One remote to rule them all! Ok, that was cheesy, but couldn't resist. Here's a little tidbit I stumbled onto that has made living with a blended TiVo
and Apple TV
family a little happier. This may seem like a silly tip, but if you've had a TiVo forever, you know that your brain is programmed to control the peanut remote on an instinctual level. I find the control layout is a fantastic match to the functions of the Apple TV.In addition to the cool, space-age aluminum remote bundled with the ATV, the ok iPhone Remote app, and the awesome iPad remote app, there is another option. In the remote control settings page of the Apple TV lies a feature that allows the device to learn the codes from pretty much any other remote you might have laying around. It's sort of like a reverse learning remote control.
Now here's the trick, the remote control
for my TiVo has the little 1-2 slider switch that is designed to control two separate TiVo boxes in the same location (hey, some people LOVE them some TiVo). By default, this little switch doesn't do anything, it controls the DVR in either position until it is trained to do otherwise. I simply programmed my TiVo to be DVR #1 and programmed the remote accordingly. That left position 2 on the clicker doing nothing at all. Once that was done, I just followed the prompts to program the basic and advanced remote features of the TiVo peanut into the Apple TV and everything worked great (as long as I remembered to put the switch in the right position).The links below will walk you through the steps necessary to set up each device.
TiVo support article for controlling multiple devices with one remote.
important note: when performing step 5, DO NOT point the remote at your TiVo (go to another room or keep the remote covered) otherwise you will simply change your TiVo to use the DVR 2 IR codes.
Apple support article for "learn remote" feature of Apple TV 2
Final note, if you lack the 1-2 switch on your remote, in addition to the sponsored links above, you can purchase replacement remotes (and pretty much everything else TiVo related) from weaKnees. I am also not totally sure if the older style remotes that have this switch can can control a Premier unit or not. They work fine for everything from the Series 1 to the HD units I've had.
