Update 25 October 2005
As of this date I no longer run the NZ emulator, it is now hosted by Wibble and DJC. The post below is preserved as instructions are still accurate for setup on the new emulator. However, this post will be deprecated once instructions for the newer oztivo images are posted.
End update
I got the emulator runnning on my website over the weekend, so setup is considerably less painful. Various notes: guide data is coming from jaidev/tim, the only difference is it's coming through the service emulator. The headend slice is courtesy of jaidev (thanks!). AFAIK, if at some point in the future we (the nz types) migrate to another emulator, all one would need to do is edit tclient.conf to point at the new IP, but this is untested (as we've not yet had an emulator, let alone moved house from one to another). Regardless, I expect to leave the emulator functioning indefintely, so even if we find another solution later mine will continue to function (as long as I can still get guide data from jaidev/tim). As usual, use at your own risk, it works fine in my rather large test group of one, YMMV, if it blows up your TiVo, drinks all the beer in your 'fridge, and leaves dirty socks on the table it's not my fault...
Setup instructions as near as I can remember them:
Start off with the oztivo image, get it networked, and edit the file /etc/tclient.conf thus:
# This is for the server emulator on minnie.
127::210.48.107.133:80:::
Instructions for editing files on the Tivo can be found
here if needed. You can optionally setup DNS on the tivo and use either "www.pbp.net" or "emulator.caffeine.co.nz" at this stage (so that if the emulator moves IPs in the future you won't need to re-edit this file).
This thread discusses the option.
Plug your tivo into the tv via the video out jack on the back. Reboot, run guided setup with the following options:
You'll see "TiVo Service Terms"
Press 'select' to go to next screen
"Program Source" Select Cable and press "Select"
"Zip Code" Enter 02113 if on SkyDigital, 02115 if on Saturn Cable
"Time Zone" Doesn't matter.. just select the first one (Eastern) and press Å*Select'
"Daylight Savings" select "no" and press "select" butto
"Area Code" Enter 002 and press 'Select'
"Phone Dialing Options" select 'no : continue' and press 'select'
"Setup Call" Press select to go past this screen
It will take a while to connect and do it's thing.
Let it do its thing (go make a coffee or play quake for a bit)
When finished press 'select'
"Dial In Numbers" choose 'none of the above' and press 'select'
"No local Numbers" choose 'sales and marketing program' and press Å*select'
"Cable box" select yes and press 'select'
"Cable Providers" choose 'Sky Digital Auckland' or 'Saturn' as appropriate and press 'select'
On the screen where it asks about how the box is connected, set to appropriate choice for your environment (either composite a/v in or s-video).
On cable box brand, you can try to see if yours is supported in the existing lists but it probably won't be. If it isn't just select some random one and let it go (I chose Motorola choice 1, 3 digit channel, no enter key, but any will do as you're going to replace it later anyway). I am told Saturn uses General Instruments 10006-fast.
Let it do it's daily call bit for guide data.
You're done with G/Setup, reboot.
Unless you got your cable box working in the step above (i.e. you're on Saturn with the Gen Instruments or you have a Pace decoder on Sky) you'll need to add your cable box IR codes. Presumably there will be an existing tcl script for your box. If not you need to make one, go to the oztivo site for
instructions on how to do this. If there is an existing file, you can skip the first 6 steps of this document and start with 7 to load the codes.
After your reboot you should be up (though as always the machine will need to think for a few hours before it's really ready to run, but live tv and such will work fine).
Drop me a line with any questions or whatever. ed at hintz dot org
Update 18 Apr
An existing machine (installed via the command line/add channels bit) can be converted to the emulator with minimal fuss. Go into messages & setup:system reset, and choose "repeat guided setup". Then follow the instructions as above. I just did this with mine, and all existing recordings, season passes, and all items on the to-do list were preserved. Note of course that you will need to configure the tivo such that it will do guided setup (on the oztivo image this is done from tivoweb under the PAL/NTSC link, if using an older image you may need a different method of changing to NTSC or PAL+GS). The entire process took about an hour and a half.
Additionally, if you run guided setup in NTSC mode, the tivo seems to (reasonably) expect an NTSC signal, so you will need to provide it one in order to finish the setup. I used a Region 1 DVD, but any NTSC source will presumably do.
Update 1 May
IP address changed; webhost moved to new upstream providor.
Update 16 August
Added link for thread documenting how to edit files.
Update 17 August
Note- if converting from loadguide/manual setup to emulator, as per the 18 Apr. update, you also need to edit tclient.conf (otherwise the Tivo will be talking to the Aussie emulator, and it won't work so hot...)
Update 1 October
Added support for Saturn cable, modified instructions to reflect this.
Update 13 November
IP address changed; webhost moved.
Update 16 November
Added option for DNS.
Update 23 January '05
IP address changed; webhost moved.
Update 25 October '05
IP address changed; NZ emulator now provided by Wibble and DJC.
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