I would be interested to know if WK's techs have tried what has been suggested/requested (connect a TIVO to a tv or computer via an analog to digital converter without the satellite dish connected and without any activation) to see if the tv or computer can view the recorded items.

Sure - if the unit can play recordings, then you can grab them on a computer with a video capture card.

Yes - that's not a problem at all. Imagine if your dish came down for some reason - DirecTV wouldn't want a good customer locked out of the programming on a DVR.

I am thinking about purchasing your TwinBreeze Complete G3 kit to add an extra drive to my unit. Once the drive is added how does the system recongnize it/format it/use it?

Hello,
I *think* this might be my first post...
I have a 3.5yr old Phillips DSR704 (2-tuner TiVo) I LOVE my Tivo!

My issues:
1) I am running out of room, as this unit only has 38 hours. I know the solution for #1 is to buy a BIGGER Hard Drive, and I am ready to do that.

2) My Tivo is starting to Power Off & On by itself and, well - since I did read this page before posting, my Hard Drive is beginning to wear out.

But my question about #2 is more about 'software' issues, IF that is a 2nd issue at all.
My tivo will tell me that it can't record a program because, "this episode will not be recorded. Check 13 SA13 in Channels You Receive, or call DirecTV to order". 13 is MY CBS station AND I record Letterman EVERY nite of week!
Tech people at DirecTV have told me that my hard drive is wearing out. -> Is that what is happening?
I DO want to ++increase the size of my Hard Drive, but with the issues that I've tired to explain above, do I need to do something else besides getting a bigger Hard Drive? Do I also need NEW TiVo software installed on any new hard drive that I purchase?

THANK YOU so much in advance for ANY info/advice that you can offer,


Scott
Modesto, Ca

Which models are these?

Originally, DirecTV had this equipment manufactured by several outside companies based on the engineering plans they drew up with TiVo. Eventually, the started branding the units in-house.

Here is a list of all Standard Definition DirecTV TiVos, roughly in release order:

First generation
Philips DSR6000, DSR6000r, and DSR6000r01
Sony SAT T-60
Hughes GXCEBOT and GXCEBOTD

Second Generation
Hughes HDVR2 (sometimes called HDVR3), SD-DVR40, SD-DVR80, and SD-DVR120
Philips DSR7000, DSR704, and DSR708
Samsung S4120R, S4040R, and S4080R
DirecTV R10

What's the difference between the first and second generations?

All of these units have dual tuner support. The first generation units could hold two drives on their internal bracket; for the second generation, you need a TwinBreeze or other bracket to install a second drive. The second generation has USB ports, but they're turned off by DirecTV. The second generation has a faster processor that allows for faster software, and for the Folder feature among other things.

What can fail in these units?

Hard drives, since they are spinning all of the time, are the most likely components to fail inside these units. Also, fans, power supplies, tuners, and entire motherboards can fail. Except for motherboards, the parts are easily replaceable.

Drive failures

The most typical signs of drive failure are: TiVo is rebooting, TiVo is stuck on "Powering Up...", TiVo is stuttering or freezing, and TiVo is taking much, much to long to complete on-screen processes. In those cases, a replacement hard drive almost always fixes the problems.

Overheating

Generally, just a bad fan, and replacements are available.

Dialing problems

Lots of things can cause dialing problems, but the top two offenders are a bad modem, and VoIP. Each of these can be overcome with an external TiVo modem kit.

Just nothing at all on the screen

If you get nothing at all on-screen when you power up the TiVo, you likely have a bad power supply. Replacements are available for most DirecTV TiVos.