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TiVo News tivo repair Troubleshooting Help WeaKnees News

TiVo DVRs Experiencing “Failed While Negotiating” Errors (N17 / N18)

Today we have had a significant number of TiVo customers report problem with their Series 2 and Series3 TiVos. Specifically, some TiVo DVRs are getting the error N17 ( Failed While Negotiating) or N18  (Failed While Configuring) or, in some cases, simply “Negotiation Error” on some of the earlier TiVo models. This occurs both with TiVo’s connecting via phone and that are networked (whether wired or wirelessly).

According to TiVo, they are aware of the problem and are working on a resolution. Evidently, the problem does not impact all TiVo users, but we have been unable to discern why some are getting the error and others are not.

Our best suggestion at this point is to just wait it out. Hopefully the problem will be resolved within a day or so. Typically, TiVo is quick to resolve problems once they are aware of them. This one seems to be impacting quite a few customers, so we hope to see the problem fixed quickly.

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tivo repair Troubleshooting Help WeaKnees News

TiVo Modem Troubleshooting Help

We’ve got a lot of tips on how to work with modem problems on our general TiVo repair page. But here’s some help specific to the failed, service not answering, and failed, could not connect, error messages with TiVo DVRs, both in initial setups, and in configurations down the road.

OK – here’s what you should try:

The first phone call is to TiVo’s toll-free number, to download a list of local access numbers. Sometimes, for some reason, this number doesn’t function properly, or, in some cases, it’s not reachable from certain phone systems.

Also, on up-and-running TiVo DVRs, there are times that phone line conditions change and keep modems from properly dialing-in.

To get around these problems, you can build in a local number that will access the same network. First, use this page to find your local access number:

TiVo POP finder

Enter your local area code and you should get a list of local numbers that won’t incur long-distance charges. From that list, choose the nearest city. You’ll use that number.

Then, on your TiVo, edit the “dialing prefix” area in the following way, where “num” is the number you just got from the web page above.

,#096,,num,

To enter a comma on this screen, use the Pause key, and to input the pound (#) symbol, use the Enter key on the remote. The “#096” portion tells the modem to use a slower connection speed, which is better for noisy or low-volume lines. The commas are basically 2-second pauses that are necessary to separate out commands.

So, for a 310 phone number, where you need to dial a 1 plus the area code before each call, you’d get:

,#096,,13103881905,

which is entered with this key sequence, once in the right field: pause – enter – 0 – 9 – 6 – pause – pause – 1 – 3 – 1 – 0 – 3 – 8 – 8 – 1 – 9 – 0 – 5 – pause

Once you accept and test these settings, the TiVo will try to add its internal phone number on to the end of this sequence, but it really won’t matter since the other phone number in there ahead of it should already be connecting.

If you still have problems, please check the exact syntax of that string above. Each comma and the # are essential!

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WeaKnees News

Call Interrupted Problem Resolved

We just received an email from TiVo (on Sunday!) letting us know that they have resolved the “Call Interrupted” problem that we posted about a few days ago. We have been providing TiVo a list of TiVo Service Numbers from customers who have emailed us with this problem…so thanks to all of those customers who volunteered their units for troubleshooting.

Thanks very much to the engineers and support folks at TiVo for helping resolve this issue.

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WeaKnees News

TiVo® Launches Holiday Promotion and Lower Pricing

On Sunday, November 14th, TiVo announced new holiday pricing for the TiVo Premiere DVRs, with retail pricing starting at $99.99 through December 31, 2010. The Premiere XL price dropped to $299.99, which represents a whopping $200 price drop on these units.

WeaKnees also reduced our upgraded TiVo Premieres by $200, bringing those prices down to the lowest ever for an HD TiVo. So the price on every TiVo Premiere we sell is now $200 lower.

Along with the price drop, TiVo also changed the pricing structure for TiVo service. At least for now, the only pricing option for TiVo Premiere boxes is $19.99/mo, with a one-year commitment for service.  Lifetime service is not available for Premiere units under this promotion.

For those who want lifetime service on an HD TiVo, we have a supply of TiVoHD XL DVRs in stock that are eligible for lifetime service. In addition, all of our standard def dual-tuner TiVo DVRs, and all of our single-tuner, standard def Humax TiVo DVRs with built-in DVD burner, are still eligible for product lifetime service. For these units, lifetime service is $399 for new TiVo subscribers and $299 for existing subs.

But here is where things get confusing:

1) As of now, you cannot purchase product lifetime service on TiVoHD XLs or standard def TiVos at TiVo.com. You have to call 877-FOR-TIVO to sign up for product lifetime service.

However, the TiVo service terms indicate that other service options should be available for non-Premiere TiVo DVRs.

2) If you are an existing TiVo subscriber and go to activate a TiVo Premiere DVRs as an additional unit, the option you’ll get a TiVo.com is $19.99/mo:

However, if you are an existing subscriber and activate a TiVo other than a TiVo Premiere, you will get this:

You’ll see the additional reference to the MSD terms and conditions:


Click that and get this:

Naturally, the question becomes: Where are the other MSD options? I presume these will be available only by calling TiVo. Also note, however, that the MSD terms do not distinguish between the Premiere and non-Premiere TiVo DVRs.

So for the holidays, if you want an HD TiVo with lifetime service, consider the TiVoHD XL. It’s a great, solid unit, at a great price, and eligible for lifetime service.

On the otherhand, if you are currently paying a cable company $15 (or whatever) for a cable DVR, the new Premiere pricing is a great chance to give TiVo a try. For $100 + a few bucks more a month ($19.99 + the cost of a CableCARD), you can get a REAL DVR—a TiVo!

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AppleTV Product Information WeaKnees News

BIG AppleTVs – 1 TB of Storage

Yes, our timing is impeccable. Just as Apple announced the new, streaming-only AppleTV, we put the finishing touches our our first generation AppleTV with 1 TB of external storage.

We’ve been upgrading AppleTVs to 320 GB of storage space for quite a while, but we’ve never gone beyond that, since no compatible internal drive has been released larger than 320 GB. But there was enough demand for more storage space that we developed our AppleTVs with external storage, using our single-drive external cases.

Beyond getting more space by going external, this also keeps the temperature of the AppleTV way, way down.

So why would you want the older AppleTV? The big difference is whether you want your storage local, and thus more dependable, or streaming, and therefore reliant on either a fast internet connection or a server elsewhere on your network.

If you want to just dedicate storage to the AppleTV, and make sure it’s always there when ready, this is the unit for you. We hear from customers in many situations who prefer the local storage approach for these reasons:

  • The main computer in the house is a laptop, so if the laptop isn’t there and storage isn’t local, the AppleTV has nothing to stream.
  • The AppleTV is in a business like a doctor’s office, so it can play songs endlessly with local storage, and doesn’t use internet bandwidth.
  • Many use an AppleTV to store digital camera images for use in a home theater.

So what’s the drawback to the original AppleTV? So far, it’s that it doesn’t stream Netflix. And, since the new AppleTV is based on the iOS platform used by the iPhone/iPod/iPad, Apple is likely to develop more features for it down the road. But if you’re looking for a great way to store music, photos, and video right at a unit in your living room, with a great Apple interface, the original AppleTV with 1 TB of storage is the perfect product.

And, if you already have an AppleTV, we can upgrade it!