TiVo Hardware Questions

-- The two indicator LED's on the front seem to change colors, what are their meanings?

The left LED has two color states:
- Green - Power to TiVo
- Yellow - Receiving IR
The right LED has three color states:
- Red - Receiver is recording (other than live TV)
- Yellow - TiVo is dialing in
- Orange - The receiver is recording AND the TiVo is dialing in.

If the colors become messed up, rebooting often solves the problem.

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-- What formats and standards is TiVo compatible with?

From Oh2Smooth and LetsGoCanes: "

• TiVoSeries 1 and 2 is only compatible with a Standard Definition NTSC signal.
• There is a HDTiVo but it is only for DirecTV users.
  

• TiVo will preserve the stereo audio signal (which in turn preserves any Dolby Pro-Logic Surround signal encoded in the stereo signal), but will not record or output an AC3 or Dolby Digital audio stream.
• TiVo passes(does not strip) macrovision from the outputs.
• TiVo does record and pass Closed Captioning.

TiVo has no need to RECOGNIZE a pro-logic signal as it does not process or decode it. It just passes it through."

From Peter Creath: "Right, this is in contrast to its treatment of Macrovision, closed captions, etc. It recognizes the Macrovision in the video stream and produces a Macrovision-protected output signal when playing back programs which were originally Macrovision-protected.
I believe TiVo handles closed captions the same way -- it recognizes them, stores them, and then reproduces them on its outgoing NTSC signal. Somehow I don't think lossy MPEG compression would retain sufficient detail in the (invisible) scan-lines in the NTSC signal which encode the closed captions."

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-- Does TiVo encode MTS Stereo on RF Output?

No. TiVo only puts stereo out the RCA jacks. Why? If you've ever priced RF modulators, you'll see that supporting true MTS stereo would have added $100-200 to the price of your TiVo!

-- TiVo model numbers (SA = StandAlone, Combo = DirecTV Receiver with TiVo Service (formally known as DirecTiVo)

Note that all models will update to the most recent software version automatically after setup so that should not affect your purchasing decision. Combos list hours as "up to x" because the size of the shows varies based on the signal from DirecTV (VBR).

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-- How do I order another Philips Remote?

From Mark Lopez (6/24/2000): "Just call TiVo CC: $29.95 + shipping for Philips TiVo remote." Now, you can also order online at http://store.tivo.com/.

--What Cable Boxes are Compatible with TiVo?

Richard says all known cable boxes are controllable by TiVo. When there is a new cable box without existing IR codes, they borrow a remote, suck the codes out of it, and add support for it via an update.

In spite of the serial cable included with many TiVos, there is only serial support for Series 2 AT&Tivo users who have a DCT2000 cable box. Also the cable box must have the correct software.

Here's a note from TiVo about Motorola cable boxes: "Motorola recently bought General Instruments and relabeled all of their units from GI to Motorola. The GI/General Instruments codes works on these units. We are working on adding Motorola to the list of codes but I haven't been able to verify when this will occur yet."
-- Michael G Caine, TiVo Customer Care

Some GI boxes were actually made by Clearview. Thus, you may find the IR codes you need to control your GI box under the Clearview selections. For example, some have found Clearview code 10019 to work for a DCT-2244, or Clearview 10021 for a GI 1134. The DCT 2000 may also need a Clearview code.

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--What about my A/B cable system?

TiVo does not current support A/B cable systems (where the signals come in on two separate cables, and the channels are split up between the two cables). Apparently, the A/B analog systems are considered too old-fashioned to support, as they are being phased out in favor of digital cable.

<boywaja> My own cable system uses two cables, but it is combined by the cable box and it isn't a problem.

henryhank has posted one partial work-around, involving running the A channel into TiVo's RF for the unscrambled channels, and the B line through the cable box and into a VCR (using it as a cheap tuner - you could also use a demodulator) to convert RF to audio/video output which is connected to TiVo's A/V inputs, then configuring those to use a satellite provider, and selecting only channels that appear on your B side.

Here's some past threads on the subject with proposals about how TiVo could solve the problem, but few usable workarounds:

• Local Cable is A/B Can it work?
• Does AT&T TiVO improve A/B Cable systems
• A/B Cable

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--What DirecTV Receivers are Compatible with TiVo?

Richard says that all DirecTV receivers are compatible with TiVo. However, some are less desirable than others. It is really not necessary to use an expensive receiver tied to the TiVo, because the TiVo won't be able to use most of the fancier features. A simple $50-100 receiver dedicated to the TiVo will work nicely, and will make a nice addition if you already have an expensive receiver. Run the expensive receiver directly to another input on your TV, and you can channel surf or use those other features if you want, independent of TiVo.

Most DirecTV receivers have serial input ports which are compatible with TiVo, which is great news, because this method is vastly superior to IR control in terms of reliability.

A few compatibility problems that SOME people have had with DirecTV receivers:

• Be sure the serial port port is set to Data Port or Low Speed Data mode (not Home Control / X10), to be compatible with TiVo's serial port.
• The Hughes HIRD-B2 DirecTV receiver apparently has no serial port. With IR control, some people have had trouble with channel changes being interrupted if made at the top of the hour, but other people have not had this problem.
• In fact, JAB says this of Hughes receivers: "Of the Hughes receivers, only the Platinum (E45) has a serial port. If you get a Hughes, get the Platinum. However, that's fairly expensive, so you should probably consider the cheapest RCA you can find. All of the RCAs can be reliably controlled by TiVo via serial."
• The RCA DTC-100 HDTV receiver does not have a serial port.
• The Sony A1-A3 and B1-B3 receivers work with the TiVo, but can get locked up if power is lost. Cycling power on the TiVo, and THEN cycling power on the Ax or Bx, has been reported to correct the problem. A UPS battery-backup system with surge suppression is recommended to avoid this problem.
• Xaa reports: "The issue is with all Sony receivers manufactured prior to December of 1999. Sony will only fix models A50 and B50. What happens is that when the Tivo and the Sony boot simultaneously, the serial port on the Sony freezes and can be unlocked by power cycling the Sony independent of the Tivo. this will be an issue with the Sony Tivo as well as the Phillips. The solutions are: 1. Upgrade your DSS to a different model. 2. Put your DSS receiver on a UPS (this is what I did)"

timf has posted a definitive summary of Sony DirecTV receivers (posted August 16, 2000):
"Let me go over all the Sony model numbers and serial port options:

A1 & A2:

• Low Speed Data (standard connector)
• Wide Band Data (larger connector - requires adapter) (recommended)

B1 & B2:

• Wide Band Data (requires adapter)

A3, A4, & B3:

• Low Speed Data (standard connector)

The serial ports in all above models will freeze when the power cycles on the receiver and TiVo at the same time, and the receiver will need to be reset. A UPS can be used to solve this problem.

A50 & B50 (built before 12/99):

• Low Speed Data (NOT ACTIVE - REPLACEMENT REQUIRED)

A50 & B50 (built after 12/99), A55 & B55:

• Low Speed Data (standard connector)

These are the only models of Sony DirecTV receivers. In some cases 'S' and 'D' are inserted to signify a single or dual lnb dish when sold as a system, but those letters are not represented on the actual receiver."
-- timf

From JAB: "Always, always, always get a dual LNB system. In fact, you should consider getting the larger elliptical dish, since it may be required to get your locals or other desirable programming later, and it supports four satellite receivers out-of-the-box."

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--What Dish (Echostar) Receivers are Compatible with TiVo?

From JAB: "In general, any Dish receiver that can be controlled using IR is compatible with TiVo. No Dish receiver can be controlled via serial. I doubt Dish has implemented serial control in their software, and even if they have, I don't think they've released the protocol.

Most Dish receivers that support UHF remote control also support IR. If you're not sure, you can temporarily remove the UHF antenna from the back, and/or try controlling it with IR. You can then put the antenna back on, as it is not required to leave it unattached for IR to work.

The following Dish receivers are UHF-only, and will not work with TiVo:

• 2000
• 4000
• Early 5000 (pre-mid 1998?)
• JVC DVHS

I don't recommend using the Dishplayer 7100 or 7200 with a TiVo. Although TiVo has the IR codes, the Dishplayers are easily left in modes where they won't respond properly to IR or won't provide a full screen picture."

The 6000 is an HDTV receiver. It supports UHF and IR remote codes.

From JAB: "Always, always, always get a dual LNB system. In fact, you should consider getting the larger Dish 500 dish, since it may be required to get your locals or other desirable programming, and it supports at least two satellite receivers out-of-the-box."
-- JAB

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--Why Won't My TiVo Tune to the Dish CD Channels?
--Why Won't My TiVo Tune to Dish Channels in the 900s?

From JAB: "You told TiVo to send an "enter" after channel changes. That setting prevents you from tuning to channels in the 900s using the TiVo. All of the CD channels are in the 900s.

Dish receivers support four-digit channel numbers that start with a "9". When TiVo sends "9xx", the Dish receiver waits to see if you are going to enter a fourth digit. Whatever TiVo sends as "enter" actually cancels the channel change. This doesn't affect three digit channel changes outside the 900s, because the Dish receiver doesn't require an "enter" and actually does the channel change before TiVo sends the "enter".

To turn off the "send enter" setting, choose Messages & Setup > Cable/Satellite Box > Satellite Box Setup."

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-- Why can't I dial in 4-digit channel numbers on my Dish system through TiVo?

This was fixed in December 2001. If you have the current software version, you should be able to enter 4-digit channels for Dish.

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-- My Dish Network Receiver Doesn't Support IR - How can I fix that?

This link shows how to modify your JVC HM-DSR100U D-VHS Dish Network receiver to support IR:
http://www.carltonbale.com/dish/hm-dsr100u/
This link shows how to modify DishNetwork / Echostar / HTS / JVC receivers based on the 4000, older 5000, or very old 2000 "deluxe" models to support IR: http://www.carltonbale.com/dish/4000/

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-- How do I upgrade my hard drive to have more recording space?

There is currently no officially supported hard drive upgrade program.

A group of Linux gurus have figured out how to upgrade the number of hours on a TiVo yourself and still have it work with TiVo service. There is now a whole forum dedicated to help with this procedure: TiVo Upgrade Center. Also, check out the TiVo HAQ FAQ for all the latest details and other "hacks" you can do.

NOTE: TiVo Inc. does NOT endorse or support this effort IN ANY WAY! -- DO NOT CALL TIVO CUSTOMER CARE for any support, help, encouragement, or even sympathy if you destroy your machine trying to upgrade it yourself. TiVo is also NOT obligated to insure that your upgraded hardware will still work with new releases of the TiVo software! So, BEWARE!

Here's some related threads:

• Hinsdale's Disk Space Upgrade How-to

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-- Is my TiVo too hot? Why isn't the fan running?

Messages & Setup > System Information shows the current internal temperature. The standalone TiVo is rated to operate up to 50 degrees C, and typically operates in the range 38-44 degrees C. If your TiVo's temperature is above 44, check if you have adequate ventilation around the fan, and check if the fan is blowing by holding a tissue in front of it. It is usually too quiet to tell just by listening!

Passed on by mgbarton: "The combo box does run hotter than the standalone. For the combo box, the fan won't turn on to high until you reach 65 C. Up to 70 C is considered normal. When you near 80 C we'll start sending you messages. And, if you hit 85 C we'll shut you down for safety."

Starting with 2.5.1, the fan stays on all the time instead of running only when the temperature was too hot. (Probably to keep noise levels more constant.) Also, the temperature reading on the System Information screen will now indicate if it is in the "normal" range or not.

The DirecTivo has its fan located on the bottom of the unit. This seems to cause a problem with the airflow. Some people have solved this problem with the addition of "legs" for the TiVo. This raises the unit and allows more airflow.

Often, overheating complaints occur after adding a second hard drive. Conventional wisdom seems to be, make sure you use a 5400 rpm drive. Also make sure you plugged the fan back in.

• 30 C, How I did it
• How do I prevent the DSR6000 from overheating?
• Temperature Problem?

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-- Can I set my TiVo on its side?

Yes - TiVo will operate just fine set on its side. However, don't move your TiVo around while the power is on!

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-- My Philips DSR6000 remote is slow to respond and the up/down/left/right joypad is hard to use accurately.

From panictivo: Many DSR6000s were shipped with defective remotes. You can identify the bad remote by where "Page" is written. The defective remote has "Chan" and "Page" on the button. The good remote has "Page" on the plastic housing of the remote. If you have a defective remote call Tivo to have it replaced for free.

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-- Series 2 Stand Alone TiVos like the AT&T TiVo and the TiVo branded model

The series 2 model is a significant step forward for TiVo in that they are no longer subsidizing the cost of building the hardware. While it has more ram, a faster cpu and a USB port, it is not designed to be a must upgrade for everyone who already has a TiVo. That said, most new feature development will likely occur on the Series 2 platform in the future.

AT&T Broadband is selling a new TiVo model, branded by AT&T. Although officially it says for AT&T users only, there is nothing special about it (for now at least?) that ties it to use with AT&T cable only. They have not been checking if you are an AT&T customer before selling it to you either. It is a standalone unit that will use IR to control the cable box, not a combo like the ones for DirecTV. The case and remote are similar to the combo models (smaller size, buttons on front, more buttons on remote). For more info, check TiVo's web page.

The TiVo Branded Series 2 for a time was only available through the TiVo website and Best Buy. Beginning in August 2002, it has been available through other outlets. It is essentially similar to the AT&TiVo except that it has a larger hard drive and costs more.

Sony has a Series 2 based model in Japan. Of course the TiVo service is not available over there. I think they use Gemstar for their program guide. It has been announced that Sony will have a Series 2 on the market for Christmas 2002 in the U.S.

Sony Series 2

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-- Series 2 DirecTiVo

timf posted a summary FAQ about the Series 2 DirecTiVo.

When will the Series 2 combo unit be available?
It will be released this fall, and should be widely available by the holiday season.

What about the Series 2 TiVos currently available?
The models for sale on tivo.com and at Best Buy are standalone units only. This means that while they can be used with DirecTV, they require a standard DirecTV receiver to go along with them. Also, they will only record one show at a time, unlike the combo boxes.

Will the Series 2 combo include dual tuners?
Yes, it will have all the same features as the current line of combo units.

Who will make the Series 2 combo?
Initially, they will be sold under the Hughes Network Systems brand, which is DirecTV's house brand of receivers. It has been speculated that Sony will also make one, but no official plans have been announced yet.

How much will it cost?
The Series 2 hardware is cheaper to produce than current models. As a result, the initial price will be $199 - half of what the original combo price was. They will be marketed primarily to existing DirecTV customers, so there will likely be no price benefits to being a new customer.

How much space will it have?
Initially, it will have the same amount of space as present units (35 hours/40GB), but a larger unit may be released in the future.

Will the service fee be the same as it is now?
The Series 2 combo service fee will be included in the Total Choice Premier programming package. If any other programming package is selected, the service fee will be $4.99. This change affects all combo TiVos, whether Series 1 or Series 2.

What makes the Series 2 hardware better than current units?
To start with, there is faster processing power and a better graphics engine. This means the Series 2 should be faster than current models. The Series 2 units also contain 2 USB 2.0 ports that allow for broadband connectivity and other possible future applications.

Should I buy now or wait?
This is a hard decision to make. Current models are difficult to find unless you are a new subscriber. If you are a new subscriber, great! Go ahead and buy a current model, and you can always add a Series 2 after they come out. If you are an existing subscriber and want to save some money, I would wait, as good deals on current hardware are hard to find. However, if you really want a TiVo now, keep an eye on these forums for when people spot good deals for existing subscribers. The best advice is if you can find a TiVo now, buy it. There's no real reason to wait. Remember, you can always upgrade later!