Just bought a Thomson Tivo from the UK

[ianjf2000]

Hi all, here's my first post.

Following months of looking in to MySky and DVD recorders with HDD, I decided to go for a Tivo. A good friend of mine has one and raves about it. So I managed to get my hands on a Thomson Tivo series 1. Arrived today. It has a standard 40GB HD, remote and all leads. So far, so good.

Now i'd like to get a bigger drive for it, something around the 750GB range. Can anyone give me an exact model HD to get?

I've downloaded this software:
nzTiVo-Thomson-Installer-Dec06RC1.iso

Another mate has an old 266mhz PC, if I burn this to CD, do I just replace the HD in the PC with the new one, and boot the PC from the CD? Then just install the software?

Finally does anyone know if my Tivo has a cachecard already? I think it's called a PVR-10.

Thanks,

Ian

[catdog]

Now i'd like to get a bigger drive for it, something around the 750GB range. Can anyone give me an exact model HD to get?

Any harddrive will work fine so long as it is not SATA. I personally go for seagate drives as they have a 5 year warranty, but there are issues if you try to install 2 seagate drives together http://minnie.tuhs.org/twiki/bin/vie...kConfiguration

I've downloaded this software:
nzTiVo-Thomson-Installer-Dec06RC1.iso

Another mate has an old 266mhz PC, if I burn this to CD, do I just replace the HD in the PC with the new one, and boot the PC from the CD? Then just install the software?

Yep

Finally does anyone know if my Tivo has a cachecard already? I think it's called a PVR-10.

The cachecard is an extra add-on, so it is unlikely that your tivo came with one unless the seller explicitly advertised it with the tivo. If it did, I think the cachecard drivers on the iso are out of date so it will show an error screen but the network should still function ok (you'll need to update the driver to use the cache function).

If needed you can get a network card locally http://forums.oztivo.net/showthread.php?t=1547

[ianjf2000]

Thanks very much for your reply!

Hard drives:
Would this work OK?
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?item=HDDSE1405
I am thinking of buying 2 to install.

Cachecard
http://www.9thtee.com/tivocachecard.htm
I have just bought myself one of these, all I now need is the RAM for it.

IR Blaster
My Tivo didn't have one
Do you know anywhere in Auckland that sells them? I've had a look at Jaycar and Dick Smith, does this mean I'll have to make one up?

Thanks, Ian

[catdog]

Hard drives:
Would this work OK?
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?item=HDDSE1405
I am thinking of buying 2 to install.

It will work ok if you buy one, it is likely that IT WILL NOT WORK properly if you buy two in a master/slave configuration - read the comment and link in my post above. Chances are that you are better off getting one 750gig drive than two 400gig drives anyway (similar price, less power consumption, less likely to fail etc).

Cachecard
http://www.9thtee.com/tivocachecard.htm
I have just bought myself one of these, all I now need is the RAM for it.

Cool. You can just use the network feature in the mean time without the RAM. Make sure when you image the harddrive (on PC) that you configure it for the cachecard as it is not the default setting.

IR Blaster
My Tivo didn't have one
Do you know anywhere in Auckland that sells them? I've had a look at Jaycar and Dick Smith, does this mean I'll have to make one up?

The easiest would have been to add one to your 9th tee order I don't know anywhere which sells them as a seperate item in NZ (they are usually bundled with a device). I guess you could easily make your own or just buy one off ebay. (Assuming sky) which make/model decoder do you have? There are issues with one of the motorola boxes (search the forums for more details).

[Darren King]

Chances are that you are better off getting one 750gig drive than two 400gig drives anyway (similar price, less power consumption, less likely to fail etc).

Plus unless he is lucky there will be no second hard disk bracket in the TiVo meaning one of those would need purchasing.

Also I would be very weary about running a cachecard loaded with 512MB of RAM with two hard disks. The poor power supply was not designed to run a cachecard loaded with RAM as it is without having long term problems - let alone a cachecard loaded with RAM and TWO hard drives!

[ianjf2000]

Thanks for your response.

So I should just go for a 750GB then and not 2 x 400GB. Would this one be OK?

http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?item=HDDSE1751

Also, I have been in touch with 9th tee and placed the order for the IR Blaster! Thanks for the tip, was wondering what the best way to get one would be!

Regards, Ian

[ianjf2000]

Thanks Darren,

I've had a further play with it tonight and I suspect I have a SCART cabling issue. One end has a SCART, with Video and Ausio left and right on the other end. This then goes in to a RCA to SCART adaptor which has a control switch for input and output. I'm thinking this is missing a signal or two on the way, and the Tivo cannot read it.

I've been through my huge stash of cables from over the years and don't have a true SCART to SCART cable, so first thing in the morning i'll nip out and get one.

I've got the Tivo set up to see a PACE Sky decoder, and to use the IR Blaster to change channel, but I don't get a picture. Fingers crossed the new cable will solve the issue.

[catdog]

So my question is, where do I start?

Probably the best place to start is reading the guides on nztivo.net and oztivo.net

Do I start by installing the Thomson image on to the Seagate drive?

Yes

If so, which is the correct image I need?

I've downloaded this software:
nzTiVo-Thomson-Installer-Dec06RC1.iso

That is the latest NZ image.

Also, at what point do I need to install the drivers for the cachecard?

Make sure you select cachecard and configure IP address etc when you image the harddrive in the PC. As I previously said, I think the drivers are out of date, but the network should still work ok allowing you to configure everything. I suggest you take it one step at a time - get the tivo harddrive imaged, and through guided setup, and then worry about getting the "cache" feature working.

I don't have a PC, but a friend has an old 266 PC from back in the day, will this work?

Sorry, I didn't notice the "266 MHz" detail last time I answered this - chances are that a PC of that age will hang at the bios screen and refuse to boot with a 750gig harddrive attached, but no harm in trying it! (I had a PC around that age with a harddrive limit of ~80gig, which I found out the hard way after buying a 120gig drive).

[ianjf2000]

Thanks for the help so far.

Tonight I have:
1. Downloaded the image on to the HD - a friend of mine had an old Pentium3 which worked fine!
2. Placed this in to my Tivo.
3. Installed the cachecard with the 512MB RAM.
4. Plugged the Tivo in to my TV.
5. Started up, went through the on screen instructions, and it works!

I am having a couple of problems though:
I have a Pace Sky decoder which is plugged in to my AUX socket on the back of the Tivo - but for some reason Tivo doesn't see the Sky signal. I tested the signal to the TV, and it is OK. So I have had to revert to using the RF cable for now.

IR Blaster - When I test this, I change the channel and lose the picture, therefore having to go back to the RF section and manually changing the channel back to 38 to pic up the sky. Any ideas?

The Tivo tells me I have up to 900 hours of recording, yippee!

Ian

[Darren King]

I have a Pace Sky decoder which is plugged in to my AUX socket on the back of the Tivo - but for some reason Tivo doesn't see the Sky signal. I tested the signal to the TV, and it is OK. So I have had to revert to using the RF cable for now.

I would suspect you have a cabling issue here most likely. Maybe you are using a SCART output cable and not a SCART input cable or something equally as simple.

IR Blaster - When I test this, I change the channel and lose the picture, therefore having to go back to the RF section and manually changing the channel back to 38 to pic up the sky. Any ideas?

That would be correct, and it is not the fault of the IR Blaster. The TiVo thinks you have the STB on the SCART input (as this is the correct way of hooking it up) so it changes to that input every time you select a channel corresponding to the STB. Sort out your SCART input problem and you will also solve this issue.

The Tivo tells me I have up to 900 hours of recording, yippee!

Only if you like a relatively unwatchable blocky picture that the "basic" recording quality mode offers. 750GB hard disk will give you 375 hours in "high" quality and 300 hours in "best" quality. These will be about the only two acceptable recording modes you will probably use to get a reasonable picture.