mrblack51
03-17-2003, 12:35 PM
This is meant to be the end all post on this issue. Under the current rules of the board, this hack is not appropriate for a TiVo board. While you can debate the semantics of the issue, this is neither the time nor the place. In order to answer as many questions as possible, so that they will not be asked in every single thread, I will attempt to answer them here.
1) Can I use a P3 / HU / Football card in my HDVR2?
No, not by default. As with all 3.x tivo system software running on directivos, the software on the HDVR2 requires a P4 card. There is no version of software for the HDVR2 that was ever released which allowed a P3 from the factory. No, its not going to happen either.
2) Can I modify the HDVR2 to allow use of P3 cards?
Yes. As with the Series 1 dtivos (SAT-T60, DSR6000, GXCEBOT), the check on the HDVR2 is in software. There is no hardware limitation on what needs to be done.
3) Can you tell me how to do it? Where can I download the necessary file? etc.
This type of modification is strictly DTV hacking. As such, it is not appropriate for this board.
4) Can you at least give me a hint?
hmmm, im thinking of a number between 1 and 10^9...i'll choose 53999999.
Oh, and you need to understand the differences between the series 1 and series 2 units. With those two pieces of info, you should be well on your way to figuring it out.
5) Can I apply this hack to an unmodified unit? Do I need bash to use this hack?
You must have bash access to use any hack. The reason is that the P3 hack, as well as any other useful hack, requires modifying and/or running unsigned executables. In short, no bash, no love.
6) Can I get bash on an HDVR2? How?
There are two ways. The first is to exploit the BASH_ENV hack as described in my thread (http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21103). The second is to hack the prom by pulling it off the board and replacing it with a modified one, and finally replacing the initrd (http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21976)
7) Can I use 25xtreme/T60xtreme/Tivolater/<insert automated upgrade tool for S1 dtivos here> on my HDVR2?
No. All those upgrades are for series 1 dtivos. You cannot use Series 1 stuff on a series 2 unit (see next question)
8) Can I use <insert hack here> on my HDVR2?
There are two possible parts to most hacks: a script and/or an executable. Since scripts are platform independant, they should be usable on any machine running the tivo software. Specifically, scripts for 3.1 series 1 units should work fine on the series 2.
The sticky wicket is the executable files. Since executables are platform dependant, you CANNOT share executables between platforms. If you have source, you can re-compile the source for your desired platform.
9) Is there an xtreme style image for the HDVR2?
Not currently. If someone wants to do it, it isnt impossible. In fact, its not all that difficult to automate the BASH_ENV hack application. However, since the prom is not flashable in place like we could do on the S1 dtivos, you will have to stick with 3.1.U5 or find a new hack for new versions.
10) can i use fixsub on my hdvr2?
well, if you read the answer to question 8, you should already know the answer to this, but i will answer it explicitly for those who can't figure it out. yes, you can use fixsub for 3.1 on a hdvr2. fixsub is just a script which sets some entries to proper values, so it is platform independant, and will work on both S1 and S2 dtivos (the HDVR2 is an S2 dtivo). as already was stated, to do anything meaningful (including a fixsub setup) YOU MUST HAVE BASH.
11) will fixsub take care of everything i need for the subscription/PVR functionality on my HDVR2?
no. just like the series 1 units with 3.1, the subscription is 2 distinct parts, a DTV authorization, and a tivo call in. whenever you run 'fixsub', it simply tells the tivo that it has done its monthly call in. however, you still need the DTV authorization for the PVR functionality. this is done via a tier. anything beyond this fact is considered dtv hacking discussion, and should be taken elsewhere.
12) <insert script name here> fails with something about env(TIVO_ROOT) or some other error, what gives?
well, if the script has been tested by others to work, then you probably didnt set up your hackinit to include the TIVO_ROOT environment setting. check the sticky thread on my hdvr2 hacking experiences to see what is needed.
EDIT: added #10,11 because people couldn't figure out what #8 meant. i really don't like the 'fixsub' nomenclature for 3.x and above dtivos, because it doesnt really fix the subscription, which seems to cause confusion. it would be more appropriately 'fakecall'
1) Can I use a P3 / HU / Football card in my HDVR2?
No, not by default. As with all 3.x tivo system software running on directivos, the software on the HDVR2 requires a P4 card. There is no version of software for the HDVR2 that was ever released which allowed a P3 from the factory. No, its not going to happen either.
2) Can I modify the HDVR2 to allow use of P3 cards?
Yes. As with the Series 1 dtivos (SAT-T60, DSR6000, GXCEBOT), the check on the HDVR2 is in software. There is no hardware limitation on what needs to be done.
3) Can you tell me how to do it? Where can I download the necessary file? etc.
This type of modification is strictly DTV hacking. As such, it is not appropriate for this board.
4) Can you at least give me a hint?
hmmm, im thinking of a number between 1 and 10^9...i'll choose 53999999.
Oh, and you need to understand the differences between the series 1 and series 2 units. With those two pieces of info, you should be well on your way to figuring it out.
5) Can I apply this hack to an unmodified unit? Do I need bash to use this hack?
You must have bash access to use any hack. The reason is that the P3 hack, as well as any other useful hack, requires modifying and/or running unsigned executables. In short, no bash, no love.
6) Can I get bash on an HDVR2? How?
There are two ways. The first is to exploit the BASH_ENV hack as described in my thread (http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21103). The second is to hack the prom by pulling it off the board and replacing it with a modified one, and finally replacing the initrd (http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21976)
7) Can I use 25xtreme/T60xtreme/Tivolater/<insert automated upgrade tool for S1 dtivos here> on my HDVR2?
No. All those upgrades are for series 1 dtivos. You cannot use Series 1 stuff on a series 2 unit (see next question)
8) Can I use <insert hack here> on my HDVR2?
There are two possible parts to most hacks: a script and/or an executable. Since scripts are platform independant, they should be usable on any machine running the tivo software. Specifically, scripts for 3.1 series 1 units should work fine on the series 2.
The sticky wicket is the executable files. Since executables are platform dependant, you CANNOT share executables between platforms. If you have source, you can re-compile the source for your desired platform.
9) Is there an xtreme style image for the HDVR2?
Not currently. If someone wants to do it, it isnt impossible. In fact, its not all that difficult to automate the BASH_ENV hack application. However, since the prom is not flashable in place like we could do on the S1 dtivos, you will have to stick with 3.1.U5 or find a new hack for new versions.
10) can i use fixsub on my hdvr2?
well, if you read the answer to question 8, you should already know the answer to this, but i will answer it explicitly for those who can't figure it out. yes, you can use fixsub for 3.1 on a hdvr2. fixsub is just a script which sets some entries to proper values, so it is platform independant, and will work on both S1 and S2 dtivos (the HDVR2 is an S2 dtivo). as already was stated, to do anything meaningful (including a fixsub setup) YOU MUST HAVE BASH.
11) will fixsub take care of everything i need for the subscription/PVR functionality on my HDVR2?
no. just like the series 1 units with 3.1, the subscription is 2 distinct parts, a DTV authorization, and a tivo call in. whenever you run 'fixsub', it simply tells the tivo that it has done its monthly call in. however, you still need the DTV authorization for the PVR functionality. this is done via a tier. anything beyond this fact is considered dtv hacking discussion, and should be taken elsewhere.
12) <insert script name here> fails with something about env(TIVO_ROOT) or some other error, what gives?
well, if the script has been tested by others to work, then you probably didnt set up your hackinit to include the TIVO_ROOT environment setting. check the sticky thread on my hdvr2 hacking experiences to see what is needed.
EDIT: added #10,11 because people couldn't figure out what #8 meant. i really don't like the 'fixsub' nomenclature for 3.x and above dtivos, because it doesnt really fix the subscription, which seems to cause confusion. it would be more appropriately 'fakecall'