New to HR10-250 land, and I have a couple of questions.

[DonDon]

Hi all. I just got in my HR10-250 today, and just need a little help.

I want to zipper it, but I am currently at 3.1.5f software. I'm sure there has to be a newer version in the 6.X range, but I am not sure what it is. I don't want to zipper it until I have the latest sw to avoid DST issues in a couple of months.

I forced a call after registering it with DTV, and it is still at the same software rev. Any idea how long it might take to download the latest software and is there any way to force the issue short of buying an instacake image.

I have set the sat locals as channels I don't recieve. Is that the proper way to tell the DVR to record the local HD stuff? Or is there a way to do it when you set up the season pass? I cannot play with season passes yet as it is only got a days worth of guide data on board so far.

L8R

Don

[Stanley Rohner]

Must not be interested in the new HD Channels coming to DIRECTV in September.

The HR10-250 won't receive them.

[Redux]

Originally Posted by Stanley Rohner

Must not be interested in the new HD Channels coming to DIRECTV in September.

The HR10-250 won't receive them.

Why do you continually post irrelevant anti-Tivo crap to threads in a Tivo forum?

"The lady doth protest too much" I think.

Attacking Tivo really won't make you feel better about the decision you have made.

[temp357]

Leila?

[JimSpence]

Anyway, the latest software version for the HR10 is 6.3d.
But, there is a 6.3e rolling out. You may have to wait for that to complete, since 6.3d probably isn't in the sat stream any longer.

[Stanley Rohner]

Originally Posted by Redux

Why do you continually post irrelevant anti-Tivo crap to threads in a Tivo forum?

"The lady doth protest too much" I think.

Attacking Tivo really won't make you feel better about the decision you have made.

Why are you getting so worked up over ?

Didn't know I was attacking TiVo. Just letting the OP know the HR10-250 won't work with any of the new HD stuff coming.

Lighten up.

[DonDon]

I am not interested in any of the HD content off of the Sats right now. Anyone who has spent more than 10 minutes here knows about the crappy DTV DVRS and mpeg4. I just want the ability to record the Bears in HD this season. I would have bought a couple of HR10s last year, but they were still going for $400 bux then. I only paid $100 bux for mine last week. Not a bad deal for an OTA DVR.

I need a better picture on my 57" DLP that I bought last Feb to watch them get spanked on. We actually watched the carnage live over the air in HD instead of recorded in SD off of the sat. It was nice being able to see precisely where a ball was spotted, or where someone went out of bounds, but we REALLY missed the ability to pause and replay things. I still don't see the need for most shows to be in HD, and will still use the HDVR2s to do most of our recordings. I will just play them back through the HR10 into the HD input on the TV once I get it updated and zippered.

I just noticed that the CSR that activated my HR10 added the 10 dollar HD monthly fee to my account. Is that required if you have an HD receiver or will they remove that charge if I call and ask?

Thanks

Don

[tonyquan]

Originally Posted by DonDon

[b]
I just noticed that the CSR that activated my HR10 added the 10 dollar HD monthly fee to my account. Is that required if you have an HD receiver or will they remove that charge if I call and ask?

Thanks

Don

Nope, the $10 fee is required now if you activate any HD DVR, including the HR10-250.

Although you didn't care about them, you should be able to get the MPEG-2 HD channels off the satellite now. They are channels 72-79. If you have HBO or Showtime you should be able to see the HD versions of those as well.

[TonyD79]

Originally Posted by DonDon

I am not interested in any of the HD content off of the Sats right now. Anyone who has spent more than 10 minutes here knows about the crappy DTV DVRS and mpeg4. I just want the ability to record the Bears in HD this season. I would have bought a couple of HR10s last year, but they were still going for $400 bux then. I only paid $100 bux for mine last week. Not a bad deal for an OTA DVR.

And, if you are a long time customer, you may have been able to get an HR20 for $20, including a new dish and had not only reliable OTA recording but also a lot more HD. And not had to worry about what software version it is running...

Oh well, enjoy your HR10. Enjoy paying 10 bucks a month for OTA and a handful of satellite stations that will go away while the rest of us pay the same amount and get more.

[Redux]

Originally Posted by TonyD79

Oh well, enjoy your HR10. Enjoy paying 10 bucks a month for OTA and a handful of satellite stations that will go away while the rest of us pay the same amount and get more.

OK. I am wrong. There is obviously some compelling purpose for posting childish stuff like this, since half a dozen of you are doing it relentlessly. What am I missing? What is the motivation to come into a Tivo forum to thumb your nose at those who have chosen to stay with Tivo? I am far beyond complaining now, just bewildered.

[designr]

Sorry to hijack the thread, which everyone else seems to have done already... LOL

I'm in a similar position as DonDon. I zippered my HR10 a while ago (InstantCake). I used the enhancement script (no phone line). Still on 6.3b, no later slices.

How do I force the download of the 6.3e slices so I can use the Slicer to upgrade my HR10 without wiping out all my hacks?

(btw: I'm not getting the HR20 because I don't want a new contract. I have no contract right now. I'm waiting to see what options other providers have available in the coming months. UVerse is coming to my town... right now. Charter cable is having cow as result.)

[Stanley Rohner]

Originally Posted by DonDon

I am not interested in any of the HD content off of the Sats right now. Anyone who has spent more than 10 minutes here knows about the crappy DTV DVRS and mpeg4.

Thanks

Don

Speaking of childish.

Never tried one but already decided the HR20 is a crappy DTV DVR.

Anyone that HAS an HR20 not just listened to a bunch of negative talk about them at a TiVo forum likes the HR20.

I think Redux is the child jumping on everyone that has a kind word to say about a DTV DVR. Dude should grow up a little.

[DonDon]

And, if you are a long time customer, you may have been able to get an HR20 for $20, including a new dish and had not only reliable OTA recording but also a lot more HD. And not had to worry about what software version it is running...

I am not an "A" list customer, since I only have the regular channels with no premium content.

From what I hear, an HR20 user is constantly worried about the software version as it is still under development. I will not get one of those things until I hear that they actually record reliably from a broad spectrum of the customer base, not just a few mopes that insist on lingering around a TIVO forum like they wish they had never left.

There are some advantages to the HR20, but they still have issues in basic functionality that I am not willing to deal with. I know the TIVOs work, and I won't have to explain to my wife why her show did not record. Maybe next year, after the "new channels actually go on line, maybe not.

Besides, you never know after 2 years of ice cold relations, it looks like things might be thawing between DTV and TIVO. Maybe the Comcast deal is making DTV nervous.

Oh well, enjoy your HR10. Enjoy paying 10 bucks a month for OTA and a handful of satellite stations that will go away while the rest of us pay the same amount and get more.

Besides, after football season, I can always remove the HR10 from my account and sell it or throw it in the closet. As I said before, I find HD to be mostly hype. It is not needed for most shows, and I am only interested in watching football with it. Some will think I am crazy. Like I care. If 10 Bux a month is the cost of watching the Bears in HD, so be it.

Don

[accupolka]

Regarding the $10 monthly HD charge, I also bought an HR10-250 on ebay, activated it, and requested DirecTV to remove the HD charge. Reason - I do not have an HD sat antenna. The CSR was kind to remove the subscription (about 2 weeks ago).

[DonDon]

Speaking of childish.

Never tried one but already decided the HR20 is a crappy DTV DVR.

Anyone that HAS an HR20 not just listened to a bunch of negative talk about them at a TiVo forum likes the HR20.

I think Redux is the child jumping on everyone that has a kind word to say about a DTV DVR. Dude should grow up a little.

Unless you have some hints on using an HR10-250, could you kindly go away. This battle has been fought adnauseum in other treads. Please take your battle to those threads and please reserve this one for the posted topic. On the off chance I feel like continuing that useless argument, I will join you there.

Thank you

Don

[DonDon]

Regarding the $10 monthly HD charge, I also bought an HR10-250 on ebay, activated it, and requested DirecTV to remove the HD charge. Reason - I do not have an HD sat antenna. The CSR was kind to remove the subscription (about 2 weeks ago).

I went on the web site under My Account this morning and removed the HD service from there. We shall see if it sticks on my next bill.

Don

[stevel]

Originally Posted by designr

How do I force the download of the 6.3e slices so I can use the Slicer to upgrade my HR10 without wiping out all my hacks?

You can't force it. It may be sitting on your hard disk already - using TiVoWebPlus to look at the "swsystem" node in MFS will tell you.

[DonDon]

Anyway, the latest software version for the HR10 is 6.3d.
But, there is a 6.3e rolling out. You may have to wait for that to complete, since 6.3d probably isn't in the sat stream any longer.

Thanks for the reply. Almost missed it in all the crap that got dumped on the thread.

I saw a few reports about 6.3e. I will prolly wait until that downloads to my system before I Zipper it as I want to keep the latest software on my systems to avoid the "Guide Data" issue from earlier this year.

Don

[jamesbobo]

To answer your question about season passes. It is channel specific. If you set a season pass using an HD channel, it will only record shows on that HD channel and not on any SD channel the show may be on.
Wishlists are another matter, they will record from any channel. If there is an SD channel that you don't want anything to be recorded from and that you never want to watch, remove it from your channels you receive list.

[DonDon]

To answer your question about season passes. It is channel specific. If you set a season pass using an HD channel, it will only record shows on that HD channel and not on any SD channel the show may be on.
Wishlists are another matter, they will record from any channel. If there is an SD channel that you don't want anything to be recorded from and that you never want to watch, remove it from your channels you receive list.

Thanks for the clear answer to my question. I will just continue to record the SD stuff on my SD Tivos, and only set up HD stuff on the HR10 for OTA recording.

Has anyone noticed if the HR10-250 going into the HD jacks on the TV produces a noticeably better picture than a S2 unit going in through the super VHS connector with SD recordings?

Don

[Sir_winealot]

Originally Posted by Stanley Rohner

Anyone that HAS an HR20 not just listened to a bunch of negative talk about them at a TiVo forum likes the HR20.

Anyone? You must post much more than you read.




It took me a couple of weeks + of waiting before I received 6.3d (this while it was in the stream). So it might be a good amount of time before 6.3e comes your way.

[20TIL6]

Originally Posted by Redux

OK. I am wrong. There is obviously some compelling purpose for posting childish stuff like this, since half a dozen of you are doing it relentlessly. What am I missing? What is the motivation to come into a Tivo forum to thumb your nose at those who have chosen to stay with Tivo? I am far beyond complaining now, just bewildered.

Makes you wonder if there are some DTV marketing dollars at work here. I mean, TiVo community is quite the resource for about 2.7 million or so DTV/TiVo customers. It's a large enough customer base that I could see DTV funding some long time members to a) talk up the HR20, and b) spread some TiVo FUD.

Really, what are the possibilities for their motivation:

a) They are getting DTV funding through dollars/free equipment/free service.
b) They work for DTV, maybe on the HR20 development team.
c) They don't like TiVo, maybe from a bad customer experience.
d) DBSTalk is just not that fun of a place. The party is better over here.
e) The dreaded investment reasons. They short TiVo stock.
f) They have just a benevolent heart, and wish to spread their goodwill.

Maybe someone should create a poll because I would like to see what others on this site think.

I don't think DTV influence is beyond the realm of possibility. Especially when you consider what the CEO of Whole Foods had been doing on message boards relating to a competitor.

[designr]

Originally Posted by stevel

You can't force it. It may be sitting on your hard disk already - using TiVoWebPlus to look at the "swsystem" node in MFS will tell you.

Thanks Stevel. I checked that, it's been 6.3a and 6.3b since I originally zippered it back in January. That's what was on the Instant Cake disk I downloaded...

Directory listing of /SwSystem
Name	Type	Id	Date Time	Size
6.3a-01-2-357	tyDb	53870	09/25/06 00:41	 772
6.3b-01-2-357	tyDb	104607	01/16/07 12:13	 796
ACTIVE	tyDb	104607	01/16/07 12:13	 796

I answered yes to "caller ID" when I originally ran the Enhancement Script back then but I never plugged in a phone line. I recently reran the Enhancement Script to get the new TWP v2.0.0 and answered no to "caller ID".

My (limited) understanding of the Enhancement Script from reading the readme is that if I answer no to "caller ID" and plug in a phone line, I could lose all my hacks. Can anybody confirm that by answering yes to "caller ID" and plugging in a phone line I will get me the latest slices but prevent their installation?

Thereafter, I should be able to use the Slicer to install the upgrade without losing my hacks. This would make me happy. But, I don't want to risk losing my hacks and having to go through the hassle of re-hacking the box just for an upgrade. Frankly, I'm OK with 6.3b.

Presumably, the current Instant Cake has the latest slices but then I would probably lose me recordings, etc.

Maybe I can use a different approach: Can the Slicer install slices from a remote source? Or, can I FTP slices into the HR10?

[stevel]

I don't use scripts and have never heard of "Enhancement Script".

Enabling caller ID just means installing a piece of software that listens for the CID info and overlays it on the screen. By itself, it would not affect other hacks.

I have installed updates "in place" without losing hacks. I do it manually, so can't comment on what tools such as "Slicer" do. The basic approach is:

1. Edit the upgrade script to comment out the restart and add a parameter for version
2. Run the script naming the version to upgrade to
3. Copy a hack-enabling kernel to the other partition
4. Apply tivoapp patches as desired
5. Disable netfilter
6. Update the bootflags to specify the other partition
7. Restart

I have glossed over some details and probably left something out - haven't done this for a few months (I'm still running 6.3c, but 6.3e is on my disk.)

I will note that the tivoapp patch locations are different in 6.3e than in the earlier versions, so any scripts you use that haven't been updated won't work.

[DonDon]

I don't use scripts and have never heard of "Enhancement Script".

The "Enhancement Script" is what installs the rest of the hacks when you use The Zipper. I have found that something about installing The Zipper on my systems causes them to fail call ins at the Negotiating stage.

Thread for forcing call in to Zippered box.

Another project I am working on.

I have installed updates "in place" without losing hacks. I do it manually, so can't comment on what tools such as "Slicer" do. The basic approach is:

1. Edit the upgrade script to comment out the restart and add a parameter for version
2. Run the script naming the version to upgrade to
3. Copy a hack-enabling kernel to the other partition
4. Apply tivoapp patches as desired
5. Disable netfilter
6. Update the bootflags to specify the other partition
7. Restart

I have glossed over some details and probably left something out - haven't done this for a few months (I'm still running 6.3c, but 6.3e is on my disk.)

I know basically what you are doing, but am lost in the details. One of the reasons I am keeping the Tivo boxes. I am relearning some of the Linux knowledge I have let leak out of my brain the last few years. My next project is to learn how to use Joe to edit files via telnet. Basic kindergarden for alot of the people here, but we all start somewhere.

Thanks for the info.

Don

[stevel]

Well, then, you want a different forum. I can't link to it directly, but do a Google search for "TiVo DirecTiVo Hacking". You'll find a forum with "database" in its name. Start with the Newbie section, read the stickies. Then look at the Series 2 Support section.

[designr]

Originally Posted by stevel

I don't use scripts and have never heard of "Enhancement Script".

You can find the "Enhancement Script", also called "tweak.sh", here:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...d.php?t=250680

It is installed by The Zipper, here:

http://www.mastersav.com/tivo_zipper.html

When the "Enhancement Script" installs NCID, it changes the router settings and "upgradesoftware=false" flag.

Originally Posted by DonDon

Thread for forcing call in to Zippered box.

I think DonDon is on the right track (for answering my question at least).

In answer to Don's original question, I found the Instant Cake image well worth the $20 when I Zippered my new disk. The peace of mind in having a clean backup is worth it. And, I was much happier with my HR10 when I put in a bigger hard drive.

[DonDon]

Well, then, you want a different forum. I can't link to it directly, but do a Google search for "TiVo DirecTiVo Hacking". You'll find a forum with "database" in its name. Start with the Newbie section, read the stickies. Then look at the Series 2 Support section.
Yesterday 06:39 PM

Whodaman?

Stevel daman!

Thanks, got the editing thing down. Next project is to figure out FTPing.

The little trick about changing the file system to rw is not documented in very many places for us noobs. Oh well, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

Thanks again,

and remember, be kind to a noob. You were one once too.

Don

[Redux]

Originally Posted by 20TIL6

Makes you wonder if there are some DTV marketing dollars at work here.

There's no question about that, and there are some honest ones who will admit that marketing connection. But it doesn't account for all of it. Some of these people think they have a holy cause, leading us out of our Tivo bondage and into the DirecTV right. Others think if they shout loud enough they can overcome their doubts and convince themselves they have made the right decision.

The decision to abandon Tivo and go with a competitor is not automatically by defintion a wrong decsion. IF I couldn't get HiDef locals OTA (the best HiDef available), AND IF the DirecTV temporary stranglehold on some sports packages were crucial to my entertainment well-being, AND IF I could live with the DirecTV crippled "hidef lite" AND IF I _believed_, year after year after year all the pie in the sky HiDef promises from DirecTV, I might make the same decision.

The difference between me and these very strange people is that I would simply move my technical discussions of that competitor somewhere else. I would continue to participate in TCF discussions of various kinds, but I would not sh|t where I eat.