Tim Downie wrote:
My trusty old Sony VTX-D800U has just gone on the blink and I think
unless I can bring it back from the dead, I'm looking for a new one
to mate with my TiVo.

It's just saying "no signal" but the signal is fine (things
daisy-chained downstream are working well). I've tried unplugging
it/replugging it etc. but that hasn't worked.

With a view to bringing it back for the dead I thought I'd have a look
inside the case for anything obvious. Well, I found this.

http://www.zen31010.zen.co.uk/images...wcapacitor.jpg

I know these things aren't normally worth attempting to repair but because
TiVo have just about giving up supporting new Freeview boxes for the TiVo,
I'd like to repair it if possible. I'm no expert in this field but would I
be right in assuming that capacitor in the centre of the picture isn't
right?

If it is U/S, would it be a likely cause of the symptoms? It has 2200
microF, 10V, HD(M), 105C and HD243 printed on it.

Would a replacement be easy to source and where would be the best place to
source just one capacitor like this?

TIA

Tim

On 15/09/09 20:39, Tim Downie wrote:

With a view to bringing it back for the dead I thought I'd have a look
inside the case for anything obvious. Well, I found this.

http://www.zen31010.zen.co.uk/images...wcapacitor.jpg

I know these things aren't normally worth attempting to repair but
because TiVo have just about giving up supporting new Freeview boxes for
the TiVo, I'd like to repair it if possible. I'm no expert in this field
but would I be right in assuming that capacitor in the centre of the
picture isn't right?

Yep, capacitors (especially within PSUs are a common failure)

If it is U/S, would it be a likely cause of the symptoms? It has 2200
microF, 10V, HD(M), 105C and HD243 printed on it.

Would a replacement be easy to source and where would be the best place
to source just one capacitor like this?

Maplin, if you can't get same voltage, higher will be OK.

Actually they don't seem to do much of a range of single electrolytics
now, this one has tags rather than plain wire leads

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=12040

Maybe someone can offer you one from their odds and sods bin?

On Sep 15, 8:39 pm, "Tim Downie"
wrote:
Tim Downie wrote:
My trusty old Sony VTX-D800U has just gone on the blink and I think
unless I can bring it back from the dead, I'm looking for a new one
to mate with my TiVo.

It's just saying "no signal" but the signal is fine (things
daisy-chained downstream are working well). I've tried unplugging
it/replugging it etc. but that hasn't worked.

With a view to bringing it back for the dead I thought I'd have a look
inside the case for anything obvious. Well, I found this.

http://www.zen31010.zen.co.uk/images...wcapacitor.jpg

I know these things aren't normally worth attempting to repair but because
TiVo have just about giving up supporting new Freeview boxes for the TiVo,
I'd like to repair it if possible. I'm no expert in this field but would I
be right in assuming that capacitor in the centre of the picture isn't
right?

If it is U/S, would it be a likely cause of the symptoms? It has 2200
microF, 10V, HD(M), 105C and HD243 printed on it.

Would a replacement be easy to source and where would be the best place to
source just one capacitor like this?

TIA

Tim

Maplin order code DT72P should do the job if you have a convenient
store, otherwise I find eBay can be cost effective for small
quantities of parts when including P&P.

On 15/09/09 20:53, airsmoothed wrote:

Maplin order code DT72P should do the job

Heh, their own search page failed to turn that up ...

With a view to bringing it back for the dead I thought I'd have a look
inside the case for anything obvious. Well, I found this.
http://www.zen31010.zen.co.uk/images...wcapacitor.jpg
I know these things aren't normally worth attempting to repair but because
TiVo have just about giving up supporting new Freeview boxes for the TiVo,
I'd like to repair it if possible. I'm no expert in this field but would I
be right in assuming that capacitor in the centre of the picture isn't
right?

Yup

If it is U/S, would it be a likely cause of the symptoms?

Quite possibly, bad capacitors were a major cause of computer failures
from about 2001 onwards due to a stolen recipe for the electrolyte by
chinese companies, which caused just the effect you're seeing.

http://badcaps.net shows the same effect on motherboards

I had a motherboard myself with this problem, and i've diagnosed a few
more over the last couple of years (my "dead" machine failed just over
3 years ago, and by all accounts, it had lasted far longer than most
with this issue). It drove me sodding mad for almost 18 months as it
became increasingly less stable - the "bulged crown" effect was almost
imperceptible on mine unless you compared the others nearby with a
light source to bounce a reflection off the top !

Would a replacement be easy to source and where would be the best place to
source just one capacitor like this?

Any electronics shop, Maplin etc should be able to provide one.

On Sep 15, 8:57 pm, Andy Burns wrote:
On 15/09/09 20:53, airsmoothed wrote:

Maplin order code DT72P should do the job

Heh, their own search page failed to turn that up ...

Yeah, it's probably great if one wants a bangin' car stereo for one's
Corsa 1.0 with blue lights in the washer jets but a pain in the butt
if you want to find a capacitor :-/

On 15/09/09 21:37, airsmoothed wrote:

On Sep 15, 8:57 pm, Andy wrote:
On 15/09/09 20:53, airsmoothed wrote:

Maplin order code DT72P should do the job

Heh, their own search page failed to turn that up ...

Yeah, it's probably great if one wants a bangin' car stereo for one's
Corsa 1.0 with blue lights in the washer jets

Funny you should mention that, it did turn up a 1Farad capacitor for
smoothing power supply to car stereos, $DEITY knows how big it actually
is, but it comes with a 4 digit LED display ...

In message , Tim Downie
writes
Tim Downie wrote:
My trusty old Sony VTX-D800U has just gone on the blink and I think
unless I can bring it back from the dead, I'm looking for a new one
to mate with my TiVo.

It's just saying "no signal" but the signal is fine (things
daisy-chained downstream are working well). I've tried unplugging
it/replugging it etc. but that hasn't worked.

With a view to bringing it back for the dead I thought I'd have a look
inside the case for anything obvious. Well, I found this.

http://www.zen31010.zen.co.uk/images...wcapacitor.jpg

I know these things aren't normally worth attempting to repair but
because TiVo have just about giving up supporting new Freeview boxes
for the TiVo, I'd like to repair it if possible. I'm no expert in this
field but would I be right in assuming that capacitor in the centre of
the picture isn't right?


Spray it with WD40 (well, don't)

If it is U/S, would it be a likely cause of the symptoms? It has 2200
microF, 10V, HD(M), 105C and HD243 printed on it.

Would a replacement be easy to source and where would be the best place
to source just one capacitor like this?

Should be easy - Maplin, CPC, RS etc

You're more likely to find one in a 16v range, I probably have some (and
if not will be putting in an RS order in the next few days)


TIA

Tim

--
geoff

In article , Tim Downie
writes
Tim Downie wrote:
My trusty old Sony VTX-D800U has just gone on the blink and I think
unless I can bring it back from the dead, I'm looking for a new one
to mate with my TiVo.

It's just saying "no signal" but the signal is fine (things
daisy-chained downstream are working well). I've tried unplugging
it/replugging it etc. but that hasn't worked.

With a view to bringing it back for the dead I thought I'd have a look
inside the case for anything obvious. Well, I found this.

http://www.zen31010.zen.co.uk/images...wcapacitor.jpg

I know these things aren't normally worth attempting to repair but because
TiVo have just about giving up supporting new Freeview boxes for the TiVo,
I'd like to repair it if possible. I'm no expert in this field but would I
be right in assuming that capacitor in the centre of the picture isn't
right?

If it is U/S, would it be a likely cause of the symptoms? It has 2200
microF, 10V, HD(M), 105C and HD243 printed on it.

Would a replacement be easy to source and where would be the best place to
source just one capacitor like this?

Try these:
http://uk.farnell.com/panasonic/eeuf...10v/dp/9691952


The cap that has gone is in the power supply section so needs to be a
special type designed for switched mode supplies (low ESR/ESL, high
ripple, high frequency) or it wont work as well and will have a short
life.

The one linked to fits the bill and I understand that Farnell do free
post for small web orders so you'll get 5 of these (min order qty) for
just over a quid.

The ones linked to from Maplin don't show a spec so there's no way of
knowing if they are up to the job.

Any stock problems and these will also work and have a slightly better
spec (at a slightly higher cost):
http://uk.farnell.com/panasonic/eeuf...10v/dp/9691979

--
fred
BBC3, ITV2/3/4, channels going to the DOGs

Tim Downie wrote:
I know these things aren't normally worth attempting to repair but
because TiVo have just about giving up supporting new Freeview boxes for
the TiVo, I'd like to repair it if possible.

Actually, that's wrong, they haven't given up. :-)

The TiVo remote control database (and suggestions etc..) is still in
active support for newly released set-top boxes in DTT, Satellite and Cable.

For really new set top boxes, and with access to a Philips Pronto
learning remote, the IR commands of the original remote control can be
captured and sent to TiVo Inc.

http://www.garysargent.co.uk/tivo/stb-unsupported.htm

There is a lot of assistance on the UK section TiVo Community. We are a
helpful bunch compared to Sky who ru(i)n the phone line support.

Good luck with the cap repair!

--
Adrian C

In article ,
Tim Downie wrote:
I know these things aren't normally worth attempting to repair but
because TiVo have just about giving up supporting new Freeview boxes
for the TiVo, I'd like to repair it if possible. I'm no expert in this
field but would I be right in assuming that capacitor in the centre of
the picture isn't right?

If it is U/S, would it be a likely cause of the symptoms? It has 2200
microF, 10V, HD(M), 105C and HD243 printed on it.

Yes. The 105C suggests it's in a SMPS and that is the most likely source
of trouble.

--
*Plagiarism saves time *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Adrian C" wrote in message
...
Tim Downie wrote:
I know these things aren't normally worth attempting to repair but
because TiVo have just about giving up supporting new Freeview boxes for
the TiVo, I'd like to repair it if possible.

Actually, that's wrong, they haven't given up. :-)

The TiVo remote control database (and suggestions etc..) is still in
active support for newly released set-top boxes in DTT, Satellite and
Cable.

Um, where's this list of STBs that they're now supporting (that's newer than
2 years old)?

For really new set top boxes, and with access to a Philips Pronto learning
remote, the IR commands of the original remote control can be captured and
sent to TiVo Inc.

No doubt they CAN be, but is that happening fast enough to cope with the
speed with which new STBs are coming out? I haven't got a Pronto or know
anyone who has. A support system that relies on the goodwill of the TiVo
community isn't what I'd call proper support by a manufacturer.

Having said that, given the age of my TiVo, I'm amazed that I get any
support at all. ;-)

http://www.garysargent.co.uk/tivo/stb-unsupported.htm

There is a lot of assistance on the UK section TiVo Community. We are a
helpful bunch compared to Sky who ru(i)n the phone line support.

Good luck with the cap repair!

Thanks

Tim

Tim Downie wrote:

Um, where's this list of STBs that they're now supporting (that's newer
than 2 years old)?


Updated in your Tivo. Unfortunately it's ordered by an assortment of
manufacturer names including some like "freeview 1 of 3" before dropping
to the second level list of receiver codes to try out.

Agreed, it would be helpful if this list were published.

For really new set top boxes, and with access to a Philips Pronto
learning remote, the IR commands of the original remote control can be
captured and sent to TiVo Inc.

No doubt they CAN be, but is that happening fast enough to cope with
the speed with which new STBs are coming out? I haven't got a Pronto or
know anyone who has. A support system that relies on the goodwill of
the TiVo community isn't what I'd call proper support by a manufacturer.

Unfortunately Thomson, the manufacturer quit any type of support a long
long time ago.

Having said that, given the age of my TiVo, I'm amazed that I get any
support at all. ;-)

TiVo US are still up and running and supporting the software update
services, as contracted. They don't obviously have anyone here employed
to purchase every set-top box sold in the UK market and make tests with
the UK TiVo hardware, so it's down to volunteers.

--
Adrian C

On Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:55:38 +0100, fred wrote:

If it is U/S, would it be a likely cause of the symptoms? It has 2200
microF, 10V, HD(M), 105C and HD243 printed on it.

Try these:
http://uk.farnell.com/panasonic/eeuf...10v/dp/9691952

That's only 1000 instead of 2200.

Any stock problems and these will also work and have a slightly better
spec (at a slightly higher cost):
http://uk.farnell.com/panasonic/eeuf...10v/dp/9691979

Seems to be the proper replacement, assuming it's physically small enough
to fit. Strangely:
Farnell do these for 59p each exc. VAT, min. qty. 5, free postage,
total £3.44
CPC do these for 55p each exc. VAT, min. qty. 1, postage £5.95,
total £7.48
seeing as Farnell and CPC are supposedly the same company...

In article ,
Adrian C wrote:

Unfortunately Thomson, the manufacturer quit any type of support a long
long time ago.

Support from them when they were still flogging the machines was pretty
crap IME...

Having said that, given the age of my TiVo, I'm amazed that I get any
support at all. ;-)

I'm amazed there are still TiVo users here - I was begining to think I was
the only one left ;-)

Really wishing I'd paid the lifetime though....

Talking of TiVo, mine is beginning to get sick (bubbling mud in quiet parts
and disk whine). While I'm sure it could be repaired I'm pondering giving
up and jumping to Virgin Media V+

Anyone here got experience of V+ box? People complain it's slow to change
channel but I'm used to TiVo controlling Skybox so...

Darren

On 16/09/09 07:56, dmc wrote:

I'm amazed there are still TiVo users here - I was begining to think I was
the only one left ;-)

Really wishing I'd paid the lifetime though....

I know TiVos were well respected, though I've never used one, do they
still have "killer" features that aren't available anywhere else?

"dmc" wrote in message ...
In article ,
Adrian C wrote:

Unfortunately Thomson, the manufacturer quit any type of support a long
long time ago.

Support from them when they were still flogging the machines was pretty
crap IME...

Having said that, given the age of my TiVo, I'm amazed that I get any
support at all. ;-)

I'm amazed there are still TiVo users here - I was begining to think I was
the only one left ;-)

Really wishing I'd paid the lifetime though....

We took on gamble on it when we bought ours (just as they were disappearing
from the shops. So glad we did now. ;-)

Talking of TiVo, mine is beginning to get sick (bubbling mud in quiet
parts
and disk whine). While I'm sure it could be repaired I'm pondering giving
up and jumping to Virgin Media V+

Ours eventually needed a new hard-drive from tivoland but other than that,
has been absolutely reliable. Probably worth a shot if your's is getting
whiney.

Tim

"Andy Burns" wrote in message
o.uk...
On 16/09/09 07:56, dmc wrote:

I'm amazed there are still TiVo users here - I was begining to think I
was
the only one left ;-)

Really wishing I'd paid the lifetime though....

I know TiVos were well respected, though I've never used one, do they
still have "killer" features that aren't available anywhere else?

In my limited experience, the software & ergonomics of the TiVo still stands
head and shoulders above other PVRs. We have a Sony PVR as well which is a
huge pile of poo by comparison. You can request it to record programs by
genre or keywords in titles, a feature that I don't think is available in
other machines. It's easy say to ask it to record anything with "cycling"
or "athletics" or "sheep shagging" in the title. ;-)

Also, left to it's own devices, it will automatically record programs
similar to ones that you've recorded in the past building up a library of
"TiVo suggestions". These will never overwrite any specifically requested
recordings and are the first to be automaticaly deleted if space is needed.

Of course it will never do HD recording but I'l keep mine until it dies or I
die.

Tim

Andy Burns wrote:
On 15/09/09 20:39, Tim Downie wrote:

With a view to bringing it back for the dead I thought I'd have a
look inside the case for anything obvious. Well, I found this.

http://www.zen31010.zen.co.uk/images...wcapacitor.jpg

I know these things aren't normally worth attempting to repair but
because TiVo have just about giving up supporting new Freeview boxes
for the TiVo, I'd like to repair it if possible. I'm no expert in
this field but would I be right in assuming that capacitor in the
centre of the picture isn't right?

Yep, capacitors (especially within PSUs are a common failure)

Thanks to all for the advice. I've ordered a capacitor and will let you
know the outcome.

Tim

In article ,
Tim Downie wrote:
In my limited experience, the software & ergonomics of the TiVo still
stands head and shoulders above other PVRs. We have a Sony PVR as well
which is a huge pile of poo by comparison. You can request it to
record programs by genre or keywords in titles, a feature that I don't
think is available in other machines. It's easy say to ask it to
record anything with "cycling" or "athletics" or "sheep shagging" in
the title. ;-)

The Topfield has the ability to load in your own software - called TAPS.
And there is a lot of it out there. Could be someone has written exactly
what you need.

--
*Two many clicks spoil the browse *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Tim Downie" wrote in message
...

8

Really wishing I'd paid the lifetime though....

If everyone paid for a lifetime subscription the EPG would be dead by now.
They wouldn't have any income so it would not be worth continuing.


I know TiVos were well respected, though I've never used one, do they
still have "killer" features that aren't available anywhere else?

Killer feature?
That is purely personal.


In my limited experience, the software & ergonomics of the TiVo still
stands head and shoulders above other PVRs.

Have you tried Sky+?
Sky+ is by far better than anything else i have used.

We have a Sony PVR as well which is a huge pile of poo by comparison. You
can request it to record programs by genre or keywords in titles, a
feature that I don't think is available in other machines. It's easy say
to ask it to record anything with "cycling" or "athletics" or "sheep
shagging" in the title. ;-)

Also, left to it's own devices, it will automatically record programs
similar to ones that you've recorded in the past building up a library of
"TiVo suggestions". These will never overwrite any specifically requested
recordings and are the first to be automaticaly deleted if space is
needed.

IMHO that is no longer really needed, just use iPlayer, sky player, ITV
player, etc.


If you want to record programs to keep that a media centre PC is hard to
beat, you can drop the programs onto another media (DVD, network drive, USB
stick, etc.) with ease. The EPG is pretty good too.

In article , Paul Ratcliffe
writes
On Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:55:38 +0100, fred wrote:

If it is U/S, would it be a likely cause of the symptoms? It has 2200
microF, 10V, HD(M), 105C and HD243 printed on it.

Try these:
http://uk.farnell.com/panasonic/eeuf...10v/dp/9691952

That's only 1000 instead of 2200.

Ooops, sorry bout that, the one below is the right one and still pretty
cheap.

Any stock problems and these will also work and have a slightly better
spec (at a slightly higher cost):
http://uk.farnell.com/panasonic/eeuf...10v/dp/9691979

Seems to be the proper replacement, assuming it's physically small enough
to fit.
Yes, agreed

Strangely:
Farnell do these for 59p each exc. VAT, min. qty. 5, free postage,
total £3.44
CPC do these for 55p each exc. VAT, min. qty. 1, postage £5.95,
total £7.48
seeing as Farnell and CPC are supposedly the same company...
Different cost models, free post offset by higher margins on the goods,
quite handy for little orders like this one.
--
fred
BBC3, ITV2/3/4, channels going to the DOGs

dennis@home wrote:
"Tim Downie" wrote in message
...

8

Really wishing I'd paid the lifetime though....

If everyone paid for a lifetime subscription the EPG would be dead by
now. They wouldn't have any income so it would not be worth
continuing.

I know TiVos were well respected, though I've never used one, do
they still have "killer" features that aren't available anywhere
else?

Killer feature?
That is purely personal.


In my limited experience, the software & ergonomics of the TiVo still
stands head and shoulders above other PVRs.

Have you tried Sky+?
Sky+ is by far better than anything else i have used.

Have you owned a TiVo? I've tried Sky+ at a friends house. Still, IMO, not
as good or as simple as the TiVo. Additionally, my friends got through 4
Sky+ boxes in about 4 years. Our TiVo is knocking on for 10 years old now.
Has probably crashed about 3 times in all those years and only lost data
only once when the HD needed replacing.


We have a Sony PVR as well which is a huge pile of poo by
comparison. You can request it to record programs by genre or
keywords in titles, a feature that I don't think is available in
other machines. It's easy say to ask it to record anything with
"cycling" or "athletics" or "sheep shagging" in the title. ;-)

Also, left to it's own devices, it will automatically record programs
similar to ones that you've recorded in the past building up a
library of "TiVo suggestions". These will never overwrite any
specifically requested recordings and are the first to be
automaticaly deleted if space is needed.

IMHO that is no longer really needed, just use iPlayer, sky player,
ITV player, etc.

Rather missing the point. With those, you only see what you know about or
can be arsed searching for. The TiVo will record stuff that you perhaps
wouldn't have thought of recording but that you might enjoy (when there's
b*gger all else on).


If you want to record programs to keep that a media centre PC is hard
to beat, you can drop the programs onto another media (DVD, network
drive, USB stick, etc.) with ease. The EPG is pretty good too.

I rarely want to archive programs forever, just time shift them and for that
the TiVo excels in performance and most particularly reliability. The TiVo
really is, IMO, the canines cojones of PVRs. I say "is" rather than "was"
as I think it still outperforms the vast majority of PVRs even today. Just
a shame you can't get a new one in the UK. :-(

Tim

Tim Downie wrote:
Andy Burns wrote:
On 15/09/09 20:39, Tim Downie wrote:

With a view to bringing it back for the dead I thought I'd have a
look inside the case for anything obvious. Well, I found this.

http://www.zen31010.zen.co.uk/images...wcapacitor.jpg

I know these things aren't normally worth attempting to repair but
because TiVo have just about giving up supporting new Freeview boxes
for the TiVo, I'd like to repair it if possible. I'm no expert in
this field but would I be right in assuming that capacitor in the
centre of the picture isn't right?

Yep, capacitors (especially within PSUs are a common failure)

Thanks to all for the advice. I've ordered a capacitor and will let you
know the outcome.

Tim
Indeed. Most electronics is super reliable, and generally its one stray
thing that goes. Identify it and replace it and all is well.

Its the identifying that is the problem.

I had a TV years agpo that randomly lost colors..hitting it restored
them. One day even that failed to work.


I ran it caseless and prodded things with a long plastic knitting needle.

It became apparent that there were dry joints, so I looked at what I was
prodding and found eyelets instead of plated through holes Yuk!. These
looked distinctly dodgy, so I resoldered them on that card. That fixed
one set of probelms. Thenh I got mad and resoldered every single eyelet
on every board.

The set was perfect for several years until the house took a direct
lightning strike on the telephone wire. The TV went then as did anything
else on 'standby'..

Sigh. I liked that TV.

In your case that capacitors is almost certainly the output smoother of
a SMPS. It has to take a LOT of high frequency ripple current, and is
the one most likely to suffer if its even slightly suspect in the first
place. It will get hot and eventually either short, or cease to do its job.

I am pretty sure you have identified the correct cap.

Old valve sets are similar - the caps all dry out. Many a valve radio
will spring to life after all the paper and electrolytic caps are replaced..

Roger R wrote:
"Tim Downie" wrote in message
...

Thanks to all for the advice. I've ordered a capacitor and will let
you know the outcome.

You will find the job easier by using a desoldering device to remove
the solder from both contacts before pulling the old capacitor out.

Got one already thanks. A handy tool.

Tim

"Tim Downie" wrote in message
...

Thanks to all for the advice. I've ordered a capacitor and will let you
know the outcome.

You will find the job easier by using a desoldering device to remove the
solder from both contacts before pulling the old capacitor out.
A manual suction device is the the best thing.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=97040
There are lots to choose from on the Farnell site:
http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/bro...1003126+500006
from around 3.40 to over 22 pounds. take your pick - I found these ok:
http://uk.farnell.com/miller-abeco/g...-gun/dp/419011

It will then be easy to mount the new capacitor passing the wires through
the holes.

Roger R

At 11:05:55 Wed, 16 Sep 2009, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Indeed. Most electronics is super reliable, and generally its one stray
thing that goes. Identify it and replace it and all is well.
Its the identifying that is the problem.

How true...

I had a TV years agpo that randomly lost colors..hitting it restored
them. One day even that failed to work.

My CRT monitor is on the blink. It will run perfectly for hours and
then the picture goes almost black. The slightest tap on the casing is
often enough to bring it back to life. Sometimes it takes a thump.

I ran it caseless and prodded things with a long plastic knitting needle.

I've tried that, but frustratingly I can't find the fault. The soldered
joints on the PCB all seem to be sound. It will be shame to dump this
monitor since it's less strain on the eyes than my flat panel screen.

Old valve sets are similar - the caps all dry out. Many a valve radio
will spring to life after all the paper and electrolytic caps are replaced..

I have a 9-valve National HRO that still works after 70 years...

--
John Legon

"Tim Downie" wrote in message
...

8

I rarely want to archive programs forever, just time shift them and for
that the TiVo excels in performance and most particularly reliability.
The TiVo really is, IMO, the canines cojones of PVRs. I say "is" rather
than "was" as I think it still outperforms the vast majority of PVRs even
today. Just a shame you can't get a new one in the UK. :-(

AFAICS the only thing TiVo offers above a media center PC is that it decides
to record stuff by its self.
If that is something you need then you need a TiVo.
I prefer the better quality that you get on Sky+ and on MCE.

On 16/09/09 12:55, dennis@home wrote:


"Tim Downie" wrote in message
...

I rarely want to archive programs forever, just time shift them and
for that the TiVo excels in performance and most particularly
reliability. The TiVo really is, IMO, the canines cojones of PVRs. I
say "is" rather than "was" as I think it still outperforms the vast
majority of PVRs even today. Just a shame you can't get a new one in
the UK. :-(

AFAICS the only thing TiVo offers above a media center PC is that it
decides to record stuff by its self.

I have built a mythtv box (will readily admit it's not suitable for
everyone) it does the usual "pause live TV" tricks, can record specific
programmes from the EPG, it does series-record, can record based on
keywords, and save recordings to DVD if required.

Because I have digital tuners it can record multiple programmes from a
mux at once, and because I have multiple tuners it can record from
multiple muxes at once, I can control it via an web interface (at a push
view recordings remotely too).

Occasionally I get a bit of grief from linux upgrades breaking
something, usually audio glitches but smooth video playback breaks from
time to time, but I wouldn't be without it really.

"dennis@home" wrote in message
...


"Tim Downie" wrote in message
...

8

I rarely want to archive programs forever, just time shift them and for
that the TiVo excels in performance and most particularly reliability.
The TiVo really is, IMO, the canines cojones of PVRs. I say "is" rather
than "was" as I think it still outperforms the vast majority of PVRs even
today. Just a shame you can't get a new one in the UK. :-(

AFAICS the only thing TiVo offers above a media center PC is that it
decides to record stuff by its self.
If that is something you need then you need a TiVo.
I prefer the better quality that you get on Sky+ and on MCE.

....but, have you ever owned a TiVo?

Tim

"Tim Downie" wrote in message
...



...but, have you ever owned a TiVo?

Tim





i have.
as a user experience it was great but sky boxes do the important bits
better - i.e sound and picture quality, 2 channel recording and HD viewing
and recording.
those things outweigh the Tivo user friendliness.
now if you could pay to load tivo software onto a sky hd box - that would be
something i'd do.



--
Gareth.

that fly...... is your magic wand....

The dog from that film you saw wrote:
"Tim Downie" wrote in message
...



...but, have you ever owned a TiVo?


i have.
as a user experience it was great but sky boxes do the important bits
better - i.e sound and picture quality,

Since we got a new bigger hard drive and I started doing all my recording on
"HQ", I can't say I've noticed any difference from broadcast. That said, I
hardly ever watch TV "live" so it's possible that there is a slight
degradation.

2 channel recording

Would be nice but it's not something that bothers me often

and HD
viewing and recording.

I wish I wish I wish they would sell the HD TiVo in the UK!

those things outweigh the Tivo user friendliness.
now if you could pay to load tivo software onto a sky hd box - that
would be something i'd do.

I aknowledge that the TiVo is getting left behind but as long as the
majority of terrestial broadcasting is in standard definition I'll be
keeping mine. It's a great shame that they haven't licenced the software to
be run on PVRs in countries where TiVos aren't being sold.

Tim

"Tim Downie" wrote in message
...


I aknowledge that the TiVo is getting left behind but as long as the
majority of terrestial broadcasting is in standard definition I'll be
keeping mine. It's a great shame that they haven't licenced the software
to be run on PVRs in countries where TiVos aren't being sold.

Tim




i just don't think their business plan works - other than the seriously
obsessed ( nerds like myself ), who is willing to pay a tenner a month for
tv listings? - yes there's a lifetime option but again, who would pay for
that even?



--
Gareth.

that fly...... is your magic wand....

The dog from that film you saw wrote:
"Tim Downie" wrote in message
...


I aknowledge that the TiVo is getting left behind but as long as the
majority of terrestial broadcasting is in standard definition I'll be
keeping mine. It's a great shame that they haven't licenced the
software to be run on PVRs in countries where TiVos aren't being
sold. Tim

i just don't think their business plan works - other than the
seriously obsessed ( nerds like myself ), who is willing to pay a
tenner a month for tv listings? - yes there's a lifetime option but
again, who would pay for that even?

Apart from rubbish marketting, sales were killed by digital telly and free
EPG. It's very hard to convince folk of the merits of paying for program
information!

We paid for the lifetime option as it only represented less than 2 years
subscription.

Tim

In message , fred writes
In article , Paul Ratcliffe
writes
On Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:55:38 +0100, fred wrote:

If it is U/S, would it be a likely cause of the symptoms? It has 2200
microF, 10V, HD(M), 105C and HD243 printed on it.

Try these:
http://uk.farnell.com/panasonic/eeuf...10v/dp/9691952

That's only 1000 instead of 2200.

Ooops, sorry bout that, the one below is the right one and still pretty
cheap.

Any stock problems and these will also work and have a slightly better
spec (at a slightly higher cost):
http://uk.farnell.com/panasonic/eeuf...10v/dp/9691979

Seems to be the proper replacement, assuming it's physically small enough
to fit.
Yes, agreed

Strangely:
Farnell do these for 59p each exc. VAT, min. qty. 5, free postage,
total £3.44
CPC do these for 55p each exc. VAT, min. qty. 1, postage £5.95,
total £7.48
seeing as Farnell and CPC are supposedly the same company...
Different cost models, free post offset by higher margins on the goods,
quite handy for little orders like this one.

But then, I could have sent him one for nothing ...

--
geoff

In your case that capacitors is almost certainly the output smoother of a
SMPS. It has to take a LOT of high frequency ripple current, and is the
one most likely to suffer if its even slightly suspect in the first place.
It will get hot and eventually either short, or cease to do its job.

Actually, you've made a good point the many capacitors in that role are
properly specified to handle the high frequency, high amplitude ripple
current, and a bog standard electrolytic may fail very prematurely, even if
of the correct capacity and voltage.

SteveT

In article ,
Andy Burns wrote:

I know TiVos were well respected, though I've never used one, do they
still have "killer" features that aren't available anywhere else?


The user interface is fantastic. So much more intuitive than Sky+. Massively
better than the freeview boxes I've tried. Not seen a V+ box but keen on
having a play...

The other thing that TiVo does really well is searching and season passes.
It used to be the case (might still be?) that if you set a series link on
Sky+ and the show wasn't on in the next 2 weeks then it wouldn't get
recorded.

I set a season pass for Scrapheap challenge in series 1. It's not missed an
episode yet (although I'm tempted to kill it now with the new version of
the show...).

My son loves watching it and wanted to see the Land Yacht episode. Quickly
set an autorecording wishlist for episodes of scrapheap challenge that
mentioned the word "yacht" in the description. A few weeks later it had
recorded the show at 3am on some satellite channel.

That sort of thing is what I now take for granted and nothing else seems
to offer :-(

Just a real shame TiVo couldn't have done a deal with C&W/NTL/VirginMedia
to produce a real Sky+ killer :-(

Darren

In article ,
The dog from that film you saw wrote:

i just don't think their business plan works - other than the seriously
obsessed ( nerds like myself ), who is willing to pay a tenner a month for
tv listings? - yes there's a lifetime option but again, who would pay for
that even?

I agree - and I'm a TiVo lover :-(

The only chance I really saw them having was to get in with the cable
companies (well, company now) when Sky launched the Sky+ box.

I'd pay 500 quid for a HD twin tuner Virgin media box without thinking
twice if it was running TiVo software. Unfortunately, most people
wouldn't.

Darren

In article ,
Tim Downie wrote:

Ours eventually needed a new hard-drive from tivoland but other than that,
has been absolutely reliable. Probably worth a shot if your's is getting
whiney.

Heh, I put a bigger drive in it years ago. Got a spare PSU upstairs
somewhere as well. It's features I'm lacking.

Getting fed up with not having multiple tuners - and I want HD now I've
actually got a TV that could make something of it.

Darren

"Tim Downie" wrote in message
...

8

...but, have you ever owned a TiVo?

No. Because I don't think it gives anything over what I have.