TIVO ?'s

gmorris · February 2005

Does anyone know anything about TIVO?

A co-worker got a TIVO box from his brother-in-law this weekend. Neither of these guys has the TIVO service.

My question is: Does anyone know if the TIVO box can function WITHOUT subscribing to the TIVO service? Or, can the TIVO function as a standard DVR without the service?

Any thoughts or info would be appreciated.

Thanks fellow Polkies,
G

faster100 · February 2005

I have a tivo and a bright house dvd and they need the service, mine was used and came with lifetime service but i know they wont call in for the guide and updates without a service.. hope that helps, Tivo has an exstensive website and their is a tivo forum with everything and more about tivo, upgrades, service, everything,

gmorris · February 2005

Originally posted by faster100
I have a tivo and a bright house dvd and they need the service, mine was used and came with lifetime service but i know they wont call in for the guide and updates without a service.. hope that helps, Tivo has an exstensive website and their is a tivo forum with everything and more about tivo, upgrades, service, everything,

So, you're saying you think you need the service for the TIVO box to work?

faster100 · February 2005

yes, i thought that's what i was trying to say, with a hint of uncertainess,

i'm not for sure positive.. But from my experience limited, it (the tivo box) wont call in for updates unless it shows in the system it has a paid service... Its like 12.95 a month or 299 for lifetime, only non transferrable to other units...

bobman1235 · February 2005

I did a quick google of this, some links that may interest you.. but it sounds like if you have a box that is over two years old you can use it as a DVR WITHOUT the service, but any newer ones require the servcie for any level of functionality... which is ridiculous, IMHO :

http://www.tivotechies.com/viewtopic.php?p=2603

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/archive/index.php/t-175479.html

brettw22 · February 2005

Originally posted by bobman1235
......... but any newer ones require the servcie for any level of functionality... which is ridiculous, IMHO :

There are several DVR's that aren't Tivo's to consider if you want to have the usage without Tivo's actual service. It's not ridiculous for a company to design their own box to work with their service.......at least not to me.

disneyjoe7 · February 2005

TiVo make a few boxes, so lets recap first.

TiVo stand alone box has an ant input for Cable / Ant can record anything. Cable / Ant / Satellite. Cost $12.95 a month or $299 for lifetime of the box. Not yours.

TiVo Directivo Box can't record anything but DirecTV input so this box has to have DirecTV service. This box doesn't have a RF input as above for Ant / Cable input. Also doesn't have the RCA inputs for this type of video recording. The cost is $4.95 or $0 depends on the service from DirecTV a month. The lifetime option doen't apply as this is base on service.

reeltrouble1 · February 2005

I went through this a while back and for my Direct tv tivo service you have to have the service which is 4.99 per month.

I have a rca hard drive recorder in the HT that is also a prog. scan dvd and has a usb for pictures etc. it works like a tivo but you do not need any service. It works particularily well with cable tv. It will not record high def so I am not using it, I will let it go if your interested.

I feel the tivo service is excellent and if I tried to remove from the wife I my life would be made miserable.

RT1

disneyjoe7 · February 2005

TiVo's charges you a little money for the TV Guide. The Guide is really nice, RT1 how does this get the TV Guide without any $ for it?

reeltrouble1 · February 2005

DJ,

Alot of the newer RCA (Thompson) products have a processor that can "read" your local cable companies schedule. The unit does not access tivo, it looks at your individual service company then shows you the menu for the shows which you then mark for recording etc. The unit can pause live tv and so on.

In my case (sattelite) I have to run a feed from the sat rec to the rca unit. I can then record sattelite, time slip, pause etc. If you were using cable tv you could run the coax straight to the rca and it will give you the menu of your cable companies shows.

I dont think RCA is making the unit with the fixed hard drive anymore, I think they changed to one that writes to DVD discs.

RT1

TIVO ?'s

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