TiVo : Tivo Series Links

[beaker17]

I find the Tivo Series links a real benefit in automatically recording programs I like which saves me looking for them on the guide every day.

But why are some items highlighted in white and others subdued ?

What does changing the item position in the list actually do ?

I find that an item listed in the Series Links occasionally does not record - why is this ?

[spiderplant]

Originally Posted by beaker17

But why are some items highlighted in white and others subdued ?

It's white if any episodes are going to be recorded in the next two weeks; grey if not.

Originally Posted by beaker17

What does changing the item position actually do ?

Changes the priority so that you can choose which you want it to record if you have a clash (trying to record more than 3 things at once)

Originally Posted by beaker17

I find that an item listed in the Series Links occasionally does not record - why is this ?

A duplicate episode is probably the most common reason. If you look in Recording Hiccups it'll try you why it won't record / wasn't recorded.

ps. Welcome to the forum!

[MalteseFalcon]

For some shows, if the EPG data is not correct, it can sometimes mean that the TiVo thinks it has already recorded in the previous 28 days so will not record it. Also remember that if you want only new shows to go into the options for that series link and set it to record new shows only.

[beaker17]

Thanks so much for your excellent replies.

May I ask this ;-

Clashes, example - If a clash occurs at say 21.00 and the same program is repeated at say 23.00 or later, does the Series Link record the later program ?

[MalteseFalcon]

Yes. It will always the next available showing of that show. So if you are taping 3 things at once, then a 4th series link lower down the list of priorities should be recorded at its next showing. So if it is shown at 4, 6 and 8 it will record the next showing where there isn't a clash.

[beaker17]

Thanks again guys. My Tivo is great, I like it very much and the Series Links facility makes life much easier for me, but I do have a query now and again. This Forum seems to be a superb way of getting an answer.

[arcimedes]

One thing to remember with a series link is that it only records a later showing if its on the same channel. I tend to put BBC and other terrestrial channels at the top of the list, that way there's a better chance of getting all your recordings.

[japitts]

Originally Posted by arcimedes

One thing to remember with a series link is that it only records a later showing if its on the same channel. I tend to put BBC and other terrestrial channels at the top of the list, that way there's a better chance of getting all your recordings.

Indeed - I'm not sure how many series links it's "common" to have, but I've got about ~160, and vaguely order them as...

Channel 4/Channel 5/ITV-HD stuff with no repeats
BBC HD with no repeats
Channel/Channel 5/ITV non-HD with no repeats
Any terrestrial channel with repeat showings
Sky/Discovery/etc with multiple repeats

..for the same reason as arcimedes mentions. Then check the "my series link" list once a week or so for where, say, a Sky-1 show might be repeated on Sky-2 etc.

[denphone]

We have 108 but 40 won't come into action until their new series arrive.

[MalteseFalcon]

And I thought I had too many links at 18!

[japitts]

Originally Posted by denphone

We have 108 but 40 won't come into action until their new series arrive.

Oh aye, I'd probably say about a third of our links are "active" - by far the majority are sat there idling away until a new series or random one-off specials appear.

Probably doesn't help the processing whenever new guide data appears too much, mind.

[beaker17]

Thank you for all the comments on links.

I have 47 links at present and do delete some on my frequent checks, plus shuffle them around on priority best I can.

This link facility is a real benefit to me in having programs recorded automatically.

Another brilliant feature of TiVo gave me something I have never had before in my life. I accidentally deleted a program I wanted to keep, but TiVo came to the rescue.
I simply tapped the "recently deleted programs" and recovered it.

I delete a huge number of programs when watched. TiVo cannot keep this growing number on the data base ad infinitum. What is the TiVo time limit for deleting these ?

[spiderplant]

Originally Posted by beaker17

I delete a huge number of programs when watched. TiVo cannot keep this growing number on the data base ad infinitum. What is the TiVo time limit for deleting these ?

There is no set limit. It keeps them until it needs the space for a new recording.

[beaker17]

Originally Posted by spiderplant

There is no set limit. It keeps them until it needs the space for a new recording.

WOW ! It sure must be a large data base.