The-Brit.com ---

ENABLING BACKDOOR MODE
The Backdoor mode can be entered using the remote. This is done by doing a "Browse By Name" or "Search by Title" or wherever you can get to the Ouija screen... Currently, the only easy way to exit backdoor mode is to reboot the Tivo. After entering this code, you will see "Backdoors Enabled!" appear briefly, and it will return to Tivo Central. You can verify that backdoors are on in the System Information screen.

Hardware	Software	Backdoor Code
StandAlone	1.3	0V1T
StandAlone	2.0	2 0 TCD
StandAlone	2.5	B D 2 5
StandAlone	3.0	3 0 BC
StandAlone	3.2	None Known Yet!
StandAlone	4.0	None Known Yet!
UK	1.5.0	0V1T
UK	1.5.1	0V1T
UK	1.5.2	10J0M
UK	2.5.5	B D 2 5
DirecTiVo	2.5.2	B M U S 1

Select-Play-Select Codes
These codes take the format of "Select Play Select Something Select". These do not require backdoors to be enabled for them to work. The best way to do this type of code is to start playing a recorded program and do them while the recorded program is playing. They can be done from LiveTV as well, but people generally have a hard time getting them to work when trying to do that.

Select-Play-Select Codes	DirecTiVo			Stand-Alone					UK Version
Code/Feature	2.5	2.5.2	3.2	1.3	2.0	2.5	3.0	4.0	1.5.0	1.5.1	2.5.5
S-P-S-9-S - Toggles the Clock display in the bottom right corner.
S-P-S-InstantReplay-S - Toggles a Status display in the bottom right corner.
S-P-S-Pause-S - Toggles the fast disappear of the Play bar.
S-P-S-3-0-S - Toggles 30 second skip mode.

Clear-Enter-Clear Codes
C-E-C stands for "Clear Enter Clear". Note: the claim is that all "C-E-C something" combinations will make the same confirmation tones, but they may or may not do anything. Here are the known codes.

Clear-Enter-Clear Codes	DirecTiVo			Stand-Alone					UK Version
Code/Feature	2.5	2.5.2	3.2	1.3	2.0	2.5	3.0	4.0	1.5.0	1.5.1	2.5.5
C-E-C Thumbs-Up - "TIVO LOG FILES" Will allow you to access the TiVo's log files on your TV screen. Page up and page down allow you to move through the log information and the right arrow you to move through the log files. Use the left arrow key to get back out to the normal TiVo menus. Thumbs up and Thumbs down will take you to the top of bottom of whatever log is on screen.
C-E-C Thumbs-Down - "SHUTDOWN MYWORLD" Will shut down the myworld program on a TiVo. The myworld program is the brain of the TiVo. Shutting it down is not advisable since the only thing you can do with the TiVo at that point is use the BASH shell if you activated one. If you do have a BASH prompt you can rerun the myworld program to get the TiVo running fully again. If not you need to power down and up the TiVo to get it fully functional again.
C-E-C-0 - "SCHEDULED SUGGESTIONS - OFF" This turns off the display of "scheduled suggestions" in the ToDo List. Also makes the clock (see SPS9S) NOT have a black bar behind it.
C-E-C-1 - "SCHEDULED SUGGESTIONS - OFF" This turns off the display of "scheduled suggestions" in the ToDo List. Also makes the clock (see SPS9S) have a black bar behind it.
C-E-C-2 - "SCHEDULED SUGGESTIONS - ON" This turns on the display of "scheduled suggestions" in the ToDo List. A "scheduled suggestion" is a suggestion the Tivo is planning on recording. While you can remove these from the ToDo List, it doesn't appear to always cancel the recording, and the suggestion may be added back, and may record anyway, without any user intervention. Hey, it's only a suggestion though.. This may take a while to take effect. Actually, it doesn't take effect until something changes in the ToDo List.
C-E-C-3 - "SCHEDULED SUGGESTIONS - ON" Appears to do the exact same thing as CEC2. I'm pretty certain there's more to this than we are aware of right now.
C-E-C 0 - 3 (the above 4 codes) do not appear to work in 2.5, but they do still affect the "black background" of the clock. They just don't do anything for the suggestions in the ToDo List. To put suggestions in the ToDo list, see the "thumbs thumbs" code below.
C-E-C 4 - "REBUILD SUGGESTIONS" This forces suggestions to be rebuilt (same as 'sendkey dumpState'?).
C-E-C 5 - "OVERSHOOT CORRECTION" Toggles the overshoot correction during fast forwarding on and off.
C-E-C Fast-Forward - "REBOOT TIVO" This resets (reboots) the TiVo
C-E-C Skip-to-end - "BOAT-ANCHOR MODE" Turns on "Boat-Anchor" mode. This convinces the TiVo that it should behave as if it has no guide data. Boat Anchor mode is automatic when the unit runs out of guide data, so this is probably only for testing purposes. A bit useless, really.
C-E-C 6 - "NODE NAVIGATOR" WARNING Go into the Node Navigator. The Node Navigator is a trick to let you access menus directly. This is extremely dangerous, even to play with. Please do not go into any of the numbered nodes on this screen, you can (and will) break your unit beyond repair, requiring a full restore from a backup, even just by looking at these nodes. The reason is simple: When you enter certain menus or "nodes", changes can take place. For example, if you found the node to set the zipcode (in the Guided Setup routine), and then exited without changing anything, your zipcode would be erased, and would ruin your lineup on the next daily call, causing the unit to reboot when you go to LiveTV. Several things like this can happen, so just don't even do this. If you accidently get here, press the Tivo button to exit back out, and do NOT go into any of the numbered nodes. Even if you have a clue as to what you are doing, you can do damage just by looking around, so don't. However, there are two extremely cool things here you can adjust in 3.0 software. Thanks goes to gleffler for letting me know about them. WARNING: Very dangerous! Have a bit of caution, 'kay? If they don't work, they'll likely break your Tivo, and you're very attached to your Tivo, aren't you? THESE ONLY WORK IN 3.0! Have a backup ready to go. First trick: Node 1 in 3.0. This node lets you adjust the exact timing of the auto-correction jumpback. Forget the offset/delay method listed below, and get precise. Note that entering this node will stop any recording you might have going at the time. This change will stay in effect after a reboot. Second trick: Advanced Wishlists! Go to Node 30, and turn on advanced wishlists. Now, go to the Create a Wishlist screen and scroll PAST the bottom to find "Advanced Wishlist". From here, you can create a wishlist that is any combination of actors/directors/keywords/and genres. Nice, isn't it? Be as specific as you wanna be. This will stay enabled after a reboot. Non-3.0 Users (2.5 only?): Appearantly, you can access Advanced Wishlists as well. Just hit 0 (zero) when creating a wishlist instead of picking the type of wishlist. You do need backdoors enabled. This also will work on 3.0 boxes. There may be a node to activate this as well on 2.0 and up boxes, but why muck about with the dangerous Node Navigator if you don't have to?
C-E-C-Slow - "REBUILD SUGGESTIONS"? same as 'SendKey dumpState', creates a /tmp/mwstate

Enter-Enter Codes
E-E stands for "Enter Enter". The following codes must be entered in the "Search by Title"screen. These codes are generally used to set values on the Tivo. You enter the code, and the prompt will appear, along with the red recording light coming on. You then enter the value. You then enter the code again to set the value in, and the recording light will go off. It doesn't actually stop recording if you happen to be recording something, however. Entering invalid values (non-numeric) will cause your Tivo to reboot, so be careful.

Enter-Enter Codes	DirecTiVo			Stand-Alone					UK Version
Code/Feature	2.5	2.5.2	3.2	1.3	2.0	2.5	3.0	4.0	1.5.0	1.5.1	2.5.5
E-E-1 - Gives you Speed1: prompt. Turns the record LED on (indicating the backdoor is open and can be changed?). Enter a number for how fast you want the first scan speed to run at, and then press E-E-1 again. The record LED will go out. The last two digits of the number must be 00 for an integer multiple speed. The digits to the left of the 00 indicate how many times normal playing speed the scan is running. 300 (which is 3x) is the default Speed1 scan speed, but you can't see that, you can only enter a number. A value of "1" is super slow motion (.01x speed) Unit will revert back to default speed when rebooted. Does not appear to work in 2.0, although the prompt is still there.
E-E-2 - Gives you Speed2: prompt. Default is 2000. See Speed1 above. Does not appear to work in 2.0, although the prompt is still there.
E-E-3 - Gives you Speed3: prompt. Default is 6000. See Speed1 above. Does not appear to work in 2.0, although the prompt is still there.
E-E-4 - Gives you Rate1: prompt. Function unknown
E-E-5 - Gives you Rate2: prompt. Function unknown.
E-E-6 - Gives you Rate3: prompt. Function unknown.
E-E-7 - Gives you Inter: prompt. Function unknown. Same as TIVO_INTERSTITIAL_INTERVAL environment variable (?). Interstitials were removed a long time ago, so this is probably useless.
E-E-8 - Gives you Open: prompt. Function unknown. Same as TIVO_LONGOPEN_INTERVAL environment variable. (?)
E-E-9 - Gives you Int.disabled, or int.enabled prompt. Toggles "interstitials". Intersititials were little TiVo guy animations that occurred between each menu screen. Most of them were deleted as being too annoying, but the initial boot one remains. Setting the TIVO_DISABLE_INTERSTITIALS environment variable to 1 disables it. Toggling "Int." from the remote causes the animation to play every time you hit the TiVo button. (Reported, may not work for everyone).
E-E-Tivo - If in Debug mode (see C-C-E-E 2 below), lets you set the TiVo's clock. Warning: setting this value may cause all of your Guide data to get "expired". If you want to play with this, keep in mind that TiVo may get mad at you for downloading several copies of your Guide data over the course of a couple of days. The best way to fix a messed up clock without reloading all the Guide data is to do the "Make a Test Call" option. The format of the time entry you use is the same as the format for the settime command. (?)
E-E-Rewind - Lets you set the "Offset:". Defaults to 2000.
E-E-FastForward - Lets you set the "Delay:". Defaults to 957. The Offset and Delay control the overshoot correction. When you set them, go to any recorded program, play it, pause it, and press FF to do a frame advance. This makes the new values you put in take effect. For 1.3 like correction, use Offset of 1000 and Delay of 750.

Clear-Clear-Enter-Enter Codes
C-C-E-E stands for "Clear Clear Enter Enter". The following codes must be entered in the "System Information" screen.

Clear-Clear-Enter-Enter Codes	DirecTiVo			Stand-Alone					UK Version
Code/Feature	2.5	2.5.2	3.2	1.3	2.0	2.5	3.0	4.0	1.5.0	1.5.1	2.5.5
C-C-E-E 2 - Turns on or off "Special Mode: DEBUG" (Note: you have to leave the "System Information" screen and re-enter it to see this flag turned on.) Starts sending debugging output to the /var/log/tvdebuglog file. This setting will STAY ON after a reboot. Not advised to leave this on for long periods of time.
C-C-E-E 3 - Seems to initiate a call. (a special one?)
C-C-E-E 7 [works even without Backdoors enabled] - Causes a message to be written to /var/log/tven saying: SetupDebugContext:OnNumber[94]: USER PROBLEM LOGSTAMP . I'm guessing that Customer Support tells customers who are having problems to do CCEE7 around the time that the problem occurs, and then when they upload the logs, they can help locate what was going on when the problem happened.
C-C-E-E 8 - Takes you to the "Channels You Watch" page with NONE OF THE CHANNELS SELECTED! I guess this might be a quick way to clear your channel list. Fortunately you can just back out of it without losing your current channel list. I didn't try going forward from that screen... AVS Forum member "android" warns that this doesn't work ... and that it just hangs his machine..
C-C-E-E 0 [works even without Backdoors enabled] - It allows you to enter your own "Dial-in configuration code"! It does not appear to let you directly change the TFA value. TFA stands for Toll Free Authorization. Possible values: 0=[Access] denied ["you probably didn't ask, but you used a local, so QED"] 1=No decision [made yet] (you got time) 2=Oh you requested (we'll get back to ya) 3=Yeah, I guess so 4=Researched and you are out of luck 5=You had your chance but did nothing The Dial In Access code (the 000 part) can be changed via some special key sequences.... Anyway, when Tivo CS gets a really unusual problem that needs files downloaded to the unit, they can tell the customer to change the access code and it'll then download certain types of files.. These may be predefined debugging type things or may be files the guy just then put on the server. Best case scenario: Your daily call fails. Worst case scenario: Your Tivo breaks by downloading and running some weird debug thing and is unrepairable without a whole drive backup.

Triple-Thumb Codes
New codes, it seems like. There's only a few of these, and they are still being found. Consider them experimental.

Triple-Thumb Codes	DirecTiVo			Stand-Alone					UK Version
Code/Feature	2.5	2.5.2	3.2	1.3	2.0	2.5	3.0	4.0	1.5.0	1.5.1	2.5.5
Thumbs Down, Thumbs Down, Thumbs Up, Instant Replay - "SCHEDULED SUGGESTIONS" If done in the ToDo List, it will turn on "Scheduled Suggestions"
Thumbs Down, Thumbs Down, Thumbs Up, Instant Replay - "SHOW TELEWORLD RECORDINGS" If done in the Now Playing List, it will display the "hidden" recordings, like the Teleworld Paid Program. These recordings are those in reserved space.
Thumbs Down, Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down, Instant Replay - "SHOW TELEWORLD CLIPS" If done in Now Playing, it will take you to a new menu called "Clips on Disk". This menu has the same content as the hidden recordings, but broken up into clips like they are in the Showcases. If you don't have any clips for whatever reason (haven't gotten any yet, your cable operator pre-empts the clips program, etc), this will reboot the machine.
Thumbs Down, Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down, Record - "MENUITEM BACKDOOR" Do it from the Tivo Central main menu to get the "MenuItem Backdoor". It shows the current date in both the number of days since Jan. 1st, 1970 (an internal date format) and also in the normal style. If there is a menu item at the bottom (ad) then it will show the expiration date.
Thumbs Down, Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down, Record - "HIDDEN SHOWCASES" Do it from the Showcases screen to show all the hidden showcases, if there are any. It's a toggle. Do it again to remove them. Hidden showcases are simply the latest showcases that haven't had anything added to them, and have thus expired.
Thumbs Down, Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down, Clear - "ITALIC FONTS" Do it in Tivo Central to change all the fonts to italic.
Thumbs Down, Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down, Enter - "DEBUG DUMP" Dumps debug messages in /var/log/tvlog

AUTOTEST MODE (3.0 Only)
Go into Now Playing, view a description and hit 1,2,3 followed by Channel Down (the logs will now report "***** Auto_test mode unlocked! ***** ").

Hit 4 to start the auto test (it presses random keys to simulate someone using the Tivo.. quite annoying in fact)
Hit 5 to change the test
Hit 7 or 8 to change the delay between simulated keys
Hit 4 again to stop .. might have to reboot to avoid triggering it next time you hit 4

DIALING CODES
Want to change the way your Tivo calls home? Read on. All these codes are inserted into the dialing prefix space in the Phone Setup stuff.

,#034 - DirecTivo only - This will limit the speed of the modem to v.34 (28.8k) which may improve your connections if you have poor lines. If you have a lot of failed calls, this might help. Makes the call take about twice as long, in theory.

,#019 - DirecTivo only - Same concept as above, but slower. If the above won't work, try this. But beware that it will seriously slow down the connection and make the call that much longer. Like 4 times longer than normal, approximately.

,#2xx - 3.0 only - Use PPP over Serial for the daily call.
xx stands for the port speed. The first two digits of the port speed are what you put in here. So:
96 = 9600
38 = 38,400
57 = 57,600
11 = 115,200
And so on..
The ,#2xx code will make the unit try to connect to a computer attached to the serial port using PPP. For more info, search the Underground forums.

,#3xx - 3.0 only - Use PPP over serial for the daily call. This is the same as with ,#2xx, but in this mode, it does a "modem emulation". That is, it will send AT type commands over the serial port as if a modem was there. Some third party PPP servers support exactly this kind of mode. Also, this can allow you to connect an external modem to the serial port and having it really dial and complete a call using that modem. Some sites sell preconfigured external modems for this purpose, and it has even been done on TechTV. Search around.

,#401 - 3.0 only - This sets up the Tivo to use ethernet for the daily calls. On Series 1 boxes, this means TivoNet or TurboNet. On Series 2, this means a USB->Ethernet dongle. Not all dongles will work, do a search for more info.

TEACH TIVO (2.0 Only)
To activate Teach Tivo, turn on Backdoors, then go to the suggestions list. Special codes here:

1,2, or 3 - Goes directly to different sections in Teach Tivo.
4 - Turns on the "Teach Tivo" menu item in the suggestions list. This won't be immediately visible until the list rebuilds or you change the list in some way (thumb down a program and move the cursor will do it).

FREE SPACE INDICATOR (4.0 Only)
While the backdoor code for 4.0 has not been found, it's possible to enable the codes if you want to take the drive out and change the hash in MFS (ResourceItem 176 of the second ResourceGroup).

If you do, and get backdoors working, go to Pick Programs to Record and press ZERO-THUMBSUP. You'll get a screen detailing disk space used, in both megabytes, percentages, and hours in Basic mode. However, the math used on the screen is some of that "new math" appearantly, as the numbers simply don't add up. Take the numbers with a grain of salt, in other words.

ADVANCED WISHLISTS SHORTCUT (2.5 - 4.0 (so far))
Appearantly, you can access Advanced Wishlists as well. Just hit 0 (zero) when creating a wishlist instead of picking the type of wishlist. You do need backdoors enabled. This also will work on 3.0 boxes. There may be a node to activate this as well on 2.0 and up boxes, but why muck about with the dangerous Node Navigator if you don't have to?

OTHER CODES

DirecTivo trick (2.0 only?)
When it's "Acquiring Satellite Data", you can press thumbs up to get a couple of lines of status messages at the bottom of the screen. I'm not sure what most of them mean, but TX: shows the transponder it's looking at. This can be done whenever it's acquiring, as far as I can tell. No backdoor code required.

HMO Advanced Troubleshooting (4.0)
When in NOW PLAYING, hit 0 then Thumbs Down. A screen will display showing various info about your HMO options (DVRs eneabled for transers, link information, etc.) Moving the cursor to one of those DVRs shows additional info