[Bill_Marsden]

My Dad would like me to build a computer to act as a server for his TiVo. I've built many computers, but don't own a TiVo (don't watch that much TV, but my Dad does). Assume somthing like an Athlon XP 2.0 Gig, 1 Gig RAM, 500+Gig HD, 10Meg Ethernet LAN (TiVo is wireless), where would I find the information to do this from scratch. The computer at this point is hypothytical, but easily doable. My dad has read several articles that make him think this is practical, and at this point I don't know either way.

The thought is to treat the server as an extra big hard disk on the TiVo, and make it as automatic as possible.

I am not a network guru, although I have been messing with LANs for almost 20 years.

Any help would be appriciated. Thanks.

 

[Bill_Marsden]

Actually, burning DVDs isn't an issue. His Humanix has a really good DVD burner, one I am envious of. Like I said, I want to be able to use the computer HD like it was inside the TiVo box, which is one of the major points of networking after all.

Is this possible?

He has wireless and DSL broadband, his TiVo uses it reliably, so that should not be a problem. I would likely just wire the new computer using a fast ethernet connection in the wireless router.

We will not be buying any new TiVo equipment, his TiVo has a lifetime user contract, and what he has works. We just want to enhance it with a larger hard drive, and we don't want to open the case.

 

[Bill_Marsden]

My Dad will not be able to do anything technical, it has to be as invisable as it can for him to be able to use it. He loves TV, he has both cable and TiVo (although the cable in that area is pretty inferior, and not too high on integrity, they tried to confiscate Dish systems, claiming they were incompatible with their cable). But I digress, for this to work for him, it will require no intervention on his part.

I was talking about a dedicated computer with the specs I mentioned on 24/7, and as large a hard disk as I can get my hands on (and they are quite large nowdays). Basically a TiVo server.

This TiVo has a lifetime (of the unit) membership. They don't offer this anymore, so opening up the unit is not likely. My Dad will save a lot of money in the long run.

Buying dedicated software is not a problem, as long as it does the job. From what I was just reading that would do the trick, my Dad has a long list of series he would use, but that is actually what this is about, more storage.

I will mention the idea of sending it off to have the HD added, as long as these guys have some kind of warrenty. The computer route seems a lot safer in the long run, plus there is a second TiVo in the house for my niece. The 2nd unit isn't important, but if it is easy then it might have access (though maybe not, my Dad really is filling up his old unit).

So to paraphrase what I think I have heard. I buy VideoReDo (is there a link, or is it here?), then what? Is everything pretty much on the TiVo? BTW, my Dad almost never uses best quality, he's after duration, then watchability.

Video card isn't important either, from what I have read. We are talking about a single client server after all. And while my teenager is coming along, I am the techie of the family, though I stand in awe of my Dad's entertainment center setup, remotes everywhere and he knows em all.

Thanks for the help so far, I appriciate your patience.

 

[Bill_Marsden]

I don't believe the lifetime fee is transferable, when the Humanix box dies, that's it, back to square one, and they don't offer it anymore either. This make the this TiVo unit pretty special, which is why we are trying to go the route I defined. I understand the network is slower than a wired IDE connection, but we won't be using the best quality modes, so it may not even matter. If it does, well, learning costs.

I see my dad about every other weekend, so I will mention it, but we did think of it (without knowing specifics) and decided against. Hearing specifics Dad may change his mind, I am a go between in this. Do appriciate the link.

To be honest other than a Humanix I don't know the model number, I'll be getting this info this weekend.

I would also like details on how to go the route I was originally talking about. Other than software package previously mentioned, it is pretty much built into TiVo?