From the keyboard of Dr Jan

We’ve had a TiVo machine for some time now. TiVo is a personal video recorder. It records TV programmes on to a hard disk rather than the tape used in a traditional VCR (Video Cassette Recorder).

First, let me explain about TiVo.

The TiVo uses hardware signal encoders and decoders which compress the video signal and convert it to a digital format when recording on the disk, and then de-compresses it and convert it back to analogue form when you play back.

The huge benefit is that there is enough computing power in the box to record and play back different programmes at the same time.

We have a Series 1 UK edition, and it’s had an extra hard disk attached to increase the recording time available (32 hours using best quality, 112 using basic quality).
The TiVo box itself has a plain silver front panel, with a small window in the middle to receive infra-red from the remote control. There are also 2 indicator lights, one to show when the TiVo is ‘on’, the other to show when it is recording. The unit is also connected to the phone line and it makes a weekly call to TiVo central headquarters to update the programme data and also to update the TiVo software when necessary. There is also an infra-red repeater which controls your set-top box (to change the channels as and when necessary).

Recording a programme is very simple. You simply type in (using the remote in combination with the on-screen keyboard) the name of the programme and as you type, the list of available programmes shown on the right of the screen narrows down on to the show you are searching for.

When you have found the programme you wish to record, it is a simple matter to record that show, and equally simple to set up a ‘Season Pass’. A Season Pass will record all future episodes of a show. You can set various parameters, such as quality of recording (basic, medium, high or best), whether to record only new episodes or new plus repeats, and how long you’d like to keep the recorded episodes.

The Season Pass Manager lets you order your season passes. A Pass higher in the list will always have priority over a Pass lower down. So, if there is a conflict where shows from two Season Passes are being shown at the same time, the Pass with the higher priority will ‘win’ and get recorded.

Easily the best feature is the ability to rewind and fast-forward whatever you are watching. Even if you are viewing live TV, the TiVo will automatically record and keep the last 30 minutes on a rolling basis. So you can always rewind up to 30 minutes whilst watching live TV. You can also pause for up to 30 minutes to answer the phone, make the tea or attend to whatever else pops up.

This is incredibly useful. If you miss what someone is saying on screen, just rewind and hear it again. When you get to the adverts, just whiz through them (at 60 times normal speed if you’re handy with the remote control, otherwise 20 times or 3 times).

You can program the remote control to power on and off the TV, as well as operate the volume. This means that your whole TV experience is controlled by the TiVo remote.

One effect of having a TiVo is that you will probably end up watching a lot more telly, simply because there’s always something good on.

So, what could possibly be traumatic about all that?

Well, two things.

First, if you lose the TiVo remote, you are screwed! The TiVo will continue to record shows already in the To Do List, but there’s no way you can watch them. Even watching live TV is impossible, unless you swap the SCART leads around at the back of the unit. Of course, if you do that, no future programmes can be recorded.

Fortunately, new remotes are available from TiVoHeaven. Of course as soon as we ordered one, we found the original one

The second problem is related to the charging model that TiVo uses. In order to keep receiving programme details, you have to pay 10 pounds a month subscription. Alternatively you can pay a one-off payment of 199 pounds and get a life-time subscription.

All this is fine and funky, until the credit card expiry date on file at TiVo passes. Eventually the TiVo will refuse to record any programmes in its To Do List because you have a black listed account.

When I called the Customer Service Centre, I was told that because of the way their computer systems were set up, I couldn’t just give them the new expiry date on the card, I had to use an entirely different card.

Even once that had all been sorted out, it takes up to 48 hours before you’re back on line and recording programmes. In the meantime you can manually record programmes, but only if you change channel yourself and hit the record button when the programme starts.

So, now all that is sorted out, it’s an enormous relief to know the TiVo is back in operation again.

Phew!