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General TiVo Info

Standard and Hidden Features of a Stock TiVo

These hidden features are included by default with your TiVo - no complicated modification involved!

  • 30 Second Skip can be activated by entering the correct key sequence on the TiVo remote.
  • TiVo Remote Control gives info on how to program the remote and shortcuts to navigate your TiVo much more efficiently - many buttons have special functionality depending on which TiVo screen is active.
  • Activating and Using Hidden Features such as 30-second skip, an on-screen clock, sorting the Now Playing list, and many others.
  • TiVo Online Scheduling allows TiVo users to schedule programs when they are away from home using the TiVo website.
  • Advanced Wishlists will allow automatic searching and scheduling of recordings based on actor name, title, director, or keyword. For example, you can use this to catch the first episode of every new show by recoding new shows that contain the word "pilot" (the title of the first episode of pretty much every show.)
  • Undelete Recordings is a feature released in version 7 of the TiVo software. If you have an older TiVo, you can still undelete with just a little more effort.
  • Swivel Search allows Series 2 and 3 Stand Alone users to select actors and see upcoming shows they are in, select shows and see similar series.
  • KidZone gives a protected viewing environment for children. Both recorded shows and live TV are filtered to allow only age-appropriate programs.
  • Overlap Protection solves the previous problem of one recording going over by one minute, and the entire second recording being not recorded.
  • Recently Deleted Folder is a special folder similar to the Windows Recycle bin where deleted shows are temporarily stored before being deleted permanently.
  • Cell Phone Recording Scheduling allows you to schedule the recording of a program from you mobile phone.
  • Switch between Program Guide Formats: you can choose between two different formats of program guides for viewing current and upcoming programs.

Home Network Features: Moving Recordings and other Content To and From TiVo

  • TiVo Desktop and TiVoToGo (TTG) allws for TiVo-to-PC transfers of recordings.
  • Built-in Web Server for Show Downloads: Every Series 2 and Series 3 TiVo has a built-in web server. Just point your browser to it, enter the username and password, and download shows without using TiVo Desktop software.
  • Multi-Room Viewing (MRV) allows TiVo-to-Tivo transfers. The shows recorded on one TiVo to be watched on another TiVo if the two are connected to the same home network.
  • TiVoToComeBack (TTCB) allows for PC-to-TiVo transfers. It's an unofficial feature of TiVo Desktop for sending videos to TiVo on your local network.
  • TiVo Desktop is software that allows interaction between your Windows/Mac computer and your TiVo. It is free software that allows you to manage recording schedules, copy recordings to your computer, and burn them to DVD.
  • Adding a Network Adapter to a Series 2 Stand Alone TiVo adds quite a bit of functionality and is easy to do. (If you have a Series 1 or a DirecTV TiVo, see the advanced networking instructions below.)
  • HME Applications Home Media Engine Applications are programs that allow your TiVo to interface with your home computer to add all sorts of functionality, such as playing music, bidding on Ebay auctions, reading news feeds, viewing stock prices, and interfacing with your home automation controller.
  • TiVoCast gives broadband-connected TiVos access to a free feature that delivers original video programming directly to your TiVo recorder over your home network.
  • TiVo Video Downloads allows the renting and download of videos directly to your TiVo.
  • Real Rhapsody can be accessed and controlled through the TiVo user interface.
  • Access the Hidden TiVo Web Server describes how to point your browser to your TiVo, log on the the factory-included webserver, and download shows.

Hardware Modifications

Adding a Network Adapter

Internal Hard Drive Upgrades

Preliminary Steps before the Upgrade

  1. Tools and Requirements
  2. Create a TiVo-specific Linux boot CD
  3. Disassemble TiVo
  4. Installing TiVo hard drives into your PC

Performing a Hard Drive Upgrade



External Hard Drive Upgrades

External SATA Hard Drive Series 3 TiVos have a port on the back that allows for the addition of an exteranl SATA (eSATA) hard drive.

PROM Modifications

PROM Modification is required to enable telnet/ftp access to newer TiVos, including the Series 2.5 Dual Tuner Stand Alone, Series 3 Stand Alone, and the DirecTiVo Hughes R10. In these models, the PROM chip (similar to a computer bios) can't be reprogrammed. The PROM chip contains restrictions that prevent the installation of third-party software and must be replace with a PROM chip that can be reprogrammed before gaining access to your Tivo.

Software Modifications

Modifying TiVo Software to add Additional Features

Third party Software for Modified TiVo

  • Command Line Utilities are essential because they add all of the essential Linux commands and utilities that are not provided by default on a TiVo.
  • TivoWebPlus is a web server that runs on TiVo. It allows complete access to the TiVo interface through a web browser. It also offers many advanced features and improvements.
    • Hackman is a Hack Manager plug-in module for TivoWeb and TivoWebPlus that allows the user to start and stop TiVo hacks, has the ability to edit startup scripts and config files, and includes support for xPlusz commands and backdoor codes as well as incorporating JJBliss's bufferhack, KeepUpTo and TCTimout utilities.
  • On-screen Caller ID using any of the available programs
  • MFS_FTP runs on the TiVo and allows the TiVo-to-PC extracting (and re-insertion) of recorded shows using a standard FTP client
  • TyTool is a program that runs on the PC and allows for the extraction, editing, and format conversion of recordings from some models of TiVos
  • End Pad Plus to Automatically add recording time before and after every recording (if there are no other shows recording)
  • Fakecall.tcl to prevent the daily call and eliminate "telephone line not connected" daily messages
  • Add6x is for Series 2 DirecTv TiVos to download the latest TiVo software upgrade slices so they are available on the drive for a manual upgrade.
  • Rbautch Enhancement Script is a script for modified Series 2 DirecTiVos that automatically downloads and install many different TiVo utilities.

Extraction of Recorded Shows (hacked TiVos)

  • Modify TiVoApp to disable encryption and add other features - This will prevent any future recordings from being encrypted when they are recorded
  • Unencrypt/Unscramble Existing Recordings - Instruction on how to "monte to a second kernel" to unencrypt / unscramble existing recordings that were recorded before a TiVo was modified to disable encryption. (In the long term, it's better to disable encryption so they are not scrambled in the first place.)
  • MFS_FTP runs on the TiVo and allows the TiVo-to-PC extracting (and re-insertion) of recorded shows using a standard FTP client
  • TyToMpg is a program that converts/demuxes the [TY] files extracted from a TiVo to standard MPEG files (that can then be edited/converted to another format.) It was originally designed primarily for HD DirecTiVos. The program will run under both Windows and Linux.
  • Ty1to2 is a PC program that converts TY files extracted from a Series 1 TiVo into a format that is compatible for re-insertion into a Series 2 TiVo; fixing the "no audio problem" that would otherwise occur.
  • TyTool is a program that runs on the PC and allows for the extraction, editing, and format conversion of recordings from some models of TiVos
  • Backup Shows TiVo Drive PC - This explains how to remove the drive from a TiVo, install it in a PC, boot to a Linux CD, and extract/backup the shows from the TiVo drive to another drive in the PC
  • TiVo Recording File Formats TY TY-Plus TMF - This page describes the differences between the file formats available when extracting recording files from a TiVo.
  • DeleteShows.tcl is a tcl script that runs on the TiVo and deletes stubborn shows that can not be deleted otherwise, due to failed mfs_ftp transfers to the TiVo.
  • TySuiteJ is a Java-based program that runs on your PC. It provides a GUI for extraction from a hacked TiVo and conversion to other video formats.
  • Burn Shows to HD-DVD to preserve the show in its original, high definition format.

Programs that run on your PC

  • EtiVo - a Windows program that offers Automatic Re-encoding and cataloging of TiVo shows.
  • Install the TiVo drive in a PC and Back-up shows to another hard drive
  • MovieLoader is a HME application that initiates transfers between two TiVos using MFS_FTP. Movie loader is a work-around for hacked DirecTiVos that do not have the MRV feature available.
  • Telnet - requirements needed for safely running Windows Telnet. Also provides download info for TeraTerm Pro.
  • TiVo Publisher for Windows Home Server - installs as a service that makes your WHS music, photos, and videos shares browsable from any TiVo that supports home networking; it is similar to TiVoServer but is for Windows Home Server operating system.
  • TiVoDotNet - a Windows service that runs on any PC on the same network as the TiVo. It sends out a TiVo beacon (just like the TiVo desktop software does) and provides transcoded video content to a S2/S3 TiVo that supports MRV. You just point it at a directory with videos in it (any video that can be played by ffmpeg), and go to your TiVo and watch!
  • TiVoServer - allows you to stream about any video file you have directly to you TiVo from your computer.
  • tmf2ty_cfg - a Windows program that converts TMF files (extracted shows) to TY files that are easier to modify and convert to other formats.
  • tyffmpeg - ffmpeg with TY encoding support. This tool can be handy for converting directly from .mpg or .avi or .vob to .ty/.ty+
  • TyShow - Windows DirectShow filter/codec that allows playback of extracted TY files (native TiVo format before they are converted to mpeg) using Windows Media Player.
  • TySuiteJ is a Java-based program that runs on your PC. It provides a GUI for extraction from a hacked TiVo and conversion to other video formats.
  • TyToMpg - a program that converts/demuxes the TY files extracted from a TiVo to standard MPEG files (that can then be edited/converted to another format.) It was originally designed primarily for HD DirecTiVos. The program will run under both Windows and Linux.
  • TyTool - a program that runs on the PC and allows for the extraction, editing, and format conversion of recordings from some models of TiVos.
  • TivoStream - A Java HME streaming video server that lets you stream video (mpeg2/h.264 mpeg4) to your Series 3 TiVos from your computer; no transcoding or file copying to your TiVo is required.
  • kmttg is a Perl/Tk program that automates TivoToGo (TTG) transfers; it has the ability to download, create metadata, decrypt, run comskip & comcut (commercial detection and removal), and re-encode multiple shows you select from your Tivos all in 1 step.
  • TiVo Decoder GUI - a TiVo Decoder GUI is a GUI front end (written in Visual Basic .NET 2005) for the TiVo Decoder utility that converts TiVo files into standard mpeg2 files which can then be used to produce a playable DVD. (Windows)
  • TiVoizer: Interface around FFMPEG for conversion of video files for use on a TiVo. (Macintosh)
  • iTiVo - a Macintosh OSX front-end interface to your Series 2, Series 3, and TiVoHD device. It can be used to download shows from your tivo to your computer. You can then view those shows on your computer when away from home. Furthermore, it will convert those shows to smaller files, compatible with portable devices such as the iPhone, so that you may view your favorite shows on your iPhone. (Macintosh)
  • TiVo Butler - monitors multiple TiVos on the network and organizes the shows into a readable and searchable list on your computer. Downloads can be scheduled and rules/smart groups can be configured to download programs as they are recorded. (Macintosh)
  • TiVo NowPlaying Widget A Mac OS X widget that will retrieve a list of the recorded shows and their descriptions from your TiVo.

Troubleshooting

Technical Info

External References

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