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I’m a fan of TiVo and have been using a TiVo Series 2 (S2) for years now with no problems. On 12 November, I noticed that my TiVo S2 would no longer change channels on my Comcast Motorola DCT cable box. Naturally, I restarted components and checked cables but nothing would get the cable box and TiVo to communicate with each other. I had a feeling that the problem was due to Comcast since the last TiVo service update occurred weeks earlier and all had been fine after the update. Turning to Google, I came across this post, Comcast Cable box – Serial connection, in the TiVo Community Forum. After browsing the posts there and reading other user complaints, it seems clear that Comcast did some sort of firmware update here in the Northeast which disabled the serial port in the older Motorola cable boxes (here’s a picture of my cable box above the TiVo.)

One could easily make the case that Comcast, in some sort of monopolistic fit, did this to push consumers to their own PVR. I doubt this is the case since a solution exists, albeit not nearly as elegant as the serial cable. Simply use the IR blaster. Another possible solution was posted and suggests that Comcast can send a “Factory Default Reset” to the cable box and raise the serial port from the dead. I’ll have to call and have Comcast give that a try before I dig out the IR blaster.

All of this has me thinking about my future TiVo plans. My TiVo S2 does not work with my HDTV using a Comcast Motorola HD box so I have it connected to my non-HD TV. Admittedly, there may be a workaround or two to get the TiVo S2 working with the HDTV-Comcast HD combo but, the last time I checked, the workarounds seemed too troublesome to bother attempting.

So do I go for the TiVo HD DVR or the pricey TiVo S3 HD DVR? Maybe I do the unthinkable and drink the Comcastic Kool-Aid (now available in blue pill form) and get Comcast TiVo. I think I’ll build my own DVR with MythTV before it comes to that.

Comments?

In December I upgraded my stock, charcoal-colored TiVo remote to a TiVo Glo remote. I had cracked the stock TiVo remote (probably in a football fit ) and the numbers on the keypad were illegible after several years of use. But the new TiVo remote has already been demoted. (That said, the TiVo Glo remote is impeccable and I highly recommend it.)

Just before the SuperBowl, I set up my first HDTV and surround sound system and was not happy to find myself swimming in remotes. I’m now using a Harmony 880 remote based on specs and the personal experience of others. The Harmony brings order to this chaos (thus the name.)

The Harmony is great if you have kids. When my daughters want to watch a DVD, they select the ‘Watch a DVD’ activity listed on the Harmony remote’s LCD screen. The remote turns on the HDTV, sets the aspect ratio, sets the source/input to DVD and fires up the DVD player and surround sound system. I’ve been told it will even open the DVD tray for me but I haven’t confirmed this yet.

Watching TV, switching to TiVo, or listening to a CD – the Harmony, once configured, will fire off the correct IR codes to operate the components you own. The Harmony’s activity based system is customizable but the web-based configuration method (you connect it via USB to your Mac or PC) is not nearly as intuitive as I think it could be. Still, I recommend it if you want to keep from having 4, 5 or more remotes sitting on the coffee table.

Be sure to look around online for the Harmony 880 when you buy. I got mine from Amazon for $100 less than the manufacturers price (including 2-day shipping.)

Kirsten and I picked up a black Motorola RAZR yesterday. Syncs perfectly with my PowerBook over Bluetooth. A sleek, beautiful design, easy to use, and better sound quality and coverage than my old mobile phone. OBEX enabled so I’ve been creating my own images and changing wallpapers, etc. Next step: modding this phone and getting some custom skins installed.

I took Pittsburgh (-4.5) over Seattle in the Super Bowl. The last minute was a bit stressful but the Steelers pulled it out. Looking forward to the 2006 season beginning on Thursday, September 7.

My picks (in BOLD) for this weekend:

Sunday, January 22

AFC – Pittsburgh (+3.5) @ Denver (-3.5)
NFC – Carolina (+4.5) @ Seattle (-4.5)

Having done well last weekend, I’m feeling strongly in favor of the underdogs tomorrow.

My picks (in BOLD) for this weekend:

Saturday, January 14

NFC – Washington (+9.5) @ Seattle (-9.5)
AFC – New England (+3.5) @ Denver (-3.5)

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Sunday, January 15

AFC – Pittsburgh (+9.5) @ Indianapolis (-9.5)
NFC – Carolina (+3.5) @ Chicago (-3.5)

Probably the best news I heard all day: Johnny Damon is a Yankee. In these parts, being a Yankee fan is dangerous but I’ll take my chances. Theo’s departure from Boston was shocking enough and Damon’s trip down I-95 to NYC is devasting to a lot of fans here. But then again, this is a business first and a game second. Player loyalty? Spare me. You go were you think you have a better chance of winning it all and not having to wait another 86 years.

“He looks like a Yankee, he sounds like a Yankee and he is a Yankee.” – George Steinbrenner

“I’m going to go out there and run through walls for them.” – Johnny Damon

Spent a relaxing week in Florida with the family. Other than the two holes in one (it was miniture golf) and the great fishing, the best part was that I had WIFI (wow, I AM a geek ). An open Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router nearby made checking email a lot easier than dealing with dial-up or driving to an Internet cafe. Remember to secure your wireless and change the default admin password in the router.