AltEPG

Hi all. After 6 months of trying to manage with the ALTEPG service I've given up. I use my TiVo mostly for my little boys programmes and the ALTEPG data for kids TV is really lacking (and it records most shows twice on CBEEBIES, once in the AM and again in the PM) so I bought a Freeview recorder instead.

I see allot of people are giving away TiVos but I'd like to cover some of the costs of my new box (it wasn't that much). Is there any money to be made on a 'well known auction site' from listing a TiVo and if so how much should I list for? My TiVo has a large HDD and a network card. Installed Tivoweb, Tivoweb+, buffer, now playing with sort and several other popular hacks. I've lost track of exactly how many I've installed over the years. Any advice would be great. Thanx.

ricky - see my reply on old tivo forum

Thanks David. I didn't realise this was the new forum! I thought there were just two. Explains why not much is ever posted on the t'other one.

rickynumber18 wrote:Hi all. After 6 months of trying to manage with the ALTEPG service I've given up. I use my TiVo mostly for my little boys programmes and the ALTEPG data for kids TV is really lacking (and it records most shows twice on CBEEBIES, once in the AM and again in the PM) so I bought a Freeview recorder instead.

Yes it's the incoming data which is really lacking - you can't polish a turd as they say. When broadcaster refuses to reveal in their data which Episode is being shown, the only option is to use Generics which of course all get recorded, with none of TiVo's 28-day rule duplicates filtering. The only error I think you posted about was about Mister Maker which we were able to fix, however of course it's an impossible task to continually edit by hand when the incoming data on certain chaanels is this bad.

Hope your TiVo goes to a good home

Have you already bought a freeview recorder and if so, have you used it much yet?

Because these type of threads usually follow a familiar theme. It happened a lot when the first cheap DVRs from the Far East came out, people were romanced by on-paper specs and costs and then they realised how poor the actual DVRs were.

Hi there. I bought a unit from a 'well known Internet auction site' for just £35 (local pickup) as the HDD had been pulled. I stuck in my own 300GB HDD (which I had just laying around) and have been using the box for a week now. To be honest TiVo can't compete. It records two channels at once from one input and plays a third. The picture quality is superb, far better than TiVo. The EPG search could be better (no searching) but you can't have everything.

I really do appreciate all you guys at the ALTEPG team have been doing but for my purpose the EPG data isn't useful enough. My SPs are getting muddled as Mr. Maker, Justin's House and others are merging, often crossing from one channel to the next in listings. Thomas and Friends was showing on CBEEBIES for a while instead of C5. Justin's House had the info' for Mr. Maker etc.

Anyway, after some debate on the old forum I've listed my TiVo and all the bits I have to go with it on that same 'well known auction site'. I'm throwing so much in and free postage it might be worth a few bob to someone just to break it down and relist the parts, if they can be bothered.

You can do an "advanced search" and tick the "completed listings" option and see for yourself.

The impression I get is that no-one really wants ready-to-go units anymore. The market is entirely for spare parts & upgrades.

If the TiVo itself is in really good condition and has it's accessories (IR dongles etc.) it might get somewhere around £15-£25 without the network card; A bit more with the network card. Otherwise rip it apart and sell the bits separately. Remote Control for around £4-£5. Network card for around £15-£20. You could even try your luck attempting to sell the power supply and hard drive brackets but don't hold your breath.

rickynumber18 wrote:To be honest TiVo can't compete. It records two channels at once from one input and plays a third. The picture quality is superb, far better than TiVo. The EPG search could be better (no searching) but you can't have everything.

Well if TiVo had continued development in the UK after 2003, I'm pretty sure you would have "everything" in relation to your claim. Your plus points equate to multi-tuner and improved picture capabilities which are only marred on the Series 1 TiVo due to its age and being designed in 1999.

I would say the statement "TiVo can't complete" is rather inaccurate because without even knowing which brand you purchased, I know for a fact that some of the most valued functions on TiVo will be missing from your new box

For example TiVos intuitive & easy to use UI (User Interface) and other superior functions like the search, season pass, wish-lists, suggestions etc. actually means TiVo can still compete and can still exceed the core functionality of new-to-market devices even today.

If these features are utilised properly, they often become invaluable and the reason why many users are prepared to sacrifice picture quality and multiple tuners to carry on using TiVo.

With that said, we don't bare grudges here, all the best with your new hardware and thanks for being part of the TiVo family.

P.S.
Due to the low S/H value, have you considered using the TiVo in a second reception room or bedroom, at least then you'll have the benefit of a Third Tuner in your home and you never know, despite your problems with the children's channel data, I feel sure the rest of the EPG for the mainstream channels is pretty good and TiVo as a backup may just save you bacon on a missed show in the future!