TiVo Community Forum Archive 1 (http://archive.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/index.php)
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-- Connection Question (http://archive.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=79207)

Connection Question

Can I connect 2 directv receivers to one tivo? I like to tape one program while watching another. I just bought a new 80 hrs series 2. Your help is appreciated.

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"...And The Masses Are Easily Amused..."

Nope. But you can connect one to the TiVo, and the other directly to the TV. That way you can watch one live, while the TiVo is recording from the other. However you'll need to cover the IR receiver window on the one the TiVo is using other wise using the remote to change the channel on the live one will also change the channel on the TiVo one.

If you're using the serial cable to allow the TiVo to control it then simply covering the whole IR window with black electrical tape should do the trick. If you're using IR then you'll need to build a good fort.

Dan

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Moderator: TiVo Coffee House, Help Center, HD Powered PVRs, Home Media Option & Happy Hour
4 TiVo branded Series 2 units
1 Pioneer 810H Series 2 unit
All with Lifetime
Note: Two of the above TiVos actually belong to loopey, but I have access to them so I'm counting them

"It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye" - loopey
"Dan's absolutely correct." - TiVoPony (link)
"Dan's absolutely correct." - TiVoOpsMgr (link)

No but for DirecTV you should consider a DirecTiVo - two DirecTV tuners and the TiVo integrated into one tidy box. That one will let you do what you want. (Except the "tape" part - TiVos don't use tape )

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Dave Hicks
(Now only 31 years until I'm allowed to be opinionated!)

should I return my series 2 and wait for a directivo?

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"...And The Masses Are Easily Amused..."

If your only source is DirecTV then yes. However if you also use cable or OTA then you need the standalone unit, because the DirecTiVo units can only record from DirecTV.

Dan

__________________
Moderator: TiVo Coffee House, Help Center, HD Powered PVRs, Home Media Option & Happy Hour
4 TiVo branded Series 2 units
1 Pioneer 810H Series 2 unit
All with Lifetime
Note: Two of the above TiVos actually belong to loopey, but I have access to them so I'm counting them

"It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye" - loopey
"Dan's absolutely correct." - TiVoPony (link)
"Dan's absolutely correct." - TiVoOpsMgr (link)

I have the same problem- TiVo Series 2 has only a single tuner.

My solution will be to purchase another DirecTv receiver, and a switch to allow input selection to the TV. For example:

Receiver #1 >>> Tivo2 >>> Switch
Receiver #2 >>>>>>>>>>> Switch

Switch has multiple input, one output to TV (in my case, all S-Video).

I've seen these switches available at Radio Shack for around $49, I think (pretty pricey for what it does). 4 inputs, 1 output. This will also handle my S-Video output from DVD to TV. (My Dolby/5.1 receiver doesn't have enough S-Video ports on the back to solve this one for me).

An alternative I'm also considering is to just buy S-Video cables and a female/female S-Video connector, and making the switch by plugging/unplugging cables each time. Cumbersome, but cheaper.

You can get a manual S-Video switch at Wal-Mart for about $20. Look in the video game accessories department.

Dan

__________________
Moderator: TiVo Coffee House, Help Center, HD Powered PVRs, Home Media Option & Happy Hour
4 TiVo branded Series 2 units
1 Pioneer 810H Series 2 unit
All with Lifetime
Note: Two of the above TiVos actually belong to loopey, but I have access to them so I'm counting them

"It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye" - loopey
"Dan's absolutely correct." - TiVoPony (link)
"Dan's absolutely correct." - TiVoOpsMgr (link)