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TiVo

Our video recorder didn't work properly, and anyway trying to record from digital TV was a pain because you had to program the set-top box and the video... so we never recorded anything and cursed when we missed stuff that looked interesting. Time to let TiVo take over.

In November 2000 we purchased a TiVo. TiVo records TV programmes on to a hard disk, rather than to VHS tapes, which gives it a number of advantages: the ability to pause live TV (TiVo always records what you're watching into a 30 minute "buffer" which you can pause to rewind); and because you don't have to insert tapes, TiVo can use spare space to record programmes it thinks you might like.

Other features: TiVo makes an 0800 (toll free) call each night to pick up messages, software upgrades and two weeks of TV guide — the latter giving you a good electronic programme guide. This makes scheduling a recording a matter of selecting the programme name from the screen. You can also schedule "season passes" -- telling TiVo to record all episodes of some programme. You can also watch something TiVo has recorded while it is recording something else.

TiVo is the best "living room" piece of electronics I have ever bought. It sits there and just works. The manufacturers have thought hard about the issues involved and they've come up with a system that makes good decisions. (For example, if TiVo speculatively records something you might like, that uses up disk space. If space is required for something you have explicitly asked TiVo to record, your request takes higher priority over TiVo's guesses, so your programme will get recorded and Tivo's is deleted.) Sure, I've got lots of ideas for making it better :-) , but for a piece of high-street consumer electronics doing complicated stuff, it does a very good job.

We use TiVo with OnDigital (digital TV through a terrestrial TV aerial), and we really do use it. I almost never watch live TV now -- I always go to the list of what TiVo has recorded and pick from that. In fact, even if there is something live on TV I want to watch, I'd rather miss the first 15 minutes so that I can skip the commercials using TiVo's 30 minute buffer.

TiVo learns what you like by hints you give it. When watching a programme you can rate the programme by pressing a thumbs up or thumbs down button on the remote control. It mostly works, but you have to remember to keep using it to guide TiVo's choices. At first it throws up some very strange suggestions, but over time it does a good job of finding shows you like. Well, it has for me.

An example: one night I was chatting away to Jane about something or other, and Jane pointed out "you do realise that we've missed the football match?" (which we wanted to watch). Dang. But we looked up and TiVo's recording light was on and it was recorded the game for us. Woohoo. I love it when that happens.

A note about disk space. There's enough disk space for something like 20 or 30 hours of good quality recordings. That space has been fine for us, but there are two options for getting more space. The first is to use TiVo's built-in ability to back up it's recordings to your video. The other option is to take TiVo to pieces: it's a PowerPC running Linux, so you can upgrade the disk or add a network card. I'm looking forward to doing this one day, but it's not something I need to do right now.

Downsides. First, the size of unit we purchased (Thompson Scenium). It's big (but at least it's not ugly). Another complaint, but not specific to TiVo, is the way the box talks to our set top box. It seems there's no standard for TiVo to use to change the channels on the set top box. In has to mimic a remote control, and use infrared. We have it set up to blast infrared around the room to change the channel on the set top box. I'd say it's about 75% successful. The other option is to run a cable from the back of TiVo to sit just in front of the IR receiver of the set top box. That may be more reliable, and I'll give it a go one day.

I'm told there's going to be a software fix for this soon: sometimes TiVo misses the end of a programme, because channels may not run to schedule or even run to the same clock. Seems there will be the option to add a few minutes to the end of a recording to reduce this problem.

We've found that if we go away for a few weeks, or if the disk does fill for a while, TiVo stops making suggestions and automatically recording programmes. We've sort of come to rely on TiVo recording stuff for us, so we miss it when we have to manually tell TiVo to record programmes. We've fixed this by rebooting TiVo and it starts making suggestions again.

Tivo works, and it would be painful having to go back to using a normal video recorder again. But it is expensive: the unit itself is the price of a top of the range video recorder, and then there's an on-going £10 a month charge for updates (alternatively you can pay £200 for a lifetime subscription — this is the lifetime of the box, not your lifetime). I guess we're being punished for being early-ish adopters. It may be that in the future all set top boxes have hard disk recorders in them, but for now TiVo's the only one and it means that I get to watch SO many more Simpson's episodes...

Update June 2002: We've been living with TiVo for over a year and a half, it seems like it's time to update this article on how we're getting on.

We've switched from the IR blaster to using the IR cables, and that's improved TiVo's ability to change channel. It's more reliable for us now. We've also had a number of software upgrades from TiVo (this just happens, you don't have to do anything), and there's more functionality: we can add running time to a recording to avoid missing the end of a program; we can now specify actors/directors that we like; and generally the user interface has become better.

A few months ago we were able to test out TiVo customer support. I've complained about the cost of TiVo, but the customer support goes some way to justify that cost. I called up because TiVo was having a problem with changing channels, and TiVo support identified the problem as actually being with our set-top box. But they went that step further and gave me the right sequence of actions to update my set-top box (made by a different manufacturer).

In summary: it still works, and we'd still never go back.

Add a comment

  • Recording on TIVO
    I think TIVO is almost useless because if a program is being recorded you can't watch ANYTHING ELSE other than something previously recorded. i.e. if there are 2 programmes you want to watch and the times overlap you can either watch one of the or record one but you can't watch one AND record the other!!!??
    Posted by ERIC MAIR on 2002-06-18 17:14:00

  • useless? Haa!
    You are missing the whole point. I never watch shows live any more. At least 25% of every show is commercials. I use it as a super-intelligent, highly programmable and very fast VCR. If you want to watch and record at the same time, you could do this with a signal splitter, flip your TV's source from Tivo to "raw" input. But why? How much freaking TV do you need to watch anyhow? Christ...
    Posted by Richard Cook on 2002-06-20 01:07:52

  • Get it sorted
    or you could get another Sub for your provider (sky for just £12 extra /pm) and get a cheap box and duel LNB for the dish and you have the problem licked. This is what I did because my daughter was complaing she couldn't watch the powerpuff girls while i was recording Voyager. now she watches all her favourite cartoon channels in her bedroom while I can record and watch anything already recorded anywhere else around the house (oh.. add a few powermids for control)
    Posted by Phil John on 2002-06-29 15:29:19

  • TiVo
    Hi Phil, In all fairness, it's not TiVo's problem really, it's just that I thought I should point out something that is a problem to me and maybe to someone else. I've just discovered SKY's "extra digibox" offer which will indeed solve the problem. It will also allow me to select my own viewing as opposed to Herr Cook (above)who appears to be satisfied with what ever is freaking spoon-fed to him!
    Posted by Eric Mair on 2002-06-29 19:14:33

  • Tivo
    Changed my job recently and bought a Tivo as I was missing my favourite TV shows due to a late finsih time. Never looked back. Have not used the VHS since I got the Tivo.
    Posted by simon hewitt on 2002-08-12 22:53:23

  • Digital Tuner
    It really needs a Digital Tuner built in and the ability to record multiple programs at the same time.
    Posted by Giles on 2002-08-13 01:57:37

  • TiVo rocks
    I have had my eye on one for ages, then finally caved when Comet.co.uk had them for £149... Bought one, then found out Unbeatable.co.uk had them for £99.98... So I bought another :) I have to tell you that this page is instrumental in helping me make the decision to buy, so thanks for that. I have only had it about a week, and it has revolutionised the way I watch TV. All you complainers: don't knock it til you've tried it. Cheers.
    Posted by Ross Brown on 2002-10-16 20:55:29

  • Difficult to get hold of TiVo
    I've decided that I'd like a TiVo, unfortunately, Dixons had them advertised at £99.99 but no longer stock them as they're a discontinued line, Powerhouse still charge £230. Does anyone know why they're so hard to buy?
    Posted by Lee Harding on 2002-11-11 14:49:43

  • TIvo
    I'm with Ross, Tivo is superb. I even got rid of my SKY, there is plenty of good programs on normal TV & Tivo will never forget to record them. It's a shame that they have become so hard to get hold of now, I was going to get my parent on for Xmax.. :-(
    Posted by Keith Johnson on 2002-11-23 12:06:14

  • TIVO Frustration
    We have 2 Time Warner cable boxes, one so we can watch anything we want, whenever we want and one for the TIVO. IT NEVER WORKS!!!!! I am so frustrated. We used to record it onto the computer, and while it was a grainy playback to the TV, it ALWAYS WORKED! Tivo was a HUGE waste of money.
    Posted by AMO on 2002-11-26 02:11:36

  • TiVo & Thomson
    In response to Lee Harding's post about why they are hard to come by, it is because Thomson don't manufacture the hardware any more. I just bought one last week (had my eyes on one for ages) for £150 from Comet. Excess stock = cheap prices. It has revolutionaised the way I watch TV (never watch live now, and hate not being able to pause!!). Those who knock it, try it first eh? Also, don't worry about the lack of hardware affecting the future of TiVo. End of 2002 should see 1 million subscribers, and with Sky's backing and the huge following in the US, TiVo as a service is here to stay.
    Posted by Graham Potter on 2002-11-26 14:24:45

  • bennettselectrical.co.uk have tivo available for £149, and comet still have some in stock at £150 - ring them to find out which stores do.
    Posted by JR on 2002-11-27 16:47:15

  • TiVo
    You can have my TiVo for £100 eric_mair@madasafish.com
    Posted by Eric Mair on 2002-11-27 17:07:04

  • Re recording on Tivo
    I'm a simple chap and easily confused. Can anyone tell me does the Tivo unit have a built in tuner or does it take a feed from the TV/Digibox etc?
    Posted by Peter Ross on 2002-12-04 13:34:21

  • Re recording on Tivo
    Peter, It takes a feed from a tv or digibox - it doesn't have a built in tuner Jane
    Posted by Jane on 2002-12-04 14:58:55

  • Tivo does have an inbuilt tuner
    but it's an analogue one. If you're digital only then the 'only record one programme at a time' problem is minimised by the amount of programmes that are repeated on digital channels and Tivo will spot those for you.
    Posted by new tivo owner on 2002-12-09 15:23:38

  • WHo knows where I can buy a TiVo ?
    Any ideas of current stockists ???????
    Posted by Corinne on 2002-12-27 15:05:14

  • let me know
    I have been looking for a tivo for 6 weeks now. if anyone sees any around, please tell me. Is there any chance that they are going to bring out a new model (inbuilt DVD player?) and that is why there is a shortage?
    Posted by nick on 2002-12-28 16:05:41

  • Tivo is tops
    Just celebrated a year of owning a Tivo and have never looked back.I bought mine from internet company 'Quality Electrical Direct' (for about £270) which I would also thoughly recommend for any electrical stuff ( good value, fast efficient delivery and excellent customer care) My only slight moan with Tivo is if you have all the family using it, it tends to dilute your preferences also its too easy to wipe off something even if someone in the household might want to watch it. What would be nice is our own personal screens like we have on the family computer. That aside I am delighted with Tivo. Everyone else can keep their VCRs and DVD recorders and I quite like the exclusiveness of ownership! All the undecided people out there go out and buy one you wont regret it. (sorry mine is not for sale at any price!)
    Posted by Rene Le Long on 2002-12-29 11:27:18

  • update
    oops that was a typing error I meant to say I got mine for £175, Incidently just checked www.QED-UK.com and it seems that they're not selling them anymore either making them still pretty exclusive so if you can get them anywhere for £100 or so why not buy in bulk and sell them on!
    Posted by Rene Lelong on 2002-12-29 19:43:24

  • Tivo/internet
    I would definitely purchase one if it had a cd-dvd player/burner and internet features. I currently have webtv, now msn tv. Isn't tivo an msn product also? Then, I could get rid of my vhs, dvd, and webtv machines; that would be cool.
    Posted by Paul on 2003-01-01 22:19:50

  • TiVo Rocks!
    I think you did a great job of saying what makes the TiVo such a useful (and NECESSARY) device. Your article is dead on, minus the part where you say the unti makes 1-800 calls at night. It actually calls a local number, so if you are in a rural area you may have to make long distance calls to use TiVo. I know it do, but IT'S WORTH IT!
    Posted by Chris Decker on 2003-02-03 02:11:14

  • Phone call updates
    It is definitely a freephone number here in the UK, that must be one of the UK/US differences.
    Posted by Jane on 2003-02-17 18:43:14

  • Can't find a Tivo? Blame Sky, who are the UK agents - seems they'd rather you bought Sky+. Don't quite know what Tivo were thinking when they did that deal. Woof!
    Posted by Stew on 2003-03-12 14:25:49

  • can't find one
    I'm still looking to buy a Tivo unit, having persuaded my wife, but can't find a stockist. I tried the sites listed above. Any ideas??
    Posted by jeremy on 2003-04-20 19:38:53

  • Not True
    Eric, you can easily record one show while watching the other...go into Messages and Settings and turn your TiVo to standby...then use your regular TV to control what you watch. Personally I couldn't live without my TiVo.
    Posted by Chris Decker on 2003-04-20 19:53:36

  • TiVo Recording Quality
    I had read that the recording quality is not that good unless you select "best". But then if you do that, it cuts down how many hours are available to record. Is this correct?
    Posted by Brenda Thompson on 2003-10-03 00:42:27

  • Re: TiVo Recording Quality
    The default quality is just fine for me: I think there probably is some loss of quality, but if so, I just don't notice it. I wouldn't describe it as "not that good". It's subjective. Take a look here - http://www.garysargent.co.uk/tivo/faq/faqentry.php?faqid=24 "Best" does cut down the number of hours available to record, as "Low" increases the number of hours.
    Posted by Richard on 2003-10-03 08:25:53

  • Watching Tivo in another room
    We bought a Tivo off ebay a few months ago after seeing one at a friend's house and haven't looked back since! Still much better than Sky+. With Sky we had a TV-link and were able to control Sky from another room. Does anyone know how to do this with Tivo? Would a digisender work? Thanks
    Posted by Suzanne on 2003-11-10 14:05:46

  • Watching Tivo in another room
    We bought a Tivo off ebay a few months ago after seeing one at a friend's house and haven't looked back since! Still much better than Sky+. With Sky we had a TV-link and were able to control Sky from another room. Does anyone know how to do this with Tivo? Would a digisender work? Thanks
    Posted by Suzanne on 2003-11-10 14:05:49

  • Very Easy to watch both
    It's so easy to watch TV and record at the same time! Just put your TiVo in Standby and it will record and allow you to use your cable coming into your TV to watch whatever you want...if you don't have your TiVo setup in this way there are tons of other ways to both watch and record at the same time!
    Posted by Chris on 2003-11-10 14:10:51

  • TIVO IN THE UK
    I couldent just stand by and see how misarable all your lives are if you dont have tivo!, please although they are no longer for sale in the UK, they are avalible at http://www.tivoland.com They are better than sky+ any day cos you dont make mourdock any richer than you have to.! -Chris
    Posted by Chris Clark on 2004-07-04 22:15:01

  • Freevo
    Find a geek and get them to make one for you http://Freevo.sourceforge.net
    Posted by Paul on 2004-10-20 19:59:02

  • TiVo drive upgrade kits
    Just fitted a TiVo drive upgrade kit from the guys at http://www.xtendedplay.co.uk Now I'll never get away from the TV!
    Posted by Terry on 2005-08-05 14:52:33

  • Welcome back Tivo ;)
    Well Ive just tried a sagem topup TV PVR now available in argos. But after 2 days Ive had enough.. I've welcomed back my tivo with open arms - something that knows what I like to watch and season passes (something only sky+ (I believe) and tivo have)!
    Posted by Andy on 2005-09-18 20:38:57

TiVo recorder from Thompson
TiVo recorder from Thompson

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