Master Gardener Blog - TIVO Is Very Popular A Must Have Service For Many But For Me It Makes Me Crazy Truthfully

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

TIVO is very popular …a must have service for many, but for me, it makes me crazy …truthfully, I hate it

Why?

Let me do my TOP 2,000 REASONS TO NOT HAVE TIVO

1. TIVO can suddenly turn the screen black, Usually, I still have audio but changing the channel using the TV remote will not work

2. Sometimes, TIVO changes the channel to whatever. If you don't scramble quickly to the TIVO remote to click for "Watch Live TV" it may take a while to get back to where you were

3. We've had it where TIVO selects a channel and does not allow any change with either the TIVO or TV remote control. We have to unplug TIVO to re-start watching TV

4. You're watching live TV and TIVO changes the channel. You click for "Watch Live TV" mode, but TV again changes the channel. This can continue for hours

5. TIVO vastly slows down channel changing in "Watch Live TV" mode. I click or input a channel number, and it's slow

6. My wife sets TIVO to record a certain show and TIVO selects a different channel we don't even get to record (black screen is recorded)

7. You enter a time and channel to record and TIVO will not accept your commands. It changes the time or the channel to whatever

8. TIVO will not record any channel you are not already watching…that's stupid

9. You are watching live TV and TIVO changes the channel. You click to say "No" but the channel changes anyway…to another live TV channel (not the one you were watching)

10. You click the button to turn on the TV and it will not turn on. You have to first use the TIVO remote then try again

OK, OK, so it's not 2,000 reasons, but it's still a nightmare. Even my wife who uses TIVO (I have never once recorded anything) admits it's "difficult"

NO !!! TIVO IS A NIGHTMARE !!!

posted on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 1:09:16 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Comments [1]

Saturday, December 16, 2006 11:41:27 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

I'm sorry you're having trouble with your TiVo. It seems as though it was not initially programmed or set up to function with your particular cable or satellite system, nor with your TV. We've had TiVo for years now, in different areas of the US, and never had such problems. Admittedly, it may require a set-up process, but it should be no more difficult than setting up a VCR. It appears that all of your issues are due to not properly setting up the communication between your cable/satellite, your Tivo, and your TV. The machines do as they are told, but if you haven't told them how to communicate, they won't be able to do what you want. I suggest getting a patient friend to correctly set up your TiVo system.

Also, TiVo is a subscription service. Is your TiVo registered, connected to a telephone jack, has it's ID card inserted, and are you paying for the service? If not, it will not send and receive programming info from TiVO central service, and it will not function properly.

As to your specific comments:
The TV remote should be totally unnecessary, and you should not need to use it (except for picture and sound adjustment) after setting up your TiVo. Use the TiVo remote, and make sure it knows what TV you are using.

If you allow it, the TiVo will pick programs for you to watch or record. You can turn off this function. Most people do. Generally, TiVo warns you before it changes channels.

Honestly, I've never heard of anyone having these problems, so I must assume that it has more to do with your connections, or your set-up.

Alan

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