Old Series 2 - use as vcr ?

The S2 has the abilty to control the converter box while the S1 does not.

ThAbtO said:

The S2 has the abilty to control the converter box while the S1 does not.

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ThAbtO,

Where do you come up with this stuff? An S1 TiVo can control a cable box.

The problem has nothing to do with controlling the cable box. An unsubscribed TiV0 2 has the 30-min live buffer, nothing else. No manual recording capability at all. You can also playback things already in the now playing list.

To answer the OP's actual question, there is no hack available to enable a TiVo 2 to do what you want it to.

frogger999 said:

Just wondering if there is a hack that allows use of a Series 2 as a VCR without subscribing for programming data. I just want to manually record like I do with my Series 1. On my Series 1 I use a digital converter box to feed the tivo (which has been spoofed into believing the signal is from a 'satelite') .Thanks.

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There are no tape heads, so you cannot use your Series 2 without a subscription to record onto video cassettes. Sorry.

Unless you can find an old Toshiba or Pioneer manufactured Tivo. Both of these got out of the Tivo business years ago. They both made Series 2 combination Tivo/dvd player/recorder units.These included Tivo Basic, a free, stripped down service of a 3 day guide and vcr like, manual recording capability.

The Pioneers are very rare. The Toshiba sdh-400 shows up frequently on ebay.

frogger999 said:

Just wondering if there is a hack that allows use of a Series 2 as a VCR without subscribing for programming data. I just want to manually record like I do with my Series 1. On my Series 1 I use a digital converter box to feed the tivo (which has been spoofed into believing the signal is from a 'satelite') .Thanks.

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There is no "hack", if what you mean by hack is what I think you mean.

If a Series 2 with an active subscription is taken through Guided Setup, you can lie to it about having satellite service and set it up to be able to use the line inputs.

Then you can disconnect it from any and all ways of contacting the TiVo servers, and discontinue the subscription.

After a few days of not being able to contact the mothership, it'll start nagging you.

When it runs out of programming info, I'm pretty sure it'll put up a screen telling you that you have to connect before you can use any of the features.

I got that with a lifetimed 240 that had been disabled for a few months due to that capacitor problem.

lpwcomp said:

An S1 TiVo can control a cable box.

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The OP was refering to a digital converter box for OTA not cable box. I know either can control a cable box, but a S2 has guide data for when using the OTA digital converter box while the S1 doesn't.

ThAbtO said:

The OP was refering to a digital converter box for OTA not cable box. I know either can control a cable box, but a S2 has guide data for when using the OTA digital converter box while the S1 doesn't.

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Its still irrelevant to the actual question.

frogger999 said:

Just wondering if there is a hack that allows use of a Series 2 as a VCR without subscribing for programming data. I just want to manually record like I do with my Series 1. On my Series 1 I use a digital converter box to feed the tivo (which has been spoofed into believing the signal is from a 'satelite') .Thanks.

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lpwcomp said:

Its still irrelevant to the actual question.

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Yes, its relevant. The OP would not need to lie to the Tivo for the box, but he would need a subscription to even record.

ThAbtO said:

Yes, its relevant. The OP would not need to lie to the Tivo for the box, but he would need a subscription to even record.

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How is it relevant then? He wants to be able to record w/o a subscription. He doesn't care about how he has to control the box.