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Dead TiVo - Repair or Upgrade??
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Posted by: KenDude

I wasn't sure which forum was the most appropriate for this so I chose two based on other messages I read. Apologies in advance for duplication. Question 5 below is most applicable here.

About 2 weeks ago I received a message that my TiVo unit was running hot so it was shutting down to avoid overheating. Unplugging the power and plugging it back in a few minutes later and the problem went away.

Yesterday morning I came down to see a message on the screen to call Directv extension 711 to set up service. I called them and they tried to push a signal through and I would get video and no sound, sound and no video, video and sound and then nothing repeatedly.

(Using a Philips Directv-Tivo unit) I have a separate Hughes Directv unit elsewhere in the house that showed that the satellite signal was just fine.

We unplugged and plugged in the system and it came up and tried to acquire the satellite signal and after several minutes said that it could only get part of the signal and did I want to retry. We did a retry and got the same thing. So we unplugged and plugged it back in and this time it said "Insert Access Card".

So we reinserted the access card, unplugged and plugged in the system and it came up working. I let the person on the phone go. About 20 minutes later there was a message on the screen that the unit was running to hot, check the vents etc. This unit is a very open and well ventilated place and our heat is set at 62 to save on gas bill prices. So it shouldn't be running hot!

Unplugged the unit and let it sit for an hour during dinner, plugged it back in afterwards. It came up working, but about 20-30 minutes later it rebooted itself as if I had unplugged and plugged it in. It came up working, but only for about 2 minutes when the picture on the screen froze and it didn't respond to anything from the remote or the front panel.

I've unplugged the unit entirely and have it sitting here next to my manuals and am going to call Philips when they open up in a couple of hours.

Here are a couple of questions I have:

1) Does it sound defective or have I described some well known problem?
2) My unit was purchased in October 2000, so it is out of warranty. I understand if I purchase a different unit I lose my lifetime TiVo subscription, so I should get mine repaired. Is that still correct?
3) What are the repairs likely to cost?
4) Should I send to Philips for repair or someplace else?
5) If my unit is already out of warranty, can one of those places that upgrade to larger drives both fix and upgrade my unit?

Thanks!
Ken

Posted by: Reinman

The behavior you described sounds to me like a heating problem or damage resulting from a heating problem. Take the cover completely off and look to see if the fan is turning. If you are lucky your unit may not have permanent damage yet, and simply have a broken fan. You can replace that yourself.

If it is turning, then you have other problems that I would turn to Philips for help. If you don't want to lose your lifetime subscription, you better send it to Philips. You might call them and get an estimate first.

Hopefully some others will respond with more insight.......

Posted by: KenDude

Reinman,
Thanks, in fact it was the fan and I replaced it today with another from a local PC parts supply store, it now runs at 33C - 34C which TiVo says is "Normal" and so far has been running the last 30 minutes without issue. Let's hope it stays that way!

Thanks,
Ken :)