Tivo

[Gunny]

Hi Gang

I think I see the problem here, I am asking you all these questions and I am expecting answers, with out you knowing all the facts. My mistake not being complete here and giving you all the info.

I have 2 Tivo's, a series 1 on my main TV, and a series 2 on my extra TV, that I have connected to my computer. The series 2 is modified so I can use it through my computer, and record programs, copy, etc. The series 1 is on my main TV, that is not modified at all, and is not connected to my computer. All the experimenting with Tivo and different things I do with the series 2 and my extra TV.

I have no other cable providers, Comcast, etc. The cable provider here is Comcast, but I cannot get it. (long story). I have been with Directv for several years, and I have their extended basic package. I get like 95% of the channels, but no movie channels, Like HBO, Starz, etc.

Now maybe this makes it a little easier to picture what I have and what I would like to do with BTV. Sorry about not being exact enough this is one of my pet peeves too. And I am guilty of it, sorry.

Thanks and take care............Gunny

[jkirk]

technically direct tv is a cable company too despite the fact that the programming is received from a satellite.

btv will work with directtv tho it depends on your reciever as to how difficult this will be. does your reciever have a serial port? if not you will need a usbuirt or similar blaster.

you will also need a computer to run btv on and an installed tuner inside the computer. you will also need a vid card in the pc that can connect to a television. there is no need for the tivos since all recordings done by btv is saved ti the hard drive of the computer. if you prefer tivos you should not worry about btv. however if you are wanting an additional unit and it does not have to be a tivo or tivo compatible you can try btv or sage.

i would recomend a computer that is dedicated to btv(this is not a requirement tho)

[Gunny]

jkirk

I don't prefer Tivo. I like it, but there is always some thing new out there that a lot of the times is better. I am always open to new and better ideas. I like to learn about stuff like this. I never had the time to, now I do. I like to keep the old gray matter learning, and trying to figure out things. The old saying there is always a newer and better mouse trap being built. Well I want to be part of that.

I have been wanting to build another computer, so perhaps this is the right time. With all your help in what to have in it will help. I love projects like this, be the first time to build one with a special purpose in mind. I have a couple of ideas to start with and I am going to get onto it today.

Thanks..and take care...........Gunny

[Gunny]

Hi Gang

I am really sold on this BTV thing. But I wonder if it would be possible to read what some people that have it, and what they think of it, and would not mind answering a few questions about it. I am sort of catching on to how this works, but I am wonder really what the quality of the picture will be, and how the copies come out. I know this depends a lot on what equipment you have, to a degree, but what to expect just using the normal equipment.

Thanks and take care..........Gunny

[Gunny]

Hi Gang

Well I got my Beyond 4 yesterday, next is the TV tuner card.

Thanks..........Gunny

[Gunny]

Hi Gang

One question I wish some one could answer for me, I sort of asked it a while back. When I go to the channel listings and I but in I have Directv San Francisco, and my zip code and it comes back with a listing of channels, what channels can I tell I will get.???? I read some where that the card is capable of getting/having 125 channels.

I really would appreciate it if some one could answer that for me.

Thanks and take care...........Gunny.......

[MickP]

Originally Posted by Gunny

Hi Gang

One question I wish some one could answer for me, I sort of asked it a while back. When I go to the channel listings and I but in I have Directv San Francisco, and my zip code and it comes back with a listing of channels, what channels can I tell I will get.???? I read some where that the card is capable of getting/having 125 channels.

I really would appreciate it if some one could answer that for me.

Thanks and take care...........Gunny.......

Hey Gunny,

Firstly, my appologies if I've misunderstood the question but I'd reckon that the answer would be "whichever channels you get through your set top box at the moment".

BTV isn't likely to magically grant you the ability to access extra channels. From what I've read of your posts above (which admittedly wasn't all of them so I may be missing something), you will be needing to feed the svid output from your directv box into the svid in on the card that you get and use either a serial cable (if your stb has a connector) or an USB UIRT to change channels.

The Snapstream product info page has some info on how this kind of setup works. You can find a handy guide here.

I hope this helps.

Mick.

[jkirk]

Originally Posted by Gunny

Hi Gang

One question I wish some one could answer for me, I sort of asked it a while back. When I go to the channel listings and I but in I have Directv San Francisco, and my zip code and it comes back with a listing of channels, what channels can I tell I will get.???? I read some where that the card is capable of getting/having 125 channels.

I really would appreciate it if some one could answer that for me.

Thanks and take care...........Gunny.......

like i said before this is dependant on what your cable company offers. if btv shows a channel you do not get you must hide it via the web admin page.

[Gunny]

Hi Mick and jkirk

<<<you must hide it via the web admin page>>

jkirk you said this, and I don't know exactly what you mean. I think you was making a funny there. I think you both answered my question, and I think I know what you both are saying. If I run it through my Tivo, like Mick said, I will get what I normally get, nothing more. That is what I was sort of thinking, because what I get is controlled by Directv, and what comes down from the satellite is all there is. I don't know where I got that 125 channels.

Ok so I will be looking for the correct TV tuner card today.

Thanks and take care..........Gunny

[jkirk]

jkirk you said this, and I don't know exactly what you mean.

ok let me clarify it a bit

let's assume on your sat system you do not subscribe to the hbo,showtime, etc channels. in btv these channels will show up on the list even though you do not get this channel. so in the web admin pages(an html server that runs on btv to allow configuration of advanced features) you can "hide" those channels so you will not see them onscreen. you can also hide other channels(such as shopping channels) if you never want to view them also.

http://www.snapstream.com/products/b.../features6.asp

[Gunny]

Hi Jkirk

Now I gotcha. Sorry for me not understanding you. Yes I have done this on the Tivo for some channels I don't care for. Did not have my thinking cap on this morning.

Thanks and take care...........Gunny

[johnmacd]

Originally Posted by Gunny

I guess this is where I am getting a little confused. I think this is what you are saying, you go directly to your TV with your connections to you computer, you do not go through your Tivo box.

I think where I am getting this is I seen on the demo a set top box. I was assuming they were meaning a set top box if you had cable or a Tivo box if you was using satellite.

Am I correct so far.????

Thanks........Gunny

Gunny
after reading your posts, I have a question for you. Is your Tivo a Directivo? Or do you have a standalone Tivo conected to your Directv receiver?
In order to use BTV you will need a standard Directv receiver (not the one that have the Tivo and the receiver together)

[Gunny]

Hi Johnmacd

Well to answer your question, it is a 80 hr dual tuner, Hughes Directv DVR. I don't know why but this has always been sort of confusing to me. Because there is Tivo then there is Tivo. I have a single unit, connected to my dish, with twin cables, run through a splitter for my main TV and my extra TV. The main TV has the series 1, 40 hr Sony Tivo, and the second TV has the Hughes series 2 Tivo, this is the one I was going to use for the BTV. I hope this answers your question. Let me know if this does in fact answer your question.

Thanks............Gunny

[johnmacd]

I'm not all that familiar with the Directv Tivo models, but it sounds like you have the cable coming from the dish to the Tivo/receiver and then to the TV. If that is the case, you will need to get a regular receiver from Directv. You cannot use a satelite receiver that has Tivo as your receiver.
The reason is that since the Tivo and the receiver is combined, BTV and Tivo will end up fighting each other to change the channel. And most likely the Tivo will win.

[Gunny]

Well that sort of puts this one in the can, there is always a catch. I have found this so many times, what is too good to be true usually is.

Any one want to buy a BTV 4.????????

Thanks and take care...............Gunny