[tivochick80]

HI Guys!

I just set up my new Tivo yesterday but I'm having a problem changing channels. I got the remote to work with my tivo and if I type in a certain channel it works fine. The problem is when I change channels using the up/down button. If I'm on channel 5 and I want to go to channel 8 I can only change one channel at a time or else the tivo gets confused and will change to a random channel. It's like I'm changing the channels too fast for the Tivo to keep up. This is very annoying as I like to change through the channels rapidly (who doesn't!) I have a Scientific Atlanta box (Cablevision) hooked up with the included IR cable. Does anyone have any solutions to how I can change channels faster without the tivo messing up? Any help would be appreciated I'm no good with this electronic stuff!!!

Thanks guys!

 

[dirtypacman]

Tivo's at this point are not good for channel surfing... they may have been in the past but with the digital lineups now it seems there is always a delay to the Tivo with its signal...

You can try and change the speed of your IR code to see if that makes a difference.... I use the guide on my Tivo to review whats on... if I want to channel surf I stick with my cable remote.

 

[crowfan]

This is a common complaint with new TiVo users. The standard response that we give is that you will just end up recording everything, and watching it off the TiVo. Channel surfing will become a thing of the past. TiVo really does change the way you watch TV. But it does take time to get used to.

As dirtypacman mentioned, try using the Guide to see what is on other channels.

Enjoy!!

 

[tivochick80]

In that case....Is it possible to use my regular remote and just grab my tivo remote for recording/pausing? (can't try this right now as I'm at work)

 

[SeanC]

Yes it absolutely is, but then your Tivo won't know what channel you're on. While not a big deal if you were surfing with the cable remote and decided to manually record somthing it would be named incorrectly in the Now Playing list.

 

[tivochick80]

Thanks for all your help guys! I have to admit I'm a bit dissapointed. First I learn that you can't record one show while watching another show at the ame time....and now I can't use the tivo remote as my regular remote. Hope I didn't make a mistake with this..... I appreciate all your help guys!

 

[ZikZak]

In that case....Is it possible to use my regular remote and just grab my tivo remote for recording/pausing? (can't try this right now as I'm at work)

Tivo will lose track of what channel it's on.

Basically, it's time to ditch the channel surfing habit. It's not as hard as you think, since tivo will change the way you watch TV. Start setting season passes for all the programs you watch, and go through the show listings giving thumbs-ups to programs you tend to stop at when you channel surf. Eventually, the tivo will fill up with season pass and suggestion recordings, and you won't need to watch Live TV or channel surf ever again. With tivo, I find that Suggestions fills the channel surfing need nicely.

 

[tivochick80]

Start setting season passes for all the programs you watch

The only problem with this is...the main reason I got tivo is because there are usually two shows on at once that I want to watch. I thought I would be able to watch one live while recoring the other. Now I know this can't be done.

go through the show listings giving thumbs-ups to programs you tend to stop at when you channel surf

this was my other question...what are the thumbs up/thumbs down buttons? i can't figure out what these do.

You guys are awesome by the way. I never would have thought I would get such quick responses!

 

[ZikZak]

The only problem with this is...the main reason I got tivo is because there are usually two shows on at once that I want to watch. I thought I would be able to watch one live while recoring the other. Now I know this can't be done.

Still, set season passes for them. Most shows get repeated later in the week, and the season passes will pick up repeats. This is the way most people use the tivo. See my link below for watching-live-while-recording.

 

[SeanC]

I thought I would be able to watch one live while recoring the other. Now I know this can't be done.

what are the thumbs up/thumbs down buttons? i can't figure out what these do.

With the right kind of setup you can watch something live while your Tivo records something else. I do this all the time. My TV has multiple inputs. I have cable going straight into the TV, and Tivo on my S-video connection. So when there are 2 things on at the same time I watch one program live while Tivo records the other channel.

Thumbs up/down is to rate shows. If you have suggestions on your Tivo will record show for you based off the thumb ratings.

 

[tivochick80]

So the thumbs up is just another record button? If you "thumb up" a show, it will always record?

 

[ZikZak]

No, thumbs-up tells the tivo you like it. 2 thumbs up tells the tivo you really like it, and 3-thumbs up means you'd sell your first born to watch it. The reverse is true for thumbs-down.

Tivo uses thumb ratings to decide what suggestions to record. It will not always record thumbs up programs, but it sometimes will, and it will record programs similar to them or programs that other users who thumbed up your programs also thumbed up.

 

[tivochick80]

Thanks for your help...I sorta get it now.

 

[tivochick80]

Hi Guys,

Excuse my ignorance, but for some reason I can't use my regular remote to change channels. It isn't doing anything. I need to be in video 3 for the tivo to work, could this be the problem? Any solutions to this?

 

[MickeS]

Not sure what you mean. Could you elaborate?

And don't worry, like others have said, after having a TiVo for a while you won't be channel surfing, you'll be "suggestions surfing"

 

[ZikZak]

tivochick,

You shouldn't ever use your cable box remote again, except to order pay-per-view. Put it away in a drawer somewhere. Your cable box is now a slave to the tivo. If you change channels with the cable box remote, tivo will get confused. Does changing the channels with the tivo remote work properly now?

 

[tivochick80]

it's still very slow, but i will take your advice and get used to it!!

 

[esa]

If you get a receiver it will not only greatly improve your audio but it will allow you can switch from your Tivo to your TV then you can be watching a channel on your TV while recording on your Tivo.

 

[Nfuego]

Thanks for all your help guys! I have to admit I'm a bit dissapointed. First I learn that you can't record one show while watching another show at the ame time....and now I can't use the tivo remote as my regular remote. Hope I didn't make a mistake with this..... I appreciate all your help guys!

My suggestion to you is this:

Take one night and create Season Passes for everything you like...

20, 30, 40, or 50 of them.

In a weeks time, you won't channel surf any longer.

The TiVo isn't great, as has been said here, to channel surf...and that is understandable when you think about it. You are using one box, to run another box, to watch tv. The TiVo can't just give your Digital Box a signal to go channel up one. It actually has to tell your box 008 enter, or 008 at least. So, that takes a second or two and yes, it is annoying...

But, seriously, think of my suggestion and spend a hour or three setting up a BUNCH of Season Passes.

You will become like us and not actually KNOW when your shows are on any longer! You'll just "HAVE" them.

 

[Nfuego]

The only problem with this is...the main reason I got tivo is because there are usually two shows on at once that I want to watch. I thought I would be able to watch one live while recoring the other. Now I know this can't be done.

Actually, you can do this...

Split the cable BEFORE going to your box and put one directly to the tv.

Then you can record from your digital box and watch another show live on tv that isn't part of your digital package.