TiVo Community Forums Archives - Public Thank You to Zirak

TiVoCommunity.com
(c)opyright 1995-2005 All rights reserved
indexcheckTC
This area is a static history of posts in the TiVo Community Forum Archive.
This archive history was made for the simple indexing of search sites like Google.

Pages:1

Public Thank You to Zirak
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: Ego

I know this is really something that should be sent directly to Zirak privately, but I wanted to post a public "THANK YOU!" for the TiVoWeb module he created for remapping channels on the TiVo. My reasoning for needing this module is NOT illegal, so I feel comfortable talking about it on the forum.

I subscribe to showtime and HBO, and I get regular analog cable. This if course requires me to use a tuner box for the premium channels. I have two TiVos however, and while I DID try to use the IR blasters to control the cable boxes, it took about 20 minutes before I realized a better solution was in order. So, I had my two cable boxes, I bought two channel modulators, an amplifier, tuned one cable box to channel 70, and one to channel 75. These were the real channel numbers of showtime and HBO where I used to live, so I just modulated those two into the amplified cable signal, fed it all back to the "whole house" distribution panel, and all TiVos and non-tivo equipped TVs had access to showtime and HBO without the need for a tuner box.

...and then I moved. Now, Showtime was on channel 24, and HBO was on channel 30 at my new place. This posed a problem, because as most of you know, you can only modulate a cable channel above I believe 70 (somewhere around there, maybe 65, can't remember). So, needless to say, I had to leave the modulators hooked up the way they were (channel 70 and 75), and setup manual recordings for the shows I wanted off showtime and hbo. Now, this worked fine, except for those times when Showtime and HBO decided to change the time of day that the shows aired (for the record, the shows in question were Stargate SG-1 (not on showtime anymore), Jeremiah, and the Sopranos. This solution also limited my abilities to record other shows without setting up a bunch of manual recordings. It also didn't let my wishlists and such record stuff from those two channels, since the guide listing was still on channels 24 and 30.

So finally, I found out about Zirak's TiVoWeb module for remapping channels. I installed it, and 5 minutes later, suddenly Showtime is mapped to channel 70, and HBO is mapped to channel 75, and I can again re-enable my old season passes and nuke those pesky manual recordings. PLUS, I can let my wishlists record stuff from these channels now, so that I can actually get my money's worth on the premium channels I paid for.

I know this is long and drawn out, but I wanted to give a legitimate example of needing this module, without being illegal (stolen/illegal cable boxes, etc). For the record, yes, I pay for my premium channels, and yes, I pay rental to the cable company for TWO cable boxes. Some people would look at this and start laughing, and think to themselves "geez, go get a couple of hot boxes and save yourself a ton of cash", but I'd rather do things legally.

So Zirak, THANK YOU! You've made my day with this tivoweb module!

-Chris

Posted by: tsawyer

And a thanks for the Tivo Control Station too! Very cool stuff.

Posted by: Ego

I TOTALLY agree on that one too. I just installed that piece of software on my two standalones last night. AMAZING stuff! I haven't even really explored the possibilities, but what comes setup by "default" with the control center is VERY cool, I can't wait to get in there and start modifying the configs.

Posted by: Zirak

Thank you for your kind words, and you are quite welcome.

There are many people that contribute to the tivo hacking community, and the larger tivo community as a whole; I should not be singled out. You do not have to be a developer to make a very significant contribution. Many people help in many different ways, including, but not limited to building how-to-s for a variety of things, collecting and assimilating information onto websites, being patient and helping newbies upgrade their tivos, and, yes, development too.

I would bet that there are several people in the community who would love to wire their home cable systems the way you have, and would love to see a detailed how-to. If you choose to write one, think in terms of someone that didn't even know that such a thing was possible, much less what an amplifier or modulator does. What parts are needed, where to get them, how much they cost, don't put your tongue on the charged capacitor, etc.

Welcome to the community!