S2 SA Tivo "Monte": Why?

[ALS2]

I guess in all the reading I'm doing here, I'm wondering one thing - What benefits do I get out of Monte-ing or adding scripts to my S2 SA Tivo?

The only 2 benefits I can see here, are the ability to download or upload programs to the unit, and being able to delete/add/undelete shows via my PC on the network.

Is that it, or is there something else I'm missing? I'd like to know what else I'm going to get as far as benefits of doing it, really.

I already have the Tivo lifetime sub'ed, and getting guide data through the network just fine.

In Monte-ing, I realize I will lose any software enhancements that Tivo will send down as they'll be blocked.

So, I guess I'm wondering, what else will I be able to do after a monte that my S2 SA Tivo will benefit from?

Oh, and an unrelated question, perhaps: Any way to make my tivo hard drive quieter and chug along less? The dang thing seems to ALWAYS be running, noisily I might add -- Or did I just put too crappy of a 120 gig drive in there?

Thanks!

[psxboy]

Well, one benefit of hacking your Tivo is the experience itself. If that isn't something that appeals to you, you probably shouldn't subject yourself to the torture and pain that inevitably comes along with a hobby such as this.

Another way to think about it: The Tivo is basically just another computer in your house, but one that you can't get access to via the network, can't plug a keyboard & mouse into... basically you can't do anything with this computer that Tivo Inc. hasn't made available via the remote. If you're like me, you don't like being told that you can't have access to the innards of this computer that you paid for & are hosting in your home. So I set about learning how it works and how I can make it do what *I* want it to do. Its been a rewarding experience, but if the only reason you want to do it is so that you can get caller-id on your screen or copy the latest HBO blockbuster to a DVD, and could care less how it actually works, then don't bother... go buy a separate caller-id unit and a set-top DVD recorder.

RE: The noisy HD. The dang thing IS always running... its just the nature of how the Tivo operates. It's constantly caching live tv, even when its in standy. Ergo the drive is always running.

Some drives are just noisier than others... blame the manufacturing process and design. Try a different brand or model of HD if the noise is too much for you. Also, the original Tivo drive probably had a padding-lined metal plate attached to the bottom of it. Not exactly a professional-grade noise suppressor, but it helps. Did you transfer that over to the new drive?

If all else fails, I think I remember seeing some threads here that discussed suppressing the noise in various ways. Try searching the forum.

-psxboy

[ALS2]

A very thoughtful reply, thanks.

Yeah, there's some thrill in hacking for me and I do find that's fun. I've done that with an xbox and enjoy that a great deal. But I also see no real reason to do it unless I'm going to benefit from the process, more than lose out.

For example, if I ever ebay this thing, or if I want the latest software updates from Tivo, I'm outta luck with a monte on it.

On the other hand, if there's features I'm going to use, that's worth it then. Caller ID, for example, I might actually like that and use it. Same with a built in RSS feed or weather report. That's the kind of stuff I hear rumblings about that I may use. That's what I was sort of hoping to hear, perhaps...What else folks have done since monte'ing their Tivos, aside from show extraction.

As for the noise, at least I know it's normal (I was hoping maybe one of the hacks would allow a defrag, haha). No padding on my original tivo drive so I'm stuck with what I got, I assume. This is a brand new unit, too. Weird.

Thanks for the reply! Anyone else?

[cojonesdetoro]

Access your Tivo via web interface and schedule shows remotely (on a cell phone, web kiosk, etc. .. considering security, of course).

Receive Emails on the Tivo

stream shows from your Tivo to a remote web browser

[ALS2]

Alright, that kinda stuff is starting to convince me now. :)

[malfunct]

For example, if I ever ebay this thing, or if I want the latest software updates from Tivo, I'm outta luck with a monte on it.

1st thing you would want to do is save the original drive with the original unhacked tivo image for a future date. That way if you want to e-bay it and not distribute hacks you pop in the original drive and bam you have a more or less stock tivo to sell.

As far as updates go keep watching the forum, I think you will see a script for updates coming fairly soon. In the abscence of that there is a couple different methods for installing the updates on a monte'd machine that aren't too difficult.