I seem to remember a dicussion about a unit that
can record from a TV channel to a harddrive and display
to a TV again. Anybody have the name of that unit.

(Somebody hacked the code, but were persuaded to
not release their code or something like that....)

MArius (Escort Cab + MArk II)

The two biggest products in this category are called TIVO and REPLAY TV.

Some video/TV cards for your PC come with software that does the same thing.

___________
Tony Fabris

And if you have satelite service, Direct TV has Tivo and Ultimate TV units that can record right off the satalite stream and not loose any quality. Dish had a Displayer (same software as the Ultimate TV, but only one tuner and it came with games), or their new PVR unit. Check www.dishnetwork.com or www.directv.com depending on your provider for more info.

This link may interest you.
Hacking the Tivo FAQ
Tivo doesn't official condone the hacking that people have done to the Tivo but they have assisted some hacking efforts slightly. This probably helps them sell boxes and get new subscribers, which is their goal.
If anyone started playing with getting the subscription for free or something counter objective, they can and would put an end to this stuff.

One thing interesting to note. If you are a cable or DSS subscriber who gets channels you have not paid for, the Tivo knows which channels you are watching and when.
They could easily compare this with customer records from DirectTV or your cable company and have enough evidence to procecute you.

Just be aware is all I'm saying.

the "hacking" you are referring to allowed people to save the video from the unit to a computer

I would have purchased one of the units already if I could do that

AFAIK there is no log of "watched" programs, only recorded programs. I've been following the hacking closely, waiting for the hacks that will allow me to go from 35 hours recording time to 150+ hours by swapping 2 80 Gb disks into my unit. The folks that have been all over the OS never mentioned finding any watched program logs.

TiVo rocks, BTW. Though I often find myself thinking of rewinding something I just missed, ala TiVo, only to realize that it was real life and not the TV... Maybe someday, though

Dave Clark
Austin, Texas
12g Blue MK2
S/N 80000329

Sounds too possible for me to want to play with. It's like a federal offense. I'm sure Tivo doesn't do anything with the logged information except sell it to advertisers and networks. Just think, once widespread adoption occurs, this is far better than any current rating system. You can know exactly what every person watches not just a sampling of people.

They could turn on logging of all watched programs at any time.

Aren't there already people running 100+ Gb Tivos?

i think the biggest has been 117 hrs so far..not sure of the drive size.

On the TiVO forum at avsforums.com one person reported that 2 60 Gb drives gives him almost 141 hours basic, almost 40 high quality on the standalone TiVo system.

On the DirecTiVo systems, which record at DirecTV's compression rate, there have been reports that adding an 80 Gb disk to the existing 40 Gb gives you 108 hours of record time. SO I figure 160 Gb must be around 145 or so hours...

Dave Clark
Austin, Texas
12g Blue MK2
S/N 80000329

I talked to my bud that works for VA linux.. he said the actual TiVo linux geeks stop by every once in a while.. I guess they riged up a dual 80gig system in the test shop.. tho, from what i've seen/read.. the TiVo software itself get's _really_ slow after you get over 100 hours of data in it. :(

12gig red mk2 -- 080000125

In reply to:

---

the TiVo software itself get's _really_ slow after you get over 100 hours of data in it.

---

Hmmm that a good point to consider, I can see how that could happen, mine tends to get slow when I get near the 35 hour cap. Thanks for the note!

Dave Clark
Austin, Texas
12g Blue MK2
S/N 80000329

The 2 80Gig drives have been done for a while. (well, at least a month).

Search for MadTivo's utility. It will allow you to replace your a drive with an 80Gig and add another 80 G at the same time.

Note: Must be done AT the same time, as you can't expand the MFS twice.

And YES, it does get slow. REAL damn slow. 12M of memory ain't much when dealing with that much program information. I speak from experience.

Personally, I just have two Tivo's with 30+80 on each. Record everything in BEST, and life is happy.

TiVo is an amazing product. Buy one and you will never think of television in the same way. I have not watched a commercial on television since January -- the TiVo Fast-Forward speed is 60x viewing speed, so a four-minute long commercial break takes four seconds to skip over. I have not watched television since January -- I watch TiVo. I don't even care what is on TV anymore -- I always have 30 hours of programming that I like right at my fingertips -- sort of like an empeg for TV.

I have heard rumors that TiVo is coming out with new hardware with dual tuners that can record two programs simultaneously rather than just one. That would be enough of an improvement I would buy it without a second thought. Can anybody elaborate on this?

At first I thought I wanted more capacity... but I realize that even with "only" 30 hours of recording time, the TiVo records more programming than I can possibly find time to watch. I think they made a good choice in terms of cost/benefit with the 30 GB hard drive in the standard unit.

There is a bug in the TiVo hardware that I hope someone has a workaround for... I feed the output from my TiVo and my VCR through a combiner into my TV set, using the RF co-ax cables (it's an old TV and doesn't have the newer type inputs) There appears to be no way of stopping the TiVo from sending a signal through it's RF output, so if I want to play a videotape, I have to physically unplug the output cable from the back of the TiVo, otherwise it clashes with the VCR output. Even turning the TiVo "Off" doesn't do it (the TiVo is still powered when in the "Off" mode so it can record programs.)

Any ideas?

tanstaafl.

"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"

I heard about the 2 tuner model also but just once

can't you use a switch instead of a combiner ?

I have heard rumors that TiVo is coming out with new hardware with dual tuners that can record two programs simultaneously rather than just one. That would be enough of an improvement I would buy it without a second thought. Can anybody elaborate on this?

I believe I herd this on TechTV recently, when they did an Ultimate TV VS Tivo feature. The Ultimate TV won out because of the two tuner feature, but a comment was made that Tivo should have one out soon with this feature. Now if it's going to be a DirecTV box only is beyond me.

can't you use a switch instead of a combiner ?

No real advantage -- I still have to get up and go across the room, whether I am pulling the cable off the back of the TiVo or flipping a switch. I suppose if I could find a switch that my TiVo remote would control...

tanstaafl.

"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"

I figured it would be easier to switch and unplug
I would be for my setup I can't even get at the back of the TV

I have heard rumors that TiVo is coming out with new hardware with dual tuners that can record two programs simultaneously rather than just one. That would be enough of an improvement I would buy it without a second thought. Can anybody elaborate on this?


That's the Directivo, a Direct TV ONLY tuner system. It has no analog inputs, and no mpeg encoder... It basically just stores the DirecTV mpeg stream. It will eventually support dual tuners.. The hardware is there, just waiting on the software..... Hmmmm... Lot like 1.1. Maybe it will happen when 1.1 becomes an actual product instead of the "Really, the features you are looking for is in 1.1, but we can't let you have it, it isn't ready... but it's there... Really" that it currently is.

But it is coming. Downside to the directivo unit is the lack of an encoder, therefore it's impossible to use it with anything besides DirecTV.

To the best of my knowledge, Tivo is NOT planning a dual tuner version for the SA (standalone) versions.

At first I thought I wanted more capacity... but I realize that even with "only" 30 hours of recording time, the TiVo records more programming than I can possibly find time to watch. I think they made a good choice in terms of cost/benefit with the 30 GB hard drive in the standard unit.

I record everything in BEST mode... Even the 30 hour isn't enough to handle a weekend of the shows I watch if I have to go out of town. The 30+80 does handle the job nicely, without getting too slow in the process. Besides, there is nothing that says you HAVE to watch it's suggestions, but it does give a heck of a choice.


There is a bug in the TiVo hardware that I hope someone has a workaround for... I feed the output from my TiVo and my VCR through a combiner into my TV set, using the RF co-ax cables (it's an old TV and doesn't have the newer type inputs) There appears to be no way of stopping the TiVo from sending a signal through it's RF output, so if I want to play a videotape, I have to physically unplug the output cable from the back of the TiVo, otherwise it clashes with the VCR output. Even turning the TiVo "Off" doesn't do it (the TiVo is still powered when in the "Off" mode so it can record programs.)


I'm really afraid I don't know about this one. I haven't watched a RF modulated program in FOREVER. Hell, you've got an Empeg, got a Tivo... Splurge and get a REAL TV.. S-video and Component inputs are the ONLY way to go... short of full digital, that is.

I assume that by off you are referring to the standby mode, but even then, yes, it's passing the cable input through. I don't know if anyone else would really consider this a bug.... It's pretty much the same functionality of any other AV gear I can remember using.

"Even turning the TiVo "Off" doesn't do it (the TiVo is still powered when in the "Off" mode so it can record programs.) "

Get the clapper. No AC = shut off TiVo. Silly, but it should work & no locomotion is required.

-Zeke

just say you weren't paying much attention...

..and of course Replay TV are about to be purchased by SONICblue.

Rob

I have heard rumors that TiVo is coming out with new hardware with dual tuners that can record two programs simultaneously rather than just one. That would be enough of an improvement I would buy it without a second thought. Can anybody elaborate on this?

They're perfecting a "Digital "Demodulator" which will allow this. In theory you should be able to select just about any number of channels to demod (and therefore record from) at the same time. I am not sure of the actual performance, though.

And to correct an earlier comment which hinted that Linux is the OS on the TiVo, it's not - the OS is an enhanced version of pSOS.

Incidentally, has your TV got a SCART connector? If so, then why don't you just disconnect the UHF mod cable from the TV and use the TiVo tuner instead?

One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

Errrr... Not a very sound strategic move, given the state of their software and finances

One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

The software is widely considered superior to Tivo - if only it was taken up by more OEM's (Replay licence, they don't manufacture). Oh, look at this:

"MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - May 1, 2001 - In a move that will rapidly accelerate consumer adoption of personal TV in the cable industry, ReplayTV®Inc., a leading provider of personal television and digital video recording (DVR) technologies, today announced it has signed a long-term licensing agreement with Motorola's Broadband Communications Sector. In the agreement, Motorola (NYSE: MOT) names ReplayTV a primary provider of core DVR software for the creation of Motorola's new personal television platform. ReplayTV's DVR technology will be integrated into Motorola's digital cable set-tops, with plans to be initially offered in Q4 of this year."

Aaaahhh - famous last words. Don't forget I was working there over Christmas....

One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

Wow, what great info I'm getting from this thread! I've been interested in buying a Tivo for a while now. Could someone answer a couple of my concerns?

1) price. I can't seem to find it ANYWHERE for less than about $300. I'm looking for the regular version, as I have digital cable.

2) subscription. it took me a while to realize you had to subscribe to a service. Which plan do most of you here use? Any "lifers" here?

3) I have no phone jack near the TV. I don't have one anywhere near the TV. Not till the next room! Any ideas?

Thanks!

DiGNAN
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, etc.

There appears to be no way of stopping the TiVo from sending a signal through it's RF output, so if I want to play a videotape, I have to physically unplug the output cable from the back of the TiVo, otherwise it clashes with the VCR output.

Why use a combiner? The way I have it set up, TiVo sends RCAs to VCR(Line Input 1), VCR is always on, sending RF to TV chan. 3. When I play a tape, the VCR ignores A/V in anyways.
It's great because I don't have to change the Stereo's input either (Always VCR). Even DVD's go through Line Input 2 on the VCR.
Is there some reason you need the combiner (Only 1 Line input to VCR for TiVo & DVD?)
Jason

_~= Dearing =~_
"WAY too happy about having #99."

how about one of those things that you plug into the electrical socket to get the phone line near the tv

1) AV Outfitters Has one for about US$235, shipped. It's a factory Referb, but I've had no problems with mine.
2) I'm on the monthly $9.95 plan, so I could someday support Sonic Blue by buying Replay TV (or whichever allows 2 recordings at once first )
3) It comes with 50' of telephone line, and only calls out once or twice a week. You can even make it call out on demand, so you can plug in the line, make the call, then coil the line back up.

These things will^H^H^H^HHave changed TV forever!

_~= Dearing =~_
"WAY too happy about having #99."

There is some info on what is recorded, but this is anonymised before it's collected for stats (and 3rd parties have verified this by checking the network traffic) - check the tivo faqs about on the net. They know they'd have a hard time selling the box if it collected that sort of info.

Hugo

No, TiVo does run linux, see:

http://www.tivo.com/linux/index.html

ReplyTV runs some posix-style RTOS, possibly a pSoS variant (but I think it's something else from a smaller company at the moment).

Hugo