RiseStar
November 26th, 2003, 01:04 AM
Authored by Captain Video
All utilities listed in this Tutorial are available for download on our Members Area (http://www.digitalinsurrection.com/entrance.php) and also a selct few places on the Internet.
This guide is an attempt to answer the most Frequently Asked Questions appearing in this forum. The most helpful tool in this forum is the Search button. You will quickly discover that the organization of this forum is divided into a few basic topics that have been given their own forums. Most topics are simply scattered about, making it difficult to locate specific information. This is where the Search button becomes invaluable. TIP: When using the Search function, display the results as posts rather than entire threads. This will greatly reduce the number of posts you have to read through to find the answer you seek.
Most topics in this FAQ are directed at both DirecTivos and standalone Tivos, unless otherwise indicated. Any references to 2.5Xtreme or updates to it and also Tivolator 3.1 are strictly DirecTivo-related and do not apply to standalone Tivos. All other Tivo upgrades and/or hacks are generally applicable to all Series 1 Tivos. There is a separate forum for series 2 Tivo hacking and any questions on them should be posted there.
The DealDataBase Forums are provided as an area of discussion with regards to hacking both standalone Tivos and Tivos with DirecTV, also known as DirecTivos (DTivo for short). ANY TALK WITH REGARDS TO HACKING DIRECTV FOR THE PURPOSE OF THEFT OF SERVICE IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN AND ANY DIRECT MENTION OF IT WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY GET YOU FLAMED! However, if you have a question about something that is going on with your DTivo and you are using a test card with it, then this info should be provided so as to help determine the cause of your problem. No details should be posted as to what type of testing device you are using or how you are using it. There are other forums that deal with this sort of thing and we do not allow them to be discussed here.
I hope you find this information useful. If you still have any questions after reading this FAQ, use the Search button and set it up to return the results as posts instead of threads. If you have any corrections, comments, or other topics that you think should be included, feel free to PM me and I will see that they are included.
Captain_video
Q: Why would I want to hack my Tivo?
A: Hacking your Tivo is not about getting anything for free. Hacking a Tivo is done to make your Tivo better and allow it to do more things for you to make the Tivo experience more enjoyable. Hacking a Tivo could be as simple as adding a 2nd hard drive or as complex as you want it to be.
Q: How do I hack my Tivo?
A: Now this is the $64K question. To hack a Tivo you must first have an understanding of what a Tivo is and what it does. You will also need to learn some basic Linux commands and know how to install basic components in your PC, especially hard drives and CD-ROMs. You’ll need to know how to access your setup screen on your PC to make changes in the BIOS. You will also need a CD burner or at least have access to one. You will also need a boatload of patience and the willingness to take the time to read and learn before jumping in with both feet.
Q: How do I get started with hacking my Tivo?
A: Reading this FAQ is the best place to start so you’re already on the right track. The next step would be to look through all of the sticky threads in the DirecTV Tivo Hacking Forum, especially the How Tos Only sticky. There are numerous posts on performing individual hacks. I have several posts that contain numerous links for downloading files and tutorials as well as many links to other Tivo-related sites. Check out the links provided and learn all you can. There’s a link to a Newbies Guide to Tivo Hacking that is a must-read for newbies. There is also a link to a Tivo Hacking FAQ that has been around since the early days of hacking a Tivo and contains a wealth of info on the Tivo.
Q: What hacks should I install?
A: That depends entirely on what you want your Tivo to do. There are several upgrade packages for a DTivo that will install of the most widely used hacks and allow you to activate only the ones you want. You can still install any additional hacks manually. Many of these hacks will be explained in greater detail later in this FAQ.
Q: What operating system does the DirecTivo use?
A: The DirecTivo, as well as the standalone Tivos, all use Linux as their operating system.
Q: I understand that hacking the DTivo requires the use of Linux commands. I don’t know the first thing about Linux. Is there help available?
A: Download a copy of the Newbies Guide from the How Tos sticky thtread. It contains a lot of basic info for using Linux commands with the DTivo.
Q: What is 2.5Xtreme?
A: 2.5Xtreme is a program developed by Surgeon. It basically consists of a DirecTivo (hereafter known as a DTivo) image taken from an older 2-drive DTivo that was upgraded to software version 2.5. It consists of several Linux-based utilities that add special features to the DTivo software. It enables a bash prompt to allow communication with the DTivo. It also allows for the addition of a larger A drive and/or the addition of a new or larger B drive without having to run a separate utility, such as BlessTivo or DTivoMad.
Q: I downloaded 2.5Xtreme. How do I install it on my DirecTivo?
A: You will first need to burn the 2.5Xtreme iso image to a CD. Next, you will need to remove the hard drive(s) from your DTivo and place them in your PC. The 2.5Xtreme CD is bootable. Follow the instructions for installing 2.5Xtreme.
Q: I tried to install 2.5Xtreme but my PC keeps booting into Windows. The CD is supposed to be bootable. What’s going on?
A: You need to set up your BIOS to make the CD-ROM the first bootable device. Reboot your PC and enter the setup screen per the instructions that pertain to your particular BIOS (i.e. press Delete, F1, etc. during the Power-On Self Test process to display the setup screens). Go to the advanced BIOS settings screen and set up your CD-ROM drive as the first boot device. Insert the bootable Linux CD in the CD drive and save and exit the setup screen. The PC should boot from the CD and a bunch of Linux stuff should scroll by. When prompted for a boot option, hit Enter. A bunch more stuff will scroll by until you get another prompt. At this point, hit Enter again. You will now be logged-on in Linux. If you are just testing your CD to ensure that it is bootable, press CTRL+ALT+DEL to exit Linux and shut down the PC. Otherwise, follow the instructions for the Linux software that’s on the CD to execute the particular program you are attempting to run. When you are finished running the software, press CTRL+ALT+DEL to exit Linux and reboot the PC. When the monitor starts to display the results of the POST (i.e. processor type, memory size, IDE drives, etc.) hit the Power switch to shut down the PC. At this point, you may remove any DTivo drives installed in the PC unless you plan on running a different utility on them (MFSTools, TurboNet installation, etc.).
WARNING: If you are using Windows 2000 or Windows XP, DO NOT ALLOW YOUR PC TO BOOT INTO A WINDOWS ENVIRONMENT WHILE THE TIVO DRIVES ARE CONNECTED TO THE IDE BUS!! If you allow this to happen, Windows 2000/XP will write a signature to the boot sector of the drive and it will no longer boot when placed in your Tivo!!!!
Q: I am nervous about screwing up the installation of 2.5Xtreme. Is there any way to return my DTivo to its original configuration if something goes wrong?
A: The best thing to do before installing 2.5Xtreme or any other upgrade to your DTivo would be to make a backup of your DTivo hard drive first. This would allow you to restore the original image if you ever have a need to do so.
Q: How do I make a backup copy of my DTivo hard drive?
A: Get a copy of Hinsdale’s How To for MFSTools 2.0. It contains the procedures to backup and restore an image from and to your DTivo hard drive. You will need to download a copy of MFSTools 2.0 to perform the backup and restore.
Q: I tried making a backup copy of my DTivo hard drives but I keep getting an error message. I’m using Windows 2000/XP.
A: Make sure your Windows C: drive is formatted with either FAT16 or FAT32 partitions. Linux does not recognize the NTFS used by either Windows 2000 or Windows XP. It’s probably a good idea to get a small IDE drive (i.e. <5GB) when performing backups of your Tivo images.
Q: I tried installing 2.5Xtreme from the boot CD but it gives me an error when I type in the command “25xtreme” from the prompt.
A: Make sure you only have one CD-ROM drive connected to your IDE bus. The Linux boot disks are configured to recognize only a single CD-ROM drive. When you type in the command to install 2.5Xtreme the OS doesn’t know which drive to obtain the image from and simply quits.
Q: I want the dual-tuner feature but I already have a subscription to DirecTV with my DTivo. Can I still use 2.5Xtreme?
A: Yes. 2.5Xtreme does not hack DirecTV and can be used with a legitimate subscription. The only caveat is that you may want to keep the phone line disconnected to prevent inadvertent software upgrades from downloading automatically and overwriting the 2.5Xtreme software.
Q: My DTivo has two hard drives. How do Install 2.5Xtreme with this setup?
A: You will need to place both drives in your PC when installing 2.5Xtreme. The usual configuration is to have your normal Windows drive set as the primary master, the DTivo “B” drive as the primary slave, the DTivo “A” drive as the secondary master, and the CD-ROM as the secondary slave. This will allow you to make a backup image of your DTivo drives and place the backup image on your Windows (C:) drive and then proceed directly to installing 2.5Xtreme on the DTivo “A” drive. The program will prompt you which drive is which and whether or not you have more than one drive.
Q: My original DTivo has only one hard drive. How do I install 2.5Xtreme and add a 2nd drive?
A: Install both the original DTivo “A” drive and the new “B” drive as outlined in the previous Q&A and perform the 2.5Xtreme installation in exactly the same way. The 2nd drive will automatically be “Blessed” as the “B” drive.
Q: What is a bash prompt?
A: The bash prompt is a command line prompt that is required if you intend to perform any direct interaction with the DTivo software. It is similar to the C:\ prompt that you see when booting into a DOS environment on a PC. You need to be able to communicate with the DTivo in order to get the bash prompt. The bash prompt looks like this: “bash-2.02#” (without the quotes).
Q: How do I communicate with my DTivo?
A: There are two ways to communicate directly with your DTivo. The easiest way is via serial port. There is a small mini-jack at the rear of the DTivo that allows the insertion of a mini stereo plug from a serial cable. The 2nd way to communicate is via an ethernet connection. This requires the installation of additional software utilities and a special adapter called a TurboNet card that mounts inside the DTivo. You can also install a wireless Ethernet adapter called an AirNet. You will need special software to enable communication with the DTivo.
Q: What software do I need to communicate with the DTivo?
A: TeraTerm is the program of choice for DTivo owners but HyperTerminal can also be used. HyperTerminal is supplied as part of the Windows Accessories in the Communications group.
Q: Where can I get a copy of TeraTerm and other software mentioned in this FAQ?
A: There are download links located in the How Tos sticky threads for TeraTerm and many other software utilities and upgrades.
Q: Where can I get a serial cable to connect with my DTivo?
A: Instructions for making your own serial cable can be found in the How Tos sticky thread. A ready-made cable can be purchased from www.9thtee.com <http://www.9thtee.com> in the Tivo upgrades section.
Q: What are the advantages of upgrading to version 2.5 using 2.5Xtreme?
A: The most obvious advantage of upgrading to 2.5 is activating the dual-tuner capability of the DTivo. Other advantages of Xtreme include the installation of a program called fixsub. This fools the DTivo into believing it has completed its daily call to Tivo HQ and provides it with a pseudo lifetime subscription to the Tivo service. Currently, any stock DTivo that is left connected to a phone line will automatically update itself to software version 2.5.2 or newer. This will enable the dual-tune. Version 3.1 requires the use of a P4 access card and is not backwards compatible with an Hu access card without doing some modifications to a file on the Dtivo.
Q: Why does my Xtremed DirecTivo reboot right after the “Welcome. Powering up” message?
A: The DTivo image was taken from a DTivo that was upgraded to software version 2.5 but the drive was pulled right before the DTivo was allowed to reboot and flash the EEPROM. This allows a DTivo hard drive that has been upgraded with this image to reboot and flash the EEPROM of the DTivo it’s been installed in so that both the software on the hard drive and EEPROM are upgraded to the same version.
Q: How do I set up my DTivo for serial communication to get a bash prompt?
A: Make sure you’ve already downloaded and installed a copy of TeraTerm on your PC. Connect your serial cable to the COM1 port on your PC and connect the mini-plug to the SERIAL jack on the back panel of the DTivo.
Q: I’ve set up my DTivo to communicate via serial port but I still don’t get a bash prompt. How can I fix it?
A: First, check all of your connections and make sure you’ve specified the correct COM port in the TeraTerm connection window. Make sure the DTivo is powered on for at least 20-30 seconds before attempting to get bash. Connect via TeraTerm and see if the bash prompt appears. Try hitting the Enter key once or twice and see if the prompt will appear. If still no prompt, try setting the baud rate of the COM port to a different setting in the pull-down menu in TeraTerm. If you’ve upgraded your Xtreme installatiopn with either of Superzap’s upgrades to 2.5.2 or 3.1 you will need to set the baud rate to 115200. Hit the enter key after setting the baud rate and a bash prompt should appear. There are helpful guides for getting bash in the How Tos sticky threads of this forum. Check them out for more details. If you are still unable to get bash, the best (and probably easiest) thing may be to reinstall 2.5Xtreme from scratch.
Q: I have installed 2.5Xtreme on my DTivo. How do I make sure that it’s got the lifetime subscription?
A: The first thing you need to do is establish serial communication with your DTivo. Type in “touch /etc/SubTest” (without the quotes) and press Enter. Type in “CD /etc” and press Enter. Type in “ls” and press Enter. There should be a directory named SubTest in the displayed list. If it’s missing, there may be a problem resulting from your 2.5Xtreme installation and some other files may be missing or corrupted. You can try and figure out which files are bad or gone but it would probably be easier to simply reinstall 2.5Xtreme to fix the problem. If the SubTest directory is where it’s supposed to be, make sure your DTivo is connected to a TV monitor and press the Tivo button to get to the main screen. Select the DIRECTV Menu option; then, select the Messages & Setup option. On the next screen, select the System Information option. The Services/Features line should indicate a number 5 (lifetime sub) next to Tivo Service. The SubTest directory is used by a script called fixsub.tcl. The fixsub.tcl routine is called during the rc.sysinit file. When called, it looks for the SubTest directory and if it finds it, updates the status of the last call status as being successful. The result is that the subscription status is indicated as being lifetime service.
NOTE: If you’ve installed either of Superzap’s upgrades then you need to activate the NOPHONE option in xPlusz. This does the same thing as the fixsub.tcl script for getting the lifetime status on a Dtivo.
Q: I’ve got my lifetime sub set up but I keep getting a nag message saying that my DTivo will shut down if it does not successfully complete a daily call soon. What can I do about this?
A: Check the System Information screen as described in the previous question and answer. Hit the Down arrow once and check the line for Last Call Status. It should say “Succeeded”. If it does not, then you will have to force a daily call to get rid of the nag message. Press the Left arrow on the remote once to return to the Messages & Setup screen. Select the Receiver & Phone Setup option, then select Phone Connection. Select the Make Daily Call Now option and follow the onscreen prompts. The receiver will go through the motions of making a call and should return a status of Succeeded when complete, even with the phone line disconnected. If you have difficulty exiting the Phone Connection screen it may be simpler to unplug the DTivo, wait for a few minutes and then plug it back in. When the DTivo boots up, the System Information screen should now show a Last Call Status of Succeeded. The nag message should not reappear.
NOTE: If you have Superzap’s upgrade to 2.5.2 or 3.1 installed you’ll need to activate the NOPHONE option to update the Last Call Status to “Succeeded” and eliminate the nag message.
Q: I’ve got 2.5Xtreme installed and two lines from my satellite dish connected to each tuner on my DTivo. How come I get a message indicating that there is a conflict when I try to schedule two different recordings at the same time?
A: You need to go through the satellite guided setup on the DTivo to let it know that you have two feeds from the satellite. The default setup is to have only one tuner active which is why you are getting the conflict when scheduling simultaneous recordings.
Q: My DTivo booted up with a green screen indicating that I should leave the DTivo connected to a phone line and to call Tivo if the problem does not correct itself. What should I do?
A: This is commonly referred to as the “green screen of death” or GSOD. It usually occurs when something gets hosed up in the DTivo files. Leave the DTivo plugged in but do not connect the phone line. The problem will (usually) correct itself in as little as 15 minutes or as long as 24 hours. If the problem doesn’t clear up on its own, you may want to consider reloading 2.5Xtreme or a known good image for your DTivo.
Q: I want to return my DTivo to its original configuration but I didn’t make a backup of my hard drive. Is there anywhere I can get a copy of an image for my drive?
A: There are links to sites in the How Tos sticky thread that have images posted for both standalone Tivos and Dtivos. If you have installed 2.5Xtreme, you may want to download an image corresponding to software version 2.5.X for your model, although version 2.0 should also work.
Q: My DTivo boots but gets stuck on the “Welcome. Powering up…” screen. What do I do?
A: This can occur for a number of reasons. There is a short white ribbon cable that connects the power supply board to the DTivo mainboard. Remove the power supply rack to access this cable. Unplug the cable from both connectors and reinsert it using a pair of needle-nose pliers or something that will allow you to insert the cable firmly and fully into the receptacles. Reassemble the DTivo and test it to see if it boots up correctly. You may have to repeat this a couple of times. It may also help to swap the cable end for end and reinsert it. If the fault does not clear and the unit still doesn’t boot past the Welcome screen, the DTivo software could be corrupted. If you made a backup of the last working configuration (you remembered to do this, right?), restore this image using MFSTools 2.0. If the DFTivo still does not boot, try loading the image on a different hard drive. If a new drive does not work, it may be a power supply problem. If the power supply is suspect, it could be the small switching circuit board mounted vertically on the main power supply board. It was discovered recently that the Dtivo power supply is essentially identical to a SA Tivo power supply but with a different physical configuration. However, the switching board is identical on both power supplies. Replacement SA Tivo power supplies can be purchased from www.allelectronics.com for $4.50 plus S&H. The PN is CAT#PS-70. If swapping out this board does not fix the problem then you may have send the DTivo in for service. There are several aftermarket repair services that will repair your Dtivo for a reasonable fee. Check the How Tos Only sticky for a list of recommended service centers. If this is the case, it would be a good idea to remove any mods to the DTivo and restotre the original backup image you made before you installed any upgrades.
Q: My DTivo constantly goes into a reboot loop. How do I fix this?
A: Try the fixes outlined above for the problem of getting stuck in the Welcome screen. The constant reboot may be related to a power supply problem and will most likely need service.
Q: I want to install some of the utilities described in this forum. The attached ReadMe file says I have to transfer some of the files to a directory on the DTivo. How do I do this?
A: The easiest method of file transfer to a DTivo is with an FTP program but you need to have a working TurboNet adapter installed in your DTivo and connected to your PC via Ethernet. The simplest, but slowest, method is to connect to your DTivo via serial port and transfer them with TeraTerm using Zmodem protocol. Establish a Telnet session with your DTivo using TeraTerm. Navigate to the directory that you wish to upload the file(s) to. This is done by first typing in “CD” plus one space followed by the full path to the directory. For example, to navigate to the hack subdirectory located in the var directory, type in CD /var/hack and press Enter. To view the contents of the directory, type in “ls” and press Enter. To transfer one or more files to the open directory, select File, then Transfer from the pull-down menu in TeraTerm. Select ZMODEM, then Send. An Explorer window will open up so you can specify which files to transfer. Navigate to the directory and drive on your PC where the files are stored. Highlight one or more files by holding down the CTRL key and clicking on each file. When all files have been selected, click on Open and the files will begin transferring from the PC to the DTivo. The Zmodem transfer window will close when all files have completed the transfer process.
Q: What is Kraven’s Upgrade?
A: Kraven’s upgrade is a collection of utilities and add-on goodies for the DTivo that can be installed in one fell swoop. It requires that you first transfer a compressed file to the root directory of the DTivo and then extract the files. The individual files will be installed in their respective directories. Some of the utilities installed are noppv (removes the PPV flag from the guide to permit future recording of PPV programs), noscramble (turns off scrambling in the DTivo), tivoftpd (sets up file transfer protocol to permit easier file transfer from your PC to and from the DTivo), logsnull (removes the log files and prevents them from building up and taking up extraneous space on the hard drive), and TurboNet drivers (sets up the TurboNet software for use with a DHCP server, such as the way some routers can operate, so that an IP address is automatically assigned to the DTivo when it goes on-line).
Q: What is Superzap’s upgrade?
A: Superzap’s upgrade is a collection of hacks as well as changes made to the Dtivo OS that will bring it up to the same level as the factory versions for 2.5.2 or 3.1. Either upgrade must be performed on a Dtivo that already has 2.5Xtreme installed. It is strictly an upgrade and should not be installed on a bare drive because it won’t work without 2.5Xtreme as a baseline. It also includes Superzap’s xPlusz utility that allows you to activate or deactivate any of the included hacks by entering a set of commands in the Call Waiting Prefix in the Phone Setup menu. You can also enter commands via the bash prompt using the “xp” command followed by the same commands used for the Call Waiting Prefix. Check the forum for links to both Superzap’s upgrade or the xPlusz utility. The Readme file for the upgrade includes all of the xPlusz commands and their descriptions. Here's some of the functions explained:
NOPHONE - allows your TiVo sub to continue to remain active without a phone connection (also controls the logs).
ADDLOCALS will allow you to add multiple sets of locals (mvchannels).
T30SS will automatically set 30 seconds skip feature on each reboot.
NOPPV will reset the PPV indicator on PPV channels at daily call.
FIXDEMO will reset demo mode periodically (default every 3 mins).
EBD will automatically enable backdoors on each reboot.
CALLERID will display caller-id on screen (phone line required).
The batch save feature will allow you to save multiple programs to VCR.
TIVOTITLE will change the title of shows adding the description.
TEMPMON will monitor the TiVo's temperature and issue an alert on the screen if the temperature exceeds a threshold you specify.
NOSDD will help you further opt out of TiVo's automatic software downloads and changes to your DirecTiVo unit. It is designed to prevent any type of software download/update whatsoever, including (no way around this) the showcases and tivolution magazine.
Others are (they should have obvious meaning):
TELNET will allow telnet communication over ethernet
READONLY
TIVOWEB will allow communication with the Tivo menu system via a web browser interface
TIVOFTPD will allow FTP transfer to and from a Tivo using a standard FTP program
NOSCRAMBLE will deactivate or activate scrambling on a DTivo
SMBFS
NFS
Q: I already have Kraven’s upgrade to 2.5Xtreme but I want to upgrade to a newer version? Do I have to reinstall 2.5Xtreme from scratch to do this?
A: You can install Superzap’s upgrade right over a Dtivo that has 2.5Xtreme with Kraven’s original Xtreme upgrade already installed on the drive.
Q: What is Tivolator 3.1?
A: This is Kraven’s upgrade to Xtreme for OS version 3.1. It does a lot of the same things that Superzap’s upgrade does but it does not include the xPlusz utility. Check out the Tivolator 3.1 sticky thread in the DirecTV Tivo Hacking Forum for more details.
Q: I upgraded to 3.1 but now my Hu access card won’t work. Is there any way to get an Hu card to work with 3.1?
A: Yes, there is. You can either manually replace the boot299.btl file on the Dtivo with one from a previous version or you can install JJBliss’ BlissTerPopper upgrade. This basically modifies the boot299.btl file for you to allow the use of an Hu card.
Q: I want to install a TurboNet adapter for faster transfer between my PC and my DTivo. Where can I get a TurboNet and how do I install it?
A: A TurboNet adapter can be purchased from www.9thtee.com <http://www.9thtee.com> in the Tivo upgrades section. Click on the TurboNet link in the left-hand column. Installation, setup instructions, and software drivers are available for download from the site. Download the software and burn it to a CD as an iso image. The CD should be bootable so you will need to test it before attempting the installation. See the question regarding a bootable CD for instructions on how to test it.
NOTE: If you’ve installed Kraven’s original upgrade, Superzap’s upgrade to 2.5.2 or 3.1, or Tivolator 3.1, you will NOT need to install the Turbonet or Airnet drivers. The drivers are already included in the upgrades. Check the forum for threads on performing the various upgrades for info on activating the drivers, as required.
Q: I’ve got my TurboNet software installed on the DTivo drive and the TurboNet adapter is installed in the DTivo. How do I connect it to my PC?
A: If you are using a direct peer-to-peer connection to your PC, you will need to use a crossover cable. If you are connecting via a router, switch, or Ethernet hub then you may use regular CAT-5 ethernet cables.
Q: I’ve got the cable connected but I can’t put the cover back on because the Ethernet cable is in the way. What’s the best way to run the cable so I can replace the cover?
A: The best way to do this, without having to resort to cutting any holes in the DTivo cover or chassis, is to fabricate a short length of Cat-5 cable (2-3 feet) and prepare the wire and crimp the connectors yourself. This requires a knowledge of RJ45 wiring conventions and may be a bit tricky for the novice. Prepare one end of the cable, crimp on the RJ45 connector, and connect it to your TurboNet adapter. (Crimp tools and connectors are available at any Radio Shack.) Route the other end of the cable between the TurboNet adapter and the front panel and run it under the hard drive rack. Run the cable through one of the ventilation holes in the bottom of the chassis and out of the bottom of the DTivo. Prepare the other end of the cable and crimp on the connector. An in-line RJ45 coupler permits easy external connection of a CAT-5 ethernet cable to the TurboNet adapter.
Q: I’ve got the TurboNet installed and the cable connected. Now What?
A: Connect an Ethernet cable between your PC, hub, or router and the in-line coupler from the TurboNet. Power on the DTivo and open up a DOS prompt on your PC. Type in “ping 192.168.1.200” (assuming that you used the default static IP settings for the Turbonet; otherwise, type in the static IP address you assigned or the one assigned by your DHCP server) and press Enter. You should get a series of four responses from the DTivo. The first one may fail but you should get at least three that are successful. If you don’t get any responses (all failed), check all of your connections. If you fabricated your own cable, you may have miswired the connector. If you are using a router or a hub, make sure the Connected LED is lit for the connection to the DTivo. If it’s not lit, open up the case on the DTivo and check to make sure that the green LED is lit on the TurboNet adapter. If it’s not, power down the DTivo and check to make sure that the TurboNet adapter is connected properly to the DTivo mainboard.
Q: I’ve got the TurboNet installed and the drivers loaded but I don’t know how to connect to my Tivo. How do I find out what the IP address is?
A: By default, the Turbonet or Airnet adapter is set up as a DHCP client in a Tivo. If you are using a router, connect to the router’s home page via your web browser and find out what IP address has been assigned to your Tivo. If you’re not using a router or you want to check the IP address via serial connection, type in the command “ipconfig” at the bash prompt and you’ll see the IP address assigned to the Tivo along with other pertinent data. This is the address you will use to connect using TeraTerm or any other utility that will make use of the Ethernet connection.
Q: I’ve got the TurboNet working (pinged successfully). How do I transfer files from my PC?
A: Before you can begin using your TurboNet for file transfer, you need to set of FTP transfer protocol on your DTivo. You can do this by installing tivoftpd on your DTivo (get it from the How Tos sticky thread). You will need to do this via serial connection to get it set up. Once installed, you can use any FTP program, such as CuteFTP or other Windows-based FTP program, for transferring files to and from your DTivo and also for creating and deleting directories. FTP transfer protocol is installed automatically as part of Kraven’s upgrade. Specify the IP address you set up for the DTivo and log in anonymously on port 21. Follow the instructions for your FTP software for its use and operation.
NOTE: If you’ve installed either of Superzap’s upgrades to 2.5.2 or 3.1 or Tivolator 3.1 then the ftp utility is already installed on the DTivo. You will need to activate the ftp utility using xPlusz in Superzap’s upgrades.
Q: I want to transfer shows from my DTivo to my PC using TurboNet. What’s the best way to go about this?
A: Get yourself a copy of jdiner’s TyTool5 or later. Follow the instructions for installing and setting up the files on both your DTivo and PC. There are other methods involving a program called extractstream and the tivoweb utility but tytool is by far the easiest method to date.
NOTE: There are currently several other methods for file transfer that have been developed for use with a Tivo. Aside from TyTool and mfsstream, there is also mfs_ftp and TyStudio. Mfs_ftp allows the use of an ftp program to transfer files in tmf format to and from a Tivo and can also transfer files between Tivos. This allows file transfers between both standalone Tivos and Dtivos. The only restriction is that you cannot transfer a file with a Dolby Digital soundtrack from a DTivo to a SA Tivo. TyStudio is a suite of utilities that allow the transfer of files from a Tivo and can perform editing and muxing functions to an extracted ty file. TyStudio can automatically transcode the audio from a SA Tivo to 48kHz , mux the oputput to an mpeg file, or output the file as separate elemental audio and video streams. TyTool has also been updated for use with a separate utility called GOPEditor that performs many of the same functions as TyStudio but ouputs the file as a muxed mpeg file.
Q: What is Tivoweb?
A: Tivoweb is a utility that enables you to view the different screens on your DTivo via a web browser as if it were a website. You can perform functions on your Tivo from your PC just as though you were using the Tivo remote and browsing through the menu system. There is also a virtual Tivo remote that can control transport functions via your PC.
Q: How do I transfer files using TyTool?
A: Open up a telnet session via TeraTerm. Make sure you’ve specified the DTivo IP address for the telnet session and connect to the DTivo. Navigate to the /var/hack directory (or a different one if you did not use the default location for the installation). Type in “./tserver_mfs6” and press Enter (this may vary if using a different version of TyTool). You should see the message “Waiting for an incomming connection”. Open up the TyTool program on your PC and select Refresh. The contents of the Now Playing list on your DTivo will be displayed. The date, time, show title, episode, file size, and all applicable FSIDS for each show are listed in descending order, chronologically (i.e. newest shows first). Select the Files pull-down menu and specify the extraction method you want to use (Tystream or Vsplit mode). Click on the desired show and select Get to begin the extraction. All of the buttons except Delete are greyed out until the extraction has completed. If you want to set it up to extract more than one show, hold down the CTRL key and select each show you wish to extract. When all desired shows have been highlighted, select Get. The first show highlighted in the list will begin extracting and will continue to the next show in order until all highlighted shows have been extracted.
Q: How do I transfer files using TyStudio:
A: TyStudio requires the installation of several files on the Tivo to allow it to act as a server. Once these files have been transferred and their permissions set, simply open up TyStudio and click on the “Click her to get file from NowShowing” button in the left side of the window. Check the documentation for TyStudio for details on installing and using TyStudio. Links for downloading TyStudio and all documentation can be found in the Extraction Forum in olaf’s sticky thread near the opt of the page.
Q: How do I transfer files using mfs_ftp?
A: As with all other Tivo communication programs, certain files need to be transferred and set up on the Tivo. You will then need to telnet to the Tivo using TeraTerm and execute the mfs_ftp program manually. You can then connect to the Tivo using any compatible FTP program. File transfer is performed as with any other files using the aforementioned FTP program.
Q: How do I transfer files using TivoWeb?
A: You will need the mfsstream web module v.98 installed on your Tivo. Telnet to the Tivo and initiate the tyhttpd utility manually and then access the Tivo via your web browser. Select the MfsStream option in the menu and you’ll see the Now Playing list. Click on the show link just like a download link on a website and save it to your hard drive.
Q: I extracted some shows from my DTivo using the Vsplit mode but they all show up as 0kbytes. What did I do wrong?
A: The DTivo uses an internal scrambling algorithm when it records programs. In order to extract programs to a PC, scrambling must first be turned off.
Q: How do I turn off scrambling on my DTivo?
A: You need to install and execute the noscramble.o script. Once installed, this can be run manually by typing in “insmod /lib/modules/noscramble.o” and pressing Enter. To ensure that this is run automatically following a reboot, it will be necessary to edit the rc.sysinit file to add this line.
NOTE: Superzap’s xPlusz utility included in his 2.5.2 and 3.1 upgrades allows for the activation or deactivation of the noscramble module by entering the appropriate xPlusz code.
Q: How do I edit my rc.sysinit file to add noscramble or other changes?
A: Connect via TeraTerm. Navigate to the /etc/rc.d directory. Before attempting to edit any file you should make a backup so it can be restored if you screw something up. Type in “cp rc.sysinit rc.sysinit.bak” and press Enter. If you type in “ls” and press Enter you will see a file called rc.sysinit.bak that was just created. This is your backup copy. Type in “joe rc.sysinit” and press Enter. The file is now in edit mode. Use the arrow keys and scroll all the way to the end of the file (it’s pretty big so it may take a minute or so to get there). Place your cursor near the end of the file but before it says something like “rc.sysinit complete”, preferably on an empty line. Type in “insmod /lib/modules/noscramble.o”. Check for typos. Press CTRL+k and x to save and exit the file when you’re done.
NOTE: Superzap’s xPlusz utility included in his 2.5.2 and 3.1 upgrades allows for the activation or deactivation of the noscramble module by entering the appropriate xPlusz code. Editing of the rc.sysinit file is not required.
Q: How do I know whether or not scrambling has been turned off?
A: Type in “ps x” at the bash prompt to see if the noscramble.o module is running.
Q: I’ve got lots of shows on my DTivo that were recorded with scrambling turned on. Now that I have scrambling turned off, I am unable to watch them. What can I do to watch my previously recorded shows?
A: You can toggle scrambling on and off to permit viewing of these programs. Note that any program recorded with scrambling on cannot be extracted for archiving purposes. To unload the noscramble.o driver, type in “CD /sbin” and press Enter. Then, type in “ln insmod rmmod” and press Enter. To turn scrambling back on, type in “rmmod noscramble” and press Enter. You may have to attempt this several times before the driver is unloaded successfully. You can confirm whether it worked or not by attempting to play a show that you know to be scrambled. If successful, the show will play normally. If unsuccessful, you will get an error message indicating that no video signal was present at the time the program was recorded. You will get these same results if you attempt to view an unscrambled show with scrambling turned on.
NOTE: Superzap’s xPlusz utility included in his 2.5.2 and 3.1 upgrades allows for the activation or deactivation of the noscramble module by entering the appropriate xPlusz code.
Q: I want to be able to record some of my shows to DVD but they were recorded with scrambling turned on. Can I descramble these shows and burn them to a DVD?
A: Currently, there is no way to descramble shows that are already on your DTivo that will permit them to be authored for DVD recording.
Q: I am trying to record a PPV movie but my DTivo keeps rebooting when I try to get purchase info for the movie or attempt to schedule it for recording in advance. What’s up?
A: You need to install and/or manually execute noppv.tcl. This removes the ppv flag to allow recording of ppv programs as regular shows. Kraven’s upgrade installs this but you may need to run it manually about once a week or so.
NOTE: Superzap’s xPlusz utility included in his 2.5.2 and 3.1 upgrades allows for the activation or deactivation of the noppv script by entering the appropriate xPlusz code.
Q: Now that I can extract my shows from the DTivo, how can I turn them into DVDs, VCDs, or SVCDs?
A: There are numerous threads for doing this. There is a simple How To DVD instruction that requires that you obtain a copy of DVDPatcher, DVD Maestro or SpruceUp, and Nero Burning ROM (for newer DVD burners only). If using DVD Maestro, you will also need a copy of Cinemaster2000 to preview the videos during the authoring process.
NOTE: Current developments in TyTool and TyStudio allow for editing of ty files and outputting them as muxed mpeg files or separate audio and video elemental streams. The most popular programs for authoring DVDs are SpruceUp, DVD Maestro, IFOEdit, Ulead MovieFactory, and Ulead DVDWorkshop as well as several others. The muxed output from either TyTool or TyStudio should be compliant with most commercially available DVD authoring software. Check the Extraction forum for guidelines on using various authoring programs with extracted ty files from both Dtivos and SA Tivos.
Q: Where can I find DVD Maestro, SpruceUp and Cinemaster2000?
A: Spruce Technologies was acquired by Apple Computers and the PC versions of their software are no longer commercially available. Raviscent Cinemaster2000 has also been replaced by newer versions of their decoder that are not compatible with DVD Maestro. Check the How Tos Only sticky thread for links to download sites for these programs.
Q: I authored DVDs in both DVD Maestro and SpruceUp but neither program recognizes my DVD burner. How can I burn a DVD?
A: These programs do not support newer DVD burners. You can, however, compile your DVD to a set of VOB files (i.e. Title Set) in either Maestro or SpruceUp and burn them to a DVD using a current version of Nero. When using Nero, make sure you select the DVD UDF/ISO format. Burning in any other format may result in a DVD that is unplayable in your set top DVD player.
Q: I accidentally deleted a program on my DTivo. Is there any way to recover it?
A: There is a program called EditTitle that will enable you to “undelete” any previously deleted program, provided you have not recorded over the disk space occupied by the program data that was deleted. If the area on the disk that contained the deleted data has been overwritten by a newly recorded program, then the deleted program cannot be recovered.
Q: What other functions does EditTitle have?
A: EditTitle can be used to view all programs currently appearing in the Now Playing list as well as every program ever recorded in the History list. You can revise the show title, episode name, program description, start date, start time, and end time. You can delete any program from the History list or the entire History list, if desired.
Q: I am subscribed to DirecTV to get my local channels. Why aren’t they listed in the program guide?
A: Subscribed to locals should show up in the guide on their own but sometimes they may need a little help. You may have to set up the guide manually to display your local channels. Get a copy of mvchannels (mvch135.zip for 2.5 or mvch136.zip for 2.5.2) from the How Tos sticky thread. There are numerous posts that detail installing and setting up locals in the forum and also the How Tos so it will not be repeated here.
NOTE: Recent updates from DTV have caused many DTivo owners to lose their locals if their Dtivos are still at version 2.5 of the DTivo OS. You will need to upgrade to version 2.5.2 or 3.1 using either Superzap’s upgrade or Tivolator 3.1. Following the upgrade you will need to perform a Clear Program Data & To Do List from the System Reset menu under Messages & Setup. This will wipe out any Season Passes and other scheduled recordings as well as the guide data but it won’t affect current recordings, settings, or preferences.
Q: My locals are not showing up in the 900’s but instead they’re listed as their regular channel numbers in the 0-99 area of the guide. Is there any way to move them to the 900’s?
A: The default location for any channel is to be listed by its normal channel number in the 0-99 area of the guide. However, it is possible for the local channels to be listed in the 900’s. This requires editing the channels.dat file and specifying that the channels be displayed in the 900’s. You will also have to edit the rc.sysinit file to run the mvchannels.tcl file in looping mode. If the mvchannels.tcl program is not run periodically, the channels will eventually migrate back to the 0-99 area. This uses up resources of the DTivo processor and may result in the DTivo running a little sluggish but probably not enough to be that noticeable.
NOTE: Superzap’s xPlusz utility provides a method for remapping local channels to the 800s and 900s or elsewhere in the 0-99s other than the default assigned channel number.
Q: How do I add locals from other areas?
A: Edit the channels.dat file to include locals from any local area.
NOTE: Superzap’s xPlusz utility provides a method for adding local channels from markets other than what you can get through legit subscriptions from DTV. The guide will display any locals you add to the guide using the #60 command followed by the market IDs of each set of locals to be displayed. Only locals that are available in the same spot beam as your legit locals will be available for viewing or display any guide data. Locals added that are not within the same spot beam will show up in the guide but guide data will be displayed as “To be announced.” Locals other than the ones you subscribe to cannot be viewed without the use of a test card.
DTV has been doing a lot of things lately that have pretty much eliminated the possibility of getting multiple locals on a single DTivo. You should still be able to get different sets of locals on separate Dtivos as long as they are carried within the spot beam for your region. As of January 2004, there will be a change to the spot beam allocations and also the satellites that carry locals. All locals for cities west of the Mississippi will be broadcast via the satellite at 101 degrees. All local channels east of the Mississippi will then be carried on the 119-degree satellite. This will require that anyone getting east coast feeds will have to upgrade to an oval dish with either two or three LNB modules.
Q: I ran mvchannels in looping mode manually and it added the locals to the 900s but they all returned to the 0-99 area after a short while. Why did this happen?
A: Running the mvchannels manually via TeraTerm works only as long as the telnet session is active. Once the session is ended, the mvchannels program is no longer running in looping mode. The rc.sysinit file has to be edited to allow it to run in looping mode and then the DTivo has to be rebooted so that it will be run from the DTivo on bootup.
Q: I added locals per the instructions I found on the forum but all of the channels say “To be announced”.
A: The local channel info will take some time to update in the guide. It will be several hours before the guide is populated with enough info to set up any advance recording. Setting up a season pass may require waiting at least 24 hours before enough guide info has been accumulated.
NOTE: There is a utility called midupdate.tcl that can be transferred to the DTivo and run manually. This forces the DTivo to reacquire data from the satellite and will cause the locals to populate the guide almost immediately.
Q: I added locals from other areas and the guide has updated to include info for all of them. When I try to tune to some of these channels I get a “Channel unavailable” message or something similar. Why is this?
A: DirecTV uses spot beams to broadcast locals to specific regions. If you are attempting to get locals from an area not covered by spot beams being broadcast in your vicinity, the video signal will be unavailable to you. The guide info is not broadcast via the spot beams, which is why you can get the guide data but not the actual channel.
All utilities listed in this Tutorial are available for download on our Members Area (http://www.digitalinsurrection.com/entrance.php) and also a selct few places on the Internet.
This guide is an attempt to answer the most Frequently Asked Questions appearing in this forum. The most helpful tool in this forum is the Search button. You will quickly discover that the organization of this forum is divided into a few basic topics that have been given their own forums. Most topics are simply scattered about, making it difficult to locate specific information. This is where the Search button becomes invaluable. TIP: When using the Search function, display the results as posts rather than entire threads. This will greatly reduce the number of posts you have to read through to find the answer you seek.
Most topics in this FAQ are directed at both DirecTivos and standalone Tivos, unless otherwise indicated. Any references to 2.5Xtreme or updates to it and also Tivolator 3.1 are strictly DirecTivo-related and do not apply to standalone Tivos. All other Tivo upgrades and/or hacks are generally applicable to all Series 1 Tivos. There is a separate forum for series 2 Tivo hacking and any questions on them should be posted there.
The DealDataBase Forums are provided as an area of discussion with regards to hacking both standalone Tivos and Tivos with DirecTV, also known as DirecTivos (DTivo for short). ANY TALK WITH REGARDS TO HACKING DIRECTV FOR THE PURPOSE OF THEFT OF SERVICE IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN AND ANY DIRECT MENTION OF IT WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY GET YOU FLAMED! However, if you have a question about something that is going on with your DTivo and you are using a test card with it, then this info should be provided so as to help determine the cause of your problem. No details should be posted as to what type of testing device you are using or how you are using it. There are other forums that deal with this sort of thing and we do not allow them to be discussed here.
I hope you find this information useful. If you still have any questions after reading this FAQ, use the Search button and set it up to return the results as posts instead of threads. If you have any corrections, comments, or other topics that you think should be included, feel free to PM me and I will see that they are included.
Captain_video
Q: Why would I want to hack my Tivo?
A: Hacking your Tivo is not about getting anything for free. Hacking a Tivo is done to make your Tivo better and allow it to do more things for you to make the Tivo experience more enjoyable. Hacking a Tivo could be as simple as adding a 2nd hard drive or as complex as you want it to be.
Q: How do I hack my Tivo?
A: Now this is the $64K question. To hack a Tivo you must first have an understanding of what a Tivo is and what it does. You will also need to learn some basic Linux commands and know how to install basic components in your PC, especially hard drives and CD-ROMs. You’ll need to know how to access your setup screen on your PC to make changes in the BIOS. You will also need a CD burner or at least have access to one. You will also need a boatload of patience and the willingness to take the time to read and learn before jumping in with both feet.
Q: How do I get started with hacking my Tivo?
A: Reading this FAQ is the best place to start so you’re already on the right track. The next step would be to look through all of the sticky threads in the DirecTV Tivo Hacking Forum, especially the How Tos Only sticky. There are numerous posts on performing individual hacks. I have several posts that contain numerous links for downloading files and tutorials as well as many links to other Tivo-related sites. Check out the links provided and learn all you can. There’s a link to a Newbies Guide to Tivo Hacking that is a must-read for newbies. There is also a link to a Tivo Hacking FAQ that has been around since the early days of hacking a Tivo and contains a wealth of info on the Tivo.
Q: What hacks should I install?
A: That depends entirely on what you want your Tivo to do. There are several upgrade packages for a DTivo that will install of the most widely used hacks and allow you to activate only the ones you want. You can still install any additional hacks manually. Many of these hacks will be explained in greater detail later in this FAQ.
Q: What operating system does the DirecTivo use?
A: The DirecTivo, as well as the standalone Tivos, all use Linux as their operating system.
Q: I understand that hacking the DTivo requires the use of Linux commands. I don’t know the first thing about Linux. Is there help available?
A: Download a copy of the Newbies Guide from the How Tos sticky thtread. It contains a lot of basic info for using Linux commands with the DTivo.
Q: What is 2.5Xtreme?
A: 2.5Xtreme is a program developed by Surgeon. It basically consists of a DirecTivo (hereafter known as a DTivo) image taken from an older 2-drive DTivo that was upgraded to software version 2.5. It consists of several Linux-based utilities that add special features to the DTivo software. It enables a bash prompt to allow communication with the DTivo. It also allows for the addition of a larger A drive and/or the addition of a new or larger B drive without having to run a separate utility, such as BlessTivo or DTivoMad.
Q: I downloaded 2.5Xtreme. How do I install it on my DirecTivo?
A: You will first need to burn the 2.5Xtreme iso image to a CD. Next, you will need to remove the hard drive(s) from your DTivo and place them in your PC. The 2.5Xtreme CD is bootable. Follow the instructions for installing 2.5Xtreme.
Q: I tried to install 2.5Xtreme but my PC keeps booting into Windows. The CD is supposed to be bootable. What’s going on?
A: You need to set up your BIOS to make the CD-ROM the first bootable device. Reboot your PC and enter the setup screen per the instructions that pertain to your particular BIOS (i.e. press Delete, F1, etc. during the Power-On Self Test process to display the setup screens). Go to the advanced BIOS settings screen and set up your CD-ROM drive as the first boot device. Insert the bootable Linux CD in the CD drive and save and exit the setup screen. The PC should boot from the CD and a bunch of Linux stuff should scroll by. When prompted for a boot option, hit Enter. A bunch more stuff will scroll by until you get another prompt. At this point, hit Enter again. You will now be logged-on in Linux. If you are just testing your CD to ensure that it is bootable, press CTRL+ALT+DEL to exit Linux and shut down the PC. Otherwise, follow the instructions for the Linux software that’s on the CD to execute the particular program you are attempting to run. When you are finished running the software, press CTRL+ALT+DEL to exit Linux and reboot the PC. When the monitor starts to display the results of the POST (i.e. processor type, memory size, IDE drives, etc.) hit the Power switch to shut down the PC. At this point, you may remove any DTivo drives installed in the PC unless you plan on running a different utility on them (MFSTools, TurboNet installation, etc.).
WARNING: If you are using Windows 2000 or Windows XP, DO NOT ALLOW YOUR PC TO BOOT INTO A WINDOWS ENVIRONMENT WHILE THE TIVO DRIVES ARE CONNECTED TO THE IDE BUS!! If you allow this to happen, Windows 2000/XP will write a signature to the boot sector of the drive and it will no longer boot when placed in your Tivo!!!!
Q: I am nervous about screwing up the installation of 2.5Xtreme. Is there any way to return my DTivo to its original configuration if something goes wrong?
A: The best thing to do before installing 2.5Xtreme or any other upgrade to your DTivo would be to make a backup of your DTivo hard drive first. This would allow you to restore the original image if you ever have a need to do so.
Q: How do I make a backup copy of my DTivo hard drive?
A: Get a copy of Hinsdale’s How To for MFSTools 2.0. It contains the procedures to backup and restore an image from and to your DTivo hard drive. You will need to download a copy of MFSTools 2.0 to perform the backup and restore.
Q: I tried making a backup copy of my DTivo hard drives but I keep getting an error message. I’m using Windows 2000/XP.
A: Make sure your Windows C: drive is formatted with either FAT16 or FAT32 partitions. Linux does not recognize the NTFS used by either Windows 2000 or Windows XP. It’s probably a good idea to get a small IDE drive (i.e. <5GB) when performing backups of your Tivo images.
Q: I tried installing 2.5Xtreme from the boot CD but it gives me an error when I type in the command “25xtreme” from the prompt.
A: Make sure you only have one CD-ROM drive connected to your IDE bus. The Linux boot disks are configured to recognize only a single CD-ROM drive. When you type in the command to install 2.5Xtreme the OS doesn’t know which drive to obtain the image from and simply quits.
Q: I want the dual-tuner feature but I already have a subscription to DirecTV with my DTivo. Can I still use 2.5Xtreme?
A: Yes. 2.5Xtreme does not hack DirecTV and can be used with a legitimate subscription. The only caveat is that you may want to keep the phone line disconnected to prevent inadvertent software upgrades from downloading automatically and overwriting the 2.5Xtreme software.
Q: My DTivo has two hard drives. How do Install 2.5Xtreme with this setup?
A: You will need to place both drives in your PC when installing 2.5Xtreme. The usual configuration is to have your normal Windows drive set as the primary master, the DTivo “B” drive as the primary slave, the DTivo “A” drive as the secondary master, and the CD-ROM as the secondary slave. This will allow you to make a backup image of your DTivo drives and place the backup image on your Windows (C:) drive and then proceed directly to installing 2.5Xtreme on the DTivo “A” drive. The program will prompt you which drive is which and whether or not you have more than one drive.
Q: My original DTivo has only one hard drive. How do I install 2.5Xtreme and add a 2nd drive?
A: Install both the original DTivo “A” drive and the new “B” drive as outlined in the previous Q&A and perform the 2.5Xtreme installation in exactly the same way. The 2nd drive will automatically be “Blessed” as the “B” drive.
Q: What is a bash prompt?
A: The bash prompt is a command line prompt that is required if you intend to perform any direct interaction with the DTivo software. It is similar to the C:\ prompt that you see when booting into a DOS environment on a PC. You need to be able to communicate with the DTivo in order to get the bash prompt. The bash prompt looks like this: “bash-2.02#” (without the quotes).
Q: How do I communicate with my DTivo?
A: There are two ways to communicate directly with your DTivo. The easiest way is via serial port. There is a small mini-jack at the rear of the DTivo that allows the insertion of a mini stereo plug from a serial cable. The 2nd way to communicate is via an ethernet connection. This requires the installation of additional software utilities and a special adapter called a TurboNet card that mounts inside the DTivo. You can also install a wireless Ethernet adapter called an AirNet. You will need special software to enable communication with the DTivo.
Q: What software do I need to communicate with the DTivo?
A: TeraTerm is the program of choice for DTivo owners but HyperTerminal can also be used. HyperTerminal is supplied as part of the Windows Accessories in the Communications group.
Q: Where can I get a copy of TeraTerm and other software mentioned in this FAQ?
A: There are download links located in the How Tos sticky threads for TeraTerm and many other software utilities and upgrades.
Q: Where can I get a serial cable to connect with my DTivo?
A: Instructions for making your own serial cable can be found in the How Tos sticky thread. A ready-made cable can be purchased from www.9thtee.com <http://www.9thtee.com> in the Tivo upgrades section.
Q: What are the advantages of upgrading to version 2.5 using 2.5Xtreme?
A: The most obvious advantage of upgrading to 2.5 is activating the dual-tuner capability of the DTivo. Other advantages of Xtreme include the installation of a program called fixsub. This fools the DTivo into believing it has completed its daily call to Tivo HQ and provides it with a pseudo lifetime subscription to the Tivo service. Currently, any stock DTivo that is left connected to a phone line will automatically update itself to software version 2.5.2 or newer. This will enable the dual-tune. Version 3.1 requires the use of a P4 access card and is not backwards compatible with an Hu access card without doing some modifications to a file on the Dtivo.
Q: Why does my Xtremed DirecTivo reboot right after the “Welcome. Powering up” message?
A: The DTivo image was taken from a DTivo that was upgraded to software version 2.5 but the drive was pulled right before the DTivo was allowed to reboot and flash the EEPROM. This allows a DTivo hard drive that has been upgraded with this image to reboot and flash the EEPROM of the DTivo it’s been installed in so that both the software on the hard drive and EEPROM are upgraded to the same version.
Q: How do I set up my DTivo for serial communication to get a bash prompt?
A: Make sure you’ve already downloaded and installed a copy of TeraTerm on your PC. Connect your serial cable to the COM1 port on your PC and connect the mini-plug to the SERIAL jack on the back panel of the DTivo.
Q: I’ve set up my DTivo to communicate via serial port but I still don’t get a bash prompt. How can I fix it?
A: First, check all of your connections and make sure you’ve specified the correct COM port in the TeraTerm connection window. Make sure the DTivo is powered on for at least 20-30 seconds before attempting to get bash. Connect via TeraTerm and see if the bash prompt appears. Try hitting the Enter key once or twice and see if the prompt will appear. If still no prompt, try setting the baud rate of the COM port to a different setting in the pull-down menu in TeraTerm. If you’ve upgraded your Xtreme installatiopn with either of Superzap’s upgrades to 2.5.2 or 3.1 you will need to set the baud rate to 115200. Hit the enter key after setting the baud rate and a bash prompt should appear. There are helpful guides for getting bash in the How Tos sticky threads of this forum. Check them out for more details. If you are still unable to get bash, the best (and probably easiest) thing may be to reinstall 2.5Xtreme from scratch.
Q: I have installed 2.5Xtreme on my DTivo. How do I make sure that it’s got the lifetime subscription?
A: The first thing you need to do is establish serial communication with your DTivo. Type in “touch /etc/SubTest” (without the quotes) and press Enter. Type in “CD /etc” and press Enter. Type in “ls” and press Enter. There should be a directory named SubTest in the displayed list. If it’s missing, there may be a problem resulting from your 2.5Xtreme installation and some other files may be missing or corrupted. You can try and figure out which files are bad or gone but it would probably be easier to simply reinstall 2.5Xtreme to fix the problem. If the SubTest directory is where it’s supposed to be, make sure your DTivo is connected to a TV monitor and press the Tivo button to get to the main screen. Select the DIRECTV Menu option; then, select the Messages & Setup option. On the next screen, select the System Information option. The Services/Features line should indicate a number 5 (lifetime sub) next to Tivo Service. The SubTest directory is used by a script called fixsub.tcl. The fixsub.tcl routine is called during the rc.sysinit file. When called, it looks for the SubTest directory and if it finds it, updates the status of the last call status as being successful. The result is that the subscription status is indicated as being lifetime service.
NOTE: If you’ve installed either of Superzap’s upgrades then you need to activate the NOPHONE option in xPlusz. This does the same thing as the fixsub.tcl script for getting the lifetime status on a Dtivo.
Q: I’ve got my lifetime sub set up but I keep getting a nag message saying that my DTivo will shut down if it does not successfully complete a daily call soon. What can I do about this?
A: Check the System Information screen as described in the previous question and answer. Hit the Down arrow once and check the line for Last Call Status. It should say “Succeeded”. If it does not, then you will have to force a daily call to get rid of the nag message. Press the Left arrow on the remote once to return to the Messages & Setup screen. Select the Receiver & Phone Setup option, then select Phone Connection. Select the Make Daily Call Now option and follow the onscreen prompts. The receiver will go through the motions of making a call and should return a status of Succeeded when complete, even with the phone line disconnected. If you have difficulty exiting the Phone Connection screen it may be simpler to unplug the DTivo, wait for a few minutes and then plug it back in. When the DTivo boots up, the System Information screen should now show a Last Call Status of Succeeded. The nag message should not reappear.
NOTE: If you have Superzap’s upgrade to 2.5.2 or 3.1 installed you’ll need to activate the NOPHONE option to update the Last Call Status to “Succeeded” and eliminate the nag message.
Q: I’ve got 2.5Xtreme installed and two lines from my satellite dish connected to each tuner on my DTivo. How come I get a message indicating that there is a conflict when I try to schedule two different recordings at the same time?
A: You need to go through the satellite guided setup on the DTivo to let it know that you have two feeds from the satellite. The default setup is to have only one tuner active which is why you are getting the conflict when scheduling simultaneous recordings.
Q: My DTivo booted up with a green screen indicating that I should leave the DTivo connected to a phone line and to call Tivo if the problem does not correct itself. What should I do?
A: This is commonly referred to as the “green screen of death” or GSOD. It usually occurs when something gets hosed up in the DTivo files. Leave the DTivo plugged in but do not connect the phone line. The problem will (usually) correct itself in as little as 15 minutes or as long as 24 hours. If the problem doesn’t clear up on its own, you may want to consider reloading 2.5Xtreme or a known good image for your DTivo.
Q: I want to return my DTivo to its original configuration but I didn’t make a backup of my hard drive. Is there anywhere I can get a copy of an image for my drive?
A: There are links to sites in the How Tos sticky thread that have images posted for both standalone Tivos and Dtivos. If you have installed 2.5Xtreme, you may want to download an image corresponding to software version 2.5.X for your model, although version 2.0 should also work.
Q: My DTivo boots but gets stuck on the “Welcome. Powering up…” screen. What do I do?
A: This can occur for a number of reasons. There is a short white ribbon cable that connects the power supply board to the DTivo mainboard. Remove the power supply rack to access this cable. Unplug the cable from both connectors and reinsert it using a pair of needle-nose pliers or something that will allow you to insert the cable firmly and fully into the receptacles. Reassemble the DTivo and test it to see if it boots up correctly. You may have to repeat this a couple of times. It may also help to swap the cable end for end and reinsert it. If the fault does not clear and the unit still doesn’t boot past the Welcome screen, the DTivo software could be corrupted. If you made a backup of the last working configuration (you remembered to do this, right?), restore this image using MFSTools 2.0. If the DFTivo still does not boot, try loading the image on a different hard drive. If a new drive does not work, it may be a power supply problem. If the power supply is suspect, it could be the small switching circuit board mounted vertically on the main power supply board. It was discovered recently that the Dtivo power supply is essentially identical to a SA Tivo power supply but with a different physical configuration. However, the switching board is identical on both power supplies. Replacement SA Tivo power supplies can be purchased from www.allelectronics.com for $4.50 plus S&H. The PN is CAT#PS-70. If swapping out this board does not fix the problem then you may have send the DTivo in for service. There are several aftermarket repair services that will repair your Dtivo for a reasonable fee. Check the How Tos Only sticky for a list of recommended service centers. If this is the case, it would be a good idea to remove any mods to the DTivo and restotre the original backup image you made before you installed any upgrades.
Q: My DTivo constantly goes into a reboot loop. How do I fix this?
A: Try the fixes outlined above for the problem of getting stuck in the Welcome screen. The constant reboot may be related to a power supply problem and will most likely need service.
Q: I want to install some of the utilities described in this forum. The attached ReadMe file says I have to transfer some of the files to a directory on the DTivo. How do I do this?
A: The easiest method of file transfer to a DTivo is with an FTP program but you need to have a working TurboNet adapter installed in your DTivo and connected to your PC via Ethernet. The simplest, but slowest, method is to connect to your DTivo via serial port and transfer them with TeraTerm using Zmodem protocol. Establish a Telnet session with your DTivo using TeraTerm. Navigate to the directory that you wish to upload the file(s) to. This is done by first typing in “CD” plus one space followed by the full path to the directory. For example, to navigate to the hack subdirectory located in the var directory, type in CD /var/hack and press Enter. To view the contents of the directory, type in “ls” and press Enter. To transfer one or more files to the open directory, select File, then Transfer from the pull-down menu in TeraTerm. Select ZMODEM, then Send. An Explorer window will open up so you can specify which files to transfer. Navigate to the directory and drive on your PC where the files are stored. Highlight one or more files by holding down the CTRL key and clicking on each file. When all files have been selected, click on Open and the files will begin transferring from the PC to the DTivo. The Zmodem transfer window will close when all files have completed the transfer process.
Q: What is Kraven’s Upgrade?
A: Kraven’s upgrade is a collection of utilities and add-on goodies for the DTivo that can be installed in one fell swoop. It requires that you first transfer a compressed file to the root directory of the DTivo and then extract the files. The individual files will be installed in their respective directories. Some of the utilities installed are noppv (removes the PPV flag from the guide to permit future recording of PPV programs), noscramble (turns off scrambling in the DTivo), tivoftpd (sets up file transfer protocol to permit easier file transfer from your PC to and from the DTivo), logsnull (removes the log files and prevents them from building up and taking up extraneous space on the hard drive), and TurboNet drivers (sets up the TurboNet software for use with a DHCP server, such as the way some routers can operate, so that an IP address is automatically assigned to the DTivo when it goes on-line).
Q: What is Superzap’s upgrade?
A: Superzap’s upgrade is a collection of hacks as well as changes made to the Dtivo OS that will bring it up to the same level as the factory versions for 2.5.2 or 3.1. Either upgrade must be performed on a Dtivo that already has 2.5Xtreme installed. It is strictly an upgrade and should not be installed on a bare drive because it won’t work without 2.5Xtreme as a baseline. It also includes Superzap’s xPlusz utility that allows you to activate or deactivate any of the included hacks by entering a set of commands in the Call Waiting Prefix in the Phone Setup menu. You can also enter commands via the bash prompt using the “xp” command followed by the same commands used for the Call Waiting Prefix. Check the forum for links to both Superzap’s upgrade or the xPlusz utility. The Readme file for the upgrade includes all of the xPlusz commands and their descriptions. Here's some of the functions explained:
NOPHONE - allows your TiVo sub to continue to remain active without a phone connection (also controls the logs).
ADDLOCALS will allow you to add multiple sets of locals (mvchannels).
T30SS will automatically set 30 seconds skip feature on each reboot.
NOPPV will reset the PPV indicator on PPV channels at daily call.
FIXDEMO will reset demo mode periodically (default every 3 mins).
EBD will automatically enable backdoors on each reboot.
CALLERID will display caller-id on screen (phone line required).
The batch save feature will allow you to save multiple programs to VCR.
TIVOTITLE will change the title of shows adding the description.
TEMPMON will monitor the TiVo's temperature and issue an alert on the screen if the temperature exceeds a threshold you specify.
NOSDD will help you further opt out of TiVo's automatic software downloads and changes to your DirecTiVo unit. It is designed to prevent any type of software download/update whatsoever, including (no way around this) the showcases and tivolution magazine.
Others are (they should have obvious meaning):
TELNET will allow telnet communication over ethernet
READONLY
TIVOWEB will allow communication with the Tivo menu system via a web browser interface
TIVOFTPD will allow FTP transfer to and from a Tivo using a standard FTP program
NOSCRAMBLE will deactivate or activate scrambling on a DTivo
SMBFS
NFS
Q: I already have Kraven’s upgrade to 2.5Xtreme but I want to upgrade to a newer version? Do I have to reinstall 2.5Xtreme from scratch to do this?
A: You can install Superzap’s upgrade right over a Dtivo that has 2.5Xtreme with Kraven’s original Xtreme upgrade already installed on the drive.
Q: What is Tivolator 3.1?
A: This is Kraven’s upgrade to Xtreme for OS version 3.1. It does a lot of the same things that Superzap’s upgrade does but it does not include the xPlusz utility. Check out the Tivolator 3.1 sticky thread in the DirecTV Tivo Hacking Forum for more details.
Q: I upgraded to 3.1 but now my Hu access card won’t work. Is there any way to get an Hu card to work with 3.1?
A: Yes, there is. You can either manually replace the boot299.btl file on the Dtivo with one from a previous version or you can install JJBliss’ BlissTerPopper upgrade. This basically modifies the boot299.btl file for you to allow the use of an Hu card.
Q: I want to install a TurboNet adapter for faster transfer between my PC and my DTivo. Where can I get a TurboNet and how do I install it?
A: A TurboNet adapter can be purchased from www.9thtee.com <http://www.9thtee.com> in the Tivo upgrades section. Click on the TurboNet link in the left-hand column. Installation, setup instructions, and software drivers are available for download from the site. Download the software and burn it to a CD as an iso image. The CD should be bootable so you will need to test it before attempting the installation. See the question regarding a bootable CD for instructions on how to test it.
NOTE: If you’ve installed Kraven’s original upgrade, Superzap’s upgrade to 2.5.2 or 3.1, or Tivolator 3.1, you will NOT need to install the Turbonet or Airnet drivers. The drivers are already included in the upgrades. Check the forum for threads on performing the various upgrades for info on activating the drivers, as required.
Q: I’ve got my TurboNet software installed on the DTivo drive and the TurboNet adapter is installed in the DTivo. How do I connect it to my PC?
A: If you are using a direct peer-to-peer connection to your PC, you will need to use a crossover cable. If you are connecting via a router, switch, or Ethernet hub then you may use regular CAT-5 ethernet cables.
Q: I’ve got the cable connected but I can’t put the cover back on because the Ethernet cable is in the way. What’s the best way to run the cable so I can replace the cover?
A: The best way to do this, without having to resort to cutting any holes in the DTivo cover or chassis, is to fabricate a short length of Cat-5 cable (2-3 feet) and prepare the wire and crimp the connectors yourself. This requires a knowledge of RJ45 wiring conventions and may be a bit tricky for the novice. Prepare one end of the cable, crimp on the RJ45 connector, and connect it to your TurboNet adapter. (Crimp tools and connectors are available at any Radio Shack.) Route the other end of the cable between the TurboNet adapter and the front panel and run it under the hard drive rack. Run the cable through one of the ventilation holes in the bottom of the chassis and out of the bottom of the DTivo. Prepare the other end of the cable and crimp on the connector. An in-line RJ45 coupler permits easy external connection of a CAT-5 ethernet cable to the TurboNet adapter.
Q: I’ve got the TurboNet installed and the cable connected. Now What?
A: Connect an Ethernet cable between your PC, hub, or router and the in-line coupler from the TurboNet. Power on the DTivo and open up a DOS prompt on your PC. Type in “ping 192.168.1.200” (assuming that you used the default static IP settings for the Turbonet; otherwise, type in the static IP address you assigned or the one assigned by your DHCP server) and press Enter. You should get a series of four responses from the DTivo. The first one may fail but you should get at least three that are successful. If you don’t get any responses (all failed), check all of your connections. If you fabricated your own cable, you may have miswired the connector. If you are using a router or a hub, make sure the Connected LED is lit for the connection to the DTivo. If it’s not lit, open up the case on the DTivo and check to make sure that the green LED is lit on the TurboNet adapter. If it’s not, power down the DTivo and check to make sure that the TurboNet adapter is connected properly to the DTivo mainboard.
Q: I’ve got the TurboNet installed and the drivers loaded but I don’t know how to connect to my Tivo. How do I find out what the IP address is?
A: By default, the Turbonet or Airnet adapter is set up as a DHCP client in a Tivo. If you are using a router, connect to the router’s home page via your web browser and find out what IP address has been assigned to your Tivo. If you’re not using a router or you want to check the IP address via serial connection, type in the command “ipconfig” at the bash prompt and you’ll see the IP address assigned to the Tivo along with other pertinent data. This is the address you will use to connect using TeraTerm or any other utility that will make use of the Ethernet connection.
Q: I’ve got the TurboNet working (pinged successfully). How do I transfer files from my PC?
A: Before you can begin using your TurboNet for file transfer, you need to set of FTP transfer protocol on your DTivo. You can do this by installing tivoftpd on your DTivo (get it from the How Tos sticky thread). You will need to do this via serial connection to get it set up. Once installed, you can use any FTP program, such as CuteFTP or other Windows-based FTP program, for transferring files to and from your DTivo and also for creating and deleting directories. FTP transfer protocol is installed automatically as part of Kraven’s upgrade. Specify the IP address you set up for the DTivo and log in anonymously on port 21. Follow the instructions for your FTP software for its use and operation.
NOTE: If you’ve installed either of Superzap’s upgrades to 2.5.2 or 3.1 or Tivolator 3.1 then the ftp utility is already installed on the DTivo. You will need to activate the ftp utility using xPlusz in Superzap’s upgrades.
Q: I want to transfer shows from my DTivo to my PC using TurboNet. What’s the best way to go about this?
A: Get yourself a copy of jdiner’s TyTool5 or later. Follow the instructions for installing and setting up the files on both your DTivo and PC. There are other methods involving a program called extractstream and the tivoweb utility but tytool is by far the easiest method to date.
NOTE: There are currently several other methods for file transfer that have been developed for use with a Tivo. Aside from TyTool and mfsstream, there is also mfs_ftp and TyStudio. Mfs_ftp allows the use of an ftp program to transfer files in tmf format to and from a Tivo and can also transfer files between Tivos. This allows file transfers between both standalone Tivos and Dtivos. The only restriction is that you cannot transfer a file with a Dolby Digital soundtrack from a DTivo to a SA Tivo. TyStudio is a suite of utilities that allow the transfer of files from a Tivo and can perform editing and muxing functions to an extracted ty file. TyStudio can automatically transcode the audio from a SA Tivo to 48kHz , mux the oputput to an mpeg file, or output the file as separate elemental audio and video streams. TyTool has also been updated for use with a separate utility called GOPEditor that performs many of the same functions as TyStudio but ouputs the file as a muxed mpeg file.
Q: What is Tivoweb?
A: Tivoweb is a utility that enables you to view the different screens on your DTivo via a web browser as if it were a website. You can perform functions on your Tivo from your PC just as though you were using the Tivo remote and browsing through the menu system. There is also a virtual Tivo remote that can control transport functions via your PC.
Q: How do I transfer files using TyTool?
A: Open up a telnet session via TeraTerm. Make sure you’ve specified the DTivo IP address for the telnet session and connect to the DTivo. Navigate to the /var/hack directory (or a different one if you did not use the default location for the installation). Type in “./tserver_mfs6” and press Enter (this may vary if using a different version of TyTool). You should see the message “Waiting for an incomming connection”. Open up the TyTool program on your PC and select Refresh. The contents of the Now Playing list on your DTivo will be displayed. The date, time, show title, episode, file size, and all applicable FSIDS for each show are listed in descending order, chronologically (i.e. newest shows first). Select the Files pull-down menu and specify the extraction method you want to use (Tystream or Vsplit mode). Click on the desired show and select Get to begin the extraction. All of the buttons except Delete are greyed out until the extraction has completed. If you want to set it up to extract more than one show, hold down the CTRL key and select each show you wish to extract. When all desired shows have been highlighted, select Get. The first show highlighted in the list will begin extracting and will continue to the next show in order until all highlighted shows have been extracted.
Q: How do I transfer files using TyStudio:
A: TyStudio requires the installation of several files on the Tivo to allow it to act as a server. Once these files have been transferred and their permissions set, simply open up TyStudio and click on the “Click her to get file from NowShowing” button in the left side of the window. Check the documentation for TyStudio for details on installing and using TyStudio. Links for downloading TyStudio and all documentation can be found in the Extraction Forum in olaf’s sticky thread near the opt of the page.
Q: How do I transfer files using mfs_ftp?
A: As with all other Tivo communication programs, certain files need to be transferred and set up on the Tivo. You will then need to telnet to the Tivo using TeraTerm and execute the mfs_ftp program manually. You can then connect to the Tivo using any compatible FTP program. File transfer is performed as with any other files using the aforementioned FTP program.
Q: How do I transfer files using TivoWeb?
A: You will need the mfsstream web module v.98 installed on your Tivo. Telnet to the Tivo and initiate the tyhttpd utility manually and then access the Tivo via your web browser. Select the MfsStream option in the menu and you’ll see the Now Playing list. Click on the show link just like a download link on a website and save it to your hard drive.
Q: I extracted some shows from my DTivo using the Vsplit mode but they all show up as 0kbytes. What did I do wrong?
A: The DTivo uses an internal scrambling algorithm when it records programs. In order to extract programs to a PC, scrambling must first be turned off.
Q: How do I turn off scrambling on my DTivo?
A: You need to install and execute the noscramble.o script. Once installed, this can be run manually by typing in “insmod /lib/modules/noscramble.o” and pressing Enter. To ensure that this is run automatically following a reboot, it will be necessary to edit the rc.sysinit file to add this line.
NOTE: Superzap’s xPlusz utility included in his 2.5.2 and 3.1 upgrades allows for the activation or deactivation of the noscramble module by entering the appropriate xPlusz code.
Q: How do I edit my rc.sysinit file to add noscramble or other changes?
A: Connect via TeraTerm. Navigate to the /etc/rc.d directory. Before attempting to edit any file you should make a backup so it can be restored if you screw something up. Type in “cp rc.sysinit rc.sysinit.bak” and press Enter. If you type in “ls” and press Enter you will see a file called rc.sysinit.bak that was just created. This is your backup copy. Type in “joe rc.sysinit” and press Enter. The file is now in edit mode. Use the arrow keys and scroll all the way to the end of the file (it’s pretty big so it may take a minute or so to get there). Place your cursor near the end of the file but before it says something like “rc.sysinit complete”, preferably on an empty line. Type in “insmod /lib/modules/noscramble.o”. Check for typos. Press CTRL+k and x to save and exit the file when you’re done.
NOTE: Superzap’s xPlusz utility included in his 2.5.2 and 3.1 upgrades allows for the activation or deactivation of the noscramble module by entering the appropriate xPlusz code. Editing of the rc.sysinit file is not required.
Q: How do I know whether or not scrambling has been turned off?
A: Type in “ps x” at the bash prompt to see if the noscramble.o module is running.
Q: I’ve got lots of shows on my DTivo that were recorded with scrambling turned on. Now that I have scrambling turned off, I am unable to watch them. What can I do to watch my previously recorded shows?
A: You can toggle scrambling on and off to permit viewing of these programs. Note that any program recorded with scrambling on cannot be extracted for archiving purposes. To unload the noscramble.o driver, type in “CD /sbin” and press Enter. Then, type in “ln insmod rmmod” and press Enter. To turn scrambling back on, type in “rmmod noscramble” and press Enter. You may have to attempt this several times before the driver is unloaded successfully. You can confirm whether it worked or not by attempting to play a show that you know to be scrambled. If successful, the show will play normally. If unsuccessful, you will get an error message indicating that no video signal was present at the time the program was recorded. You will get these same results if you attempt to view an unscrambled show with scrambling turned on.
NOTE: Superzap’s xPlusz utility included in his 2.5.2 and 3.1 upgrades allows for the activation or deactivation of the noscramble module by entering the appropriate xPlusz code.
Q: I want to be able to record some of my shows to DVD but they were recorded with scrambling turned on. Can I descramble these shows and burn them to a DVD?
A: Currently, there is no way to descramble shows that are already on your DTivo that will permit them to be authored for DVD recording.
Q: I am trying to record a PPV movie but my DTivo keeps rebooting when I try to get purchase info for the movie or attempt to schedule it for recording in advance. What’s up?
A: You need to install and/or manually execute noppv.tcl. This removes the ppv flag to allow recording of ppv programs as regular shows. Kraven’s upgrade installs this but you may need to run it manually about once a week or so.
NOTE: Superzap’s xPlusz utility included in his 2.5.2 and 3.1 upgrades allows for the activation or deactivation of the noppv script by entering the appropriate xPlusz code.
Q: Now that I can extract my shows from the DTivo, how can I turn them into DVDs, VCDs, or SVCDs?
A: There are numerous threads for doing this. There is a simple How To DVD instruction that requires that you obtain a copy of DVDPatcher, DVD Maestro or SpruceUp, and Nero Burning ROM (for newer DVD burners only). If using DVD Maestro, you will also need a copy of Cinemaster2000 to preview the videos during the authoring process.
NOTE: Current developments in TyTool and TyStudio allow for editing of ty files and outputting them as muxed mpeg files or separate audio and video elemental streams. The most popular programs for authoring DVDs are SpruceUp, DVD Maestro, IFOEdit, Ulead MovieFactory, and Ulead DVDWorkshop as well as several others. The muxed output from either TyTool or TyStudio should be compliant with most commercially available DVD authoring software. Check the Extraction forum for guidelines on using various authoring programs with extracted ty files from both Dtivos and SA Tivos.
Q: Where can I find DVD Maestro, SpruceUp and Cinemaster2000?
A: Spruce Technologies was acquired by Apple Computers and the PC versions of their software are no longer commercially available. Raviscent Cinemaster2000 has also been replaced by newer versions of their decoder that are not compatible with DVD Maestro. Check the How Tos Only sticky thread for links to download sites for these programs.
Q: I authored DVDs in both DVD Maestro and SpruceUp but neither program recognizes my DVD burner. How can I burn a DVD?
A: These programs do not support newer DVD burners. You can, however, compile your DVD to a set of VOB files (i.e. Title Set) in either Maestro or SpruceUp and burn them to a DVD using a current version of Nero. When using Nero, make sure you select the DVD UDF/ISO format. Burning in any other format may result in a DVD that is unplayable in your set top DVD player.
Q: I accidentally deleted a program on my DTivo. Is there any way to recover it?
A: There is a program called EditTitle that will enable you to “undelete” any previously deleted program, provided you have not recorded over the disk space occupied by the program data that was deleted. If the area on the disk that contained the deleted data has been overwritten by a newly recorded program, then the deleted program cannot be recovered.
Q: What other functions does EditTitle have?
A: EditTitle can be used to view all programs currently appearing in the Now Playing list as well as every program ever recorded in the History list. You can revise the show title, episode name, program description, start date, start time, and end time. You can delete any program from the History list or the entire History list, if desired.
Q: I am subscribed to DirecTV to get my local channels. Why aren’t they listed in the program guide?
A: Subscribed to locals should show up in the guide on their own but sometimes they may need a little help. You may have to set up the guide manually to display your local channels. Get a copy of mvchannels (mvch135.zip for 2.5 or mvch136.zip for 2.5.2) from the How Tos sticky thread. There are numerous posts that detail installing and setting up locals in the forum and also the How Tos so it will not be repeated here.
NOTE: Recent updates from DTV have caused many DTivo owners to lose their locals if their Dtivos are still at version 2.5 of the DTivo OS. You will need to upgrade to version 2.5.2 or 3.1 using either Superzap’s upgrade or Tivolator 3.1. Following the upgrade you will need to perform a Clear Program Data & To Do List from the System Reset menu under Messages & Setup. This will wipe out any Season Passes and other scheduled recordings as well as the guide data but it won’t affect current recordings, settings, or preferences.
Q: My locals are not showing up in the 900’s but instead they’re listed as their regular channel numbers in the 0-99 area of the guide. Is there any way to move them to the 900’s?
A: The default location for any channel is to be listed by its normal channel number in the 0-99 area of the guide. However, it is possible for the local channels to be listed in the 900’s. This requires editing the channels.dat file and specifying that the channels be displayed in the 900’s. You will also have to edit the rc.sysinit file to run the mvchannels.tcl file in looping mode. If the mvchannels.tcl program is not run periodically, the channels will eventually migrate back to the 0-99 area. This uses up resources of the DTivo processor and may result in the DTivo running a little sluggish but probably not enough to be that noticeable.
NOTE: Superzap’s xPlusz utility provides a method for remapping local channels to the 800s and 900s or elsewhere in the 0-99s other than the default assigned channel number.
Q: How do I add locals from other areas?
A: Edit the channels.dat file to include locals from any local area.
NOTE: Superzap’s xPlusz utility provides a method for adding local channels from markets other than what you can get through legit subscriptions from DTV. The guide will display any locals you add to the guide using the #60 command followed by the market IDs of each set of locals to be displayed. Only locals that are available in the same spot beam as your legit locals will be available for viewing or display any guide data. Locals added that are not within the same spot beam will show up in the guide but guide data will be displayed as “To be announced.” Locals other than the ones you subscribe to cannot be viewed without the use of a test card.
DTV has been doing a lot of things lately that have pretty much eliminated the possibility of getting multiple locals on a single DTivo. You should still be able to get different sets of locals on separate Dtivos as long as they are carried within the spot beam for your region. As of January 2004, there will be a change to the spot beam allocations and also the satellites that carry locals. All locals for cities west of the Mississippi will be broadcast via the satellite at 101 degrees. All local channels east of the Mississippi will then be carried on the 119-degree satellite. This will require that anyone getting east coast feeds will have to upgrade to an oval dish with either two or three LNB modules.
Q: I ran mvchannels in looping mode manually and it added the locals to the 900s but they all returned to the 0-99 area after a short while. Why did this happen?
A: Running the mvchannels manually via TeraTerm works only as long as the telnet session is active. Once the session is ended, the mvchannels program is no longer running in looping mode. The rc.sysinit file has to be edited to allow it to run in looping mode and then the DTivo has to be rebooted so that it will be run from the DTivo on bootup.
Q: I added locals per the instructions I found on the forum but all of the channels say “To be announced”.
A: The local channel info will take some time to update in the guide. It will be several hours before the guide is populated with enough info to set up any advance recording. Setting up a season pass may require waiting at least 24 hours before enough guide info has been accumulated.
NOTE: There is a utility called midupdate.tcl that can be transferred to the DTivo and run manually. This forces the DTivo to reacquire data from the satellite and will cause the locals to populate the guide almost immediately.
Q: I added locals from other areas and the guide has updated to include info for all of them. When I try to tune to some of these channels I get a “Channel unavailable” message or something similar. Why is this?
A: DirecTV uses spot beams to broadcast locals to specific regions. If you are attempting to get locals from an area not covered by spot beams being broadcast in your vicinity, the video signal will be unavailable to you. The guide info is not broadcast via the spot beams, which is why you can get the guide data but not the actual channel.