think im not the only person to be presented with this puzzle.

thank you again for your thoughts on this.

gastrof · 12-16-2006, 02:57 PM

There IS a splitting amplifier that works with A/V signals (do NOT try to split a composite video signal by a simple splitter cable...the results will NOT be good).

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search

If you have an HD television, tho', there'll be a problem

If the TiVo and the TV are both using the same cable box and the same outputs from the box, the cable box can set to feed out either Standard Def, or High Def, not both.

To accomodate the TiVo, you'd have to set it to downconvert, thus denying your TV an HD feed.

If you set the cable box to output HD, the TiVo won't be able to use the video signal.

gastrof · 12-16-2006, 03:00 PM

One thing that puzzles me, tho'. You've already said

"i dont mind recording digital programs on the cable dvr if need be"

So why are we discussing getting A/V signals from the box to the TiVo?

I thought you didn't mind not being able to get the digital channels on the TiVo, and would be satisfied with using the cable box DVR for those.

Johnny Quest · 12-16-2006, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gastrof

If you have an HD television, tho', there'll be a problem

If the TiVo and the TV are both using the same cable box and the same outputs from the box, the cable box can set to feed out either Standard Def, or High Def, not both.

To accomodate the TiVo, you'd have to set it to downconvert, thus denying your TV an HD feed.

If you set the cable box to output HD, the TiVo won't be able to use the video signal.

I have a Scientific Atlanta HD Box and Comcast. Both outputs from same box, hdmi to tv, composite to Tivo. It outputs standard and HD together just fine, it's all a matter of switching inputs with the TV remote for me. Then again, maybe you're talking about something else.

gastrof · 12-16-2006, 09:01 PM

Johnny....

The OP said they wanted to split the composite output.

Look at my reply.

We were talking about not being able to set the one output for two different types of resolution.

Glad to hear your box lets you output both HD and SD at the same time, but even yours won't do that with a single video output.

Johnny Quest · 12-16-2006, 09:36 PM

Yup, that's why I said "maybe you were talking about something else" instead of presuming I had all the answers.

Fact is, I was just offering the OP an alternative by showing him how mine was connected, maybe it helped, maybe it didn't, not a big deal to me anyway.

Thanks for straightening me out though.

Synthohol · 12-20-2006, 08:32 PM

thanx for the replies, i presumed i can only split the signal through the composite jacks.

also i meant i didnt mind recording NON hd programs with the tivo as this is my intent and recording HD stuff with the HD DVR box from comcast.
forgive my confusion if i caused any,

i think i made the question too involved?
to simplify, i want tivo to record non HD stuff, the cable DVR to record HD stuff and watch either on the TV.
i provided links to my equipment above to see all the i/o choices and ask how to acomplish my goal. (if at all possible)

thanx again

pity i cant see it in my head, if it was a PC issue id have no problems, that i could handle since i do that for a living and fix copiers.
this A/V stuff is out of my league.

mrdazzo7 · 12-20-2006, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Quest

I have a Scientific Atlanta HD Box and Comcast. Both outputs from same box, hdmi to tv, composite to Tivo. It outputs standard and HD together just fine, it's all a matter of switching inputs with the TV remote for me. Then again, maybe you're talking about something else.

I have this same set up, except i have compnent outputs from cable box to the TV instead of HDMI... But yeah, it's just a matter of switing the inputs on the TV, really. I can get kind of tricky, since if you change the channel on the cable box but NOT on the Tivo, you run the risk of ruining your recordings.

For example, if you're watching through Tivo on HBO (say, ch. 82), and you have it set to record a show on that channel, that's fine. But if you switch the box input and start changing channels on there, the Tivo will still think you're on 82 when it goes to record, but will just record whatever the box is doing. Not sure if this makes sense. It' actually pretty avoidable if you just stay conscious of what your box is tuned to vs. what the tivo is tuned to.

rocco86 · 12-21-2006, 02:46 AM

You're already paying for the cable HD DVR. You already own an S2. Do yourself a favor, just add a basic digital SD cable box to your package (probably cost another $5 per month).

Split your cable - one to the HD DVR and one to the added SD cable box.

Run composite or HDMI from the cable HD DVR to your set. Run digital audio to A/V (if you have it)

Hook up the S2 to the added basic SD cable box. Run component (I'm assuming that's all your box will have) to another input on your TV. Run analog audio to another input on the A/V (if you have it).

Now, for an extra $5/month you have complete freedom to Tivo whatever SD shows you want AND record two others (HD or SD) on your DVR AND maintain T2G AND have VOD AND have photos. music etc.

All by switching inputs on your TV from your remote.

I hope I understood your question.

Synthohol · 12-21-2006, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocco86

I hope I understood your question.

you absolutly did!
now to figure out which wires/inputs i need to use.
i guess another 5 bucks a month wont kill me but i will have to run another electric line from the breaker box.
i have tivo, cablebox, tv, stereo, vcr, playstation, 5.1 HT amp, dvd player, pole lamp and a clock all on the same 15A outlet featuring knob&tube 100 year old wiring. once i switch to the HDTV and get a second cablebox there will surley be a fire in the wall.

i didnt consider a 2nd c/box, thank you.

actually thank you all for the responses, i sincerly appreciate all your advice(s).