Using Tivo for Fins games? - Page 3

IAFINFAN · 04-09-2004, 10:52 PM

I just recently got Tivo myself, what do you have to do get an upgrade to more recording time. I had a heart attach last December and my family got me a Phillips Direct TV Tivo system but it only has 35 hours of recording time. I would just love to be able to have 100 hours.

Is it easy to do, or is it a lot of work. If it is easy approximately how much would it cost.

Muck · 04-09-2004, 11:11 PM

You can get an 80GB drive for about $70 and a 120GB drive for about $90.

For IDE drives, I tend to favor Samsung if the prices are close. Good drives, and they're the only ones who offer a 3-year warranty on all drives (the other big guys switched to 1-year in Oct '02).

I doubt it's much more than simply swapping drives. How 'bout it??

IAFINFAN · 04-09-2004, 11:24 PM

I am an electronics moron, is this something that I can install or is this something a Best Buy or American would have to do. $90 isn't bad.

grooves12 · 04-09-2004, 11:49 PM

Okay, the drive upgrade process is really easy. Basically, you need to be able to understand how to do two things... burn a CD... and install a drive into your computer/Tivo.

People have created tools to properly format the drive for use in a Tivo. So, basically you download the .ISO file and burn it to a CD. You then connect your new hard disk to your computer and boot from the CD you just burned... follow the instructions on-screen...

Then all that is left is to disconnect the hard disk from your computer, install it in your TiVo, and watch TV.

How-To's here: http://www.newreleasesvideo.com/hinsdale-how-to/

grooves12 · 04-10-2004, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Muck
Thanks for the reply.

Also, about how large is one 3-hour, unedited game at the highest quality?? And I saw something you said about not losing any quality after compression. That is just huge.

Okay... to answer that question, you need a little background info on how the DirecTivo works and why the quality is sooooo much superior to a standalone Tivo or other archiving options.

As most of us know, DirecTV advertises ALL-digital broadcast. Many are also aware of the fact that DirecTV uses Mpeg2 encoding for the audio/video. But, DirecTV has HUGE Multi-million-dollar Mpeg encoders that are able to encode the video we watch at an extremely high quality and use as little bandwidth as possible before they beam it over the satellites to us. The DirecTivo boxes DO NOT have an Mpeg encoder in them as all other digital recording solutions do. This means the DirecTivo is recording the digital stream EXACTLY as it is being sent over the satellite.

This means you have no options for the level of quality being recorded to the disk. But, is ALSO means you are not going through a digital --> analog --> digital conversion as you do with a standalone Tivo (or any other digital recording method), and thus are not losing any quality in that process. So, A DirecTiVo ALWAYS records at highest quality, which is 480x480. BUT, it looks MUCH better (exactly as you see it on-screen when watching DirecTV) than when you use a TiVo at 720x480 (highest quality) ... and takes up about half the space.

The developer of the extraction tools was obsessed with quality, so he made it so the Video/audio streams NEVER go through any Digital to analog conversions during the whole process to get it to DVD. It just does some organizing of the sync bits to prepare it for DVD. But, almost all other methods for getting video from your TV to a DVD require AT LEAST 1 analog conversion... and in most cases about 3. That equates to a big loss in quality and an increase in size (as you are using a $30 analog-digital encoder in your PC/Tivo/Software designed o be FAST over all-else, compared to DirecTV's encoders which are meant to have the highest-quality and smallest size.)

.... hope some of that made sense. BTW: the tool and some information FAQ's on it can be found here: www.tytool.com

grooves12 · 04-10-2004, 12:07 AM

I never did answer your question though. But, recording size varies depending on the channel/content and the amount of bandwidth DirecTV allocates to that channel or how much compression they decided to use for that broadcast before beaming it over the satellite.

But on average it comes out to about 800MB per hour of video. As you know a 3-hour game really only equates to about 1.5-hours after cutting commercials/halftime, so you can fit about 3-4 games on a DVD (without commercials)

grooves12 · 04-10-2004, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by IAFINFAN
I am an electronics moron, is this something that I can install or is this something a Best Buy or American would have to do. $90 isn't bad.

Well, for "electronics morons"

there are people out there that will sell you upgrade kits ready to go. You still have to install the drive yourself, but any "moron" can do that. But, it will alleviate you from the headaches associated with trying to get the Drive formatted properly, if you don't think you are capable of doing that. You will have to pay a little bit more than you normally would for a Disk Drive but it comes pre-leaded and ready to pop in.

(You can either do an ADD-IN drive, where you keep you current hard drive and add a second [you might need a bracket that will mount the second drive depending on which model you have] or you can get a replacement drive where you just take out your old drive, pop in the new one and watch TV.)

http://www.9thtee.com (for TiVo upgrade parts/software/instructions)

But, I suggest you read the how-to's and see if you think you can handle it... because if so that is the cheapest way to go.

Snickersbps · 04-10-2004, 12:34 AM

this may not be fin related enough to put it in 'Flipper's Finest' but can we archive this somehow? very good info to have around

Muck · 04-10-2004, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lando's Folly
With TIVO, I saw Janet's boobie 6 times.. :o

Gives new meaning to the term "boob tube".

**HI-Low!!**

Muck · 04-10-2004, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Snickersbps
this may not be fin related enough to put it in 'Flipper's Finest' but can we archive this somehow? very good info to have around

Good idea. When it runs its course....that will be it's final resting place.

Good info all around. Really alleviates the task of doing the initial research. Thanks again.

One last question......about the phone lines again. Does DirectTV or TiVo absolutely require you to be connected via telephone line??

grooves12 · 04-10-2004, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Muck

One last question......about the phone lines again. Does DirectTV or TiVo absolutely require you to be connected via telephone line??

Well, technically... yes. But in reality... no.

The DirecTivo receives ALL the info it needs over the Satellite. The only reason it dials into the phone is to send your viewing habits to Tivo so they can sell them to broadcasters and to upload your PPV purchases to DirecTV.

So, if you don't order PPV's using the remote (you can do it from DirecTV's website) there is no need for the phone line. However, after 14 days you will begin getting a daily nag message saying your machine needs to dial in.

So, you can either just live with clicking OK once per day, or you can look around on some of the websites I listed previously, and you will find a way to hack the software to never bug you again.

(I haven't had mine hooked up in 2 years and no nags.

)

Muck · 04-10-2004, 01:46 AM

Thank you VERY much. I just wanted to make sure I could legally have the service without the phone line. I'm all about hacking hardware and such. But I like to be on the up and up when it comes to rent and utilities.

Ferretsquig · 04-10-2004, 02:36 AM

Or you can just spend 50 bucks on a video capture card for your pc and record it to your hard drive. Added benifit is you can convert it to a more compressed format to fit a game on a cdr.

Barbarian · 04-10-2004, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ferretsquig
Or you can just spend 50 bucks on a video capture card for your pc and record it to your hard drive. Added benifit is you can convert it to a more compressed format to fit a game on a cdr.

they had somethign like this in the May edition of Computer Gaming World (Page 106: How to... Turn your PC into a media center)

Great article with pictures on what to do and everything, really walks you through the steps so even the "Technologically Challenged" can pull it off pretty easily.

FinaciousOne · 04-10-2004, 09:02 AM

Thanks for all this info man.
It sounds like the Series 1 would be easier to link to a PC, depending on how complicated and how documented that USB hack is for the Series 2. Is Series 1 still available? Also how does the HDTV that is supposed to be coming for DirectTV tivo effect all this. I'd hate to set up then wish I'd waited for the new. What do you think? Thanks again.

04-09-2004, 11:11 PM	#32
Muck Now completely imaginary Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Elsewhere Age: 29 Posts: 30,186 Thanks: 47 Thanked 486 Times in 158 Posts FH Badges Total Awards: 1	You can get an 80GB drive for about $70 and a 120GB drive for about $90. For IDE drives, I tend to favor Samsung if the prices are close. Good drives, and they're the only ones who offer a 3-year warranty on all drives (the other big guys switched to 1-year in Oct '02). I doubt it's much more than simply swapping drives. How 'bout it?? __________________ Goodbye

04-10-2004, 12:07 AM	#36
grooves12 Seasoned Veteran Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 848 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I never did answer your question though. But, recording size varies depending on the channel/content and the amount of bandwidth DirecTV allocates to that channel or how much compression they decided to use for that broadcast before beaming it over the satellite. But on average it comes out to about 800MB per hour of video. As you know a 3-hour game really only equates to about 1.5-hours after cutting commercials/halftime, so you can fit about 3-4 games on a DVD (without commercials) Last edited by grooves12; 04-10-2004 at 12:13 AM.

04-10-2004, 01:46 AM	#42
Muck Now completely imaginary Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Elsewhere Age: 29 Posts: 30,186 Thanks: 47 Thanked 486 Times in 158 Posts FH Badges Total Awards: 1	Thank you VERY much. I just wanted to make sure I could legally have the service without the phone line. I'm all about hacking hardware and such. But I like to be on the up and up when it comes to rent and utilities. __________________ Goodbye

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04-09-2004, 11:24 PM	#33
IAFINFAN Seasoned Veteran Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 760 Thanks: 3 Thanked 20 Times in 14 Posts	I am an electronics moron, is this something that I can install or is this something a Best Buy or American would have to do. $90 isn't bad.

04-09-2004, 11:49 PM	#34
grooves12 Seasoned Veteran Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 848 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Okay, the drive upgrade process is really easy. Basically, you need to be able to understand how to do two things... burn a CD... and install a drive into your computer/Tivo. People have created tools to properly format the drive for use in a Tivo. So, basically you download the .ISO file and burn it to a CD. You then connect your new hard disk to your computer and boot from the CD you just burned... follow the instructions on-screen... Then all that is left is to disconnect the hard disk from your computer, install it in your TiVo, and watch TV. How-To's here: http://www.newreleasesvideo.com/hinsdale-how-to/

04-10-2004, 12:34 AM	#38
Snickersbps Pro Bowler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Cali Age: 24 Posts: 1,034 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	this may not be fin related enough to put it in 'Flipper's Finest' but can we archive this somehow? very good info to have around

04-10-2004, 02:36 AM	#43
Ferretsquig Perennial All-Pro Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Carolina Posts: 4,848 Thanks: 0 Thanked 138 Times in 109 Posts	Or you can just spend 50 bucks on a video capture card for your pc and record it to your hard drive. Added benifit is you can convert it to a more compressed format to fit a game on a cdr.

04-10-2004, 09:02 AM	#45
FinaciousOne FinHeaven VIP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: TX transplanted from FL Posts: 2,766 Thanks: 65 Thanked 87 Times in 47 Posts FH Badges Total Awards: 2	Thanks for all this info man. It sounds like the Series 1 would be easier to link to a PC, depending on how complicated and how documented that USB hack is for the Series 2. Is Series 1 still available? Also how does the HDTV that is supposed to be coming for DirectTV tivo effect all this. I'd hate to set up then wish I'd waited for the new. What do you think? Thanks again.