Advice On TiVo?

[jyl]

We have a series 2 80-hour TiVo, about 3 years old. About 1.5 year ago, the original drive failed so I sent it to www.weaknees.com and had two 160GB drives installed for appx 300 hours recording time, plus the cooling kit. Now the TiVo is hung up on the "Powering Up . . ." screen and I believe the problem is, once again, a hard drive failure.

Arrgh. Does anyone think hard drives now seem to fail more often than they used to?

We use Comcast digital cable, by the way.

What is my best option? I know I could simply buy a drive replacement kit from weaknees.com and install the new drives in the current TiVo. I see they offer up to 750GB drives now. However, I'm wondering if there is a newer, better option than repairing my old TiVo. I see TiVO now offers a series 3 dual-tuner HD TiVo, but it seems expensive ($750), the service is $5/month more, and I don't have a HD TV anyway. I heard Comcast might have an own-branded DVR, but don't know how well they work. I also gather I might be able to take an old PC, install a big drive or two, and create a DVR, but I don't know how easy and well that works.

The goal is basically to get the functionality of my old TiVo, preferably with more recording time, with the same ease-of-use. Being able to record two digital cable programs at once would be nice but is not a must-have. Retrieving our recorded programs would be nice too, but not a must-have.

Ideas? I'm sure some of you are pretty current on the state of affairs in the DVR world.

[Joeaksa]

John,

If there is a better option, pls let us know! I am addicted to my Tivo and even watch it on the road through SlingBox.

I did the same thing you did with Weaknees and love it but did not do the extra cooling kit. Been 9 months now and no hassles but one never knows!

[nostatic]

other dvrs pale in comparison with tivo. stick with tivo if you can.

the hd option is pricey. it'll come down, but not for awhile...

[campbellcj]

When my first DirecTiVo box died, I bought a similar but upgraded/networked one on ebay for $1xx. This is a can't-live-without technology for us. With the hacked box, I can rip shows to mpg's and watch them on my laptop on the airplane, or wherever.

My vote would be to either swap out the drive(s) if you're comfortable doing that kind of work, or hunt around for an affordable non-HD replacement TiVo box if you don't want to deal with the busted one.

[stomachmonkey]

"I also gather I might be able to take an old PC, install a big drive or two, and create a DVR, but I don't know how easy and well that works."

Myth TV. mythtv.org
Read, learn, rejoice.

Turnkey Myth boxes are being sold for $1,000+

Build your own in an afternoon for a lot less and "stick it to the man".

[450knotOffice]

I've had Tivo for a couple of years now and love it, but my first Tivo box failed suddenly about nine months ago, so DirecTV sent me a rebuilt one. Well, pretty much from the get-go the box hasn't worked quite right - occasionally locking up and requiring an unplug and reboot and often pixilating. Lately, it's gotten so bad that the box locks up every day now. Maddening.

I think I might be in the market for a NEW box this time, as opposed to a rebuilt one.

[Joeaksa]

Scott,

Call them back. I had one that did that and they replaced it for free, starting the warranty from day one with the replacement.

Chris,

Can you pls tell us a bit more about the hacked box? I have an extra "new in the box" Tivo 40 hour unit that has never been started. Found it on CL for $60 and bought it for spares and never needed it. Can this unit be hacked?

Joe

[Jims5543]

I have a Humax Tivo Series 2. It also has a built in DVD recorder to transfer whatever, onto a DVD.

That in itself makes my unit priceless. I think I paid about $400 for it 3 years ago. I burn DVD's of all the F1 races to watch either at my brothers house or on the main TV in my house. The Tivo is hooked up to a smaller TV in my bedroom.

You might want to ditch that unit and go for one like I have, 3 years problem free.

[Joeaksa]

Jim,

I have my Tivo connected to my home network.

That way it does not update through the telephone line but over the internet. Easy to set up if you have WiFi at home and the adapter cost $40 or so. You can also hard wire the Tivo unit if you are close to your hub/switch.

It also allows me to transfer programs to my main computer (doing a transfer right now) of all programs. Save them on my hard drive and as well burn CD's to take elsewhere. Very nice feature.

[TerryH]

Tivo still reins supreme compared to everything else, but you may want to see what Comcast is offering in a DVR to hold you over until HD arrives at your house.


For Directivo, all programming updates and hardware updates arrive via the dish. Phone lines are not required and are only used for ordering pay-per-view.

[Jims5543]

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Jim,

I have my Tivo connected to my home network.

That way it does not update through the telephone line but over the internet. Easy to set up if you have WiFi at home and the adapter cost $40 or so. You can also hard wire the Tivo unit if you are close to your hub/switch.

It also allows me to transfer programs to my main computer (doing a transfer right now) of all programs. Save them on my hard drive and as well burn CD's to take elsewhere. Very nice feature.

I have a USB wifi adapter on my TIvo and it updates over the Internet as well.

You setup sounds much better though. I just like the simplicity of mine. I pop in a DVD, select the program I want on it and it burns it in about 5 minutes. Done.

[jyl]

Is the transfer from Humax TiVo to DVD a fire-and-forget, i.e. don't have to be there to stop the recording when program done?