Tivo Question

[GameMaster]

I know it isn't directly computer related but it felt more proper to put this in the Computer forum instead of the General Talk

Does anyone here have Tivo? If so, do you like it?

I'd kind of like to get it and my question is:

Do I have to get the $12.95/month Tivo service for it to work? Or can I just get the Tivo box? Does this service just provide extra features? All I want to do is record shows that I either miss during school or late at night. My VCR is old and the recording doesn't work and our DVD player doesn't record and Tivo just seems better. Because you record it to a drive and delete stuff once you're done. There's no hassle with buying tapes or DVD-R's. Thanks for any help :)

[Jonbo298]

AFAIK, you have to pay the monthly fee because you connect to the Tivo servers so the Tivo box knows what time shows are on, etc... The service from what i've heard (don't have a Tivo yet but really want one sometime down the road) has alot of nifty things which should be nice to check out.

[Null]

I have it, and i LOVE It, i dont know how i'd get along without it, because i dont have time for watching TV, so it records everything i like and then i watch it late at night before bed. Whenever i need something to watch, i just go thro my list and somethings always there.

Now payment is a tricky thing. From what i understand if you get a direct tivo unit, where its only a tivo box, you have to pay a montly fee.

Now if you get a combo unit made by someone else with tivo built in.... You dont.
Mine is a Toshiba DVD player with a tivo built in. i get the tivo basic service for absolutly free. basic service is just the normal features. and lists the shows 3 days in advance.
I'd have to pay for the better service which is like 7 or 10 days tv listing in advance.

However, if you have one that does charge you a montly fee, you dont HAVE to pay. without the service, tivo can still pause rewind live tv, it can still record shows, like a VCR, you just tell it what time to record and stop. But it wont be able to list the shows names once it records, and it wont be able to tell you whats on the channel when you switch, or list the tv guide for you.
but you can still get along with it.

My advice is to search around for combo units, read what it says about its basic service charges and go off that. find a combo unit that comes with the basic service free.

what i WISH mine did was also burn DVD's so i can record a show, burn it to a DVD. but thoes are expensive.


Also there are mods for them, hehe. people have taken out the TIVO HD and replaced it with bigger ones, or taken it out, connected it to ther computer and added seperate programs that work on tivo when they connect it again.
one really amusing mod is someone made a program that displays CALLER ID on the tv screen when someone calls. lol


Anywho tho. i LOVE my tivo, highly HIGHLY recommend it.

[Happydude]

how much you pay for it null?

[Null]

unit costed like 299, and i didnt pay a cent more after that. all free now. no payments

[Happydude]

299 Us im assuming...hmm...so that would be about 400-500 CAN...thats not very expensive...also does it work with satilite tv? if it does, i might look into it.

[Null]

not sure i dont use satalite. but i'd assume it would work just fine.

[Jonbo298]

I've seen some Tivo's for as low as $99 now which is insane.

Also, DirectTV (I think thats the one, its one of the major ones) has a combo unit of the Sattelite Receiver/Tivo (or the other brand, cant remember name at the time >_< )

[Null]

I've seen some Tivo's for as low as $99 now which is insane.

yes but as i said with thoes, the reason they're cheap is they're just a tivo unit and they get you on the montly fee.

pay more for a combo unit and theres no montly fee. i think thats a much better trade off.

[GameMaster]

I've seen some Tivo's for as low as $99 now which is insane.


That's becuase there are 3 different models made by Tivo that differ in size capacity. The $99 one you're referring to can hold 40 hours of recording. And I'm thinking Null's is one that holds around 140 hours of recording. Anyway, thanks Null and Jonbo. I'm going to look for a combo unit as suggested because that'd definately be nice to not have to pay for the service.

[Jonbo298]

I'd just get the $99 one and use a mod and stick in a 250gig HD or 500gig HD and do a jig as I record madly :p

[Null]

I'd just get the $99 one and use a mod and stick in a 250gig HD or 500gig HD and do a jig as I record madly :p

yea but you still wouldnt get the program guides and info. tryin to mod to get them is somewhat detectable since you have to dialup thier number and all.


i'd still greatly prefer finding a cheap combo unit.

[GameMaster]

Yeah, I may end up altering it if I find that 40 hours isn't enough.

So I'm looking at the combo models here: http://www.tivo.com/2.1.5.asp

None of them have free service though. I'm wondering where Null bought his because I'm thinking that the $299 he payed for his went towards the lifetime service, which you can buy. Because I don't think he could connect to their service and not be billed or anything unless he payed that lifetime service fee. Maybe he got some sort of special deal though? We'll wait here and have him clear this confusion up.

[Null]

mine actually came from QVC, heh.

But i've seen em in stores that have the free service. your problem is your looking on thier (tivos) website. Of course they're going to only list ones where you have to pay a fee... try other peoples websites, not tivo, needs to be one like Sony makes a dvd player with tivo built in. or mine is toshiba. or panasonic, what have you.


http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/dvr/product.asp?model=SD-H400

Thats mine. (but i got a deal on it with QVC, was cheaper)

notice down this list... FREE basic TIVO service included.

[edit, it also says get $100 back with purchase, dont know what thats all bout tho, but would make it cheaper then mine.]

[Jonbo298]

I've seen mods where you can stick the HD in and just install the boot program thing or whatever and should be able to use it like a normal Tivo with the program and everything running.

[Null]

I've seen mods where you can stick the HD in and just install the boot program thing or whatever and should be able to use it like a normal Tivo with the program and everything running.


yes there are many many mods for it. and tivo knows and doesnt care bout most of them. infact some of the mods they actually support (altho they say your warrenty is gone if you do any of course)

but the thing with the one where you can still get the service using a mod.... They know who dials up to thier serivice. its a phone call. you have to call up and download what the tivo needs for the next so many days. they CAN catch you stealing thier service. rather then do that, im just saying i'd rather get one thats free from the start.

to each his own tho.

[Jonbo298]

Well, I still pay for the original Tivo box and as long as I'm paying the monthly fee (which I don't mind paying as I see no need to steal from them), they shouldn't deny me access.

[Null]

Then what are we arguing about? of course they woudlnt deny your access if your paying.

[Jonbo298]

You tell me, lol.........