Back From Vacation

[mabfan]

What she said. We're back, we're exhausted, and given that Readercon is this weekend, it's doubtful we'll catch up.

Plus...our TiVo is giving us trouble, not seeing a dial tone, and so hasn't gotten schedule info for about a week. Did anyone out there happen to record the documentary about Superman that A&E was showing? I think it was called "Look, Up in the Sky!: The Amazing Story of Superman."

Comments

[zonereyrie.livejournal.com]

Ah, that's an old Series1. Unfortunately those units often suffer modem failures if they get any kind of surge. It is a common problem with the S1 boxes. If the modem is dead there are some options:
1. Install a network card to put the unit on Ethernet - then you could use a WiFi bridge to use the WiFi.
2. Use an external modem connected to the serial port, normally used for serial control of a cable box. There is a hack for PPP over serial to allow the unit to use a regular old external modem.
3. Repair the modem. There are modem repair kits, but you need to be comfortable soldering on the TiVo's board. Or there are companies that will repair it.

Of course, if you're paying monthly and don't have lifetime on the unit, right now you can get a Series2 'free' after rebate, so you could just junk the old S1 and get a new box with all the new features. If you have lifetime though, it may be worth getting it working again.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

We do have lifetime service, and would like to keep using the unit if possible.

I bet it was the recent mini-powerouts that did this. Dang.

Do you happen to know of a company in the Boston area that would be able to repair the modem if we brought in the unit?

[zonereyrie.livejournal.com]

No place local that I know off. Here are some options:
http://www.9thtee.com/tivomodemrepair.htm
http://www.weaknees.com/tivo-modem-fix.php
http://www.digitalrecorder.com/main/catalog/wrapper.php?file=parts.html

9thtee.com and WeaKnees.com are well known and respected in the TiVo circles, I really don't know much about DigitalRecorder.com at all.

The simplest solution would be to get one of the stereo-to-serial cables and connect an external modem. Or, of you don't have a modem, just by the modem kit from WeaKnees.com, which has the cable and modem all configured.

Otherwise you could send the TiVo off to have the internal modem repaired to the site listed at 9thTee.com or DigitalRecorder.com.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

After checking all the links, we've ordered the kit from WeaKnees.com, as it seems like it'll be the easiest and most straightforward solution. It also means we'll be able to keep recording over the weekend, by simply using the manual recording ability.

I really hope this works out and I will keep you posted. I don't know who you are, or how you found out about my problem, but thanks so much for your willingess to help out.

[zonereyrie.livejournal.com]

I'm like the TiVo question fairy, I just pop up and try to field TiVo issues. :-) I use tivo_in_lj to spot them.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

OK, Mr. TiVo question fairy. :-) I installed the new modem this afternoon, and it seemed to work perfectly. I told it to make its daily call, and it did, and it apparently downloaded program info.

However...it still doesn't seem to know that it's done that. When I push the button to go to live TV, it tells me that it still needs to make a daily call for program info. But when I push the button again for the program guide, it shows all the program information! But the season passes haven't kicked back in yet.

So...any ideas what I need to do now? Just to try something, we've told it to make another daily call.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

Mr. TiVo question fairy:

Never mind. The TiVo is now working perfectly.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the lead to the modem kit. Do you take tips? Please let me know.

[zonereyrie.livejournal.com]

Ah, it was probably still indexing the data before.

I don't normally take tips - but if you want to throw a referral my way the next time you activate a TiVo, or buy some paid LJ time for tivolovers I wouldn't refuse. ;-)

Glad that it is working again for you!

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

or buy some paid LJ time for tivolovers I wouldn't refuse. ;-)

Done. You should now have 6 more months on that community.

And thanks again!

[zonereyrie.livejournal.com]

Indeed! And thank you!