I need Tivo Help!

[darthbudge]

I currently have a DirectTV DVR with Tivo service using DirectTV. Now recently I got broadband and I wanted to cancel my home phone service because I never use it anyway. However it came to my attention that my Tivo uses the phone line to update itself. Now I heard that the newer Tivos use a broadband line to update itself, is that correct? If so could I use this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ER5G58/ref=atv_unbox_tivo/103-2823744-7631821 with my DirectTV service? If not which one do I need?

I don't need Hi-def at the moment but I want Dual Tuner and it to be able to update itself with the internet instead of the phone line.

[darthbudge]

Can anyone help me? I really need to know ASAP so I know if I can cancel my Phone service.

[ninjaspeedrazor]

Get the Direct TV DVR box, I think it's cheaper overall and you can have your sat box and dvr in one,which makes life easier and cuts down on an remote. plus you can record high def programming easier.

[darthbudge]

Well one of the reason I wanted a Tivo box was so that I could use things like Amazon Unbox but as I see it a DirectTV DVR might be my only way.

[Foo228]

Hmm...I've got a dish Network DVR and but it didn't need a phone line

We (my family) were told to install one so we did, but we found out it was for no use...any idea why you need it?

[chakan]

If you have a true Tivo box(I have a Series 2), you can update the programming with a wireless broadband connection using something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/TiVo-Wireless-Network-Adapter-AG0100/dp/B000ER5G6C/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-8820746-0082844?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1189462030&sr=1-1

or this:
http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-WUSB54AG-Wireless-Network-Adapter/dp/B00064C58U/ref=sr_1_15/105-8820746-0082844?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1189462087&sr=1-15


I no longer have a phone line, and Tivo service is great and uninterupted. Also, wouldn't this be a better price for the Tivo box you were looking at?
https://www3.tivo.com/store/boxdetails.do?boxName=80hourseries2dt&boxsku=R64980I don't know how this box will work with DirectTV, as I have cable.The TiVo Series2 Dual Tuner (DT) DVR works with any cable (basic or digital cable) or satellite set-up. Note that the Series2 DT not support recording from two digital cable or two satellite channels at once. Recording from over- the-air antenna not supported.


Lastly, if you do sign up for Tivo service, please consider Pming me for my email address. I will give you $10 paypal if you list me as your referrer when you sign up.

[chakan]

From a Tivo forum:

A directTV Tivo (Directivo) will ONLY work with a direcTV signal. Nothing else. If you have local channels on DirecTV and don't want to watch any other TV, this is the best and cheapest way to go. Directivo units are cheaper than standalone units. The monthly fee is apparently cheaper too.

If you want to watch local antennae programming, or your cable programming you will need to go with a standalone Tivo.

Are you using a cable box? That will complicate things somewhat. If you are just using unscrambled cable, you can plug this into the tivo as though it was local broadcast on an antenna.

With a Directivo, it REPLACES the satellite decoder that DirecTV gave you. This one box becomes both Decodeer and Digital Video Recorder.

With a standalone Tivo, you put the output of the satellite decoder into the Tivo. You use the tivo remote. The Tivo itself changes the channel on the satellite receiver. (It pretends to be a remote control so far as the satellite decoder is concerned). This is because the Tivo may want to change the channel to record things on other channels, so it needs to be able to choose the satellite channel. You don't have to change channel for it, as you would if you were trying to hook your VCR up to record from DirecTV.

As you said - if you ask the Tivo for anothe channel while watching live TV, the Tivo would pass the request on to the satellite box.

Hope that helps

[darthbudge]

Alright I see what I need. Thanks for your help. But I have one more question, is it worth the extra hassle to get a Series 2 DVR?

EDIT: Also I would sign up under you chakan but I am already a Tivo customer.

[chakan]

It is worth the hassle to me, for Amazon unbox, and for the ability to save Tivo'd programs on my PC's hard drive.

If you're buying a new box, you might seriously consider the series 3. It can record HD, and while you might not want that now, you might be wishing you spent the extra in just 2 years or so.

Thanks anyway, darthbudge! I am having a hard time getting that last referral!

[darthbudge]

Ok yeah that is pretty cool. I thought about the series 3 but it really just isn't worth the extra 300+ dollars to me.

[shrike4242]

DirectTivo's are completely different animals than the regular Tivo's, such as the Series 2, Series 3 or HD. DirectTivo's don't support multi-room viewing, remote scheduling and the like. It's supposed to be coming sometime in the future, though for now, there's no ability to do home networking on a DirectTivo. They also only work for DirectTV, as they don't have a standard OTA/cable tuner built into it.

A Series 2, 3 or HD unit won't work with DirectTV directly, they'll only work with OTA broadcasts or cable. With a satellite receiver, a Series 2, 3 or HD unit will work with DirectTV, though you may run into channel change issues. To get a Series 2/3/HD unit to change channels on a satellite converter will require either a serial connection or an IR connection, and in my past experience, they occasionally screw up. Serial much less than IR.

If you're going to switch to a stand-alone Tivo, you should look at the Tivo HD, as it'll do HD recording, as well as have expandable storage though the eSATA port. I think home networking on it works OK, though the multi-room viewing doesn't work yet.