Giving up on tivo

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Master Geek
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#666751 3-Aug-2012 10:11

wallop:
aaron11:
loceff13:
aaron11: Tivo = big piece of junk..
Honestly I got it when it first came out paid 799 though telecom
Had 3 returned one with funny sound, one where the picture would go on and off
and another one where the channel line up was bung everyday

In the end they told me to keep it and credited me the money

Sounds like a bad Antenna install job to me, the dropping channels was resolved as-well

No mate was 3 faulty units
Had a professional freeview aerial installed when I won a 4000 dollar tv

Honestly Tivo worse thing I have ever owned

why do you think telecom refunded me and then told me to keep it after 3 units

now im stuck wif the heap of junk and the HNP (home network package)

Never had one problem with the mysky

So you got a refund and are moaning about them not taking the units to the tip for you? Don't you have rubbish collection where you live?

No it was more of the problems setting them up etc etc...
I send two back they told me to keep the last one it still works but the picture drops out
So its free !!! so wont moan too much...

freitasm

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#666765 3-Aug-2012 10:27

aaron11: send two back they told me to keep the last one it still works but the picture drops out

Are you sure you have the correct antenna, correctly installed, no interference, enough signal quality?

I've read about this (and other devices) having problems, where one device would get a reasonable Freeview quality broadcast, and another wouldn't.

Read this blog post we ran with Freeview some time ago for some information: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/MyFreeviewHDReview/6954

Klipspringer

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#666773 3-Aug-2012 10:41

freitasm:
aaron11: send two back they told me to keep the last one it still works but the picture drops out

Are you sure you have the correct antenna, correctly installed, no interference, enough signal quality?

I've read about this (and other devices) having problems, where one device would get a reasonable Freeview quality broadcast, and another wouldn't.

Read this blog post we ran with Freeview some time ago for some information: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/MyFreeviewHDReview/6954

I had a similar problem. Some channels would drop out occasionally, others would pixelate.

When the antenna was plugged directly into the freeview TV it would work fine without dropouts. I never suspected my antenna.

I removed the splitter on the antenna cable and it solved the drop outs and pixilation on the Tivo. Added an amplifier to the antenna, put the splitter back and have not had any problems since.

I think the Tivo needs a slightly better signal to operate nicely. Double check your antenna

Jaxson

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#666774 3-Aug-2012 10:44

I'm not a huge advocate for the TIVO specific features personally. I find it a matter of personal taste/requirements/expectations etc. I purchased mine simply for the hardware at the price. No where else could you get a genuine twin tuner internal HDD PVR with series link for $200, which is what I wanted.

So, for me personally, at full price I would not purchase another TIVO. I'd instead go for something like the Panasonic all in one unit I'd say. My TIVO is working fine.

I personally don't like the TIVO bits that much, I see them as gimmicky but that's just me. I don't like the Menu pictures as I think they look SD and I'd prefer a nice HD menu system. I hate the 'Now Playing' menu as that sounds like live TV to me, but it's actually where the recorded programmes are. I'd much prefer a 'Recorded' menu title. I don't expect I'll ever use CASPA. I liked the included Wifi adaptor, but then my last official freeview PVR MHEG5 EPG didn't need the internet anyway. I don't like that you can't turn it off, that's not very 'green', even if you turn off the suggested recordings it still won't stop buffering channels constantly, even though I don't need this as I don't watch live TV.

Ultimately these are all close to pointless picky comments. The unit works fine for me, end of story. But then again, mine wasn't DOA either...

Jaxson

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#666778 3-Aug-2012 10:48

BraaiGuy:

I think the Tivo needs a slightly better signal to operate nicely. Double check your antenna

Many units, Panasonics and some Magic TV devices etc, do not take kindly to VHF signals instead of the UHF they really need. As others have pointed out, you can still receive some VHF signal via a UHF aerial too. In some cases these units benefit from a diplexer, which filters out the VHF band.

Perhaps the TIVO is in the same boat?

A signal strength check will not pick this up unless specifically asked to asses that component of the signal. A diplexer unit to test with shouldn't cost too much, but there will likely be insertion losses, so one has to consider this aspect too.

Built in TV digital tuners do not ever seem to give this much grief.

aaron11

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Master Geek
Inactive user

#666985 3-Aug-2012 13:58

freitasm:
aaron11: send two back they told me to keep the last one it still works but the picture drops out

Are you sure you have the correct antenna, correctly installed, no interference, enough signal quality?

I've read about this (and other devices) having problems, where one device would get a reasonable Freeview quality broadcast, and another wouldn't.

Read this blog post we ran with Freeview some time ago for some information: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/MyFreeviewHDReview/6954

Hi mate yes tivo rang up and ran an aerial test. the screen goes blue and they said it was the TV it wasnt compatible with or something but I got it on another tv now so I dunno

Anyway its good for winter when you wanna watch tv in bed

I do miss sending the AVI files to it with no gig usage but im with telstra now

Gilco2

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#667389 4-Aug-2012 11:31

well after reading some peoples experiences I thought maybe I could give another try. Rang 0800mytivo. Told him one is in constant reboot mode and the 2nd grey screen. Told him I completey reset the first one and still does reboot and twice left off for 10 hours and still in reboot mode.
Second one with the grey screen I told him got home heard the fan going flat out so turned tv on and was 4 x 3 grey screen. Unplugged everything and left off overnight for 10 hours. Restart and straight to grey screen.
His answer was leave them unplugged again for at least 6 hours then if still doing it take back where I got them from.
So looks like I will squash them and dump them and in future buy something from warehouse or JB Hi fi at Bayfair as that is closest. Not going to do another long round trip for them.
Moral of story buy something else from closest store

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Skolink

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#667408 4-Aug-2012 11:57

Gilco I don't think you've ever mentioned where you bought your TiVos from (and hence the long round trip)? You are wasting your time ringing Hybrid in my opinion, I would have taken it straight back to the store and had it swapped, as I advised my family too. Unfortunately they had to wait for a replacement unit since B&B (Noel Leeming Group) had none in stock, but apparently they have / will soon have more. Also they may ship to you for free.

freitasm

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#667409 4-Aug-2012 12:00

Yep. For all things warranty related, as pointed out by Skolink, the retailer is your first point of call.

Gilco2

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#667417 4-Aug-2012 12:15

scuwp:
Gilco2: I know i can take the units back where I bought them but i wont make a special 60km round trip for them

If they are under warranty just ring the 0800mytivo (telecom) number, they will courier a replacement out to you and provide a courier ticket to get the old one collected. You don't have to take it back to the store.

thats incorrect. one bought february the other march this year. Rang them and no go. I have to physically take them back to the store they came from. You cant courier it to them if you wanted to. Has to go back to store.

HTPC Intel Pentium G3258 cpu, Gigabyte H97n-wifi motherboard, , 8GB DDR3 ram, onboard graphics. Hauppuage HVR 5500 tuner, Silverstone LC16M case, Windows 10 pro 64 bit using Nextpvr and Kodi

Skolink

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#667419 4-Aug-2012 12:21

I'm glad you're not giving up on TiVo just yet.
I assume you are exaggerating about crushing and dumping the units. If not, I'd certainly pay you to ship them to me, probably more.

Gilco2

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#667432 4-Aug-2012 13:09

Skolink: Gilco I don't think you've ever mentioned where you bought your TiVos from (and hence the long round trip)? You are wasting your time ringing Hybrid in my opinion, I would have taken it straight back to the store and had it swapped, as I advised my family too. Unfortunately they had to wait for a replacement unit since B&B (Noel Leeming Group) had none in stock, but apparently they have / will soon have more. Also they may ship to you for free.

first one bought online from Bond and Bond and picked up from Tauranga store. At time I asked them if I was unlucky enough to have a faulty unit, do I bring it back here. The salesman said no. He said ring up their nationwide number and tell them what has happened and then they will tell you where to take it.

The 2nd unit was bought at Noelleeming Tauranga.

It will be around a month before I go back that way.

HTPC Intel Pentium G3258 cpu, Gigabyte H97n-wifi motherboard, , 8GB DDR3 ram, onboard graphics. Hauppuage HVR 5500 tuner, Silverstone LC16M case, Windows 10 pro 64 bit using Nextpvr and Kodi