PTVnet Software Utility Overview and Installation Instructions

Network Your TiVo Series2 DirecTV DVR with PTVnet™

The PTVnet software CD is designed as a DIY utility for people with moderate PC technical ability, and who want to quickly and easily build or configure a drive (or two) for their Series2 DirecTV DVR with USB networking access. The CD is designed to be used in combination with a user-supplied drive that has already been upgraded and expanded using MFStools, or can be used on new drives, in combination with an MFStools created backup image. PTVnet is NOT a mechanism for installing alternative TiVo software versions onto a device for which it is not intended. PTVnet is designed to augment your existing upgrade drive with the additional features described below.

Overview
The PTVnet software CD is self-booting Linux CD including an interactive set of tools for expanding the functionality of your upgraded TiVo. After answering a few simple questions, upgraded TiVo DVR drives will be augmented with USB networking drivers and additional enhancements. Once configured and enabled, bundled software utilities (telnet, ftp, TiVoWebPlus, Linux support utils, etc) can be accessed via network.

Initially, your unit will be configured with a DHCP address, and once it is accessible via the network, it can be configured with a STATIC IP address, if you'd like.

The benefits of a network accessible DVR are significant to TiVo enthusiasts. Direct access to the TiVo user-inteface via a web browser allows the user to remotely schedule recorded events, and manage/annotate/delete event information by directly interacting with the TiVo database resident on your system.

For intermediate and advanced users, telnet/ftp access, as well as additional Linux support utilities, give users the opportunity to treat their DVR as a Linux server on the network. They can install and configure a variety of additional publicly and freely available modifications for futher enhancing their end-user experience.

In order to use the PTVnet Software Utility CD, the end-user is expected to have relatively basic PC skills; they must be able to burn a standard ISO to CD media and have the ability to temporarily connect a hard drive to a standard Intel or AMD PC, and configure it to boot from the CD/DVD device. There are no system software requirements (the PTVnet Software Utility CD contains its own operating system), however it should be known that in rare cases, some PC's are unable to boot the CD or may have incompatible firmware.

Supported DirecTiVo Models

Currently, the PTVnet software CD is available for the following DirecTV TiVo DVR models:

• Hughes HDVR2, SD-DVR40, SD-DVR80, SD-DVR120
• Philips DSR7000, DSR704, DSR708
• RCA DVR39, DVR40, DVR80, DVR120
• Samsung SIR-S4040R, SIR-S4080R, SIR-S4120R
• Hughes HR10-250 HDTV
• sorry, no support for the DirecTV R10, or non-TiVo models such as the R15

Check out these screen shots of PTVnet in operation. And here are some screen shots of PTVnet in use in combination with InstantCake.