So you got a PVR for Christmas...

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So you got a PVR for Christmas...

A lot of people received a PVR like TiVo, Replay TV or a Windows XP Media Center for Christmas and are thinking "OK, now what?" We at PVRBlog, aside from wishing you happy holidays, want to provide a sort of introduction to using your new device. Inside this post we'll be linking to tips and guides for your new PVR to help you get started.

TiVo

TiVo Customer Support: TiVo has done an excellent job answering common questions. They also have some good tips and tricks to check out.
Tivo Community Forum: This is the most popular TiVo forum, chances are any question that hasn't been answered on the Customer Support page is answered here. Don't miss this post of common questions and these tips for new users. Also, be sure to search their archives before posting a question.
TiVo Central Online: You can schedule your TiVo through the web using this site, which might be a good way to set up your Season Passes
TiVo Rebate Center: Don't forget to send in those rebates!
The 30-Second Skip: Select-Play-Select-3-0-Select. This button combo on your remote will enable a hidden 30 second skip button. Personally I prefer using the fast forward, but a lot of people like using this, so try both and decide for yourself.
PVRblog's TiVo posts: Because we've written a thing or two about these TiVos too.

ReplayTV

ReplayTV Owners Home Page: A overview of offiial resources and support options.
MyReplayTV.com: Schedule recordings for your ReplayTV over the internet through their web site.
ReplayFAQs: Lots of news and information for ReplayTV owners, including the titular FAQs.
ReplayTV & Showstopper PVRs - AVS Forum: Community forums for ReplayTV owners to post questions and discuss. Be sure to read their FAQs and search before you post a question, it's probably already been answered.
PVRblog's ReplayTV posts...: ... which we really should flesh out more.

Thanks Ben for your help filling out this section.

Windows XP Media Center Edition

Using Windows XP Media Center Edition: I don't know much about the Windows Media Center community, but this looks like the best place to start. They have links to a getting started guide, and a comprehensive community portal.
The Green Button: This is the Media Center equivalent to the TiVo Community boards mentioned above.
microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter: Microsoft's Media Center newsgroup, an official forum from Microsoft to talk Media Center and get help from other users.
Addicted to Digital Media, Matt Goyer's blog and Chris Lanier's blog: Two blogs from people on the Media Center team and one from a "Media Center MVP," they regularly write about Windows Media Center Edition.
PVRblog's Windows Media Center posts: Which also feature stuff from Thomas Hawk.

Thanks to Thomas Hawk for his help on the Media Center links (and you should check out his site for more info about Media Center). I invite PVR fans to add their own picks in the comments to this post. If you still have a question that hasn't been answered, submit it to Ask PVRblog and our smart readers will do their best to help you out.

by George Hotelling December 23, 2004 in How-To

Comments

LJ users also have: http://www.livejournal.com/community/tivolovers/

And this is a list of resources: http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=tivolovers

Posted by: MegaZone at Dec 25, 2004 2:09:21 AM

I am building a WEB page on the Comcast system, Both the Microsoft software (in Washington) and the i-Guide software, Feel free to correct me, and to use any of the links that you find useful in you postings.

See: http://www.WeMatter.com/comcast-dvr.htm

Thanks.

Posted by: Mike Liveright at Dec 25, 2004 2:17:27 PM

Seems Tivo Community is down...

Posted by: Jeff at Dec 28, 2004 7:33:08 AM

Additional TiVo insights at: http://www.tivoblog.com

Posted by: Craig at Dec 28, 2004 10:23:13 AM

You forgot to mention http://www.snapstream.com/.

Not subscriptions,

Posted by: SDE at Dec 28, 2004 12:41:37 PM

Also Michael Creasy has a nice blog with a lot of Microsoft Media Center stuff at: http://blogs.msdn.com/mcreasy/

Posted by: Thomas Hawk at Jan 1, 2005 6:25:35 PM

tivo2go is live!!!! sadly, it could be several weeks before you see the software update, but it's live!

http://www.tivo.com/4.9.19.asp

Posted by: kim at Jan 3, 2005 3:01:14 AM

well i jsut odered my dvr, but i didnt order HD, so i got stuck with a single tuner dvr which kind of blows if i new that i would have gonne for the hd, even thought im nto sure what kind of connectors r i nthe back of the box im gonna try to plug dvr to one ofthe video conenctions and a direct cable to the coax maybe that way i can simulate dual tuners for a while still i cant record 2 shows at the same time but i can watch something while recording something else.

Posted by: freddy at Oct 10, 2005 3:18:53 PM

Forget about TiVo, RePlayTV, BeyondTV, SageTV, and the 'open-sore' MythTV.

A home-brewed DVR with Windows XP Media Center Edition is the easiest to install, configure, and use.

I even did a cost benefit analysis on Building a DVR v. Subscribing to TiVo.
http://technocratsoapbox.blogspot.com/2005/12/to-build-or-to-subscribe-dvr.html
http://technocratsoapbox.blogspot.com/2005/12/to-build-or-to-subscribe-dvr_02.html

And read why Windows XP MCE is King...
http://technocratsoapbox.blogspot.com/2005/12/windows-xp-mce-media-center-edition-is.html

Note: I am not a paid Microsoft Spokeperson.

Posted by: Y.C. at Jan 3, 2006 5:56:19 AM

I got a Comcasat PVR for Christmas. Anyone has similar information for the MO 6412 III?

Posted by: vasa at Jan 3, 2006 4:46:43 PM