Newbie: Is this even possible?

[matts8008]

Here is my situation:

I just moved to the middle of nowhere and have DirecTV w/ a standard Hughes receiver, a stand-alone Series 2 Tivo, and DirectWay Internet service (no other broadband available). Because DirecWay sucks, Tivo cannot connect to the Tivo service to get the program data (making my tivo 99% useless to me). I cannot get phone service where I live.

So my question: If I buy an older DirecTV Tivo and hack it is there a script that will allow me to use the guide data from DirecTV in the Tivo or I am screwed and not going to be able to use Tivo at all without a phone line or capable broadband connection?

If there is a hack that will allow me to do this, can you please point me in the right direction as to which ones to install?

[j4hill]

If you get a Directv TIVO just use it. Your best deal is to have Directv insall a new TIVO Cheaper as well as better.

[matts8008]

I'm not eligible for a new DirecTV install (or free DVR) right now. After looking around the forums I realized that I'm actually trying to steal Tivo service since I cant connect to their phone or network service. I'm sure that doing this is a no-no, but are there any hacks that will allow it to be done?

[eastwind]

If you can make an internet connection with a computer, you can try to get your guide data by hooking up a serial PPP connection to the computer, which will then access the guide data via the internet and transfer it to the TiVo.

ew

[matts8008]

I can get the Tivo online w/ a USB NIC connected to a router going out through DirecWay, but it always returns an error connecting to the tivo service. Both Tivo and DirecWay know this is a problem and have no solution.

That being said, how will connecting the Tivo via PPP to a PC solve the problem? The Tivo would still access the Internet using DirecWay.

[eastwind]

I can get the Tivo online w/ a USB NIC connected to a router going out through DirecWay, but it always returns an error connecting to the tivo service. Both Tivo and DirecWay know this is a problem and have no solution.

That being said, how will connecting the Tivo via PPP to a PC solve the problem? The Tivo would still access the Internet using DirecWay.
I never said it would solve the problem, I said it was something you could try. I don't know if it will work or not. Another thing you can try is to connect via a cell phone (if you have cell phone service where you are). There are many things you can try, but I don't think there is a software hack to do what you want. If you're not tied to the SA TiVo box, you could get a DirecTV w/TiVo box or a DirecTV DVR (or is it PVR?) and you would get all your guide data directly from the birds.

ew

[matts8008]

If you're not tied to the SA TiVo box, you could get a DirecTV w/TiVo box or a DirecTV DVR (or is it PVR?) and you would get all your guide data directly from the birds.

I'm not tied to the SA Tivo - my original idea was to buy a DirecTV Tivo box to fix this problem. Getting my guide data from the satellite...do you mean the Tivo guide data? This is exactly what I'm trying accomplish - being able to get the guide data for Tivo w/out having to use a phone line.

As for cell phones - I have thought about trying that, but I would like to get a DirecTV Tivo anyway so I can record two shows at once, not have to use the Tivo IR blasters, etc.

[eastwind]

You won't be able to get the TiVo guide data, but you'll get all the guide data you need to use the DircecTV w/TiVo box.

Have you tried reducing the MTU of the TiVo to 1460?

ew

[PlainBill]

Matts8008, the quick solution to your problem is to get a DirecTiVo (perferably a Series 2 system OTHER than an R10). Since you are not eligible for any discounts from DirecTV, eBay would be a good place to look.

Ordinarily, a DirecTiVo must make an initial phone call to complete setup, but there have been reports that a level 2 DirecTV CSR can override this. Alternatively, by hacking the system you will be fool the DirecTiVo into thinking the phone call has been made.

As EW indicated, DirecTiVos get the guide information from the satellite.

PlainBill

[matts8008]

Ah ha! I think I finally understand.

If I buy a DirecTV Tivo on Ebay I can throw in my DirecTV card, take it to a friends house and make the initial call (or maybe get a CSR to override this), pay DirecTV $5 a month for a DVR, and my Tivo will function?

I was assuming that you still had to pay Tivo $12 a month if you have a DirecTV Tivo plus $5 a month to DirecTV, but I assume this is wrong?

Also, is there a recommended model to buy on Ebay? Right now I do not care about upgrading the hardware and such - I just want Tivo back!

[eastwind]

Right,
You take the SA TiVo out of service, and pay a monthly fee to DTV for every month you use the service. You're not going to be using TiVo service anymore, so you won't be paying them (cancel your account or let it lapse--I'm not sure how that works). What I meant when I asked if you were tied to the SA was "are you a lifetime subscriber or monthly?" ... You can avoid the monthly fee to DTV is you buy enough programming package from them (can't remember what level).

ew

[PlainBill]

I believe the Total Choice Platinum package includes free dvr service.

You may be able to persuade DirecTV to allow you to swap your card from your current receiver to the DirecTiVo, or they may require you to buy a new card. I strongly suggest you get them to override the call in requirement rather than taking it to a friends house; this MIGHT also halt the nag messages (probably not).

Any DirecTiVo from Hughes (HDVR2, SD-DRVxx), Philips (DSR7xx), Samsung, or RCA will work.

PlainBill

[eastwind]

I did a little reading about this issue, and it seems that if you get an older modem (DW4000) you can still use the service. Something about a proxy hardwired into the DW6000.

ew

[matts8008]

Right - the problem w/ Tivo and DirecWay is the built in proxy. The frustrating part is that the DW6000 and DW7000 modems have a proxy 'ignore' list that would fix this but no one at DirecWay knows how to get in and change it.

[PlainBill]

Right - the problem w/ Tivo and DirecWay is the built in proxy. The frustrating part is that the DW6000 and DW7000 modems have a proxy 'ignore' list that would fix this but no one at DirecWay knows how to get in and change it.
Have you tried Google? Or contacting Hughes?

PlainBill