How to use 2 TiVos--I'm confused! Help!

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

Hi,

I'm new to all this so please bear with me. I have 2 TiVos that I want to
place in different rooms. I would like to have the ability to see what is
recorded on one box through the other box. What do I need to do this? I
have no particular interest in using my computer network with TiVO but am I
safe to assume that this is necessary? (I do have a wireless network)
Could someone be kind enough to explain this to me in newbie terms, please?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"Cognito" <Cog@hiding.com> wrote in message
news:KPg3e.28095$hU7.2930@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com...
>
> I'm new to all this so please bear with me. I have 2 TiVos that I want to
> place in different rooms. I would like to have the ability to see what is
> recorded on one box through the other box. What do I need to do this? I
> have no particular interest in using my computer network with TiVO but am I
> safe to assume that this is necessary? (I do have a wireless network) Could
> someone be kind enough to explain this to me in newbie terms, please?
>
> Thanks for any help!

If you want the Tivos to talk to each other, they do need to be on a network
together. They do NOT need to be on the SAME network as your computers, but
if you only have one network, that is usually the easiest way. Also, if you
want the Tivos to get their guide data over the internet, they will need to be
connected to a network with access to the internet.

Ken

 

[Toni]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"Cognito" <Cog@hiding.com> wrote in message
news:KPg3e.28095$hU7.2930@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com...
> Hi,
>
> I'm new to all this so please bear with me. I have 2 TiVos that I want to
> place in different rooms. I would like to have the ability to see what is
> recorded on one box through the other box. What do I need to do this? I
> have no particular interest in using my computer network with TiVO but am
I
> safe to assume that this is necessary? (I do have a wireless network)
> Could someone be kind enough to explain this to me in newbie terms,
please?
>


I have two Tivos in different rooms- connected by a Linksys wired connection
that simply runs from one to the other. With Home Media Option I am able to
see what the other Tivo has going on as well as being able to transfer
programs from room to room.


--
Toni
http/www.irish-wolfhounds.com

 

[daven]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"Cognito" <Cog@hiding.com> wrote in message
news:KPg3e.28095$hU7.2930@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com...
> Hi,
>
> I'm new to all this so please bear with me. I have 2 TiVos that I want to
> place in different rooms. I would like to have the ability to see what is
> recorded on one box through the other box. What do I need to do this? I
> have no particular interest in using my computer network with TiVO but am
> I safe to assume that this is necessary? (I do have a wireless network)
> Could someone be kind enough to explain this to me in newbie terms,
> please?
>
> Thanks for any help!

Follow this link:

http/customersupport.tivo.com/knowbase/root/public/tv2046.htm?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"Cognito" <Cog@hiding.com> wrote

> I'm new to all this so please bear with me. I have 2 TiVos that I want to
> place in different rooms. I would like to have the ability to see what is
> recorded on one box through the other box. What do I need to do this? I
> have no particular interest in using my computer network with TiVO but am
> I safe to assume that this is necessary? (I do have a wireless network)
> Could someone be kind enough to explain this to me in newbie terms,
> please?

Different Tivos have different potential, but without hacking at least one
of your units, I don't see how. If the Home Media Option played .tivo files
(or .avi, .asf, .rm etc) files as well as MP3 or JPG, you'd already be
there. But it doesn't. Like the rest of us, you're waiting for a
"TivoToGoBack."

Think of Home Media Option as a "client" program running on the Tivo box,
that reads files off your PC (or PC's, or someone else's PC!) via wireless
LAN. The PC runs a "server" program. But HMO is only enabled for JPG and
MP3 files, and passwords/encryption aren't necessary because Tivo didn't
create those files.

TivoToGo is the new "server" software for _Tivo_ that sends your Tivo
recordings to PC as encrypted .tivo files. To play on PC, these new files
require a special video decoder ("codec") and Windows Media Player will fail
until you get it. The codec written for Tivo asks for a password every time
you play a Tivo movie on a PC.

Tivo _created_ these files, so Tivo shares some responsibility for what
happens to them. The legal concerns are uncharted territory, so TivoToGo
"serves" your video recordings with encryption and password protection as
..tivo files. That way if you share your recordings, you also share your
password and Tivo isn't responsible for your misconduct.

There's an overhead. Transferring a recording across the best LAN connection
is still pretty slow, presumably the overhead of combining Tivo's audio and
video into a suitable, encrypted format (.tivo).

At the moment, without hacking your Tivo, the best you can do is run TTG on
both Tivos (some models won't), then access either from your PC. Get a
big-screen monitor and HDMI video card and watch the recordings on PC.

In ten-twenty years your PC/ TV/DVR/phone/fax will all be one unit. Well,
your GPS phone might be implanted in your mastoid bone.

-MT

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"Mike Tyner" <mtyner@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:KLh3e.10114$z.2930@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
>
> Different Tivos have different potential, but without hacking at least one
> of your units, I don't see how. If the Home Media Option played .tivo files
> (or .avi, .asf, .rm etc) files as well as MP3 or JPG, you'd already be
> there. But it doesn't. Like the rest of us, you're waiting for a
> "TivoToGoBack."

He simply wants to watch a show from Tivo #1 on Tivo #2, no computers (and
therefore no TTG) involved.

Assuming he isn't talking about DirectTivo, this feature is already supported
in all current models. It's called "Multi-Room Viewing". Any Tivos found on
the local network appear at the bottom of the Now Playing list of the other
Tivos.

It's a nice option, I can watch half a show in my living room, go to bed and
watch the end of the show, transferring from the location I left off at on the
living room Tivo.

Ken

 

[ANNIE]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

Thanks to all for their input. Is there any extra charge besides the $6.95
for the 2nd unit? I do appreciate all your help!

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"Annie" <Annie@nothere.com> wrote in message
news:i%h3e.16898$DW.2953@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com...
>
> Thanks to all for their input. Is there any extra charge besides the $6.95
> for the 2nd unit? I do appreciate all your help!

If both units are subscribed, there is no additional charge for Multi-Room
Viewing.

Ken

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"Ken Alverson" <USENET.Ken@Alverson.net> wrote in message news:d2k9s3$7i6$1@eeyore.INS.cwru.edu...
> "Mike Tyner" <mtyner@mindspring.com> wrote in message
> news:KLh3e.10114$z.2930@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> >
> > Different Tivos have different potential, but without hacking at least one
> > of your units, I don't see how. If the Home Media Option played .tivo files
> > (or .avi, .asf, .rm etc) files as well as MP3 or JPG, you'd already be
> > there. But it doesn't. Like the rest of us, you're waiting for a
> > "TivoToGoBack."
>
> He simply wants to watch a show from Tivo #1 on Tivo #2, no computers (and
> therefore no TTG) involved.
>
> Assuming he isn't talking about DirectTivo, this feature is already supported
> in all current models. It's called "Multi-Room Viewing". Any Tivos found on
> the local network appear at the bottom of the Now Playing list of the other
> Tivos.
>
> It's a nice option, I can watch half a show in my living room, go to bed and
> watch the end of the show, transferring from the location I left off at on the
> living room Tivo.
>

I do the same thing using two DirecTV DVRs. A coaxial cable switch near
each TV receiver and an RF remote control permits viewing of programs
from either DVR on any connected TV receiver. No communication between
the DVRs is needed. This configuration will also allow a single DVD player
to be usable at more than one TV receiver.

You don't need two DVRs to watch from more than one TV receiver.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"Jack Ak" <akjack@excite.com> wrote in message
news:Q_i3e.11394$zl.10254@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com...
> "Ken Alverson" <USENET.Ken@Alverson.net> wrote in message
> news:d2k9s3$7i6$1@eeyore.INS.cwru.edu...
>>
>> He simply wants to watch a show from Tivo #1 on Tivo #2, no computers (and
>> therefore no TTG) involved.
>>
>> Assuming he isn't talking about DirectTivo, this feature is already
>> supported
>> in all current models. It's called "Multi-Room Viewing". Any Tivos found
>> on
>> the local network appear at the bottom of the Now Playing list of the other
>> Tivos.
>
> I do the same thing using two DirecTV DVRs. A coaxial cable switch near
> each TV receiver and an RF remote control permits viewing of programs
> from either DVR on any connected TV receiver. No communication between
> the DVRs is needed. This configuration will also allow a single DVD player
> to be usable at more than one TV receiver.
>
> You don't need two DVRs to watch from more than one TV receiver.

You're not viewing programs from one Tivo on another Tivo, though, you're
actually viewing the other Tivo. It's a subtle distinction, but one
nonetheless. All that video distribution means the picture won't be as clear
as a directly connected Tivo (especially if you're using coax instead of
component or s-video or composite). And if someone is already using the Tivo
that has the program you want to watch, you are out of luck. With the MRV,
you transfer the program to the local Tivo and watch it there, the source Tivo
can still be used to watch anything you want on it.

Also, your solution is a lot more hardware intensive than connecting two Tivos
to a (possibly wireless) network, especially if you already have them hooked
up to a network for guide data anyway.

That's not to say it doesn't have unique advantages. If I start a MRV
transfer, I am limited how much I can fast forward, because the program hasn't
completed transferring before I start watching. When I transfer to the
bedroom, it goes fast enough that I can usually fast forward through all the
commercials in a show as they come (a little faster than realtime). However,
if I transfer from the bedroom to the living room, it goes slightly slower
than realtime, and I have to let it buffer for a few minutes before I watch in
order to see the whole thing without interruption.

Ken

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"Ken Alverson" <USENET.Ken@Alverson.net> wrote in message news:d2kmbk$10c$1@eeyore.INS.cwru.edu...
> "Jack Ak" <akjack@excite.com> wrote in message
> news:Q_i3e.11394$zl.10254@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com...
> > "Ken Alverson" <USENET.Ken@Alverson.net> wrote in message
> > news:d2k9s3$7i6$1@eeyore.INS.cwru.edu...
> >>
> >> He simply wants to watch a show from Tivo #1 on Tivo #2, no computers (and
> >> therefore no TTG) involved.
> >>
> >> Assuming he isn't talking about DirectTivo, this feature is already
> >> supported
> >> in all current models. It's called "Multi-Room Viewing". Any Tivos found
> >> on
> >> the local network appear at the bottom of the Now Playing list of the other
> >> Tivos.
> >
> > I do the same thing using two DirecTV DVRs. A coaxial cable switch near
> > each TV receiver and an RF remote control permits viewing of programs
> > from either DVR on any connected TV receiver. No communication between
> > the DVRs is needed. This configuration will also allow a single DVD player
> > to be usable at more than one TV receiver.
> >
> > You don't need two DVRs to watch from more than one TV receiver.
>
> You're not viewing programs from one Tivo on another Tivo, though, you're
> actually viewing the other Tivo. It's a subtle distinction, but one
> nonetheless. All that video distribution means the picture won't be as clear
> as a directly connected Tivo (especially if you're using coax instead of
> component or s-video or composite). And if someone is already using the Tivo
> that has the program you want to watch, you are out of luck. With the MRV,
> you transfer the program to the local Tivo and watch it there, the source Tivo
> can still be used to watch anything you want on it.
>
...

The video quality of the DirecTV DVR cannot be matched by a standalone DVR.
I have a R/S Stereo Modulator that uses composite video and L/R audio to output
a channel 3/4 stereo signal on coaxial cable. The video and sound quality is superb.

The savings on monthly TiVo service fees can pay for video distribution
components fairly quickly. A single $4.99 monthly fee provides TiVo service on
both DVRs. With two DirecTV DVRs, we can record four programs at the same time.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

> He simply wants to watch a show from Tivo #1 on Tivo #2, no computers (and
> therefore no TTG) involved.
>
> Assuming he isn't talking about DirectTivo, this feature is already
> supported in all current models. It's called "Multi-Room Viewing". Any
> Tivos found on the local network appear at the bottom of the Now Playing
> list of the other Tivos.

> It's a nice option, I can watch half a show in my living room, go to bed
> and watch the end of the show, transferring from the location I left off
> at on the living room Tivo.
>
> Ken

Yes, that's it... Multi-Room Viewing. I'll give it a shot! Thanks so much
all!