Tivo Dual Tuner

On Jan 25, 7:45*pm, "Adam H. Kerman" wrote:
Doug McIntyre wrote:
"Adam H. Kerman" writes:
bilb2765 wrote:
My Dual Tuner will not attach to an antenna. Maybe if hacked, but I just
need to do something with it.
Weren't there any digital converter boxes that TiVo could change the channel?
The problem may have been the need to map channel numbers that TiVo could
send to subchannel numbers (which are already mapped), but you'd think one
of the converter boxes out there could use a user-specified channel map..
No, TiVo elected not to redo all the old software to add an unknown
quantity of OTA converter boxes, each with different IR command signals.
They did some cable boxes (not all!)

TiVo could have elected to redo the old software to match the IR commands
of a known quantity of converter boxes, then offered its recommendations
to TiVo subscribers on the Web site, which is where viewers find lists
of boxes that TiVo can control.

Nobody expected TiVo to work with all converter boxes, but then, no one
expected TiVo to work with none whatsoever.

It probably wouldn't be an overwhelming task to take an IR sensor, a
Microchip PIC processor, an IR LED, a digital oscilloscope to measure
the needed timing once and write a couple of pages of software that
would translate one Tivo code set to one or a handful of DTA code
sets. Then you duct tape the Tivo leds to the project's sensor and the
project's LED to the DTA sensor. The timing isn't so fast that that
would be a really hard project for anyone with some skill, equipment
and experience with the parts. But the question is, is it really worth
spending the time to do that project? I don't know, but I suspect it
would be marginal at best.

I've contemplated a very similar project for a completely different
reason, because my Tivo brand Series 2 has always had some problems
talking to my GI cable box. But the Comcast handheld remote NEVER has
that problem. This problem has gotten a LOT worse recently, perhaps
because the Tivo seems like it has become much slower recently and may
be having problems of its own. The project of writing code that would
be so forgiving that it could always avoid whatever is causing the
problem between the Tivo and GI would likely be a more challenging
task. Is the real cause of my much more frequently seeing channel
change errors in the last 2-4 months because the hard drive is failing
or because something else I might be able to do something about is
failing? I don't know. A few years ago I did a scan of the drive when
I thought it might be failing and it reported zero errors. If anyone
knew how I could diagnose exactly what the problem was, especially if
it turns out to be something I could fix, then I would be very
appreciative. Would I be appreciative enough to spend the time to
build them a TivoToDTA converter? That I'm not so sure about, but I
might consider it.

"bilb2765" wrote in message
...
Just curious. I see them on eBay, but not sure if they move.

well at any rate, the dt has dual ANALOG RF tuners, that convdert rf to
video, if you want to use it as a dvr without the tuner/rf part, you can
use
it as a single video in dvr (not tuner)

long article (too long to bother pasting here)
Ask the Editors: Analog TiVo for digital cable

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10076511-1.html

off the shelf/simple no, but if you are into putzing, very simple (got
three
for $50 off ebay, but did have to putz with making em work in a limited
way)
point is it may be sellable on ebay, but won't go for much...

My Dual Tuner will not attach to an antenna. Maybe if hacked, but I just
need to do something with it.
I have a S2 Single tuner, and it does work with an antenna.

Doesnt matter, whether antenna OR cable, the dual tuners want rf in, and
CONVERT them to video signals the unit records (the unit itself can record
two VIDEO signals) whole point of cable box/vcr/camera etc is to give it
video in from something OTHER than the tuners...

if you use the tuners, your screwed, but if you use video (instead of rf in)
and the dvr, works like a champ

"Character" wrote in message
...
bilb2765 wrote:

Just curious. I see them on eBay, but not sure if they move.


well at any rate, the dt has dual ANALOG RF tuners, that convdert rf to
video, if you want to use it as a dvr without the tuner/rf part, you can
use
it as a single video in dvr (not tuner)

long article (too long to bother pasting here)
Ask the Editors: Analog TiVo for digital cable

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10076511-1.html

off the shelf/simple no, but if you are into putzing, very simple (got
three
for $50 off ebay, but did have to putz with making em work in a limited
way)
point is it may be sellable on ebay, but won't go for much...

My Dual Tuner will not attach to an antenna. Maybe if hacked, but I just
need to do something with it.
I have a S2 Single tuner, and it does work with an antenna.

It should have no problem accepting an antenna signal with an OTA
converter box.

If someone created an OTA to Cable protocol converter (one that could
input OTA signals, acquired with an ATSC tuner, and then convert those
signals so they'd be acceptable to the QAM tuner) then you could use both
inputs. Never happen.

- Character


never say never, very simple and available now.... unit/board has dual ATSC
tuners, and fits right inside the tivo (in place of the ntsc tuner board)
(you do have to open the tivo and replace a circuit board, but then it uses
atsc tuners instead of the ntsc ones)

"Adam H. Kerman" wrote in message
...
bilb2765 wrote:

My Dual Tuner will not attach to an antenna. Maybe if hacked, but I just
need to do something with it.

Weren't there any digital converter boxes that TiVo could change the
channel?
The problem may have been the need to map channel numbers that TiVo could
send to subchannel numbers (which are already mapped), but you'd think one
of the converter boxes out there could use a user-specified channel map.

At least one tuner would be usable.

are you using a 75-ohm antenna cable (tivo takes 75 ohm coax), but will NOT
accept 300 ohm twinlead antenna cable...

as for changing channels on the converter box, check out the ir blaster
(about $6) puts out codes similar to what the remote puts out (many use
standard codes that the ir blaster puts out)

Peter Pan wrote:

"Character" wrote in message
...

bilb2765 wrote:


Just curious. I see them on eBay, but not sure if they move.


well at any rate, the dt has dual ANALOG RF tuners, that convdert rf to
video, if you want to use it as a dvr without the tuner/rf part, you can
use
it as a single video in dvr (not tuner)

long article (too long to bother pasting here)
Ask the Editors: Analog TiVo for digital cable

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10076511-1.html

off the shelf/simple no, but if you are into putzing, very simple (got
three
for $50 off ebay, but did have to putz with making em work in a limited
way)
point is it may be sellable on ebay, but won't go for much...


My Dual Tuner will not attach to an antenna. Maybe if hacked, but I just
need to do something with it.
I have a S2 Single tuner, and it does work with an antenna.

It should have no problem accepting an antenna signal with an OTA
converter box.

If someone created an OTA to Cable protocol converter (one that could
input OTA signals, acquired with an ATSC tuner, and then convert those
signals so they'd be acceptable to the QAM tuner) then you could use both
inputs. Never happen.

- Character



never say never, very simple and available now.... unit/board has dual ATSC
tuners, and fits right inside the tivo (in place of the ntsc tuner board)
(you do have to open the tivo and replace a circuit board, but then it uses
atsc tuners instead of the ntsc ones)



Good to know! Thank you.

- Character

"Character" wrote in message
...

If someone created an OTA to Cable protocol converter (one that could
input OTA signals, acquired with an ATSC tuner, and then convert those
signals so they'd be acceptable to the QAM tuner) then you could use both
inputs. Never happen.

- Character



never say never, very simple and available now.... unit/board has dual
ATSC tuners, and fits right inside the tivo (in place of the ntsc tuner
board) (you do have to open the tivo and replace a circuit board, but
then it uses atsc tuners instead of the ntsc ones)

Good to know! Thank you.

- Character

not really worth the expense/hassle, unless you have older units with
lifetime contracts.... was sort of a brain challenge when you said "Never
Happen"

i tend to collect old s2's from people that buy newer stuff, so i tend to
putz around to make em work...

Peter Pan wrote:

never say never, very simple and available now.... unit/board has dual ATSC
tuners, and fits right inside the tivo (in place of the ntsc tuner board)
(you do have to open the tivo and replace a circuit board, but then it uses
atsc tuners instead of the ntsc ones)

From whom are these aftermarket parts purchased?

And how do you get TiVo to tune in ATSC subchannels without the decimal point?

Peter Pan wrote:
"Adam H. Kerman" wrote:
bilb2765 wrote:

My Dual Tuner will not attach to an antenna. Maybe if hacked, but I just
need to do something with it.

Weren't there any digital converter boxes that TiVo could change the
channel? The problem may have been the need to map channel numbers
that TiVo could send to subchannel numbers (which are already mapped),
but you'd think one of the converter boxes out there could use a
user-specified channel map.

At least one tuner would be usable.

are you using a 75-ohm antenna cable (tivo takes 75 ohm coax), but will NOT
accept 300 ohm twinlead antenna cable...

It's not my setup. I have a Series2 built into Toshiba DVD-RW, single tuner.
I use it to control a cable DTA. Never tried it with over the air due to
having no idea how to map the channels.

"Adam H. Kerman" wrote in message
...
Peter Pan wrote:
"Adam H. Kerman" wrote:
bilb2765 wrote:

My Dual Tuner will not attach to an antenna. Maybe if hacked, but I just
need to do something with it.

Weren't there any digital converter boxes that TiVo could change the
channel? The problem may have been the need to map channel numbers
that TiVo could send to subchannel numbers (which are already mapped),
but you'd think one of the converter boxes out there could use a
user-specified channel map.

At least one tuner would be usable.

are you using a 75-ohm antenna cable (tivo takes 75 ohm coax), but will
NOT
accept 300 ohm twinlead antenna cable...

It's not my setup. I have a Series2 built into Toshiba DVD-RW, single
tuner.
I use it to control a cable DTA. Never tried it with over the air due to
having no idea how to map the channels.

got ya, not a tivo dual tuner for you, but a toshiba single tuner dvr (dvd
drive instead of the second tuner)
even easier
the unit accepts video in from either a)output from the tuner, or b)the
video in plugs (yellow red white), what you may want to do (for yours or any
single tuner s2 - or even s1) is just get a converter box (used to be free
with govt coupons)

but this from walmart is $34
http://www.walmart.com/ip/AccessHD-D...1080D/14869369

the toshiba units use an "ir blaster" to control the box... (like hitting
the buttons on a remote control)

the converter box itself controls the mapping, the toshiba just tells it
change to a channel (for example say channel 99 maps to 12.3) toshiba/tivo
sends command to box (via ir blaster) to go to channel 99, converter box
tunes digital channel 12.3 and outputs an analog signal on channel 99,
toshiba/tivo records 99...

ir blaster? available from other places, just happen to have this link handy
(weaknees, $11.99 but free shipping)...
http://www.weaknees.com/tivo-cables.php


for either you (or the other guy) use video in from the converter box,
instead of rf in (rca composite video cables about $3 at walmart)

you only have a single tuner, and video in is easily accesible... on dual
tuner models, no video plugs or way to control an external box for tuner two
(easier just to open box and change both ntsc tuners to atsc tuner board and
be done with it)

"Adam H. Kerman" wrote in message
...
Peter Pan wrote:

never say never, very simple and available now.... unit/board has dual
ATSC
tuners, and fits right inside the tivo (in place of the ntsc tuner board)
(you do have to open the tivo and replace a circuit board, but then it
uses
atsc tuners instead of the ntsc ones)

From whom are these aftermarket parts purchased?

And how do you get TiVo to tune in ATSC subchannels without the decimal
point?

you have to rerun guided setup, and tell it what channels mean in mapping...

(tivo upgrades its software, current version on the s2's is the same as s3's
(s3's have atsc tuners already)