Can I hack my TIVO Series 2 so i don't pay a fee?

[cmp1223]

A friend got a TIVO series 2 for cheap and doesn't want to pay the monthly fee. Since there is a USB port, I was wondering if it was possible to either download a free menu off the computer and send it to the TIVO, or just use the computer to control the recording, and send the shows to the TIVO. Can it be done?

 

[GeneValgene]

would this be illegal?

 

[Soccerman06]

Not without going to jail.

 

[TrueBlueLS]

Just pay the fee, it can't be that expensive.

 

[iamwiz82]

You'll drop that much on a freaking computer but $6/month is crazy talk :roll:

 

[DaShen]

Ummm Anandtech doesn;t discuss this type of thing. You should know that.

 

[mzkhadir]

Originally posted by: TrueBlueLS
Just pay the fee, it can't be that expensive.

fee is 13 a month

 

[toekramp]

Originally posted by: mzkhadir

Originally posted by: TrueBlueLS
Just pay the fee, it can't be that expensive.

fee is 13 a month

wwwwhat, that's kinda expensive

seriously.

 

[salt9876]

Why dont you call your TIVO service and ask them if you can hack their product in order to escape the cheap $12 monthly charge. Im sure they wouldnt mind you screwing them over in order to save a couple bucks.

 

[RandomFool]

Originally posted by: mzkhadir

Originally posted by: TrueBlueLS
Just pay the fee, it can't be that expensive.

fee is 13 a month

could be worse

 

[mzkhadir]

Originally posted by: toekramp

Originally posted by: mzkhadir

Originally posted by: TrueBlueLS
Just pay the fee, it can't be that expensive.

fee is 13 a month

wwwwhat, that's kinda expensive

seriously.

or 299 lifetime

 

[jonessoda]

I'd definitely go with the $300 lifetime. Or is it for the lifetime of the unit?

 

[mzkhadir]

Originally posted by: jonessoda
I'd definitely go with the $300 lifetime. Or is it for the lifetime of the unit?

lifetime of the unit. Replay Tv is much better.

 

[jamesave]

lifetime of the unit

 

[rh71]

you can do tivo-for-free if you got a capture card plus WINTV or GBPVR software.

 

[nitsuj3580]

Originally posted by: mzkhadir

Originally posted by: TrueBlueLS
Just pay the fee, it can't be that expensive.

fee is 13 a month

call and ask to cancel, they'll lower it to 5.95 or 6.95 (I forget exactly). I got this offer when I really wanted to cancel as my Comcast HD box came with a DVR in it but I've heard everyone gets this option.

 

[cmp1223]

Slow down. I'm not looking to do anything illegal. I'll explain. Would there be a way to maybe reformat the Tivo completly and install Linux on it? Maybe someone already has a PVR Linux build for TIVOs? Anything like that?

 

[mzkhadir]

check out tivocommunity.com

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: cmp1223
Slow down. I'm not looking to do anything illegal. I'll explain. Would there be a way to maybe reformat the Tivo completly and install Linux on it? Maybe someone already has a PVR Linux build for TIVOs? Anything like that?

I'm pretty sure it's running some form of linux already.

I don't think its possible in any way to get service free. I'm sure I'd have heard of it by now. Tivo is kind enough to not come down on those people who put in larger hard drives or replace modems and such themselves, so I think in general the community tries not to screw them.