1. I have a tivo and since I'm a student, well... I don't want pay for the service. I think you need to find an image of a "hacked" harddrive. Anyway, anyone have links?

Posted at 3:33PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by Tom

2. I recently picked up a Series 2 Tivo. I do NOT want to pay Tivo for their service, I'd just like to use it as a DVR. Is this possible? I know someone mentioned "stealing" their service. I do NOT want to steal anything, I just want to use the Tivo as a DVR. Is this possible, as in someones done it and there's instructions somewhere? Or is possible that it can be done with some serious hacking, but no one's done it & posted instuctions on how they did it?

Posted at 3:33PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by slack messiah

3. I recently picked up a Series 2 Tivo. I do NOT want to pay Tivo for their service, I'd just like to use it as a DVR. Is this possible? I know someone mentioned "stealing" their service. I do NOT want to steal anything, I just want to use the Tivo as a DVR. Is this possible, as in someones done it and there's instructions somewhere? Or is possible that it can be done with some serious hacking, but no one's done it & posted instuctions on how they did it?

Posted at 3:33PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by slack messiah

4. Is it possible nowdays to redirect tivo to another data source other than the tivo service? I already pay shit lots of money for cable... I dont want another bill! If this is possible I might get Tivo if not... I will wait. Also, where can I find info on how to create my own data source... that is an option I am willing to consider as well.

Posted at 3:33PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by Keloni

5. We're talking about two separate things here. 1) Is the TiVo hardware and 2) Is the TiVo service. So yes if you buy the TiVo hardware you are not stealing by hacking/modifying/upgrading or destroying with a sledgehammer that hardware that you have legally purchased. The TiVo service on the other hand has not been paid for and modifying the system to obtain that service without paying for it (as the first poster suggests) is flat out theft. If your talking about getting an alternative service from a source that is free then that is another story. But the people that were getting jumped on for using the words "theft" and "stealing" are obviously talking about the suggestion of getting the TiVo service from tivo without paying for it.

Posted at 3:33PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by Grimm

6. Hacking Tivo is not illegal. If I purchased a diamond ring for $2000 and decided to sell it for $200, the person buying the ring is not committing a crime. Tivo sells their hardware at cheap prices, hoping people will pay for the service - unless bound by contract to use the service, it is legal to buy a tivo and not use the service. I'm considering buying one and reprogramming it to do something like nate suggested earlier in this discussion - rather than using Tivo's service, input my own service data - if anyone knows how, please contact me at M41888@gmail.com. The DMCA protects intellectual property - so hosting a Tivo hard drive image is illegal. Telling how to modify the Tivo or releasing a "patch" is not. If you want to use their service, you can - but no law can bind a citizen to any service unless they sign a contract stating they will use that service - this is why many new Tivos are now requiring a 1 year service when you buy it. It's good that Tivo is not narrow-sighted when it comes to hackers - and hackers have kept the secret pretty well on how to hack a tivo to steal service. Just realize that modification of the hardware is perfectly legal and we all have a right to do so.

Posted at 3:33PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by m41888

7. Several points. 1. Tivo hardware is cheap and does not engender a great deal of respect for the company. I have spent over $300 on Tivo so far and I have to keep the case open for it to work. 2. Tivo software has not been enhanced in ~5 years, again not very impressive. 3. Tivo subscription service is a brain-dead business model that is rapidly destroying their company. 4. Stealing their (shitty) service is theft. 5. Redirecting Tivo to another program source is *not* theft. In fact it would create competition which is at the core of American ideals. 6. The DMCA is unconstitutional because it contradicts ordinary notions of property ownership, freedom of speech, privacy, religion (thought), and the right to bear arms (technology). 7. If you support the pacification of the American public then you are a traitor and you will be hanged.

Posted at 3:33PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by broodlinger

8. People that work for Tivo responded to your question unfortuntely. Redirecting Tivo's guide to use another source should not be illegal. You purchased your Tivo hardware and have the right to modify it. Unfortunately, DCMA has been abused by corporations to take your rights away. DCMA has many components that are simply un-american and should be changed. Those that oppose DCMA should find ways to subvert its intent. I challenge the community to post ways to enhance Tivo to use free guide data available on the internet.

Posted at 3:33PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by Gary

9. It is sad that we live in a world where theft is condoned and supported by the masses. Let's steal music because we're too cheap to pay for it and justify it by saying the RIAA is crooked. Let's rip off TiVo and justify it by saying we're starving students. If you cannot afford it, don't buy a TiVo.

Posted at 3:33PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by gary

10. Considering that a Tivo is a digital device, I think that hacking it could be considered a violation of DMCA. So that, would male it illegal and a punishable crime. Its a good thing that Tivo is pretty open to hacking. just so you know where i stand of this. my tivo is completely hacked and I create my own guide data. i also think that DCMA completely sucks and violates the Constitution.

Posted at 3:33PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by nate

11. Did you actually read what I wrote? TiVo has been supportive of the hacking community -- has not invested time or money into closing the box any more than they need to to please the various content owners. What the original comment wanted was to steal the TiVo subscription service. Doing so is not legal. You can certainly hack your TiVo such that it could get the service for free, but actually connecting the TiVo to a phone line or network such that it *does* get the service for free is theft of service, plain and simple.

Posted at 3:33PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by bbum

12. WRONG! Errrrrr! Denied! Rejected! Psyche! Hacking/modifying/upgrading/or otherwise changing ANY consumer product that a person purchases is most assuredly LEGAL! The manufacturer's may not like it, and you will obviously void you own warranty, but there isn't a thing that they can do about it! You bought it, you own it. Period. And as such are free to do whatever you wish to it, including hacking it to bits with an axe or strapping a grenade to it. What you may NOT do is to reverse engineer it and market your own version of the same product, which would obviously fall under copyright infringement law. The only problem here seems to be your guilty conscience.

Posted at 3:33PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by tcyr

13. Getting TiVo for free is theft. Pure and simple thievery. TiVo has been remarkably lenient-- even supportive-- of the TiVo hacking community. If thievery becomes rampant, we will all-- including those of us that recognize that thievery is bad-- be punished by TiVo closing their device and destroying our ability to upgrade the unit way beyond the initial or marketable feature set.

Posted at 3:33PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by bbum