Archive for the ‘All’ Category

Bye Bye TiVo after 1 June 2011

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

I have four Series1 TiVos, one was purchased early 2000, the second one a few years later, followed by another two. Two are production (they are two important to alter, because they have a job to do!), and two are research and developement.

if you’ve never seen what a TiVo looks like, it’s a metal silver/gold box, these are pictures of my four, not very interesting, just boxes

Two Series1 TiVosq

Two Series1 TiVos

Another Two Series1 TiVos

Another Two Series1 TiVos

On the 4th Feb 2011, this was the first message we received from the TiVo Team.

From:    The TiVo Team
Date:    Fri 4th Feb 2011
Expire:    Fri 18th Feb 2011

If you are on the cable footprint, you can get Virgin Media’s top TV package and a brand new TiVo box at a very special price. Find out about more and be one of the first to get this offer at virginmedia.com/tivoupgrade.

It would seem that TiVo had struck a deal with Virgin Media to offer new TiVo boxes at very special prices to existing TiVo customers, that’s okay if you live in a cable footprint area, but of no value if you don’t live in a cable footprint area.

On Valentine’s Day we had another special message from TiVo HQ.

TiVo Service Ends - 1 June 2011

TiVo Service Ends - 1 June 2011

Subject:    Free Service Continues until 1 June 2011
From:    The TiVo Team
Date:    Mon 14th Feb 2011
Expire:    Mon 28th Feb 2011

On 1 June 2011, TiVo will be discontinuing the service for Series1 TiVo Recorders in the UK. Your current service will continue to be provided until that time at no charge. For further information, go to tivo.com/UKSeries1.

So that’s it, TiVo US have dumped us, and from the 1st June 2011, these silver/gold boxes will become door steps after 11 years of use, and still the BEST ever PVR on the market.

The reason for this blog, so UK Series 1 TiVo users can continue to receive service after 1 June 2011, and continue using our beloved TiVos, a group of us from the TiVo Community have banded together to try and replace the service. We our gathering at TiVoland.com.

We will need resources, TiVo testers, and if you have a TiVo which you can loan or donate to the effort, it will be returned once the new service is up and running. Contact me or head over to the forums and register.

If you are also interested in receving details of the new service in the future, also contact me.

The Zebrafish also known as the Zerba Danio

Saturday, February 5th, 2011

I’ve been getting enormous amounts of traffic to Andysworld! and Andys Aquatics searching for ‘Zebrafish’, I’ve also had many emails asking if I have some for sale! I suspect the rise in interest in this little fish has been since National News reported on TV

‘Scientists believe that the zebrafish’s astonishing ability to regenerate its cardiac muscle might lead to the discovery of new drugs and treatments that will one day allow the human heart to heal itself after being damaged during a heart attack.’

The British Heart Foundation, has also been running TV aderts in the UK ‘Mending Broken Hearts’

I’ve never heard of this fish in the Aquatics trade called the Zebrafish, but we refer to it as the Zebra Danio, (Danio rerio or Brachydanio rerio). Maybe you have heard of the Zebra Danio.

Zebrafish, Zebra Danio, Danio rerio, Brachydanio rerio

Zebrafish, Zebra Danio, Danio rerio, Brachydanio rerio

Yes, I keep and breed these fish, they are ideal tropical fish for begineers and very hardy. They are available in many different forms, pink, gold and purple, long finned strains also exist.

They are part of a large family of Danios, Leopard, Pearl, and Giant.

So now you know the real name of this  miraculous little zebra stripped fish!

WOW! Man, look at the pretty colours!

Friday, February 4th, 2011

Our television has started to fail, the left and right side of the picture has turned into a quivering jelly. So as long as you concentrate on the centre of the picture, you’ll not get motion sickness. This television was purchased in 1989! I’ve decided not to purchase a replacement television until the end of 2012. (but I’ve just checked an they’ve brought if forward to August/September 2011 – Digital Switch Over that is!). But to try and snag one from Freecycle. This is proving difficult, but today, my request was accepted, and this is our new Television.

Freeycle TV - Rubbish!

Freeycle TV - Rubbish! - WOW! Man, look at the pretty colours!

So this is the TV, described as  “Large, probably 28inch remote control Toshiba TV. Good working order.” – So I’ve got two broken TV’s in the lounge now. Me thinks they just wanted a mug to take it to the tip!


So Lindsey & I have decided we not need a TV anymore, and we’ve turned off the lights, and listening to  Creedence Clearwater Revival!

Peace and Love Man!

The HDi is back on the road again!

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011
HDi Engine Cover on Citroen Xsara MkII 2.0 HDi

HDi Engine Cover on Citroen Xsara MkII LX 2.0 HDi

Two weeks since the starter motor failed, my Citreon Xsara MkII LX 2.0 HDi is fixed and back on the road again.

Most of this time has been taken up by finding the existing model in the car, (aided with mirror) and matching and finding the part, but CM Motorspares came through and supplied me with the exact same model, a M001T80481 – Mitsubishi, although the label on mine had scorch marks and I couldn’t read three numbers in the middle, I cross referenced the part against the Citroen Service Site (details here) this came from a Citroen Xsara Mk2 2.0 HDi starter motor, taken from 2002 5dr hatch with 65,000 miles.

My delivery arrived yesterday at 3.00pm, and 15 minutes later I had the starter installed waiting for the ECU/BSI to initialize before starting (Important! you wait 2 mins after connecting battery, before starting!), the only little snag, trying to hold starter motor with one hand, whilst bolting with the other, (only to find the bolts two arms lengths away and I couldn’t reach!)

Starting the car is much better, in  fact it’s the best it’s ever been, I did think this was caused by the battery in December so purchased a new one not required! But I did find that the battery in the car, was wrong for a Turbo Diesel, as it had a low cold crank value. So always good to have a new battery and a spare!!!

Hall of Fame, and thanks to the following:-

Mum & Dad

Lindsey

Esther, Angus and Matilda

Boot Ferrule Man @ http://www.jlbelectronics.com

Bargaincottage Man @ http://www.bargaincottages.co.uk

The “Un-sung Heros” @ the Citroen Xsara Owners’ Club (yes it does exist!!!)

Mike & Fran @ http://www.oakhousekunekune.co.uk/

Jon, Battery Solutions York Ltdhttp://www.batterysolutionsyork.co.uk/

Andrew@ CM Motorspares

Starter Motor Removed on Citreon Xsara LX 2.0 HDi

Saturday, January 15th, 2011

I successfully managed to disconnect the electrical (ground) and postive electrical connections from the start motor on Wednesday, but I couldn’t shift the 8mm hex bolts with my current 8mm hex bolt “adaptor”, they’ve been bolted in very well, and I also need a 6mm hex bolt socket to remove the power steering pipes as well, to gain access to the final 8mm hex bolt.

So a trip to Halfords was required to purchase an 6mm and 8mm hex bolt socket. (I also had a little difficulty this morning, because I had put my tools in the boot of the car, and since found there is no way to open the boot with the central locking working, there is no boot lid lever in the Xsara, so I had to climb into the boot from ther back seats!)

M001T80481 - Mitsubishi Starter Motor for Citroen Xsara MkII 2.0 HDi

M001T80481 - Mitsubishi Starter Motor for Citroen Xsara MkII 2.0 HDi

FISH FIGHT

Thursday, January 13th, 2011

Starter motor faulty on my Citreon Xsara LX 2.0 HDi

Wednesday, January 12th, 2011

The starter motor or solenoid has become faulty on my car, and I cannot start it, when I turn the keys in the ignition, it just goes click!

So I’ve been out this morning with a mirror and digital camera, trying to work out what the model number is!

Starter Motor reflection in mirror

Starter Motor reflection in mirror

Starter Motor reflection in mirror

Starter Motor reflection in mirror

and it’s typical the label’s burnt through that must have been where the smoke came from. But I think it’s M001T80481!

Starter motor diagram

Starter motor diagram

I just need to find out how to remove it now!

Broadband BACK!

Monday, January 10th, 2011

and just after I posted this, I noticed that the Real-Time Energy Usage how started to work on the website, and this could only be working, if computers are sending data to the Internet via fixed ADSL!

Broadband DOWN!

Monday, January 10th, 2011

My broadband failed today at 12.10, whilst I was trying to obtain car insurance, after a call to Eclipse Internet, and trying six routers, and a Thomson ST330 USB ADSL Modem, my broadband is kind of faulty somehwere between here and Eclipse Internet.

(Thomson is now called Technicolor, so if you after Thomson drivers for your USB modems, head this way).

So I’m operating on my Huawei E585 via 3G.

Speedtest on 3G Wireless Broadband

Speedtest on 3G Wireless Broadband

Ping Test on 3G

Ping Test on 3G

Okay, the latency is slow, but that’s to be expected, but the download speed is the same as I paying Eclipse Internet. Three (3) costs me £5 a month, unlimited, Eclispe Internet £24.99 (well it will be 2.5% more now!).

Might need to think about a fixed 3G Router for the future!

Last post of 2010 – Happy New Year 2011

Friday, December 31st, 2010

This will be my last post of 2010, and to all readers a Happy New Year 2011, a may it be a Prosperous One!

It’s been the coldest December in North Yorkshire since 1840, ball cock froze, drain pipe froze, pipes froze, and the ground is just starting to thaw, after tomorrow I think all the snow may have gone, that fell in late November 2010.

Here are a collection of photographs taken in December 2010, to remind us of those cold dark days

All the best for 2011 – Folks…