Tivo owners-30GB Quantum drive, $94.75 shipped, maybe better

[CentralScrutinizer]

Onvia has the Quantum 30GB LCT15 drive currently for $119.75. After applying the current $25 coupon, you get this drive for $94.75 shipped.

This is the same 30GB drive currently being installed by Philips in their 30GB tivo units. As a 4400 RPM drive, it is super quiet and has low power consumption - perfect for Tivo upgrades. I just got mine from Onvia this AM - two days after ordering.

A $30 rebate also exists through quantum's website Rebate form here, but applies only for "authorized direct" dealers - onvia is not listed as a direct dealer, but I'll sent in the form anyway - sure would be sweet to get this drive for a final price of $64.75.

P.S. This drive is also perfectly fine for data, MP3 storage as well. Not as fast as a 7200RPM drive, but then again, who wants that high pitched whine interfering with your MP3 tunes?

 

[MisterMagoo]

Has anyone done the TiVo hack? This sounds very compelling but I am a bit nervous about it.

Where can I find the instructions for the TiVo hack?

-- Thanks --

 

[CentralScrutinizer]

Step by Step Tivo Hack Instructions for the Layperson

 

[MisterMagoo]

Thanks CentralScrutinizer!

 

[T0mahawk]

http://www.kenseglerdesigns.com/cgi...v&Idle=&Sort=&Order=&Session=

 

[Hork]

I've done the TiVo hack. I got a 14 hour TiVo from Amazon for around $85 when it was onsale for a couple of hours at $99 and I used a GC I had laying around. Did I mention there is a $100 rebate from TiVo? :-D

While it was shipping to me I saw on ZDTV that it could be hacked to add a bigger hard drive and I started to drool.

I picked up a 30GB Western Digital from Sam's Club using the $40 rebate there.

I followed the instructions online. The two biggest problems I had were:

1) The BlessTiVo program on the Linux boot disk is down in the /bin directory and not in the root. None of the instructions seemed to indicate that. In any case, I just changed to the /bin directory and ran it from there and it worked fine.
2) Mounting the hard drive inside the TV. Some people are talking about ordering rails and such, but the majority seem to be jury rigging something that holds it in there. Since you shouldn't be planning to move your TiVo around much, it's pretty easy to do the latter. I used a couple of layers of sticky foam tape that is usually used to attach camper shells to pickup trucks. I created a hollow rectangle of the tape to fit under the drive. Unfortunately, I found out these were only single sided instead of double sided, so their main function was to give me some cushioning to avoid vibration. I then used some scotch or 3M heavy duty double-sided mounting squares which I attached to the bottom of the drive and then to the foam tape. This held the drive pretty firmly and gave it some cushioning.

A lot of people are talking about using LRFs (Little Rubber Feet(s)) and zip ties to mount them, but others are talking about duct tape and cardboard. :-D

Other than those two things, it was pretty darn easy! I've got a 52 hour TiVo now, which has been great for the Olympics and for recording Roughnecks: Starship Trooper Chronicles!

Good luck!

Hork

 

[Davegod75]

sweet deal

 

[Nightwatch]

I was looking into buying one of those hacked DirectTV DSS, the ones that run off the hacked H-Card. Can you use TIVO with that?

 

[Matt L]

Yeah, I picked up two also. Hack is easy, I didn't have ANY problem with the Dylan's BlessTivo disk from the AV Forum. As to it working with a hacked DSS system all it does is connect to the serial port or use an IR blaster, so if you can see it it will record it. Go for it if you can find one they are realy in short supply.....
(BTW, $100.00 rebate ends in a week)

 

[c3]

$124.95 from outpost.com, minus 5% wingspan/e-card, minus 5% ebates, and $30 rebate = $82.45 shipped overnight.

 

[db]

Can you buy these w/o having to sign up for their service?

 

[shadowman]

Did anyone get the 30 rebate from Quantum using Onvia?

 

[c3]

Don't hold your breath for rebate from Quantum. I just received the check for a rebate sent in on July 1 and received by them before July 20.