Media Access Key has Gone Missing

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KaroriPete

96 posts

Master Geek
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#115853 9-Apr-2013 12:26

I bought a Tivo some time back during one of the Noel Leeming super specials. When I set it up I was pleasantly surprised to find that it had a Media Access Key installed. The key appeared in the Tivo menu, I'm pretty sure it displayed in the MyTivo Dashboard, and I think it was even written on a sticker on the cardboard box it came in which has since been discarded. I installed the Tivo Desktop and successfully transferred a recoded file to my laptop (which I still have).

This was some time ago, and I haven't tried to transfer anything else until the other day. The Desktop reported that access to the Tivo's program listing was denied. I ran the diagnostic program and it pointed to the MAK not being enabled.

I can no longer find any reference to the MAK in the Tivo menus, nor in the MyTivo Dashboard.

Has anyone else experienced this problem? Have MAK's been removed for some reason, or perhaps it shouldn't have been there in the first place as I certainly didn't knowingly purchase the Home Networking Kit?

Keen to hear any ideas.

Thanks,
Pete.

mattwnz

20515 posts

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#795568 9-Apr-2013 12:39

May have been a returned device attached to someone's account. But no it wouldn't have a key with it, or at least it is not something you paid for. The box did advertise it, but that was old packaging for an old promotion which wouldn't have applied when you got it.

DanHybrid

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Hybrid TV (TiVo)

#795617 9-Apr-2013 13:36

I know little of the old promotion.

I can tell you HNP is attached to the account, not the TiVo.

So if you have transferred the TiVo across accounts, that will explain the loss of HNP

Dan

allan

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#795644 9-Apr-2013 14:21

Are you sure you are not experiencing the TivoToGo issue fixed as described in http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=114&topicid=115765 (although to be fair the OP was complaining about the spelling)

KaroriPete

96 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#795914 10-Apr-2013 00:01

Thanks for the ideas everyone,

I didn't seem to get that message about the TivoToGo problem on my machine. Anyway I've applied the patch, but it didn't make any difference. I'm not sure that would explain why the MAK has disappeared from the Tivo's menu either.

I know this used to work as I still have a transferred file in my My Tivo Recordings Directory, and I've found where I recorded the MAK number so I could enter it into the desktop app.

DanHybrid, do you think Tivo Support would be able to help if I give them my account details and the MAK?

Cheers,
Pete.

DanHybrid

112 posts

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Hybrid TV (TiVo)

#795962 10-Apr-2013 08:29

Yeah, Just flick through to Support.

While I have access to the systems, the support guys are better at following account trail issues.

(Think of it this way, they carry the jewelers screwdrivers, and I carry a 14 lbs sledge ;) )

gished

276 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 10

#797155 10-Apr-2013 13:53

Just out of interest, did you purchase the home networking bundle? I know when I brought my tivo I could initially copy stuff to my computer but that just dropped off one day. I also had a MAK displaying on the device.

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KaroriPete

96 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#797168 10-Apr-2013 14:10

Hi Gished,

No I didn't purchase the home networking bundle separately. The device just had a MAK displaying when I took it out of the box, so it sounds like exactly the same thing that has happened to you.

It may be that I'm not strictly entitled to that functionality, but I think it's reasonable to expect features that work when you buy something to continue working. There was certainly nothing to say that this was a temporary or trial feature.

Cheers,
Pete.

mattwnz

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#797184 10-Apr-2013 14:37

It is not an advertised feature though, so to be fair unless you purchased the hnp, you weren't entitled to it. Possibly the initial registration gives you limited access until the account is fully active. Otherwise those people like me who has paid for it would feel a bit ripped off of other people got it free . Would recommend buying it as it is very useful, especially if you have multiple tivos in the house

graemeh

2080 posts

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#797216 10-Apr-2013 15:50

mattwnz: It is not an advertised feature though, so to be fair unless you purchased the hnp, you weren't entitled to it. Possibly the initial registration gives you limited access until the account is fully active. Otherwise those people like me who has paid for it would feel a bit ripped off of other people got it free . Would recommend buying it as it is very useful, especially if you have multiple tivos in the house

People who got their Tivos early on did get it for free. It was a limited promotion where you could get the key. The promotion expired long before Telecom started dumping them for $360.