2 HDVR2's Newbie Question

[Lightsout]

I currently have one Hughes Directv TIVO (HDVR2) with an upgraded hard drive. I am getting a second delivered on Saturday. If I understand correctly, Directv will not be turning on the home media option on any time soon. :mad:


My ultimate goal is to share programs between the Tivo's and get its updates via the web. Is this currently possible using a hack? Can anyone point me to a how-to guide for this? Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

[RKone]

Try this thread (http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32184).

[Lightsout]

I just read the guide and I have a few questions...

1. The guide asumes that you have a hacked Tivo with the USB enabled and the network device driver loaded. I have a USB 2.0 Linksys 10/100. Can anyone point me to the documentation on how to do that?

2. Is it possible to have the DirecTV Tivo download its updates via the web rather than a phone line?

3. Does anyone know if DirecTV will be releasing a new version of the Tivo software that will support what I was originaly asking for?

[RKone]

1) Yes (http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28921).

2) Guide updates are downloaded through the satellite service. OS updates must be downloaded through the phone line. Tivo service usage patterns are always sent through the phone line. You do not need to download OS updates, and you do not need to send your usage patterns off to tivo in order for your DTivo to work.

3) No.

[Lightsout]

Thanks for the guide RKone!

Just a couple more questions though:

The Guide says: Prom is ONLY for tivos that have a new prom which requires soldering

Question: What disadvantages will I have if I do not have a new prom in my Tivo?

Question: What is the difference between U5, Monte, and Prom? Sorry if this is a stupid question.

Thanks again.

[PlainBill]

Thanks for the guide RKone!

Just a couple more questions though:

The Guide says: Prom is ONLY for tivos that have a new prom which requires soldering

Question: What disadvantages will I have if I do not have a new prom in my Tivo?

Question: What is the difference between U5, Monte, and Prom? Sorry if this is a stupid question.

Thanks again.

Brief background: The prom on the TiVo main board has code which verifies the kernel is properly signed. The kernel checks the file system to make sure no files have been altered, deleted, or added. The idea was to make TiVos unhackable.

There are three ways to get around this:

1. Use the U5 kernel, an early version which does not do a good job of checking the file system. This does not work with the latest software.
2. Replace the prom with one which does not check the kernel signature. Thie requires unsoldering the old prom.
3. Monte, which loads the U5 kernel, which then loads a modified latest kernel, which does NOT check the files.

It's better to have a modified prom, but it's probably not worth the extra work.

PlainBill

[RKone]

I didn't make the guide, I just gave you the link. Credit goes to a lot of people who contributed to the community.

The problem with installing hacks onto your tivo is that its software will detect and erase them. By default, only tivo certified software is allowed on your tivo. There's two ways to get around this, updating your PROM to allow your tivo to run a modified OS, or exploiting a bug in the 3.1u5 Tivo OS which in turn allows you to run the modified OS.

The PROM option only works for the few early adopters who were brave enough to desolder and flash their tivo's bios with hacked versions. Everyone since will want to use the monte option (both are available on the same cd) - the only difference is that it takes a little longer for the Tivo to start.

The monte exploits the bug in the 3.1U5 software. As a software fix, it doesn't require any modifications to your hardware like the PROM method does.