Daniel writes “I purchased a first generation Tivo unit a few years ago and used it in the “normal ” way. But since then I have moved and I do not have a use for a landline. I am relutant to toss it because it is still good hardware. Which brings me to the question: What alternative use is there for a first generation Tivo unit?.” Link to Tivo hacks…add your suggestions in the comments!
14 thoughts on “MAKE Challenge: What to do with an old Tivo?”
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A Series 1 tivo is a beautiful thing. If you have broadband, you can put in a TurboNet Card and support is built in to the latest software from Tivo. Of course you also have the capability to add some nice big drives, and you can install some software that lets you extract video directly from the box without any DRM.
The MPEG encoder the series 1 boxes was better than the current batch, and there’s more CPU there to play with.
It is after all a cool little linux box, so once you open it, you can do all kinds of fun things.
I wish the Series 2 was as hackable as the Series 1. I’m stuck with a 2.
I am guessing you have a standalone tivo, not a directivo (with a directv satellite tuner built-in.) If you have broadband, put in a turbonet card and hack it to use your net connection instead of phone calls.
If you have are running windows, there is a lot of software out there for you to play with your tivo. For Mac & Linux, check out TivoTool (shameless plug here, because I helped write it) which will let you download and/or stream video from your tivo to your computer, among other things.
For non-traditional uses, I’m sure there must be some way to install a new kernel and use the tivo as a security time-lapse DVR equivalent. Then again, you could just use it to run non-stop like the fellows at this link.
Out of all the Forums i have seen , I LIKE THIS SITE.
Why … its simple and easy to read respones
so this is my Question..
I have a Phillips Tivo series 1
i love it i have had since 2000 , hard drive space 306 hours
turbonet card installed and works great .
HOW DO I EXTRACT TO MY PC >
Please Help me .
hey joe- can you post this up in our forums? we just opened them and i think this is a good one.
I have a series 2 Tivo and have just upgraded to an HD version. I know lots of people in the same situation and have seen even more on the web. Could I propose an update to this challenge? What can I do with the 80 hour tivo series 2 that is sitting in my garage?
I’m in roughly the same boat. Upgraded a year ago to a TiVoHD but hate to just throw away my perfectly good S1 (with network card and updated drives.) What to do with it…?