chazas
join:2007-08-16
Arlington, VA
| reply to vchan168
Re: CableCard TiVoHD install
vchan168, welcome to the world of TiVo! I suspect that your second cablecard is not properly authorized and so you are getting only Fios' analog channels for 1-49 on that tuner - which in my experience in your same general area (Arlington, VA) are dreadful.
You may get a better answer on tivocommunity.com. |
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TheOtherPete
join:2001-06-28
Boyds, MD
| reply to vchan168
I have the same problem with the 1-49 channels and am in the same area as you. I watch the HD versions of the major networks but I did try to record an SD version of one show (channels 1-10) and noticed the problem.
The whole TivoHD/CableCard/FIOS thing doesn't seem fully baked yet (too new) but I'm patient. |
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KenAF
join:2006-01-23
Arlington, VA
4 edits | Run this test...
Set each tuner to a channel in the 1-49 range (press the right arrow and then select a tuner on the right). Test each tuner by hitting the record button. Do you get the recording quality screen on either?
If you see a record quality screen, then you are on an analog channel. There is no record quality option displayed on digital channels, because the TivoHD records the original digital bitstream direct to disk (100% quality).
If you are getting any analog channels, then there would seem to be a CableCard authorization issue. It could be specific to your account or area-wide. Once a CableCard is installed and authorized, the digital versions of 1-49 are supposed to replace the analog versions of 1-49 on FiOS. |
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KenAF
join:2006-01-23
Arlington, VA
4 edits | reply to mikefischer99
Repost...
For those looking to upgrade the drive in the TivoHD, here are some instructions:
Detailed Instructions
Instructions Summary
(1) Remove the outer case and existing drive using a torx screwdriver in the T10 size. If you don't have one of appropriate length, you can purchase the Star Driver T10 Ampro (9014713) from Advance Auto Parts for about $4.
(2) Download WinMFS here.
(3) Shut down Windows and attach original TiVo drive. You can open your computer and attach it with a SATA cable, or attach it externally using a SATA->USB adapter like this.
(4) Boot to Windows XP (SP2) or Vista, run WinMFS, and click 'Select Drive' to select the drive you attached.
(5) In WinMFS, click the 'Backup' option. Save the file to your hard drive.
(6) Shut down the computer and attach the new, larger drive. You can disconnect the original Tivo drive.
(7) Turn the computer back on, run WinMFS, and click the 'Restore' option. Select the file you saved to your hard drive in step #5.
(8) You're done. Install the new drive in the TivoHD.
Note that won't backup your existing recordings. The "Backup" option in WinMFS just backs up the Tivo software and your configuration, not the recordings.
If you want to backup your recordings, you need to choose the MFSCopy option in WinMFS which requires that the original Tivo drive and new drive be connected at the same time -- in which case you may want 2x SATA -> USB adapters.
Be sure to purchase a hard drive with appropriate noise output and heat dissipation. Many retail drives will make your TivoHD sound like a jet engine. You can buy the same quiet Seagate DB35 drives used by Weaknees right here. For the TivoHD and Series3, you need the SCE version, available in 500Gb ($150) and 750Gb ($265) sizes.
said by CeeZee  :said by KenAF : It is very easy to upgrade a TivoHD. It took me about 30 minutes. Do you know if there is a Mac version of the process? Or do you absolutely need to use a WinPC. There isn't a simple Mac program with menus to click for backup and restore.
You can upgrade with a Mac, but then you've got to boot using the MFS Live Boot CD. That's more complicated but instructions are here. |
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TheOtherPete
join:2001-06-28
Boyds, MD
| reply to KenAF
said by KenAF :Run this test... Set each tuner to a channel in the 1-49 range (press the right arrow and then select a tuner on the right). Test each tuner by hitting the record button. Do you get the recording quality screen on either? If you see a record quality screen, then you are on an analog channel. There is no record quality option displayed on digital channels, because the TivoHD records the original digital bitstream direct to disk (100% quality). Thanks Ken..I just checked and my stations are tuning as digital, not analog. |
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NOCMan
Verizon Fios User
Premium
join:2004-09-30
Flower Mound, TX
| reply to GeekNJ
Geek what we'll do is keep a HD non dvr box for that. However with that new universial swivel search were having more of an issue of deciding what we want.
We have definitely watched more tv since going back to Tivo. Verizon needs to just get a clue and buy a bunch of these 300 dollar devices. It's less than the replacement cost of the HDDVR's they have. I'm sure Tivo would work to support them for any advanced features they would want to push.
The problem is lately is that verizon has to sqeeze every last drop of money they can out of their customers. You get nothing free anymore. |
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NOCMan
Verizon Fios User
Premium
join:2004-09-30
Flower Mound, TX | reply to mikefischer99
FYI
If you have a verizon wireless phone you can schedule shows using the tivo app under get it now.
--
Mac Chatter
»www.macchatter.net |
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Hooper
Premium
join:2001-10-22
Villanova, PA
| said by NOCMan :FYI If you have a verizon wireless phone you can schedule shows using the tivo app under get it now.  You had to mention that. Damn Verizon got in bed with Qualcomm and their worthless BREW technology. Makes it difficult for folks using devices with a real OS on it. And to think VZW wants to use that platform for its applications to business users. |
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machete
join:2007-07-26
| reply to mikefischer99
Hold that thought ... VZ anounced early this year at CES that they will be coming with a Brew app to basically do an enhanced version of what you can do Tivo on the go. The screen shots show a cooler app.
No idea when that is coming out but if I don't remember wrong they said Q4 07. Right on time for C-mass season. |
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vchan168
join:2007-08-28
| reply to mikefischer99
Thanks Ken. I just checked, and they are digital.
TheOtherPete, I guess it is good to know that someone in my area that is having the same problem. But something kinda weird happen tonight tho, from channel 1-10, at a time, it was very stable, but at a time it was breaking up big time. so I am assuming, maybe they are working on something. just a guess. It is not a deal breaker for me or anything, but I am one of those people that like to TiVo Suggestion feature, and it is good to know that all the channel is working the way it should be, so I will get some good quality TV time. But everything else is working beautifully. everything is recording on time, the quality is good, no missing show.
I just hope everything will be good before the fall TV season start. |
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rich111
join:2007-08-21
Armonk, NY |  reply to KenAF
Ken, in (4) you state "Boot to Windows". Is this different than just turning the pc back on. Does this imply I need to start from a CD and not from base hard drive? |
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KenAF
join:2006-01-23
Arlington, VA
1 edit | said by rich111 :Ken, in (4) you state "Boot to Windows". Is this different than just turning the pc back on. Does this imply I need to start from a CD and not from base hard drive? It just means to turn the PC back on. I will clarify that in the other post. |
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mistrb
Premium
join:2003-05-02
Upper Marlboro, MD
 ·Verizon FIOS
 ·Vonage
| I am not sure if this the right place to ask this question, but I will ask it anyway. I currently have DirecTivo and want to switch to FIOS. The only real thing holding me back is Tivo.
My question is, do I have to have a HD TV to get the HD Tivo Series 3? I really am not ready to buy a HDTV today. I want to wait until around Christmas or Superbowl time to buy it. But I don't mind switching to FIOS because I am tired of DirecTV.
I know all the virtues of HDTV so you don't have to tell me about the great resolution that I am missing out on. 
Bye for now.
--
"Don't eat yellow snow."
Bill Murry (As lounge lizard)
SNL |
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KenAF
join:2006-01-23
Arlington, VA
2 edits | said by mistrb :My question is, do I have to have a HD TV to get the HD Tivo Series 3? I really am not ready to buy a HDTV today. I want to wait until around Christmas or Superbowl time to buy it. But I don't mind switching to FIOS because I am tired of DirecTV. The FiOS has s-video and composite outputs so it works just fine on older TVs.
You get all the FiOS SD channels, as well as the FiOS HD channels. The FiOS HD channels are downconverted to SD through s-video and composite. On a 4:3 SD TV, so you can choose to display HD channels in letterbox or crop off the sides to fill a 4:3 screen -- you can switch between these aspect modes with one button press on the remote. |
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CeeZee
join:2007-04-11
Wynnewood, PA
1 edit | reply to mistrb
I switched from DirecTV to Fios earlier this summer. The increase in picture quality was astounding even though I was still using my old non-HD TV. So you won't be disappointed by making the switch and keeping your old TV for a while.
However, we were so wowed by the PQ we went out after two weeks and bought the HGTV we were going to wait until Christmas to buy .... just a warning
Edit: And some (most?) folks are saying the picture quality is even better with the Tivo instead of the Fios DVR. |
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Ncc1701
@fidelity.com | reply to mikefischer99
Ok So whats this I hear of a cablecard 2.0 that will allow PPV and VOD? When is that expected to be available?? |
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KenAF
join:2006-01-23
Arlington, VA
2 edits | said by Ncc1701 :
Ok So whats this I hear of a cablecard 2.0 that will allow PPV and VOD? When is that expected to be available??
CableCard 2.0 just added multistream capability (MCARD), which allows one card to support multiple tuners. The TivoHD supports that.
The TivoHD does not support bidirectional (two-way) communication, which is required to access VOD on other cable systems. Tivo can't support bidirectional communication because the Cable Labs license doesn't allow that. The Cable Labs license says that if you want to use your own interface (i.e. Tivo), then you can't support two-way features like VOD. If you want to support VOD, you've got to use the cable company's software and interface. Consumer electronics manufacturers aren't happy about that, but that's the way things stand now.
Said a different way, it is "illegal" for any box with their own (non-cable co) interface to support VOD.
In the case of FiOS, support for two-way communication wouldn't matter anyway, since Verizon uses their own proprietary VOD implementation over IP. Hence nothing but their own boxes and software will ever support that. |
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Ncc1701
@fidelity.com | reply to mikefischer99
Gotcha thanks for the explanation! I would love a better DVR but the wife and kid have really gotten used to having VOD. So the tivo is a no go right now I guess. |
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mistrb
Premium
join:2003-05-02
Upper Marlboro, MD | I am sure that there is a way to have a Tivo and a a FIOS box hooked to the same TV.
--
"Don't eat yellow snow."
Bill Murry (As lounge lizard)
SNL |
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JeepMatt
Delaware Fios
Premium
join:2001-12-28
Wilmington, DE | Of course - take the coax - split it two ways - 1 coax to Tivo , 1 to the VZ box.
Then hook the Tivo via HDMI, the VZ box via component - done.
--
"ONE team - ONE city - ONE dream!!" |
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