The upto 30 sec pause when you pressed anything was a seriously annoying problem with my Tivo boxes, I actually thought it was a problem with my connection but when I rang VM about my broadband cutting out and mentioned the pauses incase it was related the person in technical just said that was the way Tivo boxes worked and it wasn't broke.
Try singing from the same hymn sheet if you two are united in your belief that the TiVo isn't slow
We have the same opinion but we aren't connected you know? There aren't secret meetings between us where we plot our revenge against the Tivo naysayers.
We have the same opinion but we aren't connected you know? There aren't secret meetings between us where we plot our revenge against the Tivo naysayers.
Lol.
I've just found out about a way that may speed up TiVo:
Press HOME
Press Thumbs Down
Press Thumbs Up
Press Play twice
The screen will go blank for about 30 seconds.
Some VM staff think that this will improve things (albeit temporarily), whilst one of their TiVo specialists is believed to have said that it will make no difference.
I can't comment as I haven't tried it yet (its busy recording things).
If using this method does help, it suggests to me that it could be a software as opposed to a hardware issue.
Apparently, the new V6 box is due out in November...
Had an engineer round as half my TIVO functions were not working. Once he had sorted them out, I mentioned about how slow my box was. He said that a couple of weeks ago, they were getting no end of call-outs and swapping slow boxes before something got flagged up that it was a widespread problem which they then linked to the last update. He claimed that they were working on a fix and would not swap any more boxes, since it was pointless, but also claimed the new box would be out in a couple of months. On launch, it will have 6 tuners, but has the potential for double figures (I think he said 14, but at that point I was trying to work out who would even need 6!)
At least I know it's not just my box that is slow, despite what some forum members claim
Had an engineer round as half my TIVO functions were not working. Once he had sorted them out, I mentioned about how slow my box was. He said that a couple of weeks ago, they were getting no end of call-outs and swapping slow boxes before something got flagged up that it was a widespread problem which they then linked to the last update. He claimed that they were working on a fix and would not swap any more boxes, since it was pointless, but also claimed the new box would be out in a couple of months. On launch, it will have 6 tuners, but has the potential for double figures (I think he said 14, but at that point I was trying to work out who would even need 6!)
At least I know it's not just my box that is slow, despite what some forum members claim
6 tuners actually isn't that many. Sky Q has way more than that.
Had an engineer round as half my TIVO functions were not working. Once he had sorted them out, I mentioned about how slow my box was. He said that a couple of weeks ago, they were getting no end of call-outs and swapping slow boxes before something got flagged up that it was a widespread problem which they then linked to the last update. He claimed that they were working on a fix and would not swap any more boxes, since it was pointless, but also claimed the new box would be out in a couple of months. On launch, it will have 6 tuners, but has the potential for double figures (I think he said 14, but at that point I was trying to work out who would even need 6!)
At least I know it's not just my box that is slow, despite what some forum members claim
If this is correct, I wonder how they would increase the number of tuners?? Perhaps they are in there, but not activated?? Maybe a hardware upgrade to the box??
AIUI, the new box will have 7 tuners; 6 to record from and 1 to facilitate delay TV.
If they can somehow double the number of tuners, the extra one may be created by allowing the delay TV tuner to be used as a permanent recording tuner (as is the case now).
I don't think that 6 tuners is excessive, in fact this is the only reason why I haven't left VM as I don't think that any other box has this (apart from Sky who I don't want to use if I can help it).
If you are recording from the main 5 channels at peak time and something from one or two of the pay channels 6 tuners would be very useful.
It means less clashes, more HD recordings, less having to record the next available showing, which in turn leads to even less clashes!
Hopefully, this would enable me to turn padding back on.
The Tivo is definitely slower than it used to be. Not only that it seems to be getting some odd recording glitches this week and last week it failed to record Rookies correctly. Likewise it has a series link for Grand Designs, on trying to watch GD we got the last minute or so of Penelope Keith and the last minute or so of GD and that was the entire recording.
So mine is still at snails pace , also it is being a bit odd with recordings . In the your shows bit you get the list of what you have recorded and if they are a series link the file has all shows you have recorded and not watched yet in that file with the date on show being the last programme added . Mine seem to be changing dates on some, for example I recorded Victoria last Sunday and haven't watched it yet but today it has moved up the list and has it showing as Friday but if I go into it the show itself is still showing as last Sunday , it has done it with a few others as well.
So mine is still at snails pace , also it is being a bit odd with recordings . In the your shows bit you get the list of what you have recorded and if they are a series link the file has all shows you have recorded and not watched yet in that file with the date on show being the last programme added . Mine seem to be changing dates on some, for example I recorded Victoria last Sunday and haven't watched it yet but today it has moved up the list and has it showing as Friday but if I go into it the show itself is still showing as last Sunday , it has done it with a few others as well.
There have been reports of various oddities, most are mildly irritating, but some cases have affected recordings.
So mine is still at snails pace , also it is being a bit odd with recordings . In the your shows bit you get the list of what you have recorded and if they are a series link the file has all shows you have recorded and not watched yet in that file with the date on show being the last programme added . Mine seem to be changing dates on some, for example I recorded Victoria last Sunday and haven't watched it yet but today it has moved up the list and has it showing as Friday but if I go into it the show itself is still showing as last Sunday , it has done it with a few others as well.
I've seen that a few times, then there's the empty folder.
Last night recorded Joanna Lumley's Japan, decided to watch it around 10:30 pressed play, nothing happened for several seconds then went to a black screen for a further several seconds. Then a live TV picture appeared, odd I thought I'll select my shows again and retry. The Tivo had other ideas, nothing happened couldn't change channel either it wouldn't respond to the remote at all! Only one way out complete power off and restart.
However it's not a general purpose computer. It is an embedded system running only the manufacturer supplied software. I would expect an embedded system to all intents and purposes never crash in that way. Admit it Carl - the Tivo software is a dog's breakfast.
However it's not a general purpose computer. It is an embedded system running only the manufacturer supplied software. I would expect an embedded system to all intents and purposes never crash in that way. Admit it Carl - the Tivo software is a dog's breakfast.
You seriously have a lot to learn about computing if you expect something to 'never crash'. deary me.
Every embedded device 'can' and 'does' crash at 'some point' in it's lifetime.
the software is fine, the hardware is somewhat aging.
It's running myworld, which is the TiVo software, as well as a system deamon, a bunch of kernel drivers, a network stack, a video driver, a video accelerator (for video playback), the filesystem, audio driver of some description (including the encoder for DD), and the USB stack. then you have the underlying applications that we never see that VM may actually be using.
You seriously have a lot to learn about computing if you expect something to 'never crash'. deary me.
/QUOTE]
No need for the patronising tone. As it happens I had a PhD in computing 40 years ago. I ran an operating system development group of 200 people at one point. I think I know a little about what computers can and can't do.
[
Every embedded device 'can' and 'does' crash at 'some point' in it's lifetime.
the software is fine, the hardware is somewhat aging.
It's running myworld, which is the TiVo software, as well as a system deamon, a bunch of kernel drivers, a network stack, a video driver, a video accelerator (for video playback), the filesystem, audio driver of some description (including the encoder for DD), and the USB stack. then you have the underlying applications that we never see that VM may actually be using.
I said "to all intents and purposes". Of course there is a possibility of a crash, but with an embedded system the possibility is much much lower. I had 3 of the original Tivo 1s and I think in a period of several years I never had one of them crash at all. I expect my 14 Raspberry Pis that run linux, but are only running as network monitors to effectively never crash. I know you are trying to blind me with science with the above, but at the end of the day it's manufacturer supplied software and there is not a lot of excuse for random crashes.
I've been told that it's due to "memory leaks", "Linux paging" and have been given this link (which is beyond my computer knowledge!)
I've heard that before and it sound plausible enough.
Incidentally, I noticed today that my Tivo had re-booted over-night and I assume this is because there must have been a software update as the 'folders' issue has been solved.
I've heard that before and it sound plausible enough.
Incidentally, I noticed today that my Tivo had re-booted over-night and I assume this is because there must have been a software update as the 'folders' issue has been solved.
The engineer that visited us did say that there was an update on the way
Fundamentally the speed problem is because the hardware of the boxes was sized for a very different version of the TiVo software back when Virgin first released the product.
Since then TiVo has completely replaced the user interface technology, which improved performance on their own boxes but made it worse on the less-capable VM ones. Adding new features like more advanced app support, red button support and now Series Link+ has no doubt made it more resource-intensive too.
If VM weren't migrating away from TiVo long-term then possibly they would be willing to fund more resources at TiVo into improving performance of their version - when they renewed the deal a couple of years back it was reported to be much less favourable. The company problems at TiVo resulting in its recent takeover may not have helped the situation too.
Fundamentally the speed problem is because the hardware of the boxes was sized for a very different version of the TiVo software back when Virgin first released the product.
.
And even then it was pretty marginal. I was an original Tivo 1 customer back in 2001, and was a rabid supporter, it was just so far ahead of its time when 99% of people were still using VHS tapes. So when VM finally launched Tivo I was at the front of the queue. However, I was immediately extremely disappointed by its performance - and it has only got worse since then.
And even then it was pretty marginal. I was an original Tivo 1 customer back in 2001, and was a rabid supporter, it was just so far ahead of its time when 99% of people were still using VHS tapes. So when VM finally launched Tivo I was at the front of the queue. However, I was immediately extremely disappointed by its performance - and it has only got worse since then.
That's disappointing to hear
As software capability has improved, I wonder if the way that TiVo works could be modernised in some way?
I don't see why these days there can't be a feature where we tell it what we want it to record and it automatically calculates the best thing to do, be it move other recordings which have a repeat showing to record one off programmes or move the recording itself.
I don't mean just detecting the repeat showings as it does now and listing them in Planned Recordings, but a complete calculation as to how best to achieve the best outcome for every recording planned that mirrors the users wishes.
Each time there is a change, eg a show is taken off the EPG or a viewer chooses another programme or series to record, it could recalculate everything.
At the end (or during calculation) it may have to ask the user to make their mind up about what to record if it cannot resolve occasional issues eg four one off programmes all being shown at the same time.
I now have so many Series Links that I find it impossible to prioritise them, so being able to make a decision when anomalies are thrown up would be very useful.
You seriously have a lot to learn about computing if you expect something to 'never crash'. deary me.
/QUOTE]
No need for the patronising tone. As it happens I had a PhD in computing 40 years ago. I ran an operating system development group of 200 people at one point. I think I know a little about what computers can and can't do.
I said "to all intents and purposes". Of course there is a possibility of a crash, but with an embedded system the possibility is much much lower. I had 3 of the original Tivo 1s and I think in a period of several years I never had one of them crash at all. I expect my 14 Raspberry Pis that run linux, but are only running as network monitors to effectively never crash. I know you are trying to blind me with science with the above, but at the end of the day it's manufacturer supplied software and there is not a lot of excuse for random crashes.
Not blinding you at all, and not patronising. Just baffles me more now that if you are that qualified in the industry, you should know nothing is crash proof.
I know your theory behind embedded and 'usually' they do run ok and to the beat. As with anything it can still crash. There is HDD wear and tear in these as well, we need to consider.
People are expecting it to be like flash lighntning, super fast and speedy and not crash at all. when in reality nothing will be perfect.
By the way to anyone else reading, the series one got slow too, have a read on the series 1 cache card and why alot of people installed it
Comments
We have the same opinion but we aren't connected you know? There aren't secret meetings between us where we plot our revenge against the Tivo naysayers.
Lol.
I've just found out about a way that may speed up TiVo:
Press HOME
Press Thumbs Down
Press Thumbs Up
Press Play twice
The screen will go blank for about 30 seconds.
Some VM staff think that this will improve things (albeit temporarily), whilst one of their TiVo specialists is believed to have said that it will make no difference.
I can't comment as I haven't tried it yet (its busy recording things).
If using this method does help, it suggests to me that it could be a software as opposed to a hardware issue.
Apparently, the new V6 box is due out in November...
http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?p=83993620#post83993620
The whole point of the update was to improve the ageing VOD infrastructure, so it's good to see that some good has come out of it.
At least I know it's not just my box that is slow, despite what some forum members claim
6 tuners actually isn't that many. Sky Q has way more than that.
If this is correct, I wonder how they would increase the number of tuners?? Perhaps they are in there, but not activated?? Maybe a hardware upgrade to the box??
AIUI, the new box will have 7 tuners; 6 to record from and 1 to facilitate delay TV.
If they can somehow double the number of tuners, the extra one may be created by allowing the delay TV tuner to be used as a permanent recording tuner (as is the case now).
I don't think that 6 tuners is excessive, in fact this is the only reason why I haven't left VM as I don't think that any other box has this (apart from Sky who I don't want to use if I can help it).
If you are recording from the main 5 channels at peak time and something from one or two of the pay channels 6 tuners would be very useful.
It means less clashes, more HD recordings, less having to record the next available showing, which in turn leads to even less clashes!
Hopefully, this would enable me to turn padding back on.
I hope that these aren't going to be carried forward to the new box.
There have been reports of various oddities, most are mildly irritating, but some cases have affected recordings.
I've seen that a few times, then there's the empty folder.
However it's not a general purpose computer. It is an embedded system running only the manufacturer supplied software. I would expect an embedded system to all intents and purposes never crash in that way. Admit it Carl - the Tivo software is a dog's breakfast.
You seriously have a lot to learn about computing if you expect something to 'never crash'. deary me.
Every embedded device 'can' and 'does' crash at 'some point' in it's lifetime.
the software is fine, the hardware is somewhat aging.
It's running myworld, which is the TiVo software, as well as a system deamon, a bunch of kernel drivers, a network stack, a video driver, a video accelerator (for video playback), the filesystem, audio driver of some description (including the encoder for DD), and the USB stack. then you have the underlying applications that we never see that VM may actually be using.
I've been told that it's due to "memory leaks", "Linux paging" and have been given this link (which is beyond my computer knowledge!)
http://haxe.org/articles/tivo-and-haxe/
Incidentally, I noticed today that my Tivo had re-booted over-night and I assume this is because there must have been a software update as the 'folders' issue has been solved.
The engineer that visited us did say that there was an update on the way
Since then TiVo has completely replaced the user interface technology, which improved performance on their own boxes but made it worse on the less-capable VM ones. Adding new features like more advanced app support, red button support and now Series Link+ has no doubt made it more resource-intensive too.
If VM weren't migrating away from TiVo long-term then possibly they would be willing to fund more resources at TiVo into improving performance of their version - when they renewed the deal a couple of years back it was reported to be much less favourable. The company problems at TiVo resulting in its recent takeover may not have helped the situation too.
And even then it was pretty marginal. I was an original Tivo 1 customer back in 2001, and was a rabid supporter, it was just so far ahead of its time when 99% of people were still using VHS tapes. So when VM finally launched Tivo I was at the front of the queue. However, I was immediately extremely disappointed by its performance - and it has only got worse since then.
That's disappointing to hear
As software capability has improved, I wonder if the way that TiVo works could be modernised in some way?
I don't see why these days there can't be a feature where we tell it what we want it to record and it automatically calculates the best thing to do, be it move other recordings which have a repeat showing to record one off programmes or move the recording itself.
I don't mean just detecting the repeat showings as it does now and listing them in Planned Recordings, but a complete calculation as to how best to achieve the best outcome for every recording planned that mirrors the users wishes.
Each time there is a change, eg a show is taken off the EPG or a viewer chooses another programme or series to record, it could recalculate everything.
At the end (or during calculation) it may have to ask the user to make their mind up about what to record if it cannot resolve occasional issues eg four one off programmes all being shown at the same time.
I now have so many Series Links that I find it impossible to prioritise them, so being able to make a decision when anomalies are thrown up would be very useful.