Converting TiVo to a Video Recorder

[duerb]

I am wondering if a TiVo can be converted to mimic the basic record features of a VCR? My primary interest is to copy VCR tapes to TiIVo for playback. Is there an index system that can locate the start of a new recording?

[mrblack51]

you can do this with a stand alone tivo only. basically, add a channel for whatever method the vcr is connected to the tivo. then, use manual recordings to record from the vcr, and then use a show renamer to change the names.

[duerb]

This is all new to me as you have probably guessed. When you refer to a "stand alone TiVo" does this mean a unit that is not under subscription service? I haven't messed with the TiVo in some time. As I recall, I set it to record as if it was from a Sat Rcvr using the s-video input. It seems that I had to set it to record for a predetermined start time and could not stop the recording process at the end of the tape which resulted in "dead" space or a "clipped" recording, depending on the length of the source. In addition, I can't find in the User's Manual and reference to a "show renamer". The unit is a HDR212. I have a virgin 100GB WD 7200 RPM drive I was planning on adding if I was able to use the TiVo as a "VDR". I did back up the original drive before making any recordings or connecting to a phone line in preperation for adding the new drive but I did play with the unit to see if I could successfully use it strictly as a stand alone recorder. I have no interest in using it for "off air" recording.

I take it that there is no software available or hacks to the loaded software that will accomplish this and get rid of the TiVo menus. Of course indexing of some sort would be nice. My goal was to simply press record and then press stop.

Thank you for your prompt reply!

Duerb

[captain_video]

Tivos come in two basic flavors. You have the standalone version which means it is a separate box that is used to record basic cable or antenna signals. If you want premium cable or satellite then you need an external box as a source for your programming signal. The other version is what we call a DirecTivo or a Tivo with DirecTV service. A DirecTivo (or DTivo for short) can only record from DirecTV and cannot be used with any external source. This may seem somewhat limited until you realize that most major market areas are now served with local channels from DirecTV. A DTivo also has dual tuners which means you'll never have to worry about scheduling conflicts. You can watch one live feed while recording a 2nd or you can record two shows simultaneously while viewing a 3rd show that was previously recorded to the hard drive.

A standalone or SA Tivo can easily be used as a digital VCR-like device but it requires a monthly service fee whether you use the guide data or not. There may be a way around this but so far I haven't been given a definitive enough answer to indicate that this is true. There is a hack that allows you to connect a DTivo without the use of a phone line. This is not really a problem for a DTivo since all the guide data comes down the satellite feed. However, a SA Tivo gets all it's program guide info and software updates via the phone line so you need one connected. If you do not have a phone line connected you will get continuous nag messages indicating that your Tivo needs to phone home. If it does not do so within a specific time period (30 days I believe), the Tivo will essentially shut down and refuse to function as a PVR.

The nophone hack fools the Tivo into believing that it has made a successful call and will indicate that the last call status was successful when in reality it never dialed out. I believe there may be a version of the fixsub script that allows you to perform this hack on a SA Tivo, but again, I can't swear to it. If you run some searches in the forum using various keywords I'm sure you'll stumble on something eventually. Set up your search criteria to display the results as posts instead of threads or you'll be reading from now 'til Doomsday to find anything meaningful.

[duerb]

thank you for taking your time to assist me.