Any ex-Tivo owners with a TV Drive ?

clayts · 23-01-2007, 03:07

Probably a no-brainer, but I'm loathe to say byebye to my Tivo after 6 years loyal service, and just wanted to ask any existing TV Drive owners who previously used a Tivo - was the switch to TVDrive worth it ?

How different is the operation ? eg : when chasing playback on a programme being recorded, can you select it from a menu (I watch a lot of cricket and obviously don't want to know the score !). At present I just press Menu on the Tivo before switching the TV on, and then I can select the programme from the Tivo menu and watch from the start.

Probably a dumb question, but this is important to me....Plus it will enable me to remove Freeview PVR (currently used for clashes as Tivo only has one input it can record from), Tivo and NTL cable box in one, which is obviously very aesthetically pleasing (plus the bonus HD channel to boot).

Cheers

bg999 · 23-01-2007, 09:01

I have had the TVDrive for a couple of weeks and now disconnected my Tivo after more than 4 years loyal service! You are able to select the recorded/recording programme from the TVDrive menu without seeing it first. Bear in mind that unlike Tivo, the TVDrive does not need to switch to the channel that it is recording, so unless you have left the box on the channel you should not see anything you don't want to!

And that (IMO) is the absolute major bonus over Tivo. 3 tuners, and therefore not having to watch Corrie, Desparate, etc, whilst recording them for my wife! Tivo was great but this functionality alone has almost made me forget it. I say 'almost' because you got more information on the programme guide with Tivo, the search facility was way better, and afaik there is no facility to record a programme that is stored in the buffer on the TVDrive. But after being a very basic Tivo user (no Tivoweb or anything like that) I have to say that I am more than happy with TVDrive so far. And it frees up a shelf in the TV cabinet!

pedg · 23-01-2007, 09:11

I did worry about changing from the tivo but as said above the fact it does not change channel when it starts to record is a godsend. No need to chop and change the tivo channel to the terrestrial from the bypass for eastenders for my wife so I can watch the football! Tivo now moved to another room and linked to a 20 quid freeview box from amazon where it is also recording eastenders etc so she can have a choice of where to watch it.

ShadowTD · 23-01-2007, 09:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by bg999

and afaik there is no facility to record a programme that is stored in the buffer on the TVDrive.

Hmm. Coming over from Sky+ (install Sat) - does this mean if I'm halfway through watching a program live and then press 'record' and go out I won't have the full program on the box when I get back, just a part-rec from when I pushed the button? Also, if I push pause I then have no way of saying 'I need to go out' and comitting that recording properly, so to speak?

Pants.

themelon · 23-01-2007, 09:34

Sureley Sky+ doesnt now record when you havent told it too either?? It never used too and doubt it ever would unless they training the boxes to be physic or tap phone conversations

If you press record half way through Top Gear for instance it will not record the whole show because it will have missed the first 30 minute.

damoedge · 23-01-2007, 09:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by themelon

Sureley Sky+ doesnt now record when you havent told it too either?? It never used too and doubt it ever would unless they training the boxes to be physic or tap phone conversations :d

If you press record half way through Top Gear for instance it will not record the hole show because it will have missed the first 30 minute.

However I'm sure if you were tuned into the channel from the beginning then had to go out and press record it would record the whole program. Retrospective recording, I'd be very surprised if the V+ didn't do this as my Fusion Freeview PVR does.

themelon · 23-01-2007, 09:57

So effectively they automatically record from the start of what ever you are watching regardless of whether you tell them too??

**Stuart C** · 23-01-2007, 10:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by themelon

Sureley Sky+ doesnt now record when you havent told it too either?? It never used too and doubt it ever would unless they training the boxes to be physic or tap phone conversations :d

The Tivo is continually recording, and, TBH, once you get used to it, it is quite handy. How many times have you thought "Oh, this is good. I wouldn't mind watching this again" or, "Oh, this is good, so and so would probably like it"? With Sky +, V+ and most PVRs and VCRs, this would be a problem: You will have missed part of the program. With the Tivo, it buffers up to an hour of video and when you press record part way through a programme, it moves the part of the buffer containing that beginning of the program to a permanent recording, then carries on recording.

Admittedly, once NTL pull their finger out and sort of VOD, this may not be so much of an advantage (I would expect at least the five terrestrial channels to be covered by VOD even if no other channels are, and think it's frankly appalling that they aren't currently).

I actually prefer that to the Sky+ system.

As for hard drive failiure? Well, I have a Tivo that is four (or possibly five) years old, and it's still on the original 40 gig drive.

damoedge · 23-01-2007, 10:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

The Tivo is continually recording, and, TBH, once you get used to it, it is quite handy. How many times have you thought "Oh, this is good. I wouldn't mind watching this again" or, "Oh, this is good, so and so would probably like it"? With Sky +, V+ and most PVRs and VCRs, this would be a problem: You will have missed part of the program. With the Tivo, it buffers up to an hour of video and when you press record part way through a programme, it moves the part of the buffer containing that beginning of the program to a permanent recording, then carries on recording.

Admittedly, once NTL pull their finger out and sort of VOD, this may not be so much of an advantage (I would expect at least the five terrestrial channels to be covered by VOD even if no other channels are, and think it's frankly appalling that they aren't currently).

I actually prefer that to the Sky+ system.

As for hard drive failiure? Well, I have a Tivo that is four (or possibly five) years old, and it's still on the original 40 gig drive.

The V+ box has 90 min buffer by default, I'm sure it can be altered in the settings somewhere so I guess I've answered my own question.

murkio · 23-01-2007, 11:20

My tvdrives records into a 90 minute buffer. So if I watch a programmes from the start, decide to record it and press the record button halfway through it will actaally retroactively record the start of the programme.

Doesn't everyone's do this? It was the person that installed the box who showed me this feature so surely they all do it?!

clayts · 23-01-2007, 12:08

Yes, that it one feature I would like - I often forget programmes I'd like to see but manage to salvage the missed programme by virtue of the buffer on Tivo (assuming, that is, it is on the channel !).

I think I'll be more able to get in the habit of programming stuff I do want to see way ahead of time - it's a bit of a kerfuffle with Tivo (which also has a 40GB drive, incidentally) - and given the 160GB drive this shouldn't be a problem.

I'm not too mithered by not having a search facility - I've rarely if ever used it on Tivo, so no loss there.

Thanks to bg999 and others for allaying my one niggling doubt - I'm off to book an install

ShadowTD · 23-01-2007, 13:17

Sky+ *is* always recording provided you turn the Instant Rewind function on in the settings. You can also save Pause TV recordings into the planner.

I'm glad that the TV drive at least does the former.

chrisdk · 24-01-2007, 09:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by murkio

My tvdrives records into a 90 minute buffer. So if I watch a programmes from the start, decide to record it and press the record button halfway through it will actaally retroactively record the start of the programme.

Does anyone have any idea if it just does this on the "visible" tuner, or does it buffer the other tuners as well?

murkio · 24-01-2007, 11:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisdk

Does anyone have any idea if it just does this on the "visible" tuner, or does it buffer the other tuners as well?

Just visible. How could it buffer the other tuners - they are only set to channels when set to record.

webmuppet · 25-01-2007, 17:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by murkio

My tvdrives records into a 90 minute buffer. So if I watch a programmes from the start, decide to record it and press the record button halfway through it will actaally retroactively record the start of the programme.

Doesn't everyone's do this? It was the person that installed the box who showed me this feature so surely they all do it?!

Can I clarify - if I watch from the start of a prog and decide after a while to record, my TVDrive only saves from the moment I hit the button and does not retrieve from the start of the program (lilke Tivo did)

This thread suggests that some people can make TvDrive record from the buffered portion and some cant? Anyone want to clarify...

(also, Id take guidance on the issue that if I pause TV, then try to go into the TVDrive menu system it un-pauses and jumps back to live TV. V annoying - can it be stopped?)