Is my TiVO modem fried?

May 1, 2009 10:43 AM

Is my TiVO modem fried?

With increasing frequency, the many year old beast runs out of guide information. Now it will not connect to any of the local numbers during the "Getting Program Info" sequence.

I would assume it's the well-documented fragility of the modem. However, it does connect during the initial "Getting Setup Info" sequence.

Does that prove anything? Is this a good enough reason to lay out $280 for a hi-def TiVO?

posted by Joe Beese to technology (6 comments total)

Is it a Series 2? Have you tried connected it to a wireless or wired network in your house?
posted by bcwinters at 10:46 AM on May 1

You can fairly easily add an external modem. I like Weaknees, but I know that 9th Tee has options as well.

Of course, the HD TiVo is awesome and I'd hate to stop you from going that way.
posted by Lame_username at 11:17 AM on May 1

With increasing frequency, the many year old beast runs out of guide information. Now it will not connect to any of the local numbers during the "Getting Program Info" sequence.

I stopped using my Series 2 a while ago, but it was doing the exact same thing for me. The only workaround I found was resetting the TiVo over and over again and retrying until it connected.
posted by burnmp3s at 11:18 AM on May 1

Is this a Series 1 TiVo? I had installed a TurboNet card when my modem was fried in a thunderstorm. It was pretty nice.

But, if you don't have a wired network handy near the TiVo, that wouldn't work for you.

If it's a series 2, just get a USB wireless network adapter.

Only you can answer if you want to spend $280. Do you get HDTV cable?
posted by reddot at 12:22 PM on May 1

My Series 1 modem fried and I hooked up a USR external modem to it and it worked great again for many years until I bought my HD Tivo. It was very easy to setup and I had the modem just sitting around.
posted by cmm at 1:27 PM on May 1

$280? I just picked up a HD TiVo for $148 at Sears on Clearance (It's nationwide, so check your local store if you go that route) Tivo.com has Refurbs for $199 with the same warranty as new.

That said, back to your question, the modem is one of the components known to go on the TiVo. Replacing it with an external modem for S1 or a USB Wireless device on S2 are options, as previously stated.

I had a Turbonet card in my Series 1 and it was great! I was able to add TivoWeb and transfer files off as well. It was a great addition.
posted by stew560 at 8:02 PM on May 1