AV input recording on Tivo boxes?
 

I'm starting to research DVRs, and I've been reading this group trying to
understand how these boxes work. Based on what I've seen discussed here, the
Tivo series 2 boxes don't allow you to easily record from external devices;
that is, they don't directly support AV input recording without hacking or
tricking the software. Is this correct, and if yes, why would Tivo want to
lock you into using your box only for broadcast television?

At this moment, I'm recording the Giro d'italia bike race from cycling.tv
externally on a VCR. I could use capture software to record it to my hard
drive and burn it to a DVD later of course, (but it's just easier this way
because I'll share the tape with my cousin). But -- ideally I'd like to be
able to record a variety of things, from the net and elsewhere, to a
standalone DVR, do some simple editing, and then record to DVD the segments
worth keeping. I'm sure there are business reasons why Tivo doesn't want
people to record non-broadcast things on "their" box, but I'd appreciate
hearing other's views on this, and of course, if there's a straightforward,
reliable way to accomplish this on a series 2 Tivo box.

thanks, Tony

AV input recording on Tivo boxes?
 

Tony,

You probably should look at something other than a TIVO. I use TIVO
solely for the purpose that I believe it was intended. It allows me to
watch
my favorite TV programs on my schedule. When I set up a Season Pass,
it will follow the program wherever it might appear, with one exception.
There might be others, but the network broadcasting "Enterprise" decided
to change the name to "Star Trek: Enterprise" and that confused TIVO.

However, Season Passes are tremendously easy to set up so it took
about a minute to rectify the problem.

If you want to download programs from the Internet, or hack them
off of DVD's or VCR's you might want to look at "MythTV" or
Microsofts Media Center.

Larry Hazel

AV input recording on Tivo boxes?
 

I've done this without any problem with the Humax DRT-400 & -800 units. The
reason TiVo would want to restrict this is so they don't get their butts
sued off by the digital rights cops. I never had a problem copying anything
unless it was encoded with Macrovision (i.e. recording your own stuff and
P.D. stuff is fine by them... Anything else would require a copyguard
breaker in line).

"Tony" wrote in news:[email protected]:

I'm starting to research DVRs, and I've been reading this group trying
to understand how these boxes work. Based on what I've seen discussed
here, the Tivo series 2 boxes don't allow you to easily record from
external devices; that is, they don't directly support AV input
recording without hacking or tricking the software. Is this correct,
and if yes, why would Tivo want to lock you into using your box only
for broadcast television?

----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

AV input recording on Tivo boxes?
 

In article [email protected], says...
I'm starting to research DVRs, and I've been reading this group trying to
understand how these boxes work. Based on what I've seen discussed here, the
Tivo series 2 boxes don't allow you to easily record from external devices;
that is, they don't directly support AV input recording without hacking or
tricking the software. Is this correct, and if yes, why would Tivo want to
lock you into using your box only for broadcast television?

No "hacking" involved. All you've got to do is tell Tivo that you've got
"something" connected to AV so it can put at least one channel up for
you to select to record. Pick a channel from that "device" and do a
manual (channel x - 2pm - 2 hours) recording. Customize the "channels I
receive" list if you only want to "see" one channel such as 101. The
recorded title will show whatever is in the guide for that chan/time.

I guess that *would* be considered "tricking" the software--Tivo really
should allow you to configure AV as "other single source device" and
allow you to select it for both viewing and manual recording--but it's a
fairly simple--and reliable--"trick". I suppose it does lengthen the
download call if you're using dialup.

I'm assuming you can still select channel 0 (ch 1 for svideo--or is that
backwards?) to *view* the AV source but cannot select it to record--they
may have changed that since I last heard. Anyone know?
--
Jud
Dallas TX USA

AV input recording on Tivo boxes?
 

"Homer L. Hazel" wrote in message
news:[email protected]
Tony,

You probably should look at something other than a TIVO. I use TIVO
solely for the purpose that I believe it was intended. It allows me to
watch
my favorite TV programs on my schedule. When I set up a Season Pass,
it will follow the program wherever it might appear, with one exception.
There might be others, but the network broadcasting "Enterprise" decided
to change the name to "Star Trek: Enterprise" and that confused TIVO.

I've heard of other people having similar problems with some direct tv
broadcasts. I wouldn't mind having the broadcast features, but I know for a
fact they aren't working for the most important broadcast for me at this
point -- the weekend bike racing on OLN. In the rec.bicycles.racing group
numberous people have reported tivo problems trying to record weekend Giro
episodes. Without a manual override, some of them have had to resort to a
2nd tivo box (they happend to have) to record the broadcast.

However, Season Passes are tremendously easy to set up so it took
about a minute to rectify the problem.

If you want to download programs from the Internet, or hack them
off of DVD's or VCR's you might want to look at "MythTV" or
Microsofts Media Center.

I understand that tivo is broadcast recording box, but I fail to understand
why they don't include simple software to allow other AV inputs --
especially since some (most?) of the hardware boxes tivo comes on have such
inputs. Programming-wise this would be easy. It must be business agreements
that keep them from openning the box to external inputs - a shame IMO.

Of course I could set up a PC as a DVR, though I'd prefer a stand-alone unit
that doesn't cost $800 (like the one panasonic DVR unit currently available
that I've seen that has flexiblity). Apparently many good (non-subscription)
DVR boxes used to have basic recording features and AV inputs, but are no
longer on the market. (I gather this from reading this group).

-Tony

Larry Hazel

AV input recording on Tivo boxes?
 

"Jud Hardcastle" wrote in message
bal.net...
In article [email protected], says...
I'm starting to research DVRs, and I've been reading this group trying
to
understand how these boxes work. Based on what I've seen discussed here,
the
Tivo series 2 boxes don't allow you to easily record from external
devices;
that is, they don't directly support AV input recording without hacking
or
tricking the software. Is this correct, and if yes, why would Tivo want
to
lock you into using your box only for broadcast television?

No "hacking" involved. All you've got to do is tell Tivo that you've got
"something" connected to AV so it can put at least one channel up for
you to select to record. Pick a channel from that "device" and do a
manual (channel x - 2pm - 2 hours) recording. Customize the "channels I
receive" list if you only want to "see" one channel such as 101. The
recorded title will show whatever is in the guide for that chan/time.

This assumes you connect a RF that outputs as a certain channel, right?
(such as channel 3 from a VCR output). The output from my computer is
s-video, so I connect it to the VCR currently using a converter cable and
normal phono jacks for audio. This means the device recording has to be able
to record on "video in", not on a channel. A work-around would be to pipe it
through a VCR first to convert it to channel 3, but I find that option
distasteful. Also, how long would it take to switch to a new "device" to
record my feed, and then, secondly, to switch back to the normal cable input
"device" afterwards?

I guess that *would* be considered "tricking" the software--Tivo really
should allow you to configure AV as "other single source device" and
allow you to select it for both viewing and manual recording--but it's a
fairly simple--and reliable--"trick". I suppose it does lengthen the
download call if you're using dialup.

It should, but perhaps as another poster said it's from fear of lawsuits by
the content companies.

I'm assuming you can still select channel 0 (ch 1 for svideo--or is that
backwards?) to *view* the AV source but cannot select it to record--they
may have changed that since I last heard. Anyone know?

Thanks for the info.

-Tony

Jud
Dallas TX USA

AV input recording on Tivo boxes?
 

In article [email protected], says...

No "hacking" involved. All you've got to do is tell Tivo that you've got
"something" connected to AV so it can put at least one channel up for
you to select to record. Pick a channel from that "device" and do a
manual (channel x - 2pm - 2 hours) recording. Customize the "channels I
receive" list if you only want to "see" one channel such as 101. The
recorded title will show whatever is in the guide for that chan/time.

This assumes you connect a RF that outputs as a certain channel, right?
(such as channel 3 from a VCR output). The output from my computer is
s-video, so I connect it to the VCR currently using a converter cable and
normal phono jacks for audio. This means the device recording has to be able
to record on "video in", not on a channel. A work-around would be to pipe it
through a VCR first to convert it to channel 3, but I find that option
distasteful. Also, how long would it take to switch to a new "device" to
record my feed, and then, secondly, to switch back to the normal cable input
"device" afterwards?

To elaborate on ebook's answer, the above method does not use RF input--
it uses composite or s-video input. When you configure the standalone
Tivo to use either a cable box or a satelite receiver Tivo adds the
channels that box uses. It downloads the guide info for those channels
and allows you to select them for viewing or recording. For example,
telling Tivo you have a DishNetwork receiver and later selecting channel
101 would cause Tivo to switch to the AV inputs (composite or s-video),
use the IR blaster to change the sat receiver to channel 101, and start
recording if needed. Tivo wouldn't KNOW you didn't have a satelite
receiver connected--it would still switch to the AV inputs, still issue
the IR commands (not knowing nothing was there to see them) and still
start and stop recording as instructed. There is a "channels I receive"
screen where you uncheck the channels your subscription doesn't carry--
you could use that to uncheck ALL but one channel. You'd want to use
manual recording by channel and time rather than use the guide
information otherwise Tivo is going to start and stop the recording
according to the show in the guide--which would have nothing to do with
what you were actually recording.

You could also make this work if you actually HAVE a real cable or sat
box. It's been awhile since I ran thru guided setup--you may be able to
put the cable box on svideo and another device on composite and tell
Tivo it's the satelite box (or reverse) but that wouldn't handle audio
anyway (and it would increase the download time). An AV/s-video A/B
switch with the real box on one input and the other device on the other
input would work great though. You would then select any of the real
boxes channels to cause Tivo to select AV--the box really would change
to that channel due to the IR blast but you wouldn't care since the A/B
switch would be feeding the other input. Hmm--I'd probably still set up
a channel you didn't normally use so you could distinguish those
recordings from real channel ones.

Hope this clears the confusion.

That said--just noticed something you said. "I'd like to be
able to record a variety of things, from the net and elsewhere, to a
standalone DVR, do some simple editing, and then record to DVD the
segments worth keeping". Simple editing WHERE--there isn't any
"editing" functions in Tivo--you basically have stop, play, multiple
speed fast forward and review, repeat last few seconds, and skip ahead a
few. There are no functions that permanently alter the show on Tivo.
Plus with each analog transfer you're going to loose quality. You may be
better off capturing/editing/combining the shows you want on a pc and
THEN either burning a DVD or uploading to Tivo. By the way, with Tivo-
To-Go and a network attached Tivo, you don't have to get the pc video to
the Tivo via the recording route at all--you can use TTG to directly
transfer the completed file to Tivo via the network (there are some
format requirements to be met). It goes the other direction too of
course--transferring a show to the pc for watching, archiving, or
burning to DVD.
--
Jud
Dallas TX USA

AV input recording on Tivo boxes?
 

Tony wrote:
I'm starting to research DVRs, and I've been reading this group trying to
understand how these boxes work. Based on what I've seen discussed here, the
Tivo series 2 boxes don't allow you to easily record from external devices;
that is, they don't directly support AV input recording without hacking or
tricking the software. Is this correct, and if yes, why would Tivo want to
lock you into using your box only for broadcast television?

At this moment, I'm recording the Giro d'italia bike race from cycling.tv
externally on a VCR. I could use capture software to record it to my hard
drive and burn it to a DVD later of course, (but it's just easier this way
because I'll share the tape with my cousin). But -- ideally I'd like to be
able to record a variety of things, from the net and elsewhere, to a
standalone DVR, do some simple editing, and then record to DVD the segments
worth keeping. I'm sure there are business reasons why Tivo doesn't want
people to record non-broadcast things on "their" box, but I'd appreciate
hearing other's views on this, and of course, if there's a straightforward,
reliable way to accomplish this on a series 2 Tivo box.

thanks, Tony



My Toshiba SD-H400 is programmed to use its a/v inputs & expects to see
Directv programming. If I hook another a/v source to the inputs, the
SD-H400 will record whatever it's fed. It has a manual programming mode
that can be set to record almost any reasonable length of time. If I use
the manual mode, it will assign the name of the current show on the last
channel I told it to select (I normally change channels with the DTV
remote because I prefer quicker response when watching live TV & channel
surfing).

AV input recording on Tivo boxes?
 

Tony wrote:
I'm starting to research DVRs, and I've been reading this group trying to
understand how these boxes work. Based on what I've seen discussed here, the
Tivo series 2 boxes don't allow you to easily record from external devices;
that is, they don't directly support AV input recording without hacking or
tricking the software. Is this correct, and if yes, why would Tivo want to
lock you into using your box only for broadcast television?

At this moment, I'm recording the Giro d'italia bike race from cycling.tv
externally on a VCR. I could use capture software to record it to my hard
drive and burn it to a DVD later of course, (but it's just easier this way
because I'll share the tape with my cousin). But -- ideally I'd like to be
able to record a variety of things, from the net and elsewhere, to a
standalone DVR, do some simple editing, and then record to DVD the segments
worth keeping. I'm sure there are business reasons why Tivo doesn't want
people to record non-broadcast things on "their" box, but I'd appreciate
hearing other's views on this, and of course, if there's a straightforward,
reliable way to accomplish this on a series 2 Tivo box.

thanks, Tony



Replays have 2 A/V ins. You can do a manual record at any time and
select either of these 2 inputs. No problems with copyguards or
restrictions on IVS sending of such recordings to other Replays either
(www.poopli.com). Output is a std MpegII which can be transferred to pc
w/o hacks and DRM, edited and burned as you choose.

AV input recording on Tivo boxes?
 

"Charlie" wrote in message
. ..
Tony wrote:
I'm starting to research DVRs, and I've been reading this group trying
to
understand how these boxes work. Based on what I've seen discussed here,
the
Tivo series 2 boxes don't allow you to easily record from external
devices;
that is, they don't directly support AV input recording without hacking
or
tricking the software. Is this correct, and if yes, why would Tivo want
to
lock you into using your box only for broadcast television?

At this moment, I'm recording the Giro d'italia bike race from
cycling.tv
externally on a VCR. I could use capture software to record it to my
hard
drive and burn it to a DVD later of course, (but it's just easier this
way
because I'll share the tape with my cousin). But -- ideally I'd like to
be
able to record a variety of things, from the net and elsewhere, to a
standalone DVR, do some simple editing, and then record to DVD the
segments
worth keeping. I'm sure there are business reasons why Tivo doesn't want
people to record non-broadcast things on "their" box, but I'd appreciate
hearing other's views on this, and of course, if there's a
straightforward,
reliable way to accomplish this on a series 2 Tivo box.

thanks, Tony

My Toshiba SD-H400 is programmed to use its a/v inputs & expects to see
Directv programming. If I hook another a/v source to the inputs, the
SD-H400 will record whatever it's fed. It has a manual programming mode
that can be set to record almost any reasonable length of time. If I use
the manual mode, it will assign the name of the current show on the last
channel I told it to select (I normally change channels with the DTV
remote because I prefer quicker response when watching live TV & channel
surfing).

Unfortunately the newer Toshiba models get very bad reviews, and I believe
the SD-H400 is no longer available, except perhaps on ebay.

-Tony

AV input recording on Tivo boxes?
 

"Tony D." wrote in message
...
Tony wrote:
I'm starting to research DVRs, and I've been reading this group trying
to
understand how these boxes work. Based on what I've seen discussed here,
the
Tivo series 2 boxes don't allow you to easily record from external
devices;
that is, they don't directly support AV input recording without hacking
or
tricking the software. Is this correct, and if yes, why would Tivo want
to
lock you into using your box only for broadcast television?

At this moment, I'm recording the Giro d'italia bike race from
cycling.tv
externally on a VCR. I could use capture software to record it to my
hard
drive and burn it to a DVD later of course, (but it's just easier this
way
because I'll share the tape with my cousin). But -- ideally I'd like to
be
able to record a variety of things, from the net and elsewhere, to a
standalone DVR, do some simple editing, and then record to DVD the
segments
worth keeping. I'm sure there are business reasons why Tivo doesn't want
people to record non-broadcast things on "their" box, but I'd appreciate
hearing other's views on this, and of course, if there's a
straightforward,
reliable way to accomplish this on a series 2 Tivo box.

thanks, Tony

Replays have 2 A/V ins. You can do a manual record at any time and
select either of these 2 inputs. No problems with copyguards or
restrictions on IVS sending of such recordings to other Replays either
(www.poopli.com). Output is a std MpegII which can be transferred to pc
w/o hacks and DRM, edited and burned as you choose.

I'd love to get a reliable, flexible box! I read that replay was bought out
by a company that doesn't support them properly, and that the newer models
are unreliable. Can you give me anything refuting this?

-Tony

AV input recording on Tivo boxes?
 

I'd love to get a reliable, flexible box! I read that replay was bought out
by a company that doesn't support them properly, and that the newer models
are unreliable. Can you give me anything refuting this?

-Tony

Who told you that, somebody that bought a Tivo because he couldn't set
the clock on his VCR?

Replay is owned by DNNA (Denon, Marantz, Escient, etc). DNNA has done
things no other company has, such as transferring life memberships from
older units. Replay 5Ks are virtually bulletproof with the exception of
hard drives same as Tivo. And any idiot can replace the drive. Replay
is pursuing PC based solutions now, so you'd have to hunt down a
standalone. The major strength is networked units w/o Tivo's crippleware
features. If you only have 1, the Tivo's much slower interface and
limited navigation features are more livable.