TiVo Community Forums Archives - Tivo - should I set it up like this?

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Tivo - should I set it up like this?
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Posted by: craig@rewind

I currently have Sky Digital connected like the following:

Sky Digibox -> DVD Player
DVD Player -> TV

Should the Tivo come into the equation like the following:

Sky Digibox -> Tivo
Tivo -> DVD Player
DVD Player -> TV

Is this correct? If it is, will the RGB quality of either Sky or the DVD player be reduced?

Am I right in thinking that when the Tivo is being used, I cannot watch Sky Digital through the SCART socket?

Sky Digital and Tivo will be upstairs. I currently have a tvLink and a 3 phono to SCART connection going downstairs so Sky can be used and watched in stereo. Should I have got Sky+ instead? I could have used my existing tvLink then couldn't I? Now I have to pay out another Ł50 for a video sender!

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Craig @ Rewind - www.dvdcompare.org.uk
Home of the ORIGINAL and the most ACCURATE DVD Comparison Database.
"Providing comparisons you can trust since 1999"

Posted by: mrtickle

quote:
Originally posted by craig@rewind:
I currently have Sky Digital connected like the following:

Sky Digibox -> DVD Player
DVD Player -> TV

Should the Tivo come into the equation like the following:

Sky Digibox -> Tivo
Tivo -> DVD Player
DVD Player -> TV

Is this correct? If it is, will the RGB quality of either Sky or the DVD player be reduced?

Yes that's correct. RGB will be fine (be aware of course that TiVo re-samples the picture to make a recording, and that by default it's not in RGB mode for either input or output)

quote:

Am I right in thinking that when the Tivo is being used, I cannot watch Sky Digital through the SCART socket?

Yes, but at the same time, no http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/biggrin.gif. It's a bit of a flawed premise - you need to switch your way of thinking. You use TiVo *all the time* for Sky Digital now. Every single programme you want to watch, you set TiVo to record and then watch at your leisure. You don't ever need to go back to using the Sky box directly, so the fact that you can't use it when TiVo is busy recording something is a non-issue.

quote:

Sky Digital and Tivo will be upstairs. I currently have a tvLink and a 3 phono to SCART connection going downstairs so Sky can be used and watched in stereo. Should I have got Sky+ instead? I could have used my existing tvLink then couldn't I? Now I have to pay out another Ł50 for a video sender!

Sky+ would have allowed you to use your Tvlink, yes, but you wouldn't have got all the ectra features that TiVo offers. You don't "have" to spend Ł50 - I use a pair of Powermids which cost about 30 quid from CPC (www.cpc.co.uk - you need to phone orders through). You can then still use your SCART lead going downstairs to get stereo, but plug it into the back of the TiVo instead of the back of your Sky digibox. I assume that you're splitting this somehow at the moment, with RGB scart+stereo going to both your downstairs and upstairs TVs? If so, just do the same with the TiVo output instead of the digibox's output.

[This message has been edited by mrtickle (edited 11-11-2001).]

Posted by: craig@rewind

quote:

Yes that's correct. RGB will be fine (be aware of course that TiVo re-samples the picture to make a recording, and that by default it's not in RGB mode for either input or output)

When you say "not by default"? Does it output RGB? I used to work at Sky and saw Tivo when it first launched and the broadcast picture of LIVE TV looked very blurry and fuzzy. It won't be like this will it?!

quote:

Yes, but at the same time, no . It's a bit of a flawed premise - you need to switch your way of thinking. You use TiVo *all the time* for Sky Digital now. Every single programme you want to watch, you set TiVo to record and then watch at your leisure. You don't ever need to go back to using the Sky box directly, so the fact that you can't use it when TiVo is busy recording something is a non-issue.

All well and good but if someone downstairs is using Tivo to play back a recorded programme and I want to watch live Sky upstairs, I won't be able to!

quote:

You can then still use your SCART lead going downstairs to get stereo, but plug it into the back of the TiVo instead of the back of your Sky digibox. I assume that you're splitting this somehow at the moment, with RGB scart+stereo going to both your downstairs and upstairs TVs? If so, just do the same with the TiVo output instead of the digibox's output.

The connection at the moment isn't RGB because it isn't a fully wired SCART connection. I didn't fancy running a thick SCART lead downstairs so it is SCART to 3 phonos then 3 phonos to SCART! This gives me stereo sound and adequate picture quality.

So basically, I could continue using this set up yes? I also have a One For All Remote Control Extender. So I could use this couldn't I? If that is the case, I don't have to buy anything else!

------------------
Craig @ Rewind - www.dvdcompare.org.uk
Home of the ORIGINAL and the most ACCURATE DVD Comparison Database.
"Providing comparisons you can trust since 1999"

Posted by: craig@rewind

Come on someone! http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/wink.gif

------------------
Craig @ Rewind - www.dvdcompare.org.uk
Home of the ORIGINAL and the most ACCURATE DVD Comparison Database.
"Providing comparisons you can trust since 1999"

Posted by: mrtickle

The default for TiVo is to record the composite output of Sky and output composite itself. You need to change both of these in TiVo's setup (and of course make sure the Sky box is set to output RGB).

quote:
Originally posted by craig@rewind:
All well and good but if someone downstairs is using Tivo to play back a recorded programme and I want to watch live Sky upstairs, I won't be able to!

No you won't be able to, sorry. But it's not a case of "all well and good but...", it's fundamental to how you use TiVo. I never watch live Sky. You can watch one recording whilst it's busy making another.

If you're watching a recording, you could also watch live Sky at the same time - but you'd have to pick a time when TiVo doesn't need to make another recording.

quote:

So basically, I could continue using this set up yes? I also have a One For All Remote Control Extender. So I could use this couldn't I? If that is the case, I don't have to buy anything else!

It sounds like it, yes, but there's not enough information. Are you splitting the current Sky output?

Posted by: craig@rewind

Thanks for replying.

quote:

No you won't be able to, sorry. But it's not a case of "all well and good but...", it's fundamental to how you use TiVo. I never watch live Sky. You can watch one recording whilst it's busy making another.

Hang on you have confused me! http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/biggrin.gif First you said you can't then you say "If you're watching a recording, you could also watch live Sky at the same time - but you'd have to pick a time when TiVo doesn't need to make another recording." so I can then yes?!

quote:

It sounds like it, yes, but there's not enough information. Are you splitting the current Sky output?

Yes. Once Sky has come out of the DVD player, it goes into a SCART splitter with one going to the upstairs TV and the other to the downstairs one. The tvLink is only used for the controlling of Sky, not the picture.

------------------
Craig @ Rewind - www.dvdcompare.org.uk
Home of the ORIGINAL and the most ACCURATE DVD Comparison Database.
"Providing comparisons you can trust since 1999"

Posted by: mrtickle

Basically TiVo expects to have full control of the Sky box 24/7. It uses it not just for the programmes you want to watch (which you set up with season passes etc) but for its own Suggestions too. It's not like a VCR, which you set to record things when you're out or things that you definitely don't want to miss. You set TiVo for every single programme you want to watch. You then watch the recordings whenever you like (which can also be whilst it's off recording the next thing).

You want to pull the rug from under its feet, ie watch the Sky output directly. But TiVo doesn't expect this. It will partly work, but TiVo may decide to change the channel in the middle of your and start recording something and pull the rug back! It is this complete change of paradigm that takes getting used to.

quote:

Yes. Once Sky has come out of the DVD player, it goes into a SCART splitter with one going to the upstairs TV and the other to the downstairs one. The tvLink is only used for the controlling of Sky, not the picture.

OK. So all you'll need to do is connect the TiVo between Sky and DVD as above, leave the splitter and wires going to upstairs as before, and stop using the Tvlink completely, and start using your One For All Remote Control Extender (to control the TiVo, not the Digibox).

TiVo doesn't give your Digibox two tuners and doesn't allow you to watch one thing in one room and another thing in another. If you had a VCR downstairs you may be able to watch a tape upstairs while the person downstairs watched Sky, or vice versa, but it'd be fiddly. With TiVo it's technically possible in the same way, but unfeasable (see the rug-pulling bit above), but not a problem. Get used to the new paradigm first, and see how it goes.

Posted by: craig@rewind

Why do I stop using the tvLink? Do I not control Sky anymore?

------------------
Craig @ Rewind - www.dvdcompare.org.uk
Home of the ORIGINAL and the most ACCURATE DVD Comparison Database.
"Providing comparisons you can trust since 1999"

Posted by: mrtickle

Correct.

Posted by: Iain Chapman

Ooo...Having ordered a TiVo in the last couple of days, I'd not appreicate this....

I realised that TiVo could 'decided' to make a recording but I hadn't considered the idea of it taking over.

For example, my son watches Nick Jr/Boomerang/Playhouse Disney in the mornings via the Sky TvLink. I don't really want to have to perhaps keep telling TiVo 'NO'...don't change that channel.

Am I not able to tell TiVo that it is to make no Suggestion Recordings during certain time periods, or similar?.

Iain

Posted by: dmchapman

quote:
Originally posted by Iain Chapman:

For example, my son watches Nick Jr/Boomerang/Playhouse Disney in the mornings via the Sky TvLink. I don't really want to have to perhaps keep telling TiVo 'NO'...don't change that channel.

Am I not able to tell TiVo that it is to make no Suggestion Recordings during certain time periods, or similar?.

Iain

No (at least, not as far as I have found yet - only had it a week).

I had this problem at the weekend. Mother-in-law was babysitting and the tivo kept turning over the sky box. :-)

You can tell it not to use suggestions but it is an on/off setting - nothing in between!

Darren

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