[boulderskies]

Yesterday I was configuring (or attempting to...) a One Pass or at least schedule the recording of a TV program I knew was coming up this afternoon (Tuesday). I went to Search on the main TiVO menu (pressing TiVO button). I typed in the letters for Impeachment. The results I got back were, for me, vague and confusing. I never got any specific channels (that I KNEW it was going to be broadcast on). What I got back was, among others, All Channels. The rest of the results were even less specific. I thought, "What the hell do I do with All Channels? Does this mean it would record all the possible channels the program will be on at the same time?"). My brain is quite literal apparently.

I then went to Live Guide, searched thru to the time I knew the program would be on found a channel (which clearly indicated, "Impeachment...." and did a manual recording.

Sooo, my question is: what am I doing wrong? Why wont the serach results result in a channel, clearly indicating the program I am searching on? Why the vaguary?

Thank you,
Scott

 

[JoeKustra]

The Search function has something wrong with it. A few months ago I would enter an "N" and "NFL" would pop to the top of the list. Then enter a "C" and "NCIS" would top the list. That seems to have stopped. I found many more examples where more letters were needed to get the result, and sometimes there were two identical results. That said,
I just entered "IMPEA" and received 8 results that have Impeachment as the first word. But that's it. No results without Impeachment as the first word. You also need to remember that Search works off your checked channels. I only have 50 checked. Also it will find items on streaming services when they are checked.

Something changed recently. Not an improvement. And none of the results were very good. But C-SPAN was one result.

 

[boulderskies]

The Search function has something wrong with it. A few months ago I would enter an "N" and "NFL" would pop to the top of the list. Then enter a "C" and "NCIS" would top the list. That seems to have stopped. I found many more examples where more letters were needed to get the result, and sometimes there were two identical results. That said,
I just entered "IMPEA" and received 8 results that have Impeachment as the first word. But that's it. No results without Impeachment as the first word. You also need to remember that Search works off your checked channels. I only have 50 checked. Also it will find items on streaming services when they are checked.

Something changed recently. Not an improvement. And none of the results were very good. But C-SPAN was one result.

Yes, exactly. Thanks for confirming what I found. And yeah, I was kinda hoping for the obvious channels (MSNBC of CNN) to pop up. CSPAN puts me to sleep immediately.

Is there anything we can do about this? Report it?

 

[JoeKustra]

Yes, exactly. Thanks for confirming what I found. And yeah, I was kinda hoping for the obvious channels (MSNBC of CNN) to pop up. CSPAN puts me to sleep immediately.
Is there anything we can do about this? Report it?

With TE3, a seach for "Donald" works good. It shows MSNBC, C-SPAN and CNN. Fox is not showing in the guide. TE4 shows a lot when "IMPEACH" is entered, but no channel data. I have TE4, but don't use voice.

I just tried voice and got good responses until the C501 error. Mostly CNN and C-CSPAN2. No MSNBC.

 

[boulderskies]

With TE3, a seach for "Donald" works good. It shows MSNBC, C-SPAN and CNN. Fox is not showing in the guide. TE4 shows a lot when "IMPEACH" is entered, but no channel data. I have TE4, but don't use voice.

I just tried voice and got good responses until the C501 error. Mostly CNN and C-CSPAN2. No MSNBC.

I'd never used voice before (TE4); it works pretty well recognizing my voice but the results are about as stupid as typing in the search parameters. Both CNN and MSNBC clearly show "impeachment trial of Donald J Trump" but searching for it manually or via voice is flawed. what do we do about this?

 

[JoeKustra]

Their support page: Tivo Customer Support Community

 

[Pokemon_Dad]

Lately I only search and schedule with TiVo Online. That works much better. On the other hand the What To Watch section in TiVo Online is overwhelming but useless.

(I'm also testing Channels DVR while still running TiVo. Channels relies on Gracenote. It produces good search results, and I find the suggestions there more useful than TiVo Online, especially New Shows/Seasons.)

 

[boulderskies]

Their support page: Tivo Customer Support Community

I have logged this issue an enhancement request...

 

[JoeKustra]

Add this: Search for SNL. The guide has 1/25 and shows just generic data. The Search finds two results. The first has no guests, the second does Both have generic descriptions.

 

[boulderskies]

Add this: Search for SNL. The guide has 1/25 and shows just generic data. The Search finds two results. The first has no guests, the second does Both have generic descriptions.

Not sure I understand. I hit "search" in the main TiVO area and type in SNL. I dont get any dates, just a list of anything with SNL in it.
In GUIDE, there is no search so I would have to scroll from today to 1/25 and then hunt around for SNL.
Am I missing how to search in GUIDE? Am I missing how to search by date in SEARCH?

 

[JoeKustra]

Not sure I understand. I hit "search" in the main TiVO area and type in SNL. I dont get any dates, just a list of anything with SNL in it.
In GUIDE, there is no search so I would have to scroll from today to 1/25 and then hunt around for SNL.
Am I missing how to search in GUIDE? Am I missing how to search by date in SEARCH?

I'm going to guess you don't watch SNL since it's been 11:29 on NBC for the last 45 years. Not much searching needed.

TiVo's computers are a bit messed up with their indexing. Technically there should be only one entry for SNL, 1/25, which with TE4's guide shows as a repeat. Same with TE3. But if you use Search, TE3 shows 1/25 twice with one being correct. Search with TE4 shows a repeat of S45 E8 from 12/7/19 and a generic repeat. All this may be fixed before Saturday.

There is no search by date. In the guide with TE4 there is no search. In TE3 guide, you hit Enter key and it brings up Search.

 

[boulderskies]

Ah...yes. Actually its probably been about 45 years since I watched SNL. I guess I'm old school - hard for me to consider SNL now as the "real" SNL.

Anyway, the point is when I type in SNL (TE4) in the TiVO SEARCH routine, I get the results I described above. I shouldnt have to know SNL has been on NBC at 11:29pm for 45 years, right? And I should at least get the channel and the time, right?

So, what is it you want me to add to my trouble report?

 

[JoeKustra]

Ah...yes. Actually its probably been about 45 years since I watched SNL. I guess I'm old school - hard for me to consider SNL now as the "real" SNL.
Anyway, the point is when I type in SNL (TE4) in the TiVO SEARCH routine, I get the results I described above. I shouldnt have to know SNL has been on NBC at 11:29pm for 45 years, right? And I should at least get the channel and the time, right?
So, what is it you want me to add to my trouble report?

Sorry, I didn't mean to ignore the lack of time & date with TE4. I saw that and out of habit I "dug" deeper to get the information. I still use TE3, so switching to TE4 mode takes a minute. There's a lot of empty space to the right that could be used for information. BTW, this morning they have the metadata filled in showing the guest host & music.

I also lost interest in SNL for many years. But recently it has been very good (and funny).

 

[boulderskies]

so you switch back and forth between TE3 and TE4? How do you do that? which TiVO do you have?

 

[JoeKustra]

so you switch back and forth between TE3 and TE4? How do you do that? which TiVO do you have?

I have two TE3 Roamio boxes and a TE4 Roamio. I have two A93 Mini and a Mini VOX. I also have a Stream. The TE4 and one TE3 connect to my AVR, so switching is one button. It's all networked, mostly wireless. I like my toys. I also have a Premiere and Roamio that I only plug in on weekends.

 

[boulderskies]

Wow you're a diehard. I listen to the HTGUYS podcast (highly recommended) and once in awhile TiVO is mentioned. Apparently TiVO is not as popular as it once was and people are moving off the platform. There's also hints of TiVO as a company reducing its footprint. Yesterday I heard something about TiVO having to push back deployment of RoKU and AppleTV apps. Finally, I asked on here about when and how TiVO upgrades its current apps (Pandora, etc). The responses to that werent exactly encouraging. So, all of that plus the SEARCH thing you and I have been discussing makes me think maybe I should be looking at another platform. Where do you stand on all of that?

 

[JoeKustra]

Where do you stand on all of that?

Actually, very bored. I have what I need and unless there is some that causes me to change, I'm just a user right now. When TiVo released their Mini VOX wifi 5 adapter, I bought one.

I started (after the VCR) with Sony's DHG. Then Rovi dropped support of TVGOS and I had to look for an alternative. I found the Motorola DVDR and they were good until my cable became encrypted. Since I had about six months notice on both changes I decided TiVo was the best solution for me. It was that or satellite. There are no "retail" satellite systems anymore.

There are many threads on alternatives, but I am patient. I expect this spring that my cable company will drop their caps. I already have DOCSIS 3.1, a Roku, and several smart televisions. But I don't have 4k. If content at 4k becomes as common as content at 2k, I may go that route. I probably only watch a dozen channels on a feed that supplies 400, but those that I watch went 4k, that would be good enough. For now I just read a lot.

BTW, a good source for streaming information is CNBC. They have the numbers, and the numbers are better than opinions.

 

[boulderskies]

good response and good attitude. i feel much the same although my tastes run more towards audio than video so i've spent more money there. one LG OLED, a TiVO, Marantz receiver and decent speakers and I'm pretty much good to go.

may i ask how old you are? you sound similar in age as me (66). hope that didnt offend you...

by the way, here's TiVO's response to my question:
Hello Scott,

Thank you for contacting TiVo Email Support.

We appreciate for bringing in this matter to our attention. We will take note of this and I'll have this escalated so that our design team will be able to know about this feature request. In the meantime you might want to fill out a special form here: https://support.tivo.com/articles/Features_Use/How-to-Request-a-New-Feature

The Case Number for this inquiry is 09300864.

Sincerely,
Kevin

PS: I filled out the form in the link provided and stated that my trouble report was NOT for a feature request it was for a FIX. I also gave Kevin and Unsatisfactory review.

 

[JoeKustra]

good response and good attitude. i feel much the same although my tastes run more towards audio than video so i've spent more money there. one LG OLED, a TiVO, Marantz receiver and decent speakers and I'm pretty much good to go.
may i ask how old you are? you sound similar in age as me (66). hope that didnt offend you...
Sincerely,
Kevin

I guess we think alike. I have a Yamaha RX-V867 in 5.1 mode. The newer AVR from them sucks and mine works fine except for that HDCP 1.x issue. It's part of the reason I'm not jumping on the 4k train. I have been a Sony person for a long time. But it's the audio that keeps me happy. All my channels are DD and 90% are 5.1. Comedy Central and a few others are 2.0 and that irks me. It's also a major streaming consideration. I sometimes use Prime and can get DD+, but it's mostly PCM for streaming channels. 72, and the last time I was offended was 40 years ago. A divorce fixed that. I started with a Marantz 1060. It's "Vintage" now.

The guide has accurate data for the next two SNL. Only 1/25 is correct with search.

 

[boulderskies]

Then in that case, I complimented you.

I used to be a SONY guy, almost a diehard. But somewhere around the late 90s, I had an ES model AVR that was extremely unintuitive to use. Around the same time, I had a SONY LCD TV, top of the line that developed issues. Tech support sucked. Then the ES gave out. Foolishly I bought another and it was the same crap. So I sold it to a guy who just loved them, had several and wanted this one for his bedroom! Have at it buddy. I went Marantz and never looked back. And from the 70s-late 80s I had a Pioneer SX-1250 that was built like a battleship.

Back to TiVO, look at the pictures I hope I attached. Remember that I didnt schedule Impeachment recordings for today or tomorrow. Is it me or are the TiVO messages idotic?