Tivo Series 2 Dual Tuner PVR Review - Part 2

One of the things that I like about the Tivo service is that it allows me to remotely record a program or a series over the internet.

I sometimes find out about a program that will be televised while I'm not at home and I would like to schedule the recording. With a Slingbox, it would be possible to remotely access your PVR and just like if you were sitting in front of your PVR, you could go through the recording menu on your PVR using the SlingPlayer software. The only drawback with this is that it requires that you have access to the SlingPlayer software and enough internet access (i.e. not blocked) in order for you to remotely access your Slingbox from the PC and issue the record command.

With a Tivo, this can be done entirely using the internet and a browser so no special software is required. As long as the computer is capable of browsing web pages, it will be capable of issuing the record command remotely for a program scheduled a few hours in the future. All you have to do is make sure that your Tivo is connected to either the internet (via WiFi or network cable) or to a phone line. If it is connected to the internet, you can record an episode approximately 1 hour away. If the Tivo is connected via a phone line, it can only record an episode after it dials into Tivo to download settings, updates and the television schedule. I don't recall how often Tivo dials in for the television schedule guide updates since I've always used my internet connection for the television guide updates but I believe that it only happens once every 24 hours. If this is the case, it means that if your Tivo is connected via a phone line, you will have to issue the record command about a day in advance in order to have the command accepted.

In order to record a program or a "Season Pass" remotely, you will have to have access to the internet (web browser). You will then log onto Tivo's website using your log-in credentials. Once you do this, you must locate the program that you want to record via the webpage television schedule. You can issue the record command and have your Tivo let you know if/when the recording will happen (via e-mail). If it doesn't happen because of a higher priority program, you can also have your Tivo let you know about this (via e-mail).

In fact, I issued a record program command remotely via the internet yesterday when I was at work, I found out that Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield would be featured on Oprah Winfrey that day. Being somewhat of a boxing fan, I was interested in hearing what both boxers had to say. I'm not someone who normally watches Oprah and her program is not one of the television programs programmed as a "Season Pass" on my Tivo. I opened up a browser and logged into my Tivo account. I did a search for Oprah Winfrey and issued the record command. A few minutes later, I received an e-mail informing me that the record command was successfully sent to my Tivo and that the television program that I selected was placed on my "To Do" list on things that would be recorded.

When you issue the record command via the internet, you will receive 2 e-mail confirmations. The first one will be similar to this where it states that the command was received by Tivo:

confirmations@tivo.com	date at time
To: emailaddress
Hello, We have received your request to record "Rocky Balboa" on Channel 334 for Tue 10/20 at 3:30 AM.  Priority: Only record if nothing else conflicts  Quality:  Use the default on the DVR  Keep Until:      Space needed  Start Recording: On Time  Stop Recording:  On Time The next time your DVR named "DVR XXXX" connects to the TiVo service, it will receive this request and send you another email with the results.  You can always see the status of your requests by checking your TiVo Messages and the To Do List or Recording History. Best regards, TiVo http://www.tivo.com/support/ ********** If you need to re-request this program, be sure to change at least one recording option so it will be recognized as a new request by your TiVo DVR. ********** Note: This is an automatically generated email notification.  Please do not reply to this message if you need help; instead, please visit http://www.tivo.com/support/

The second e-mail confirmation will either state whether the program was successfully or not successfully accepted by YOUR Tivo (i.e. placed in your Tivo's "To Do" list). An example of the e-mail which shows that the program was accepted by your Tivo is here:

TiVo - Your DVR XXXX DVR	date at time
To: emailaddress
Hello, Your online request for "Deep Impact" has been received. This program is now scheduled to record and appears in the To Do List. Best regards, TiVo http://www.tivo.com/support/ ********** If you need to re-request this program, be sure to change at least one recording option so it will be recognized as a new request by your TiVo DVR. ********** Note: This is an automatically generated e-mail notification.  Please do not reply to this message if you need help; instead, please visit http://www.tivo.com/support/

If the program was not successfully accepted by your Tivo, the e-mail will state the reason. An example of the e-mail which shows that the program was not accepted by your Tivo is here:

TiVo - Your DVR XXXX DVR	date at time
To: emailaddress
Hello, Your online request for "Rocky Balboa" has been received. However this program COULD NOT be scheduled to record because it conflicts with a previously scheduled, higher priority recording. Tip: Try using "View upcoming episodes" to find other times to record this program. Will NOT record:            Rocky Balboa   10/20   3:30 am - 5:30 am   334 ACTIONC            overlaps with   Smallville   4:00 am - 5:00 am Best regards, TiVo http://www.tivo.com/support/ ********** If you need to re-request this program, be sure to change at least one recording option so it will be recognized as a new request by your TiVo DVR. ********** Note: This is an automatically generated e-mail notification.  Please do not reply to this message if you need help; instead, please visit http://www.tivo.com/support/

If you have any questions/comments regarding my "Part 2" on Tivo Series 2 Dual Tuner PVR, please don't hesitate to leave a comment in the comments section.