[smackboy1]

I'm currently using a TiVo Series 2 w/ Dish and I'm thinking of making the leap to HD. If I upgrade to a ViP 622 my intention is to use the TiVo to record all the SD shows and the 622 to record all the HD shows. Will this work? One of the things I'm wondering is if there will be problems if the 622 is controlled by the TiVo IR blaster while I'm using the 622 remote to watch HD shows. Are there any problems using a TiVo and 622 together on the same TV? TIA.

 

[Jim5506]

I have my SA TiVo series 2 connected to my 622. If you want IR Blaster control, you must connect it via composite to the TV1 output, because TV2 is UHF ONLY.

At first I had it on TV2 and programmed the 622 to record at the same time as the TiVo, then erased stuff from the 622. When that got old I moved it to TV1.

I did not even have to change the IR codes when I switched from a 301 to the 622. Just plug it in and go.

 

[smackboy1]

I have my SA TiVo series 2 connected to my 622. If you want IR Blaster control, you must connect it via composite to the TV1 output, because TV2 is UHF ONLY.

At first I had it on TV2 and programmed the 622 to record at the same time as the TiVo, then erased stuff from the 622. When that got old I moved it to TV1.

I did not even have to change the IR codes when I switched from a 301 to the 622. Just plug it in and go.

Thanks. I'm looking at the jacks of the ViP622 and I'm a little unclear.

It looks like TV1 has composite, component, S vid and HDMI outputs. TV2 has composite output. I can't read what the coax outputs are. I think you are saying that for the TiVo IR to work, it has to be connected to TV1 (the HD tuner?). So what happens to the TV2 tuner? Can the 622 record off the TV2 tuner? I see a 2nd remote for TV2, so is the problem that the TiVo doesn't have the IR codes for TV2 or is it some other issue?

Is there any way I can watch TV live or recorded on the 622 while the TiVo independently goes about changing channels and recording SD shows off the second TV output? I suppose another option is to pay extra to keep the 301 just for the TiVo so that it's entirely independent from the 622?

Also, I know the TiVo can only record SD, but is the video quality recorded off the 622 better than off the 301? Does the TV1 output simultaneously to HDMI, composite, component and S vid, or does it shut off certain outputs i.e. can I record off the S vid while watching off the HDMI at the same time?

 

[ChuckA]

Lots of questions there and some misunderstandings about the 622 also. All three tuners (2 sat+1 OTA) on the 622 can record HD or SD programs (and at the same time). You can't use the IR blaster to control the TV2 output because the remote for TV2 is UHF 0nly (not IR). All output connections on the 622 are hot at the same time. The TV2 coax output that you can't read the label on is a modulated "Home Distribution" output to which you can connect any number of remote TVs.

 

[TBoneit]

For the $60 a year fee I'd keep the 301 with the Tivo since your IR blaster will control TV1 which is the same as you would be feeding to your HDTV you lose the ability to change channels or watch a previously recorded show on your HDTV while the Tivo is doing its thing. OTOH anything with a hard drive is temporary storage only. 200 hours of SD or 30 hours of HD isn't enough?

IMHO: Over the years I've found that a DVR is like a closet, the more it can hold the more unused junk accumulates. If I haven't watched it in a couple of weeks the likelyhood I'll ever watch it is nil.

 

[smackboy1]

For the $60 a year fee I'd keep the 301 with the Tivo since your IR blaster will control TV1 which is the same as you would be feeding to your HDTV you lose the ability to change channels or watch a previously recorded show on your HDTV while the Tivo is doing its thing. OTOH anything with a hard drive is temporary storage only. 200 hours of SD or 30 hours of HD isn't enough?

IMHO: Over the years I've found that a DVR is like a closet, the more it can hold the more unused junk accumulates. If I haven't watched it in a couple of weeks the likelyhood I'll ever watch it is nil.

My TiVo has 180 hrs and it's full, I'm archiving to PC. Don't even get me started on my closets Plus I suspect the TiVo software is better than the 622.

I've searched and I don't suppose there is a hack or device which would enable TV2 to accept IR remote signals. Or enable TV2 to output in HD?

 

[whatchel1]

My TiVo has 180 hrs and it's full, I'm archiving to PC. Don't even get me started on my closets Plus I suspect the TiVo software is better than the 622.

I've searched and I don't suppose there is a hack or device which would enable TV2 to accept IR remote signals. Or enable TV2 to output in HD?

There are discussions about the way the 2 diff DVR's work. Some like the Tivo better since it is an interface that even a 6 yr old can use. Others like myself prefer the 622 since it allows me to do the searching for what I want instead of trying tell me that just because I like a certain program that I will also want to DVR this other one that is like it. As far as hacks go you are not supposed to mention things like that on this forum. Anyway I doubt there is one since the TV2 remote is only accessed thru an RF connection in the back of the unit.

 

[CricTic]

I moved from a Tivo series 1 to a 622 a couple of months ago, so I was dealing with the same issue. I couldn't find a solution with the Tivo connected to the 622 that I was happy with. I ended up hooking it up to an antenna and an old TV upstairs, but I almost never use it now.

I was ambivalent at first, but I really don't miss the Tivo at all anymore. The SD picture quality is actually better, because the video signal isn't being decompressed, recompressed, and decompressed again (the 622 stores the satellite stream in its native format, so the signal is only decompressed once).

 

[slowmo]

When I had cable with a SA8300HD DVR, I continued to use my Tivo 2 because of the SA's crappy interface especially for searching / wishlists, etc.

However, once moved to 622 (and 625), we've disconnected all Tivo's. I still like the Tivo functionality but the Dish boxes are close enough. Plus, the SD resolution (and audio) is much better as noted above.

 

[Matt20V]

I briefly had my ReplayTV DVR hooked to the TV1 S-video with the IR-blaster for control. I gave up.

First, I ended up with hours of the screen saver recorded on the ReplayTV. Even when I had the 622 set up to leave power on all the time, it still went to sleep.

The other problem was that whatever you watched on TV1 got recorded on the Replay if there was a show trying to record at that time. Basically when the Replay was recording you could not watch anything on the 622 TV1. I didn't invest in all this HD gear to not use it.

Ideally, the 622 would provide TV2 control (and S-video/ stereo output) via IR and a different set of codes (there are ways to hack custom codes to a Replay, not sure about Tivo) but that isn't the case. I suppose an IR to UHF bridge might do the trick but I haven't looked and don't even know if such a thing exists. With only modulated coax output for TV2 I'm not that motivated. What is the picture quality like?

I have found it necessary to be careful about filling up the 622 HDD, it doesn't take too many HD recordings to max it out. Having the Replay record all the Star Trek reruns and Speed channel races in SD would have helped. We still have a ReplayTV in the bedroom with it's own receiver and that has offloaded much of those recordings. Now if I could just network them to watch those shows in the Living room! Actually, if the 622 eventually supports networking/ in-house sharing I'll throw one in the bedroom too.

-Matt