Calling all DirecTV Tivos

[Fern Modena]

I have an old Phillips DirecTV Tivo. I got it when they were selling them for $15. Remember that?

My Tivo isn't generally attached to a telephone line. It still downloads the program guide about 2:30 AM just fine. But it gives me a nasty message every day about it. So once in a while I decide to string phone wire all the way across the room and fix it. This time I waited 525 days And when I started, I remembered why. It took me almost a dozen times to find a number that would make a good connection. Once I did, it took an hour to download everything it needed. Then I remembered that I wasn't done, I had to force a restart to actually install it. I did, and it took another hour.

But now its done. I can breathe easily for another year and a half or so (this is only the second time I've ever done this).

Don't believe anybody who tells you it has to be connected all the time.

Oh, I forgot. I lost my "skippy" ability, which is a hack. But by now I remember it, and was able to reprogram it with no problem. I can't live without that thirty second skip button.

Fern

 

[Corman]

30 secound skip

30 secound skip isn't a hack. Its an option you enable using the remote.

 

[Fern Modena]

You're mistaken. On some newer machines it is a feature. On my older Phillips it is a hack. I have to program it in every time I get a software update, or it doesn't work.

Fern

30 secound skip isn't a hack. Its an option you enable using the remote.

 

[dioxide45]

You're mistaken. On some newer machines it is a feature. On my older Phillips it is a hack. I have to program it in every time I get a software update, or it doesn't work.

Fern

A hack is something that would require you to go directly in to the code of the software or hardware and make a change yourself. You program the software to utilize the 30 second skip using a code on the remote control. The 30 second skip is built in to the software, you don't actually edit the software code, entering the code on the remote control just activates the feature. So it is technically not a hack.

I also have two DirecTivo boxes (second generation). After the last software updated the box restarts a lot, so entering the code on the remote control doesn't last long. We finally gave up and just use regular fast forward. We are liking the ability to schedule recordings online. This will come in handy while on vacation.

 

[Icarus]

Fern,

It's really more of an undocumented feature.

All TiVos accept that code (S-P-S-3-0-S), only they finally made the 30 second skip feature stick across power resets in later versions of the non direct-tivo software.

-David

 

[Fern Modena]

I realized that it actually was an " undocumented feature" after my second response. S-P-S-3-0-S is indeed how I set it. I guess I must run old, old software (which works fine for me) cause it falls out every time I connect to update. I don't know what version of the software I am using (I could look, I know), cause it works, so I don't care. I *do* have folders, so I did update somewhat from what it came with.

Fern

Fern,

It's really more of an undocumented feature.

All TiVos accept that code (S-P-S-3-0-S), only they finally made the 30 second skip feature stick across power resets in later versions of the non direct-tivo software.

-David

 

[Icarus]

I don't remember which version made it stick, but I doubt if you'll get that version on the DirecTivo. (Same as with my old S1 standalones, which I eventually retired, but you don't really have that option with the D Tivo.)

-David

 

[Blondie]

My tivo kept calling in during the day and screwing up my phone calls, so I connected the two tivos I have via computer cable. It was so simple it was laughable! I love it now.

 

[Icarus]

My tivo kept calling in during the day and screwing up my phone calls, so I connected the two tivos I have via computer cable. It was so simple it was laughable! I love it now.

That's true for all current TiVos, but not for the original S1 or DirecTiVo. They didn't come with built-in network ports or USB ports that could accept a network adapter. Still, for the S1, you could add a network card if you wanted to open the box and hack the software, but it wasn't laughably easy.

With all models, if you pick up the phone when TiVo is using it, it will disconnect the call. It also checks if the phone line is in use before attempting to make a call. Certainly, connecting it over the network is the better method, but I don't see why it was screwing up your phone calls.

-David

 

[Art4th]

But now its done. I can breathe easily for another year and a half or so (this is only the second time I've ever done this).
Don't believe anybody who tells you it has to be connected all the time.
Fern

Fern,
I have CATV and not DirectTV, but how can you download a year-and-a-half of programming? I only get two weeks at a time. The shows that will be on next year haven't even been created yet. What am I missing?

Art

 

[Fern Modena]

Art,
The programming guide comes as a download from the dish, not from the the phone. The guide updates itself every morning (or every few, I'm not sure) about 2:30 AM. All I get by connecting to the phone line is software updates.

I don't know if your system works the same or not.

Fern

 

[Art4th]

OK...that makes sense. Mine is always connected to my wireless network so all the programming and software updates come once a day.

 

[dioxide45]

Art,
The programming guide comes as a download from the dish, not from the the phone. The guide updates itself every morning (or every few, I'm not sure) about 2:30 AM. All I get by connecting to the phone line is software updates.

I don't know if your system works the same or not.

Fern

I think a lot of the software updates come down via the dish now. Though they may need to call to initiate it.