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For your Tivo 1: http://www.9thtee.com/turbonet.htm

And your Tivo 2 can simply use one of many compatible USB ethernet adapters (support built-in to the Tivo "OS" albeit "unofficially").

The second generation TiVo has been around for quite some time (months even), and it does not have broadband support. Unless they'll be selling hardware upgrades (which is doubtful considering the warranty situation), you'll probably have to get a third generation TiVo.

Of course, that's not to stop you from getting the Turbonet Ethernet Adapter Board for your TiVo from The 9th Tee.

The second generation TiVo has been around for quite some time (months even), and it does not have broadband support. Unless they'll be selling hardware upgrades (which is doubtful considering the warranty situation), you'll probably have to get a third generation TiVo.

Of course, that's not to stop you from getting the Turbonet Ethernet Adapter Board for your TiVo from The 9th Tee.

While it requires an additional purchase, the TiVo Series 2 units have USB ports and can download guide data via the net with the addition of a cheap ethernet USB adapter. The box is ready with the drivers-- plug it in, modify the call settings, and go.

The TiVo Series 1 units can be outfitted with a TurboNet adapter, giving a 100Mbps connection for retreiving guide data and other things (*cough* ExtractStream *cough*). AirNet is also available...

While it requires an additional purchase, the TiVo Series 2 units have USB ports and can download guide data via the net with the addition of a cheap ethernet USB adapter. The box is ready with the drivers-- plug it in, modify the call settings, and go.

The TiVo Series 1 units can be outfitted with a TurboNet adapter, giving a 100Mbps connection for retreiving guide data and other things (*cough* ExtractStream *cough*). AirNet is also available...

This one 76 *real* arcade games inside of it.

Tivo has a heads up over Replay because it had more marketing dollars (by initially charging their customers a monthly or one time fee). Tivo is also owned by Phillips.

Tivo willfully shares your Tivo data with others.

Tivo has violated their privacy agreement with you a number of times. They changed their privacy policy to allow them to share your data without notifying their customers. The link they provided in their manual still made you click through on about 3 or 4 links before actually getting to the policy. I know of many Tivo owners who were concerned about their privacy were in an absolute uproar about this.

Replay TV refused to share your private information and were almost forced to do so. They paid lawyers to keep my information to themselves.

Though Replay now charges a monthly fee like Tivo on NEW units, I have a unit that did not have this charge. I paid $300 for a 20 hour Replay TV and have never spent a dime since.

Replay TV has allowed for me to access my Replay TV from anywhere with an internet connection. I have heard that Tivo has also adopted this. Not sure though.

Replay TV gave me the 30 second skip so that I can easily bypass commercials. I believe Tivo has also snagged this feature as well?

One thing that Tivo has over Replay is that it was the first to let you can hack it to add larger drives. (1, 2, 3)
ReplayTV does now too. (1, 2) Tivo has historically been easier to do so, but I'm not sure about these days.

Overall, features on both are very similar, though the methodology to record shows is a little different. Replay gives you more pause time as it isn't just recording things it THINKS you MIGHT like. Replay makes you be specific about what you want to record, though they have theme recording channels. Tivo is programed to make certain assumptions about what you want it to record in addition to what you specifically specify.

I know folks who own one or the other. Regardless of brand, they are both extremely happy with their new options for watching TV. For those of you who say, I barely watch TV, its likely because you think there's too much crap on. There is, but with one of these units, you will only be watching exactly what you want, without commercials. Iron Chef, Battlebots, Simpsons (I have archived almost 2/3s of all episodes), Southpark, West Wing, 24, shows for your kids/infants (ON DEMAND!!!) and both can wait for shows that aren't even in the programming guide yet.

Though Tivo is on better financial ground right now, Replay TV isn't and hasn't historically been as shady about your privacy.

Bottom, line, do the math and find yourself the best deal. Even if one or both went out of business, we'd make a hack to grab the programing information anyway.

Yes. If it's a series 1 box then you can get an ethernet card from 9th Tee - there is a pseudo-PCI connector on the inside of the box and this heavily modified ethernet adaptor can be used. The v3.0 software even includes all the drivers needed - although it's not an officially supported mod still.

For series 2 boxes you can plug in a USB ethernet adapter to one of the USB 1.1 ports.

In either case you'll need a firewall, NAT, and something that provides DHCP services (which virtually all Cable/DSL routers do).

They have this. The Series2 Tivo's can use a usb to ethernet adapter. And Series 1 users can buy a Turbonet card . (You have to open the Tivo, but it is just as easy as installing a PCI card.) The TIVO with OS > version3 has the drivers built in. You just tell it your dialing prefix is ",#401", and it knows to use the ethernet card.

Get a Tivo and install a Tivonet Install TivoWeb so you can programm the Tivo via the internet, and locate some video extractions software.

Don't get a Tivo Satellite combo, get a standalone unit so you can tell it to record in low quality (VHS quality), an hour of video is about a gigabyte.

Download the video over the net, or have your buddy burn them onto CD and mail them to you.

Funny, from miles away from my Tivo, I seem to have the distinct problem of not being able to add a Season Pass at the moment.

Sounds like you neeed a TurboNet (if you have a series 1 TiVo) or a USB Ethernet adapter (if you have a series II) and TiVoWeb. Then you can connect to your TiVo and program it from anywhere that has an Internet connection.

And yes, this WAS a blatant attempt of one who has both already to taunt those without. :-)

Man, where have you been? ;)

TiVo Airnet

If you want a possible fix - go to 9th Tee and order some of the power strip jumper cables - they're about 8 inches long and work fine. Simple idea, but I've never seen them elsewhere, and they're great for either plugging into walls or outlet strips.

• Acquire guide data over broadband, rather than over the phone line
• Allow most of the user interface, including scheduling of programs, to be run via a web interface that runs on the box.
• Allow the MPEG data to be transfered directly from the hard drive. With some tweaks, you can direct the TiVo to record 720x480 video, which is directly DVD compatible! (See the forums). In the case of a DirecTiVo, the MPEG data is that which was stored directly off of the satellite...).

Well, this.

there's ExtractStream to pull the MPEG data off the hard drive. Don't ask about it in the TiVo forum though, video extraction is a banned topic.

OK, fine, I can do the same with my remote control, but Rube Goldberg would be so proud!

-Ray

I recently got a Tivo and was disapointed that it doesnt auto skip commercials.

There's a backdoor code to convert one of the buttons into 30-second skip, but I find fast-forward to be easier to use and more precise.

Tivo also doesnt allow for file sharing.

These guys have Ethernet adapters that you can add to your TiVo. Software is out there that'll extract the streams in TiVo's proprietary format and convert them to ordinary MPEG-2 video and audio streams. Once you have those, you can use your favorite editing and compression software to make VCDs, SVCDs, DVDs, Divx files, or whatever.

I have the entire first season of Enterprise (without ads) on SVCD. Most episodes came from my TiVo.

There's already a similar system out there.

Just go to 9the Tee and look at their Arcade Video Game System - complete with two controllers, a light gun, and 76 built-in games. $36.95 Sure, it won't fit in your pocket, but still...

Surprised no one posted this yet...

TurboNet Adapter $69.25

Works with Series 1 and DirectTiVos, slips right in, then the new 3.0 will autodetect it and install the right drivers. After installation, put ",#401" as your phone number and it will use the net connection from now on.

What about those people with a TiVo that demands a PPP connection even if you have existing Internet connectivity?

They make TiVoNET for that...

Yep, this stuff exists in one form or another already. There's been an ethernet adapter out for TiVo for awhile (TiVoNet), using a 10Mbps NE2000 clone. TiVoNet stuff

A new one, made by the same guy who makes this new AirTivo, is now shipping called TurboNet that's a 100Mbps card. TurboNet stuff

The software to support web services and everything all exist as well. ExtractStream, a video extraction piece.

Your best bet to keep up on all this stuff is at the Underground Playground section of AVS/TiVo Community's message forums.

Hope that helps!

Don

Yep, this stuff exists in one form or another already. There's been an ethernet adapter out for TiVo for awhile (TiVoNet), using a 10Mbps NE2000 clone. TiVoNet stuff

A new one, made by the same guy who makes this new AirTivo, is now shipping called TurboNet that's a 100Mbps card. TurboNet stuff

The software to support web services and everything all exist as well. ExtractStream, a video extraction piece.

Your best bet to keep up on all this stuff is at the Underground Playground section of AVS/TiVo Community's message forums.

Hope that helps!

Don

Could someone elaborate on this? If the Tivo programming fails to account for live sports running over the alloted time, that's a big flaw. Come to think of it, if it only gets schedule info late at night over a phone line, this would have to happen. Another good reason they should move to an always-connected broadband solution.

You can get a tivonet card and use the Tivo over ethernet instead of a modem.

As to the program guide, the TiVo has guide data for 2 weeks into the future. It doesn't just tell you what is on now, it tells you what will be on. It breaks it down by two levels of genre, actor, director, type, new or repeat, and more. You can tell TiVo "record all Tom Hanks comedies" or "Record any sitcom pilots". Very cool stuff.

Uh, you're wrong. I upgraded my TiVo two weeks ago, when I scored an 80GB drive from OfficeMax for $80 after rebate. I burned a CD image of an .iso file from here, in my Dell computer, running Windows XP Pro. I booted from the CD, with the new hard drive attached, logged in as root, following the instructions, typed one command. Shutdown the system, and installed the drive in my TiVo, using the mounting bracket from here.

Total time from start to finish was less than half an hour, and anyone who'd feel comfortable building a machine from scratch could do it. I've even offered to upgrade several friends' machines for free, it was so easy.

Now, I have extremely basic Linux skills, so I did deviate from the directions, by running the program against /dev/hdc rather than /dev/hda, because I didn't feel like re-wiring my entire case to get the right drive at that IDE location. I've never even compiled a linux kernel, so it doesn't exactly take a rocket scientist.

There was also an article in the most recent issue of Maximum PC magazine, showing how to do this in 2 pages.

Upgrading your TiVo isn't like replacing a transmission, it's like installing a hard drive twice, and one of the systems needs a special bracket. The hardest part is making sure you have a T-10 torx bit to remove the cover...

Uh, you're wrong. I upgraded my TiVo two weeks ago, when I scored an 80GB drive from OfficeMax for $80 after rebate. I burned a CD image of an .iso file from here, in my Dell computer, running Windows XP Pro. I booted from the CD, with the new hard drive attached, logged in as root, following the instructions, typed one command. Shutdown the system, and installed the drive in my TiVo, using the mounting bracket from here.

Total time from start to finish was less than half an hour, and anyone who'd feel comfortable building a machine from scratch could do it. I've even offered to upgrade several friends' machines for free, it was so easy.

Now, I have extremely basic Linux skills, so I did deviate from the directions, by running the program against /dev/hdc rather than /dev/hda, because I didn't feel like re-wiring my entire case to get the right drive at that IDE location. I've never even compiled a linux kernel, so it doesn't exactly take a rocket scientist.

There was also an article in the most recent issue of Maximum PC magazine, showing how to do this in 2 pages.

Upgrading your TiVo isn't like replacing a transmission, it's like installing a hard drive twice, and one of the systems needs a special bracket. The hardest part is making sure you have a T-10 torx bit to remove the cover...

http://www.9thtee.com/tivonet.htm

I'd ditch the landline completely, but I have two TiVos that depend on it. :(

TiVoNET takes care of that problem, and gets you some added capabilities as well.

ExtractStream for Unix

TivoApp for Windows

TivoApp relies on ExtractStream being installed on the Tivo, but it works like a champ. This is a 2.5.1 Tivo w/ the TivoNet setup connected to a WAP11.

Very cool.

Why? Just a update to the software (which happens from time to time as is) and a card to older boxes and you are set.
(I'm sure some things can be done without the card, but if you don't otherwise use 56K, you should force your TiVo to.)

I slobber uncontrollably when I think about a DVR that would let me archive shows to my file server.

You mean like a stand-alone Tivo with a network card added along with a web server running on it?&nbsp Then you can make an MPEG-2 file from the data stored on the Tivo.&nbsp The downside is that there currently isn't a way to get the data back to the Tivo for viewing.

I've just bought a used TiVo for $100. New units go for between $100 (for a unit that's good only with DirecTV) to $500 or so. Hackable and new sub-$300 TiVos might include a 20-hour unit from Best Buy (IIRC) and a 30-hour unit from here.

Before going further, let me say just what a TiVo is. The one-sentence description is that it's a digital video recorder; it records TV shows to a hard disk much like a VCR records TV to a tape. This description doesn't do the device justice, though. To begin with, if you buffer your live TV through the TiVo, you can get VCR-like effects, such as pausing live TV, performing instant replays, rewinding, and running something in slow motion. You can then hit a button to catch up to the live broadcast during a boring stretch (like a commercial). The devices get even more interesting if you subscribe to the TiVo service, which is $10/month or $250 for a lifetime subscription. When you do this, the TiVo device calls in using a built-in modem once a day and downloads TV listings. You can then search them to find programs you want to watch (no more need for TV Guide or the like). You can tell the TiVo to record specific shows, or entire series. In the latter case, the TiVo will do so even if the show changes time slot (but not if it's rescheduled at the last minute, say because a sporting event runs over). You can tell it to search for shows or movies by title, actor name, and so on, so if you like, say, Sandra Bullock, you can feed that name into the unit and it'll record all her films that it finds in the listings. You can tell the TiVo to record "suggestions," which are programs that match your profile of likes and dislikes that it builds up if you give ratings to shows.

Anyhow, TiVos are very hackable. They run on Linux, and use a 50MHz PowerPC CPU. Among other things, you can add or replace a hard drive. You might therefore get a low-end TiVo and expand it to over 100 hours capacity for the cost of an 80GB hard disk. You can also add an Ethernet card to connect the thing permanently to your LAN. (Even without the Ethernet card, you can get a bash prompt or PPP connection over its serial port.) There's a TiVo hacking FAQ available. It's a bit outdated in some important ways, but it's a good way to get a feel for what you can do with the device.

FWIW, I've not yet hacked my TiVo in any way (I've had it for just a few days), but I plan to upgrade the hard disk and get a serial connection going within a week or so.

What's more, the service is emminently hackable so if they really did go down it wouldn't be hard to build a listings service that kept the unit functionality going in spite of a company closure. Several people have claimed to hack this already, though code is not readily available last I checked (for obvious reasons). Either way, I've got my daily calls going over my ethernet network, so it wouldn't be hard to sniff out the necessary bits or put some work into documenting the MFS partition formats and inserting it directly from a source like XMLTV.

So, for a fun project and damn useful toy, grab yourself a 20 hour Tivo cheap (see AVS TiVo Forums for pointers to cheap deals at Wal-Mart, Target, etc.), a big harddrive (most any 5400 rpm will do), and a hard drive bracket and ethernet adapter (here's a good tutorial). Then have fun with a device that's both well suited to the task (stable, nice tv based user interface, very sharp picture) and gives you a chance to sink your teeth into some fun hacks.

FWIW, I've been spending a lot of time hacking up my own media-box project of late and I really think that it isn't yet a viable option. Dual booting Debian/WinME with a AIW Radeon and SB Live Platinum 5.1 gives you the ability to do everything a TiVo can and more, but the interface, stability, and interoperability leave a lot to be desired. On the up side, its great to be able to play DivX, MP3, Emulators, etc. in the living room A/V system. Wonderful as a system oriented towards archived playback, music, and games, but don't buy one thinking its going to be nearly as useful in place of a TiVo.

... rjs

But I would suggest adding more space yourself, probably more cost effective.

But I would suggest adding more space yourself, probably more cost effective.

Nope, they haven't figured out the file format yet.

The things TiVo downloads are no secret. They have never been hidden from people who have been curious enough to look for them. Some of the download info is even available from the GUI without even hacking a bash prompt on TiVo, by merely enabling backdoors and using the "view TiVo logs" backdoor.

Regardless, on the initial call, TiVo doesn't download new software. It has been stated several times that the initial call and the software update call are fundamentally different, and it is impossible to get a software update on the initial call. Any other calls you force can lead to software updates, and 2.0.1 has an "unplanned feature" that cripples your PVR beyond what TiVo intended. This will be fixed in a future upgrade that is still a few months off.

Regardless, the inital call sets the internal clock, and does the initial population of the guide data. After that call, you can yank the phone cord and never plug it in again. And if you don't plan to have the service and don't want the software upgrade, yanking the phone cord is highly recommended.

If you want functionality beyond that, people have devised ways to set the internal clock, modify the channel lineup, prevent software updates, and even populate the guide data from public sources. The hacks all exist, but have been created by and for people who have special circumstances that don't allow them to use the service as listed. Don't expect help from places like the AVS TiVo forum if you're merely trying to bypass the service fee... and even if you have good intent, you're going to have to look elsewhere for hacks that bypass the need for the service. People frown heavilly on bypassing TiVo's service fee if service can be obtained by legitimate means. The reasons for this are many, but mainly because TiVo's business model involves selling the units for less than cost, and making up the money in subscription fees. Thus, bypassing the service fee is a major blow to TiVo, and could put them out of business easily.

Also, why not look into buying a TiVoNET ethernet adapter for daily calls? It's a hack that puts an ethernet jack on your TiVo, and scripts to redirect the daily call from the modem to an ethernet connection. Or, if you're stuck with a slow 'net connection, PPP-over-serial hacks are available as well, that make the call use a PPP connection over the DSS port as opposed to dialing. Both of the above hacks still help TiVo out by using their service, just merely using your own 'net connection as opposed to a UUNet phone number.

Do searches in the AVS TiVo Underground Forum, the TiVo Hack FAQ, and 9th Tee for all of the information I've stated above. Take some time to look around, all the info I've talked about and more is out there.

For my money, the combination of my TiVo and their subscription is the best entertainment purchase I've ever made. I find myself using TiVo combined with my premium channels more than I use even my DVD player. But that, of course, is just my opinion.

Tivo Community have shutdown the thread because its going to screw up the relationship between the hackers and Tivo (which was good until now - oops!)

Anyway - the link for the software is here at 9th Tee.

Here's a link to the "real" site. Note posting as AC so no Kharma whoring here. http://www.9thtee.com/ExtractStream.html WTF is this 2 minute delay between posts now!

Yes they did. Check in the Underground section of the AVS TiVo forum. It's called TiVoNet. You can even buy it from 9th Tee.

What you're asking for is definitely something that a *lot* of people would want. I, for one, would like to be able to integrate home webcams with my PC, my satellite TV and with my web server, for example. Imagine programming your softVCR over the web, etc.

The TiVo meets this need part way. Previous discussion on /. indicated a crying need for the TiVo to have an Ethernet port so that easy up/down loading of recorded media could take place, as well as enable the development of Web based controllability. There was talk of the next official version of the TiVo having such a port, but I haven't about such a product yet, despite its technical feasibility.

All that said, I think there's a great deal of apprehension over the legal ramifications since most publicly broadcast programs have specific prohibitions against rebroadcast.

I presume that's rebroadcast (a) to others, going beyond a typical definition of personal use; (b) for profit to others (definitely a no-no).

Certainly there's nothing illegal with taping or disk recording for later use by you in your own home or anywhere else you happen to be (eg, recording your personal CD collection on MP3 to take in your car.)

But a lot of video content producers would get very jittery if you provided that recorded content to others beside yourself. There, even though I can invite friends over to my house to watch a rented movie or to listen to a CD, I cannot charge them admission. And, if I run a business as, for example, a daycare center, then I can get into trouble for public exhibition of copyrighted videos to toddlers in my charge (though providing books does not seem to be so dangerous to my legal health). Clearly, the legal definitions have been strongly influenced by parties with a vested interests in the existing revenue models associated with media distribution.

Once you have such a video system, a P2P network that enables trading favorite TV programs, pr0n, etc. is only a short step away, with all the hullabaloo that has accompanied trading of music files over the past several years.

Perhaps the Java Media API provides a good framework, but it would be nice to have some open source standard API for the control and activation functions of the next generation of consumer electronic equipment: network-enabled video and audio jukeboxes.

Steps to the perfect gift. 1) Buy a TiVo ( http://www.tivo.com ) 2) Upgrade it with the instructios at http://www.tivofaq.com/hack/faq.html; 3) Buy the parts for the upgrade at http://www.9thtee.com/TiVoUpgrades.htm