I can't seem to find the answer to this anywhere.

When using a DirecTV Tivo, can you record an entire program that has already started? I know that you can go back to the beginning of a program and watch as the unit is always recording.

If the program started at say 7:00 and you decide you want to record it after watching for 30-45 minutes, can you record the whole program or just from the point that you press the record button?

I don't have one yet and this would be a really cool feature if it's posible.

Thanks to any othe the Tivo-experts for any replies!

Sonic

If you had it on that channel the whole time, you might be able to rewind back to when it started, but I am not sure of how long the Tivo buffer is. Otherwise, no, it would only record from the point you press record.

Actually, as a DirecTiVo owner, I can say with certainty that anything from a program in the 30 minute buffer will be saved once you hit record. Including the amount you had been watching for a half-hour.

Correct, you hit record and it will save the previous 30 minutes (assuming you have been watching for that long) so if you wait 45, you will lose the first 15 min of the program.

I have a stand alone unit, but I assume DirecTico uses the same premis.

I agree with the others.

If you decide to record a program you've been watching for 30 minutes, you should get all of it. Any longer and you'll get the previous 30 minutes. Don't change channels though, as that will clear the buffer.

30 minute buffer. Same goes for a paused show.

Yes it'll record. One thing that bothers me, is if I hit record and it's only like 10 minutes into the show but I've been watching a while, It'll still record the previous 30 minutes and not save from the beginning of the current show. Kind of weird.

I've always wondered why TiVo limits the buffer to 30 minutes, given the size of the hard drive. My Dish Network PVR has a two-hour buffer.

Agreed. At the very least this should be customizable by the end user.

The DirectTivo has two tuners, so it's really 1 hour buffer (30 on each channel). Two hours of buffer would add up to four hours of disc space.

The new DirecTV DVR (sans TiVo) is supposed to have a 90 minute buffer, so it sounds like somebody agreed 30 minutes was too short.