Using SA subbed plus unsubbed in tandem

[stephens1]

I have two S1 SA tivos modified only with bigger drives for now. One has a lifetime sub, and the other one is currently used only for storage and DVR features. I would like to network them together, so that I can watch/record two different channel like the Dtivo can.

Is there a way to have Tivo-B access guide data from Tivo-A?


Thanks

[mrblack51]

the easier way would be to somehow capture the gziped slices after they are downloaded but before they are used and deleted. then you can load them on your other tivo

guide data extraction was accomplished by jpaqs over at avs, but he hasnt divulged any info last i checked.

as for getting them to work together "like a dtivo", thats not currently possible. specifically, you can transfer shows between the units without issue, but the conflict resolution is not really feasible at this point.

[stephens1]

ok...so would it be possible for me to capture the gzipped slices?

The first idea that comes to mind would be to use an old computer as a proxy inside my network. Tivo-A can DL through this old PC, which acts like an additional router by forwarding the request and download, but also stores a copy of the files. Tivo-B then accesses the files from that network drive, rather than from Tivo-A or the internet.

Does that sound feasible? Has it been done before? Is there a better, more automated way?

This could be fun.

[thinksnow]

Just posting here to make sure I get any replies, as I have a similar situation myself (1 subbed, 1 just sitting around.)

[mrblack51]

Originally posted by thinksnow
Just posting here to make sure I get any replies, as I have a similar situation myself (1 subbed, 1 just sitting around.)

in the future, use the "subscribe to this thread" option
it will email you when you get updates

[thinksnow]

mrblack51 , thanks for the info. Different Boards, different options, adn I'm still used to vB < 2.3

[embeem]

Originally posted by stephens1
ok...so would it be possible for me to capture the gzipped slices?


http://alt.org/forum/index.php?t=msg&th=45#msg_485

[sirfergy]

Checkout the HMO option that cwingert is working on.

[Delta]

Originally posted by embeem
http://alt.org/forum/index.php?t=msg&th=45#msg_485

This looks cool. For those of us that don't speak code, what's it do?

Thanks,

[n4zmz]

It is a module when loaded will copy any file created in the from directory to the to directory. So, when the tivo downloads something from tivo into the packages directory, it will copy it to the tmp directory.

Real useful, but will not work with the recorded snowballs.

[embeem]

blatent hint:

n4zmz, the snowballs are only a problem if one tivo has an avalanche the other tivo doesn't have

[n4zmz]

Yea, I know that, I just did not want to give out too much information. Like how to keep the tivo from having any avalance files.

Don't want everyone to buy a second tivo and not pay for service. I want TiVo to stay in business.

Now, if tivo could create some software where one subscribed tivo could send its guide information to another tivo on the same lan at a lower cost than the current...

[cojonesdetoro]

[i]Don't want everyone to buy a second tivo and not pay for service. I want TiVo to stay in business.[/B]

It's too late for that. A second SA1 Tivo is already useful when you have fixup30.tcl and mfs_ftp. The only thing is the listings go stale unless you tranfers drives once in a while. The real point here is that there is no doubt that tranferring guide data to another Tivo is BLATANT THEFT OF SERVICE. I bought a used SA1 on Ebay to use as a standalone unit to hold movies, hack up, etc. I even use it to manually record stuff on the tuner without listings or from my DVD player (netflix r0x!). I don't feel that I have stolen anything from Tivo.

BTW: I also delete movies when done watching but, still, I am in a dark grey area when it comes to DVDs.

[TroyCarpenter]

Originally posted by cojonesdetoro
It's too late for that. A second SA1 Tivo is already useful when you have fixup30.tcl and mfs_ftp. The only thing is the listings go stale unless you tranfers drives once in a while. The real point here is that there is no doubt that tranferring guide data to another Tivo is BLATANT THEFT OF SERVICE. I bought a used SA1 on Ebay to use as a standalone unit to hold movies, hack up, etc. I even use it to manually record stuff on the tuner without listings or from my DVD player (netflix r0x!). I don't feel that I have stolen anything from Tivo.

BTW: I also delete movies when done watching but, still, I am in a dark grey area when it comes to DVDs.

I admit I sometimes use my Tivo for rented movies also. However, I only do it when the rental time is up and I haven't had time to watch the movie. Like you, I delete them when I am done.

[David Bought]

Originally posted by cojonesdetoro
The real point here is that there is no doubt that tranferring guide data to another Tivo is BLATANT THEFT OF SERVICE.

Not if you own both TiVos. Similarly, you may transport your CD collection between your home and your car for free, and you may install a second cable TV jack in your bedroom at no charge - but sending your neighbor an illegal copy of either type of content is theft.

Reckless use of the "theft of service" claim (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/avatar.php?userid=51220) hurts morally righteous persons such as ourselves and weakens our cause. I urge you to use more caution in the future with regard to your postings on matters of ethics.

[sirfergy]

The reason you can make copies of things and put them in your car is because you can only use them in one place. If you copy tivo data from one tivo to another, you are now using both. Just because you aren't watching both at the same time does not mean the data isn't being used. That is the key difference.

[Taquita]

So, back on topic. Sorry for ignoring the distraction.

I thought I had this one figured out. I was going to edit the TClient-lib.itcl file and capture the slices after they downloaded, and move them to another machine. I was using v. 2.5.

Version 3.0 changed everything. The TClient-lib file doesn't really exist anymore, so there doesn't appear to be a good automated way to capture these any longer.

So now I am looking at trying to write a program that monitors the directory and captures whatever appears there and moves it to the other machine, whenever it appears. It could run as a background process, checking every thirty seconds or so (every minute is probably quick enough).

I have written plenty of code, and this seems easy, but compiling it for execution on the TiVo might be a challenge. What compilers work for this? I've only ever done Unix/Linux, DOS and a little Windows programming, so I'm not sure where to start on this (every Unix/Linux box I've ever used has come with a built in compiler, but I'm sure the TiVo doesn't have that).

Heck, the binaries to do this may already exist, and I am talking about rediscovering the wheel. If anyone knows of such a utility, please share it.

Of course, I haven't yet considered the other problems of convincing the other unit to read the slices, or that it doesn't need to nag about not making a call. I was planning on handling that in the TClient-lib file as well...

Well, one thing at a time. Thanks for any help or direction you can give.

[David Bought]

Originally posted by sirfergy
The reason you can make copies of things and put them in your car is because you can only use them in one place. If you copy tivo data from one tivo to another, you are now using both. Just because you aren't watching both at the same time does not mean the data isn't being used. That is the key difference.

So by your logic, if I buy a DSL line, I should pay them double the standard rate if I want to surf the web on my laptop as well as my desktop?

Does your power company increase your bill each time you install a new outlet?

[sirfergy]

Actually, the power company does increase my bill each time I use a new outlet, since that item is going to be using electricity. :)