Archive through November 23, 2003
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TV ClubHouse: Archive: Tivo/ReplayTV/PVR Etc. Questions & Answers & Tips: Archive through November 23, 2003

Luvmyjrt

Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 07:47 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks Sas! Your secret is safe with me! Do you have a land phone line or wireless?

Draheid

Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 07:49 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Luvmyjrt: No, cable & DSL are not at all the same. Cablemodem service comes through your cable television connection where DSL is connected through your phoneline service.

As for having additional computers wireless access, a lot depends on the type of construction in your house. I doubt if you'll have any problems as the original wireless has a useable range of approximately 150 feet. If your only need is to have wireless access to the internet connection, the basic wireless technology should be sufficient for your needs. If you need to network the computers for more printer and/or file sharing, you might want to consider a higher speed wireless such as 802.11G. This is newer technology and therefore more expensive but the speed difference could be worth it to you.

Also, since you've mentioned your sons room, you might also want to consider that it is also possible to connect gaming devices such as Gamecube, X-Box, etc. to the internet now, also possibly using wireless networking. (I won't mention it to your son though, that's up to you. )

And no, I'm certainly not sick of you - this is what I enjoy so please keep asking as long as you have questions.

Luvmyjrt

Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 08:03 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Ok, I'll take you up on that. DH and I are going to Circuit City right now to get the needed equipment. Could you possibly explain the proper cable routing from the tv/directtv box/router. I'll look forward to hearing from you upon my return with MY TIVO! Yippee!!!

Meli456

Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 09:05 am EditMoveDeleteIP
A couple months ago, I got DishTV with a PVR built into the box. It was cheaper in the long run than TIVO and I think we got all of the equipment free (after credits on our bill over a couple months). Even got 3 free months of HBO and Skinemax. We do NOT have it hooked up to our phone line, installation guy said we only needed to if we wanted to order PPV. And we get 100 hours of recording time (of which we have 28 hours left, so yeah we do need the 100!). We have all kinds of episodes of Blue's Clue's, etc. for the kids saved on there, its a lifesaver with two kids!!

Draheid

Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 09:26 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Luvmyjrt: If you're going with the wireless setup, there won't be any wiring as such. You need to setup the router first, with the built-in Wireless Access Point (WAP) and run whatever configuration necessary to set that up. Once the router is working, you will connect the DirecTivo to your television and satellite connections and install the wireless interface there. You may need to setup the DirecTivo to tell it to use the wireless adapter, which should be fairly easy to do.

If you have any problems, please provide the exact model #'s from any equipment you're dealing with, along with what you are having trouble with, and I'll try to find the answers for you and post them here.

Sasman

Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 09:50 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Good luck luvmyjrt!

We have DSL from Earthlink.

Fanny

Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 10:45 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Hi Dra. I have so much stuff saved-until-I-delete that my TIVO is a bit on the full side. These days I try to save-until-I-delete only the life-critical stuff (like my kitchen renovation shows). What's keeping me hopping is the non-life-critical stuff that will only save for a day or so because I have it so full (if one can hop while sitting zombie-like on the sofa staring at the TV).

Hope that helps. :)
xxooxoxoxoxox

Luvmyjrt

Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 03:00 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Dra, I got a Linksys Wireless G Broadband Router and a Wireless G USB Network adapter. Do I need both of these? How does the TIVO know this without a cord stretched across my living room?

Wendo

Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 03:38 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Luvmyjrt, one thing to add. Check the Tivo website before opening the box to make sure you don't need a land line phone connection.

IIRC, I thought a land line connection was needed for the first time connect. After which, you can then switch to a broadband connection.

But, I'm not sure. Tivo's website has a pretty good faq section.

(Also, the website that many Tivo users is this:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/

Lot's of good info there too.)

As far as how the Tivo will know to use the broadband connection? There are settings that need to be set in the settings menu. Again, Tivo's website will have the specific instructions. (That's how I did mine.)

Draheid

Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 04:45 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Luvmyjrt: Yes, unfortunately you do need both pieces. One connects to your internet connection (in place of your computer which then connects to the router). The other plugs into the Tivo.

As for the configuration, I'm not specifically familiar with the DirecTivo units. When I first researched configuring my unit to use the network connection, I had go through the following procedure:
Messages & Setup -->
Recorder & Phone Setup -->
Phone Connection -->
Change Dialing Options -->
Set Dial Prefix: -->

Use the 'Pause' button to enter the comma, 'Enter' for the poundsign, then numbers 'four' 'zero' 'one' and finally press 'Select' to accept that setting.

Hope that helps. Also, you will probably have to setup the router first, then plug in the USB adapter and power up or reboot the DirecTivo to have it recognize the adapter is there. Then proceed with the above configuration.

Hope this helps.

Luvmyjrt

Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 05:04 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Ok, did not get DirectTivo. I got an 80 hour series 2 tivo. I have a hughes DirectTv box. It does not have a 15 pin connection. Do we need the "home control cable"? My son is seriously confused and I'm damn near drunk! Help!

Luvmyjrt

Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 06:34 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
OK Dra....here's the specs: I have a Hughes Direct TV receiver model number HBH-SA and a Series 2 Tivo DVR (Not Directivo) a Linksys Wireless-G 2.4 GHz 54 Mbps Broadband router and a Linksys Wireless-G USB adapter. I am so lost on how to do this. Can you help me? The Wirelesss 2.4 GHz 54 Mbps router is hooked up......HELP! I NEED MY TIVO!

Draheid

Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 07:19 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Luvmyjrt: The method to connect the Tivo Series 2 is considerably different then what I needed to do for my Series 1 machine. Here is a link to begin with. Although the site suggests a couple of different wireless adapters, the one you have should be able to work also, especially since you've just purchased the Tivo. However, if you are still unable to get this system setup as described at the link below, you may need to exchange the Wireless-G for one of the recommended adapters from the Tivo site. Your router should still be compatible so you won't have to go through that setup again.

Here's the link: Connecting the USB Wireless Adapter

Hope this helps.

Luvmyjrt

Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 05:08 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Ok Dra, I believe I have it set up correctly, but I can't get the menu on the screen. Do I have to register first?

Luvmyjrt

Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 05:44 am EditMoveDeleteIP
.

Draheid

Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 05:46 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Luvmyjrt: I'm not sure what you are saying. If it's connected to the TV, you should be able to bring up the menu.

Luvmyjrt

Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 05:47 am EditMoveDeleteIP
HI Dra.......glad you are up. Just rereading your post about 401, let me try that. Be around a while?

Draheid

Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 05:48 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Luvmyjrt, there is a completely different setup procedure for the Series 2 that you have. Follow the link above for those guides to setup your unit.

Luvmyjrt

Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 05:58 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Dra, the 401 thingie didn't work. I'm concerned it isn't recognizing my adapter/router. Any suggestions?

Luvmyjrt

Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 06:10 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Here's what I found for series 2 Tivo Dra:

http://customersupport.tivo.com/tivoknowbase/root/public/tv2054.htm?

Draheid

Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 06:18 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Luvmyjrt: I didn't know for sure if Series 2 units still required a phoneline for the initial setup. I don't know if there is any way around that requirement. You may be able to persuade the store you purchased the unit from, to assist you in setting it up in the store for you. You might try contacting their technical support (it's a long distance call to California) when they open later today and see if there is any other possible way.

Sorry I didn't know. Hope this helps.

Luvmyjrt

Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 09:48 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Dra, I am downloading info at another location until I get to version 4 software. After that, I can bring it home and switch from cable to satellite, correct?

Draheid

Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 10:09 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Luvmyjrt: I would think the version 4 was already installed since it's a new unit but it's possible that it isn't. Yes, once it's initialized via phone-line the first time, you can then install it at home and re-run the 'Guided Setup' over your wireless network. That will help get your channel lineup, guide data, etc. setup for your system.

Colordeagua

Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 10:59 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Draheid: A most basic question -- before I continue to complain to my condo board of managers. It's me that has just plain ol' TV. The picture on only two channels (network -- CBS and NBC) at times has a lot of colored snow in it. All other channels are fine. Because it is only two channels and not all, then the problem is with the building's roof antenna. True? It's not my TV or any wires to connection in my wall to the antenna?

Luvmyjrt

Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 11:40 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks Dra, unfortunately the first download was 3.1. Once it's complete I will force another call and bring it home. Kinda like waiting for a new baby! Thanks for all your helpful advice.