TiVo Community Forums Archives - Newbie - Want to Control by Computer

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Newbie - Want to Control by Computer
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Posted by: greyskies

Hey one and all"

Just purchased a Sony SVR-2000 cheap at a local pawn shop. Starts up and looks good, however, get messages that it was deactivated since no telephone call had been made for more than 30 days. I want to use the unit as a digital video recorder for my KuBand satellite (free to air). Can anyone help me with simple directions to upgrade the unit, HD, ethernet, etc.??? I am familiar with MS O/S's, Linux, Mac OS X, BeOS, and O/S 2, so I can refresh my knowlege from previously using several of these operating systems. I am currently using OS X and Win XP (home and professional).

Can this unit be used as a video recorder hooked up to my satellite, or do I have to subscribe on a monthly basis. If not, then I can still return it to the pawn shop. Waiting hopefully for guidance and support.

Posted by: classicsat

To use as a basic recorder, it has to have come with V1.3 software or less.

If it has 3.0 now, I think Tivonet is essentially Plug and Play.

Read the hinsdale how-to to do HDD upgrades.

To control it from a PC, install TivoWeb.

Posted by: greyskies

classicsat:

I will check out my unit within the next few days when things aren't so hectic between work, family and Passover. If the version is greater than 1.3, is there software out there that will let me reverse back to 1.3? If so, how can I get it? Thanks for your assistance.

Posted by: classicsat

You don't quite get it. I guess I wasn't clear. The unit must have come with version 1.3 or less, from the factory. What version it has now has no bearing on service-less recording. I have heard, anecdotally, that Philips software will work on a post 1.3 Sony to give recording.

Posted by: greyskies

classicsat

Sorry that I "don't quite get it". Brand new purchase (albeit used model), and have not yet played with this technology before. Please provide information on the Phillips software that I can research further. Thanks.

Posted by: classicsat

It doesn't matter what software is on it now, all that matters is that it came from the factory with 1.3 or lower. Whatever software is on it can be upgraded to the current version, which allows subscriptionless recording (if the original software was 1.3 or less), and AFAIK, plug and play Turbonet.

Posted by: greyskies

Thanks for bearing with me classicsat.

Real simple question. How can I tell what version of software (1.3 or other) was loaded onto it from the factory?

Posted by: classicsat

Basically, if is a Philips, it surely is 1.3 or less. I think October 2001 is when they introduced 2.0 to factory units, and introduced manadatory subscription, which mostly applies to Sony SVR2000 units.

Posted by: greyskies

It appears that my unit shipped with version 1.3. If so, what then if anything can I do with it (i.e. - hacking) that I could not with a subsequent version of firmware? Your guidance is truly appreciated.

Posted by: mishagray

Don't worry about what the version of software is.

Basically if you hook up this box to a TV it MAY or MAY NOT allow you to schedule recordings. You really can't tell by looking at the box.

If you hook it up and it gives you the option to schedule a manual show, by channel and time, than the box does not require a subscription in order to record.

Boxes that shipped from the factory after a certain date lose this function. Tivo dropped this feature from their boxes. NONE of the Series 2 standalone models that are sold new today allow recordings without subscription. Without a paid Tivo subscription, the box will only allow the watching and pausing of Live TV. The older Series 1 boxes (which this is one of) originally allowed manual recordings without a subscription. However Series 1 boxes that were sold later, the feature was dropped.

However, even if your software was upgraded to 3.0, you never lost the feature. Tivo could not legally turn the feature off for current customers. They could only turn if off for NEW customers.

If you hookup this box and it allows manual recordings, than you are fine.

I would also NOT recommend putting a Phillips version of software on a Sony and visa versa, as the IR codes are not the same and the remote control will not work. (Although you can buy a Phillips compatible remote from the tivo store store.tivo.com)

The BEST hack for this box is the getting a CacheCard ($99 + the price of 512MB memory). It will actually make the GUI of the Tivo run FASTER than any other Tivo model on the market: even the new Series 2 boxes. It will also give you the fastest ethernet connection currently available on any Tivo (even the USB based ones..).

Use the Hinsdale faqs to upgrade the drive.

Check out the TivoWeb. This will let you schedule recordings on the box remotely.

There are also video extraction tools available, but the topic is forbidden on this forum. Do a Google search.

Posted by: mishagray

Actually, if the software is CURRENTLY 1.3, than you may even want to consider doing a monthly subscription for 1 month.

For the price of $13 bucks, you get the latest code, which does have some very nice improvements, including improvements to the video quality.

Try out the features and than quit if you want at the end of the month.

Posted by: greyskies

Came home from work early today to play (its good to be your own boss)! Called Tivo, and they advised that my unit was issued a lifetime subscription by the prior owner, and they activated my account and transferred the lifetime subscription to me. Guess noone can claim that I am causing theft of service!

Now, time to have fun. I have it working with my Motorola digital cablevision box, but want to learn how to get it to work with a european version of a Free to Air Satellite (with access to channels off of satellites hovering along those providing DTV and Dishnet to american dss consumers. Can you provide me any guidance? I am missing cables. My unit (albeit very fortunate to have a lifetime subscription) only came with the box, power cord and remote control. No manuals, serial cable, etc. Any thoughts as to what I will need to hook this up to my FTA satellite receiver also?

Posted by: gtrogue

How much did you pay for it? The lifetime sub alone would cost you $300. If you paid less you really got a great deal.

Posted by: classicsat

Back in it's day, lifetime was $200.

To directly controlan off-brand receiver, you'd have to either add a remote confiuration for that box (and configure the box to work with a simple 3 digit channels numer), or build an adaptor (probably with a microcontroler), to adapt what the Tivo puts out to what the FTA receiver will accept. Not saying aboug guide data, since chances are not even TMS has data for most of the DVB-FTA services, let alone Tivo having a setup for them.

Posted by: gtrogue

quote:
Originally posted by classicsat
Back in it's day, lifetime was $200.

I know. I was talking more about what he would have to pay right now for the lifetime sub.

Posted by: greyskies

gtrogue:

I was like a little kid when Patti on the TV activation support line told me I had a lifetime subscription. Paid $50 at a pawn shop and was thinking about either returning it (when I found out how much a subscription would cost me) or selling it on ebay. Now thinking about upping the HD and possibly adding a TNet Card or CacheCard. Which one of the last 2 would you install, and why.

Finally, yeah, this is one of the best bargains I have ever bought at a second hand seller (and I have gone to a lot of flea markets and yard sales in my day).

Posted by: greyskies

classicsat:

Do you have any information as to where I could find information on how to do what you were suggesting I might (possibly) be able to do in order to use my FTA receiver? I would appreciation your pointing me in the right direction.

Posted by: gtrogue

quote:
Originally posted by greyskies
gtrogue:

Now thinking about upping the HD and possibly adding a TNet Card or CacheCard. Which one of the last 2 would you install, and why.

Most definitely the CacheCard, especially if your going to upgrade the hard drives. It also has better network performance than the TurboNet.