Registered: Sep 2003
Location:
Posts: 12

I realize this is a basic question. I want to sign up for the TIVO service. However, I don't know which PVR to get. My objectives are as follows:

1. to have a PVR that has a reasonably high # of hours of recording time at a high quality level....Perhaps 100 hours.

2. have connection to internet from PVR via home LAN to take advantage of HMO.

3. Keep the out of pocket outlay for equipment as low as possible.

I would appreciate any suggestions as to the various alternatives and their pros/cons to take. I have no experience with LINUX. However, I am comfortable taking apart computers, etc. For example, should I buy the cheapest PVR on ebay (any recommendations as to model) and buy my own disk drive? Are there features on the Series2 DVR that is recommended by TIVO that I couldn't get by "creating" my own?

Thanks for your help.

POST #1 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Marysville/Tulalip, Wa.
Posts: 215

Welcome!

Check out the Inside Series 2 pics at 9th Tee for an idea of what the innards are like. They also have a Forum Board(s) but I'm not sure exactly where.

As far as "reasonably high # of hours" I'm guessing that you're looking for around 105-140. If so, you might want to consider buying a "pre-modded" Series 2 D-Tivo such as the Hughes HDVR2 that weaKnees offers on this page - - http://www.weaknees.com/direct_tv_tivo.php .

AFAIK, all current Series 2 D-Tivos are made in the same Mexican factory so it just comes down to which faceplate & remote that you prefer: Hughes or Philips. There has been a rumour (OK, probably a fact) that Samsung will be releasing a Series 2 D-Tivo with a built-in DVD recorder just before Xmas so you might want to search for that both here & on Google.

I hope this helps in some way as I am in a similar "boat" as you - - I want to replace my Series 1 Sony T-60 with an S2 that has a reasonably high HD capacity but while I am not "afraid" of taking apart my box to do the actual hardware mod(s) I am more than a little uncomfortable about hacking into the OS, ŕ la TiVoNET or TurboNET.

Good luck and keep us posted on what you decide.

__________________
"When it's time to whack me, just tell me which corner to stand on so innocents don't catch a stray."

G. Gordon Liddy

Last edited by MyM3 on 09-08-2003 at 08:27 AM

POST #2 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Marysville/Tulalip, Wa.
Posts: 215

Forgot about the Hinsdale-How-To page for DIY'ers.

__________________
"When it's time to whack me, just tell me which corner to stand on so innocents don't catch a stray."

G. Gordon Liddy

POST #3 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Marysville/Tulalip, Wa.
Posts: 215

BTW, are you a new or existing DirecTV customer? If you're a (potentially) new customer then you might want to check out the Philips DSR7000D+DSX5500C Basic DTV Receiver at DigitalSat (aka OrbitSat) for $99.95.

__________________
"When it's time to whack me, just tell me which corner to stand on so innocents don't catch a stray."

G. Gordon Liddy

POST #4 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Marysville/Tulalip, Wa.
Posts: 215

quote:

---

Originally posted by MyM3
There has been a rumour (OK, probably a fact) that Samsung will be releasing a Series 2 D-Tivo with a built-in DVD recorder just before Xmas

---

My Bad! - - Samsung will be releasing a Series 2 DVR with built in 120 Gb/100 Hr hard drive sometime this month.

Now, where the heck did I read that rumour of a S2 DVR with a built-in DVD recorder? Probably my personal Wish List!

__________________
"When it's time to whack me, just tell me which corner to stand on so innocents don't catch a stray."

G. Gordon Liddy

Last edited by MyM3 on 09-08-2003 at 08:28 AM

POST #5 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2003
Location:
Posts: 12

Thanks for reply...I am a "prospective" customer who has cable not satellite. Would it be less expensive to get a series 1 and do all the upgrades (ie. turbonet, drive) vs. buyimg a new machine?

POST #6 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Marysville/Tulalip, Wa.
Posts: 215

Depends..

quote:

---

Originally posted by risktaker99
Thanks for reply...I am a "prospective" customer who has cable not satellite. Would it be less expensive to get a series 1 and do all the upgrades (ie. turbonet, drive) vs. buyimg a new machine?

---

__________________
"When it's time to whack me, just tell me which corner to stand on so innocents don't catch a stray."

G. Gordon Liddy

POST #7 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2003
Location:
Posts: 12

MyMy3:

I appreciate your response. However, I thought I was pretty clear that I need a tivo for CABLE. I repeat I need a tivo for CABLE. All of your suggestions pertained to cost effective solutions for satelite. Furthermore, I don't mind purchasing used equipment (i.e. Series 1) and upgrading/hacking it in order to get into the game if it is worth it. That is why I am asking the questions in this forum.

Thanks for your help.

POST #8 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Marysville/Tulalip, Wa.
Posts: 215

quote:

---

Originally posted by risktaker99
I realize this is a basic question. I want to sign up for the TIVO service. However, I don't know which PVR to get. My objectives are as follows:

1. to have a PVR that has a reasonably high # of hours of recording time at a high quality level....Perhaps 100 hours.

2. have connection to internet from PVR via home LAN to take advantage of HMO.

3. Keep the out of pocket outlay for equipment as low as possible.

I would appreciate any suggestions as to the various alternatives and their pros/cons to take. I have no experience with LINUX. However, I am comfortable taking apart computers, etc. For example, should I buy the cheapest PVR on ebay (any recommendations as to model) and buy my own disk drive? Are there features on the Series2 DVR that is recommended by TIVO that I couldn't get by "creating" my own?

Thanks for your help.

---

...nowhere in your initial post did you mention that you wanted a TiVo for cable only.

quote:

---

Originally posted by risktaker99
Thanks for reply...I am a "prospective" customer who has cable not satellite. Would it be less expensive to get a series 1 and do all the upgrades (ie. turbonet, drive) vs. buyimg a new machine?

---

In your reply to my suggestions you stated that you were a "prospective" customer and, IMO, did not really make it clear that you were uninterested in a DirecTV receiver with TiVo, hence my erroneous assumption. My apologies.

The TiVo Help Center would probably be the most appropriate forum for you to begin asking questions about which DVR/PVR to get, and once you have purchased a TiVo please post back in the Underground to ask about modding it.

And don't forget to try a next time.

__________________
"When it's time to whack me, just tell me which corner to stand on so innocents don't catch a stray."

G. Gordon Liddy

POST #9 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Marysville/Tulalip, Wa.
Posts: 215

At the top of that forum there are a few "sticky" posts and, for your convenience, I am going to quote directly from the thread entitled:

Replacing Hard Disks and Modems / Posting About Problems with Your Upgraded TiVo

"The TiVo website contains a link to this Help Center. It should be considered a safe haven for people who are new to TiVo. People new to TiVo please note that opening your TiVo voids your warranty. Neither Philips, Sony, nor TiVo will repair a TiVo that they know has been opened, and there is a security sticker on the back of the TiVo to detect this. This is one of the reasons why information on upgrading TiVos is kept in a different part of the TiVo Community.

"Please do not post questions or information in the Help Center about replacing hard disks, obtaining drive images, replacing modems, installing Ethernet boards, or any other hack or upgrade to the stock TiVo box. If it involves opening your TiVo, communications between your computer and your TiVo, or backdoor codes, your topic belongs in the Upgrade Center or TiVo Underground.

"Also, please do not post in the Help Center seeking assistance with an upgraded or hacked TiVo if there is any reasonable possibility the problem is with the components used in the upgrade or possibly caused by the upgrade itself. For example, if you've replaced your hard disks, please do not post about drive failures here. Those topics also belong in the Upgrade Center.

"The Help Center is designed for assistance in how to use your TiVo and for diagnosing problems that occur on unmodified TiVos. The Upgrade Center is for help with your upgraded TiVo or with upgrading your TiVo. The TiVo Underground is for information about or problems with TiVo hacks. Posting about problems with upgraded or hacked TiVos here can create an incorrect impression that non-upgraded and non-hacked TiVos experience those problems or that the upgrades or hacks are needed for the TiVo to be useful.

"Regrettably, even after posting this notice, many, many topics are being opened in the Help Center that do not belong there. A moderator has to spend time moving those topics. Normally, after moving a topic, the moderator would send a PM to the person who started the topic. Unfortunately, there is such a high volume of misplaced topics, continuing to tell people that there topic has been moved simply isn't practical. Therefore, any future topics that don't belong here will be moved without notice.

"Thanks for your cooperation and understanding.

/jab"

I truly hope that you will take the time to read & fully comprehend everything that JAB has written in the above post.

Again, welcome to the wonderful world of TiVo - - even if you are using cable!!

__________________
"When it's time to whack me, just tell me which corner to stand on so innocents don't catch a stray."

G. Gordon Liddy

Last edited by MyM3 on 09-10-2003 at 03:19 AM

POST #10 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Marysville/Tulalip, Wa.
Posts: 215

TiVo forum FAQ page

__________________
"When it's time to whack me, just tell me which corner to stand on so innocents don't catch a stray."

G. Gordon Liddy

POST #11 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Marysville/Tulalip, Wa.
Posts: 215

FYI, the TiVo Home Media Option will require a Series 2 DVR. You might be able to hack an S1 DVR via TurboNET but I would strongly suggest that you ask the folks at 9th Tee, just to be sure.

Which models are enabled for HMO?

Get Ready for Home Media Option (shows how to determine your home network, just in case you have not seen this).

__________________
"When it's time to whack me, just tell me which corner to stand on so innocents don't catch a stray."

G. Gordon Liddy

POST #12 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged