TiVo Community Forums Archives - modem problem -> best course of action?

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modem problem -> best course of action?
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Posted by: conehead

I've been a Tivo user since January 2000, when I bought an HDR112 and lifetime service. In November 2000, I hacked it by adding a 60GB hard drive.

Just recently, I got a message saying that I only had 7 days of guide information. Puzzled, I went into setup and discovered that I was getting "failed to connect" errors. Basic troubleshooting didn't help: I tried making test calls, checking the phone line, and switching phone numbers. I'm now convinced that my modem has gone bad. It's not even able to dial in to download a new list of phone numbers. Plus, it was working just fine a week ago, and nothing has changed about my TiVo or my phone line. Plus, modem reliability seems to have been an issue for others. There was a storm a little while ago, maybe a power spike killed the modem.

So now I have to decide what to do about it.

I doubt that I can get anybody to service my hacked TiVo. Even the TiVo help forum states that they won't assist in cases of modified TiVos.

I could try to restore my TiVo to its non-hacked state first, but I'm leary of that as well. My backup would take me back to an old version of TiVo, and it wouldn't be able to upgrade because of the bad modem. Additionally, all it would take would be one bad bit on my backup CD's to hose me permanently.

If I didn't have lifetime service, I might consider just buying new hardware. But since the subscription won't transfer, I'm not too keen about doing that.

Does anybody know if it's possible to user service the modem? I'm geeky enough to be comfortable dropping in a new modem, but I'd need to know what modem to get and whether I would have to monkey with the TiVo modem drivers.

As disappointing as this is, I'm not disappointed in my TiVo. It's past warranty, it was bleeding edge hardware when I bought it, I more than broke even on lifetime service, and TiVo has revolutionized the way I watch TV. I just have to find a way to fix this thing before it runs out of data!!!

David

Posted by: Gai-jin

Do you have 3.0 yet?

I believe I've read something in the underground about hooking up an external modem with a new dial out code... perhaps they could help?

Steve

Posted by: richNYC

1. check out this thread:
dead modem thread

2. Call TiVo tech support - unlikely to help, but worth a shot.

3. search for electriclegs. he was in the business of fixing dead modems.

i'm no expert, but i don't think it's as easy as buying a new modem off the shelf and popping it in.

good luck...

Posted by: phone1

http://www.9thtee.com/ You can buy a kit or send it to them.

Posted by: conehead

Thanks for all of the quick responses. I've checked out the 9th tee page and also fired off an email to ElectricLegs. Time to see if I can find my ohmmeter.

David

Posted by: nineatesix

Find a phone with a mute button. Force a daily call. Pick up when the light goes amber on the TiVo and make sure the phone is muted. Does your TiVo pick up the line? Dial?

Posted by: MighTiVo

add enet and use broadband if possible

Posted by: Alcatraz

quote:
Originally posted by nineatesix
Find a phone with a mute button. Force a daily call. Pick up when the light goes amber on the TiVo and make sure the phone is muted. Does your TiVo pick up the line? Dial?

Before you try to listen in on that phone call, make sure to turn "off" both detections. Otherwise, it won't even try to dial out.