TiVo Wiring Guide
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This is a summary of the wiring diagrams that I've posted to the TiVo Community Forum. To skip ahead to the setup for your equipment, find the equipment you own in the table of contents below, and click on the link. Feel free to contact me if you spot an error in one or more of these wiring diagrams.


Table of contents


  1. Connecting a TiVo, a Cable-box and a TV (A/V ready).
  2. Connecting a TiVo, a Cable-box, a VCR and a TV (A/V ready).
  3. Connecting a TiVo, a Cable-box, a VCR, a DVD, an A/V Receiver and a TV.
  4. Connecting an alternate setup for a TiVo, a Cable-box, a VCR, a DVD, an A/V Receiver and a TV.
  5. Connecting a TiVo, a Cable-box, a VCR, a CD, an A/V Receiver and a TV.
  6. Connecting a TiVo, a Cable-box, a VCR, a DVD, a LD, an A/V Receiver and a TV.
  7. Connecting a TiVo, a Cable-box, an S-VHS VCR, a DVD, a LD, an A/V Receiver and a TV.
  8. Connecting a DIRECTV Receiver w/ TiVo, no Cable, a VCR and a TV (A/V ready).
  9. Connecting a DIRECTV Receiver w/ TiVo, a VCR and a TV (A/V ready).
  10. Connecting with no splitter a DIRECTV Receiver w/ TiVo, a VCR and a TV (A/V ready).
  11. Connecting a DIRECTV Receiver w/ TiVo, a VCR and a TV (w/ only a single RF input).
  12. Connecting a DIRECTV Receiver w/ TiVo, a Cable-box, a DVD, and a TV (A/V ready).
  13. Connecting a DIRECTV Receiver w/ TiVo, a Cable-box, a VCR, a DVD, an A/V Receiver and a TV.
  14. Connecting a DIRECTV Receiver w/ TiVo, a Satellite Receiver, a VCR, an A/V Receiver and a TV.
  15. Connecting a TiVo, a Satellite Receiver, a VCR and a TV (A/V ready).
  16. Connecting a TiVo, a Satellite Receiver, a Cable-box, a VCR and a TV (A/V ready).
  17. Connecting a TiVo, a Satellite Receiver, a VCR and a TV (w/ only a single RF input).
  18. Connecting a TiVo, a Satellite Receiver, a Cable-box, a DVD, an A/V Receiver and a TV.
  19. Connecting a TiVo, a Satellite Receiver, an S-VHS VCR, an A/V Receiver and a TV.
  20. Connecting a TiVo, a Satellite Receiver, a VCR, a DVD, an A/V Receiver (w/o S-Video swiching) and a TV.
  21. Connecting a TiVo, two Satellite Receivers, a VCR, an A/V Receiver and a TV.
  22. Connecting a TiVo, two Satellite Receivers, an S-VHS VCR, an A/V Receiver and a TV.
  23. Connecting a custom TiVo setup #1.


Wiring Diagrams


Connecting a TiVo, a Cable-box and a TV (A/V ready).

With this setup you can record cable TV with the TiVo while you are watching another basic cable channel using the tuner in the TV. You switch between cable and the TiVo by using the "input select" button on your TV's remote.

[diagram]

 

Connecting a TiVo, a Cable-box, a VCR and a TV (A/V ready).

With this setup you can record cable TV with the TiVo and the VCR while you are watching another basic cable channel using the tuner in the TV. You switch between the TiVo, VCR, and cable by using the "input select" button on your TV's remote. You can also take advantage of the "Save To VCR" feature of your TiVo.

[diagram]

 

Connecting a TiVo, a Cable-box, a VCR, a DVD, an A/V Receiver and a TV.

With this setup you can record cable TV with the TiVo and the VCR while you are watching another basic cable channel using the tuner in the TV. You switch between the TiVo, VCR, and DVD by using the "input select" button on your receiver's remote. You switch between the Receiver and cable by using the "input select" button on your TV's remote. You can also take advantage of the "Save To VCR" feature of your TiVo.

This setup relies upon the ability of the TV to either automatically choose between S-Video and composite video on the same line input or having two line inputs. If your TV lacks both of these features remove the S-Video cables on the input side of the A/V Receiver and replace them with RCA composite video cables. Remove the S-Video cable from the receiver to the TV.

[diagram]

 

Connecting an alternate setup for a TiVo, a Cable-box, a VCR, a DVD, an A/V Receiver and a TV.

If a 3-way splitter causes too much signal loss, you may have to use a 2-way splitter. With this setup you can record cable TV with the TiVo and the VCR while you are watching another basic cable channel using the tuner in the TV. You switch between the TiVo, VCR, and DVD by using the "input select" button on your receiver's remote. You switch between the Receiver and cable by using the "input select" button on your TV's remote. You can also take advantage of the "Save To VCR" feature of your TiVo.

Unlike the preceding setup, this setup requires the use of the VCR's passthrough mode to watch live TV while the TiVo is recording. To do this you will have to use the VCR remote's TV/VCR button to put the VCR in TV mode and switch the TV to the cable input.

This setup relies upon the ability of the TV to either automatically choose between S-Video and composite video on the same line input or having two line inputs. If your TV lacks both of these features remove the S-Video cables on the input side of the A/V Receiver and replace them with RCA composite video cables. Remove the S-Video cable from the receiver to the TV.

[diagram]

 

Connecting a TiVo, a Cable-box, a VCR, a CD, an A/V Receiver and a TV.

With this setup you can record cable TV with the TiVo and the VCR while you are watching another basic cable channel using the tuner in the TV. You switch between the TiVo, VCR, and CD by using the "input select" button on your receiver's remote. You switch between the Receiver and cable by using the "input select" button on your TV's remote. You can also take advantage of the "Save To VCR" feature of your TiVo.

This setup relies upon the ability of the TV to either automatically choose between S-Video and composite video on the same line input or having two line inputs. If your TV lacks both of these features remove the S-Video cables on the input side of the A/V Receiver and replace them with RCA composite video cables. Remove the S-Video cable from the receiver to the TV.

[diagram]

 

Connecting a TiVo, a Cable-box, a VCR, a DVD, a LD, an A/V Receiver and a TV.

With this setup you can record cable TV with the TiVo and the VCR while you are watching another basic cable channel using the tuner in the TV. You switch between the TiVo, VCR, DVD and LD by using the "input select" button on your receiver's remote. You switch between the Receiver and cable by using the "input select" button on your TV's remote. You can also take advantage of the "Save To VCR" feature of your TiVo.

This setup relies upon the ability of the TV to either automatically choose between S-Video and composite video on the same line input or having two line inputs. If your TV lacks both of these features remove the S-Video cables on the input side of the A/V Receiver and replace them with RCA composite video cables. Remove the S-Video cable from the receiver to the TV.

[diagram]

 

Connecting a TiVo, a Cable-box, an S-VHS VCR, a DVD, a LD, an A/V Receiver and a TV.

With this setup you can record cable TV with the TiVo and the VCR while you are watching another basic cable channel using the tuner in the TV. You switch between the TiVo, VCR, and CD by using the "input select" button on your receiver's remote. You switch between the Receiver and cable by using the "input select" button on your TV's remote. You can also take advantage of the "Save To VCR" feature of your TiVo.

[diagram]

 

Connecting a DIRECTV Receiver w/ TiVo, no Cable, a VCR and a TV (A/V ready).

With this setup you can record DIRECTV with the D-TiVo while watching a VCR tape. You switch between the D-TiVo and VCR by using the "input select" button on your TV's remote. You can also take advantage of the "Save To VCR" feature of your D-TiVo.

[diagram]

 

Connecting a DIRECTV Receiver w/ TiVo, a VCR and a TV (A/V ready).

With this setup you can record DIRECTV with the D-TiVo and cable with the VCR while you are watching another basic cable channel using the tuner in the TV. You switch between the D-TiVo, VCR, and cable by using the "input select" button on your TV's remote. You can also take advantage of the "Save To VCR" feature of your D-TiVo.

[diagram]

 

Connecting with no splitter a DIRECTV Receiver w/ TiVo, a VCR and a TV (A/V ready).

If a 2-way splitter causes too much signal loss, you may have to connect cable to the VCR. With this setup you can record DIRECTV with the D-TiVo and cable with the VCR while you are watching another basic cable channel using the tuner in the TV. You switch between the D-TiVo, VCR, and cable by using the "input select" button on your TV's remote. You can also take advantage of the "Save To VCR" feature of your D-TiVo.

Unlike the preceding setup, this setup requires the use of the VCR's passthrough mode to watch live TV while the VCR is recording. To do this you will have to use the VCR remote's TV/VCR button to put the VCR in TV mode and switch the TV to the cable input.

[diagram]

 

Connecting a DIRECTV Receiver w/ TiVo, a VCR and a TV (w/ only a single RF input).

This setup lacks flexibility, for example, you will be unable to watch the D-TiVo while the VCR is recording from cable. You can record DIRECTV with the D-TiVo while you are watching cable using the tuner in the TV or the VCR. You switch between cable and the D-TiVo by using the "input select" button on your VCR's remote.

This setup requires the use of the VCR's passthrough mode to watch cable TV while the VCR is recording. To do this you will have to use the VCR remote's TV/VCR button to put the VCR in TV mode.

[diagram]

 

Connecting a DIRECTV Receiver w/ TiVo, a Cable-box, a DVD, and a TV (A/V ready).

With this setup you can record DIRECTV with the D-TiVo and cable with the VCR while you are watching another basic cable channel using the tuner in the TV. You switch between the D-TiVo, VCR, DVD, and cable by using the "input select" button on your TV's remote. You can also take advantage of the "Save To VCR" feature of your D-TiVo.

Unlike the next setup, this setup requires the use of the VCR's passthrough mode to watch cable TV while the VCR is recording. To do this you will have to use the remote's TV/VCR button to put the VCR in TV mode and switch the TV to the cable input.

If your TV has only a single S-Video input substitute an RCA composite video cable for the S-Video cable between the D-Tivo and the TV.

[diagram]

 

Connecting a DIRECTV Receiver w/ TiVo, a Cable-box, a VCR, a DVD, an A/V Receiver and a TV.

With this setup you can record DIRECTV with the D-TiVo and cable with the VCR while you are watching another basic cable channel using the tuner in the TV. You switch between the D-TiVo, VCR, DVD, and cable by using the "input select" button on your receiver's remote. You switch between the Receiver and cable by using the "input select" button on your TV's remote. You can also take advantage of the "Save To VCR" feature of your D-TiVo.

This setup relies upon the ability of the TV to either automatically choose between S-Video and composite video on the same line input or having two line inputs. If your TV lacks both of these features remove the S-Video cables on the input side of the A/V Receiver and replace them with RCA composite video cables. Remove the S-Video cable from the receiver to the TV.

[diagram]

 

Connecting a DIRECTV Receiver w/ TiVo, a Satellite Receiver, a VCR, an A/V Receiver and a TV.

With this setup you can record DIRECTV with the D-TiVo and cable with the VCR while you are watching another basic cable channel using the tuner in the TV or watching DIRECTV via the satellite receiver. You switch between the D-TiVo, VCR, Satellite Receiver, and cable by using the "input select" button on your receiver's remote. You switch between the Receiver and cable by using the "input select" button on your TV's remote. You can also take advantage of the "Save To VCR" feature of your D-TiVo.

This setup relies upon the ability of the TV to either automatically choose between S-Video and composite video on the same line input or having two line inputs. If your TV lacks both of these features remove the S-Video cables on the input side of the A/V Receiver and replace them with RCA composite video cables. Remove the S-Video cable from the receiver to the TV.

[diagram]

 

Connecting a TiVo, a Satellite Receiver, a VCR and a TV (A/V ready).

With this setup you can record satellite programs or cable with the TiVo and cable with the VCR while you are watching another cable channel using the tuner in the TV. You switch between the TiVo, VCR, and cable by using the "input select" button on your TV's remote. You can also take advantage of the "Save To VCR" feature of your TiVo.

[diagram]

 

Connecting a TiVo, a Satellite Receiver, a Cable-box, a VCR and a TV (A/V ready).

With this setup you can record satellite programs or cable with the TiVo and basic cable with the VCR while you are watching another basic cable channel using the tuner in the TV. You switch between the TiVo, VCR, and cable by using the "input select" button on your TV's remote. You can also take advantage of the "Save To VCR" feature of your TiVo.

[diagram]

 

Connecting a TiVo, a Satellite Receiver, a VCR and a TV (w/ only a single RF input).

This setup lacks flexibility, for example, you will be unable to watch the TiVo while the VCR is recording from cable. You can record satellite programs with the TiVo while you are watching cable using the tuner in the TV or the VCR. You switch between cable and the TiVo by using the "input select" button on your VCR's remote.

This setup requires the use of the VCR's passthrough mode to watch cable TV while the VCR is recording. To do this you will have to use the VCR remote's TV/VCR button to put the VCR in TV mode.

[diagram]

 

Connecting a TiVo, a Satellite Receiver, a Cable-box, a DVD, an A/V Receiver and a TV.

With this setup you can record satellite programs or cable with the TiVo while you are watching another basic cable channel using the tuner in the TV. You switch between the TiVo and DVD by using the "input select" button on your receiver's remote. You switch between the Receiver and cable by using the "input select" button on your TV's remote.

[diagram]

 

Connecting a TiVo, a Satellite Receiver, an S-VHS VCR, an A/V Receiver and a TV.

With this setup you can record satellite programs or cable with the TiVo and cable with the VCR while you are watching another basic cable channel using the tuner in the TV. You switch between the TiVo and VCR by using the "input select" button on your receiver's remote. You switch between the Receiver and cable by using the "input select" button on your TV's remote.

This setup includes a direct connection from the satellite receiver to the A/V receiver. This A/V receiver input can be used to watch a satellite channel while the TiVo is recording a cable channel. Note that this A/V receiver input is also shown having an optical digital audio connection. If your satellite receiver has an optical digital audio connection then this input on the A/V receiver will give the best results when listening to satellite digital music channels. The optical digital audio can't be connected to the TiVo because a stand-alone TiVo lacks support for digital audio.

[diagram]

 

Connecting a TiVo, a Satellite Receiver, a VCR, a DVD, an A/V Receiver (w/o S-Video swiching) and a TV.

With this setup you can record satellite programs or cable with the TiVo and cable with the VCR while you are watching another basic cable channel using the tuner in the TV. You switch between the TiVo, VCR and DVD by using the "input select" button on your receiver's remote. You switch between the Receiver and cable by using the "input select" button on your TV's remote.

This setup includes a direct connection from the satellite receiver to the A/V receiver. This A/V receiver input can be used to watch a satellite channel while the TiVo is recording a cable channel. Note that this A/V receiver input is also shown having an optical digital audio connection. If your satellite receiver has an optical digital audio connection then this input on the A/V receiver will give the best results when listening to satellite digital music channels. The optical digital audio can't be connected to the TiVo because a stand-alone TiVo lacks support for digital audio.

[diagram]

 

Connecting a TiVo, two Satellite Receivers, a VCR, an A/V Receiver and a TV.

With this setup you can record satellite programs or cable with the TiVo and VCR while you are watching another basic cable channel using the tuner in the TV or watching a satellite program via the satellite receiver. You switch between the TiVo, VCR and Satellite Receiver by using the "input select" button on your receiver's remote. You switch between the Receiver and cable by using the "input select" button on your TV's remote.

This setup relies upon the ability of the TV to either automatically choose between S-Video and composite video on the same line input or having two line inputs. If your TV lacks both of these features remove the S-Video cables on the input side of the A/V Receiver and replace them with RCA composite video cables. Remove the S-Video cable from the receiver to the TV.

[diagram]

 

Connecting a TiVo, two Satellite Receivers, an S-VHS VCR, an A/V Receiver and a TV.

With this setup you can record satellite programs or cable with the TiVo and VCR while you are watching another basic cable channel using the tuner in the TV or watching a satellite program via the satellite receiver. You switch between the TiVo, VCR and Satellite Receiver by using the "input select" button on your receiver's remote. You switch between the Receiver and cable by using the "input select" button on your TV's remote.

This setup relies upon the ability of the TV to either automatically choose between S-Video and composite video on the same line input or having two line inputs. If your TV lacks both of these features remove the S-Video cables on the input side of the A/V Receiver and replace them with RCA composite video cables. Remove the S-Video cable from the receiver to the TV.

[diagram]

 

Connecting a custom TiVo setup #1.

Please see this Archived TiVo forum thread for details regarding this setup.

This setup relies upon the ability of the TV to either automatically choose between S-Video and composite video on the same line input or having two line inputs. If your TV lacks both of these features remove the S-Video cables on the input side of the A/V Receiver and replace them with RCA composite video cables. Remove the S-Video cable from the receiver to the TV.

[diagram]

 

TiVo Wiring Guide / Copyright © 2000-2002 Richard Parker. All rights reserved.
TiVo and the TiVo logo are trademarks of TiVo, Inc.