hooked up my Thomson Tivo last night and all is well except when I select live TV through it, the picture 'flickers' between dark and light every 1-2 seconds. Its difficult to explain, but is really annoying.

Its not there when I view it normally (still through the tivo). And its there on all recordings.

Any ideas? Its connected through RF and Scart. No dvds or VCRs involved. I've messed about with all the settings on the tivo but nothing works!

Its only noticible on dark pictures, and not so much on the news etc.

Please help, its driving me nuts!

Cheers
Phil

This is an interesting point to consider...

For his first tech support call on his Tivo, does Phil call the store he bought it from? Tivo? A Tivo-centric bulletin board? A Tivo-specific newsgroup? A google on Tivo topics?

No, he asks the Empeg bulletin board.

Now, this would seem laughable to some. But the amazing thing is... as all the regulars here know... He'll probably get the best, more accurate, and fastest answer this way. Let's watch, shall we?

Yes, to the untrained observer it seems ridiculous! But I do think I've a better chance of getting my answer here. Where else are there a huge online population of experts in AV and gadgets etc?!

Sounds like Macrovision. What kind of display device are you using? Perhaps something in your prior equipment chain would strip macrovision and the TiVo isn't.

Although this board is an excellent resource, in this case, you'd probably get more knowledge from the boards at www.tivocommunity.com.

-Dylan

I initially thought Macrovision, too, due to the classic symptom, but then got stuck trying to figure out why the addition of a TiVo would cause this. Unless the TiVo was a replacement for something else which was stripping macrovision?

I think i've found the problem. http://www.garysargent.co.uk/tivo/bugs/BrightnessFlickerBug.htm

I'll try update tonight. Can i get a software upgrade on the week-long trial? It didn't download it last night.

Can i get a software upgrade on the week-long trial? It didn't download it last night.

Yes you can. It doesn't update the software on the 1st call that's for certain, there is an option somewhere in the menu's (sorry, I'm @ work ATM so I can't tell you where) to Make daily call now - that should cause the 2.5.2 software to get downloaded. AFAICR this takes up to 2 hours to download & install so don't panic if it seems to take ages

Well, It IS going over a modem. -=Blech=-

Now, this would seem laughable to some. But the amazing thing is... as all the regulars here know... He'll probably get the best, more accurate, and fastest answer this way

Absolutely! For some reason, on the Tivo forums, I've never been able to really get noticed and have my question answered. It's difficult. And definitely there are more well informed people over here