Tivo - whats the 411?

RuSsMaN

Got a link, for what seems like 'cheap' Tivos. Can I use this *without* the Tivo subscription? Just as a simple vcr replacement for recording purposes?

Cheers,
Russ

http://www.servicedvr.com/Extra/BuyExtraTivo.asp

faster100

Now that would be a good idea, But what does an Italian **** like myself know?? LOL sorry for that......

phoneisbusy

Originally posted by RuSsMaN
Got a link, for what seems like 'cheap' Tivos. Can I use this *without* the Tivo subscription? Just as a simple vcr replacement for recording purposes?

Cheers,
Russ

http://www.servicedvr.com/Extra/BuyExtraTivo.asp

My understanding was it is possible but it's a bit of a pain.

There's suppose to be a way to program it by selecting channel and time and duration a la VCR but it service agreement has this ominous passage about TiVo's right to change functionality.
Whether or not they ever invoke this right is another matter.

The other issue is that the Tivo unit calls in to download programming info and resync the Tivo clock.

The calling in to sync the clock would worry me if you don't have
a subscription.

Perhaps someone with a Tivo can confirm? They won't sell to
Canada otherwise I'd considered it instead of hacking together
a PC based solution.

regards

Dave

brettw22

I haven't ever tried Tivo, but I wouldn't ever pay someone to grant me the ability to record something that I want to watch. How ridiculous......
I'd probably look into creating a PC based kinda thing.......

jrausch

TIVO is the greatest piece of equipment that no one owns. If you have it, you love it and you most likely rave to your friends because it's soooo cool and freaking easy to use. Women love this unit because of its ease of use features that allows you pick a program and it will record every new episode of that show without any duplicates. Oprah, Dr. Phil and soap opera’s will never be missed. Its menu guide makes it easy to find what you’re looking for by separating everything into groups. You pay for the programming because it’s half of the systems features. You get 2 weeks of programming that’s updated every night. So, say if there’s a show on in 9 days that you will miss because you’re out, it will get recorded with no worries about tape or if it’s programmed correctly.

Getting it to record is so easy since you can search by name, day, and category or even search by the person who stars in that program. If you see a program in the menu that needs to be recorded just highlight it and hit record, that’s it done no problems. It keeps a 30 minute buffer of the program you’re watching so you can always jump back to scene you like during a commercial or pause it if you get a phone call. You can then skip through commercials (if there are any) until you catch up to live. It will also keep track of what you view and make recommendations to record something you may want to watch later. If boxing is your thing it may record a match it found so you can have something to watch when nothing else is on.

The service is 12.95 a month for the stand alone units like the one’s you were looking at or $250 for a lifetime subscription. If you use a direct TV dish it’s only 4.95/month or free with the platinum subscription. If you look at TiVo’s ease of use and the time you save yourself not being owned by your TV its well worth it. Once you have TIVO service your life will actually change for the better. So don’t count it out just yet.

phoneisbusy

Originally posted by brettw22
I haven't ever tried Tivo, but I wouldn't ever pay someone to grant me the ability to record something that I want to watch. How ridiculous......
I'd probably look into creating a PC based kinda thing.......

Well, you are paying for the programing info and updates to the functionality. They supposedly provide you with many different ways to select the show's you're interested in recording. e.g. by genre or something like that.

I don't like the idea of a subsciption that pretty much cripples the machine but you'd have to do a lot a fiddling with a PC and software to get the functionality of a Tivo. Plus, you'd have to find someplace to download your listings. Oh, and I'll bet you'd have to pay for them too.

I think I'd have fun trying to put an equivalent htpc together but if you just want to press a button to record, the Tivo's got it beat from a convience point.

Now, if Russ has DirectTV, he might like the DirectTV Tivo combo. I think the listings are included in his sat. subscription.

Dave

RuSsMaN

No dish, can't stand it, don't need it.

Just wondering if these could replace the wife's VHS tapes (that get worse and worse with each recording) for her soap and NYPD Blue, etc.

Any of you guys that have one, can you run it stand alone? Can you set the clock manually, program manually (simply, ie rec ch5 from 8-9)?

Cheers,
Russ

mantis

Russ,
just buy a Tivo.Its the **** bomb.I have had TiVo for years.I actually have 3 of them.

The service fees are totally worth it.Once you own TiVo theres no going back....think about it,as much as you hit the **** bowl,get something to drink,not be home in time for your favorite show,etc........TiVo records everything you like and hers.Then you can watch TV when you want to watch it,not when IT"S ON.

Dude do yourself one of the greatest favors to hit our loved market and buy a Tivo.

Question,what do you use for TV???Cable or DSS?

Talk to me

RuSsMaN

All fine and good, I'm sure it's rockin, but I don't want another bill coming in, even if it's only $12 a month.

Regular cable tv here, no dish, no digital. ALL I'm *really* trying to do is loose the clunky vhs tapes, and the mad shuffle that always ensues for a blank one!

Cheers,
Russ

mantis

Buy a TiVo, pay the 250.00 lifetime and away you go.........simple cost effective and well worth every penny twice......Raw cable is fine my man.

ken brydson

What's the diff between TiVo and Replay? Is one better than the other?

mantis

Yes one is better then the other...Replay TV was a copy of tivo.It failed.They stopped it for awhile and tried to bring it back with sonic blue....I don't personaly care for it.I think it's slow and I like Tivo's interface alot better.


Panasonic is who came out with it.

jdavy

I have 2 directivo units and love them. Best thing in the house. If you have kids you will just thank God for the tivo. I am waiting for a HDTV/directivo and then with a new plasma or dlp I will be singing the praises of hi definition tivo. Everyone should have tivo. My wife will give up her cell phone before she will give up her tivo. I do not know any one who has given up their tivo.

RuSsMaN

Ok, so no one really can say if the unit itself is workable/rigable outside of the service?

-R

TroyD

It's sorta like the old question:

How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop??

The world may never know...

BDT

mantis

TiVo units need service.

It's a service plan........it's worth the fees my man...just do it.

brettw22

Originally posted by mantis
TiVo units need service.

It's a service plan........it's worth the fees my man...just do it.

Is the TIVO service transferrable? It would seem as if it would be more geared towards those that live in a house as opposed to those that live in an apartment. Any idea how that works? $250 for life seems pretty good.......providing that it's not really limited in most aspects....

goingganzo

just waiting for the hi def teavo to be at a reasonable price.

TroyD

The unanswered question (for those still paying attention) can you use it WITHOUT (regardless of how swell of a deal it is) the service?

Inquiring minds and all that.....

BDT

HBombToo

Originally posted by TroyD
The unanswered question (for those still paying attention) can you use it WITHOUT (regardless of how swell of a deal it is) the service?

Inquiring minds and all that.....

BDT

I have been looking at this post for a while now and figured I'd jump in. The answer regarding can a Tivo be used without a subscription is yes. I don't have all the details but have a pretty good feal for what my friend did so here goes.

The Tivo hd can be interfaced if torn apart and reconnected to a machine which is Linux or Unix capable. The interface software can be found on the web and it functions much like the gui that everyone is used to. So if you have an HT pc and are warped enough to talk in unix, which is not all that bad, and you have time and patience you can accomplish this task.

If you have specific questions I'll take them back to my bro and try to post something that is reasonable.

HBomb

jdavy

HBomb,

How would you get the programing updates? The best is a Directv decoder and tivo unit in one.

Just do it!

brettw22

Russ.....

Just thought that I'd post something that I read about the Tivo "Lifetime" subscription from their site.....

A product lifetime subscription to the TiVo service covers the life of the TiVo Digital Video Recorder (DVR) you buy--not the life of the subscriber. The product lifetime subscription accompanies the product in case of ownership transfer. The subscription remains in effect if your DVR needs to be repaired or replaced due to a malfunction (see manufacturer warranty details). Because a product lifetime subscription is linked to a particular DVR, it cannot be transferred to any other DVR (unless the DVR is replaced due to a malfunction covered by the manufacturer's warranty). Each DVR purchased requires its own service subscription and activation.

Of course, hardware products don't last forever and their lifespan will vary among individual products. TiVo makes no representations or warranties as to the expected lifetime of the product aside from the manufacturer's warranty.

mantis

That holds true for outboard TiVo units.Intergraded DSS units,you can have all the TiVo's you want in one household.I have 2 Actice Tivo now and a 3rd one ready for the new house.I only paid the Lifetime service once.I can add and take away TiVo as much as I want.As long as I don't add a standalone TiVo unit,I don't ever have to pay for the service again.......but here's the kicker..If I had to pay each time I added a TiVo...I would,I think they are the very best way to watch Tv.Ask any TiVo owner if he could watch tv forever without TiVo...............

brettw22

I don't really like the way they word that last section......Ultimately, it says that if your Tivo dies at 367 days, then you're SOL.....that seems a bit wrong personally, but I guess that's something that all manufacturers state.....

HBombToo

Originally posted by jdavy
HBomb,

How would you get the programing updates? The best is a Directv decoder and tivo unit in one.

Just do it!

The unix scrip that I mentioned actually goes out and handles all that for you. The problem with it is that it does not filter out all the chaff. What this means is that every broadcast in the nation is presented in the gui with the actual fcc call signs. Fortunatly he new all the channels he had access to from dtv and just uses those.

Hope this helps because I'm not that familiar with it. I saw it once when completed but was not involved in all the leg work. All in all the script changes all the built in features and restrictions in the tivo.

HBomb

mwhip

Russ come visit us:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/

I have had a Tivo for a year now, and I could never imagine TV watching without it.

dorokusai

Russ, come back to the mother ship........

dylan

Tivo is awesome! I've had one for about a week now, I can see why people get the 'can't have TV without it feeling'. Here's the skinny so far:

$199 upgrade from my old (5 years) DirectTV receiver, includes installation. I thought 'eh, just give me the receiver and I'll do it', but finally gave in to due the hassle factor of re-running cable in our crawlspace. He did a great job, and replaced my old dish with a new dish with 3 line outs for free. Ran cable to the bedroom for the extra receiver, put hookup plates in the wall, etc. All done 3 days after calling in to DirectTV.

Tell it to record a show for the season, and you're done. For instance, we're big fans of the Family Guy, but now it's being re-run every day in the middle of the day, and I wasn't recording since the VCR quality is almost unwatchable.

Stores 35 hours, and it's just like watching the normal dish, I don't see any drop in quality (might be able to finally ditch that VCR).

When you fast forward through the commercials, you might go a little too far forward, when you hit play again it just hops back to the beginning of the show (brilliant!).

It can record in Dolby Digital, but haven't tested yet if it supports the Pay Per Views.

2 line-ins to the receiver, so it can record one show while playing another. Haven't tried Picture in Picture yet.

Moving between channels is slower, as I think it has to write data to the hard drive, then hop back to displaying.

All in all, worth every penny. BTW: The WAF is huge...

phoneisbusy

Originally posted by RuSsMaN
Got a link, for what seems like 'cheap' Tivos. Can I use this *without* the Tivo subscription? Just as a simple vcr replacement for recording purposes?

Cheers,
Russ

http://www.servicedvr.com/Extra/BuyExtraTivo.asp

Hey RuSsMan,

This showed up on one of the boards I frequent.

http://www.factorydirect.ca/cgi-bin/product_spec.pl/RC7000

They said CC or BB in Buffalo had them on sale at one time for $200. This more or less what you wanted?

regards

Dave