Free Dual Tuner TiVo w/ Purchase of service - No Rebates

[Rassi]

This is a good deal. Found on another deal site. Saves you $99 over TiVo's regular price. If you have an old TiVo and want to upgrade, or want a new TiVo, this is a great deal. This is a brand new unit, not a refurb, direct from TiVo. You'll be ordering it from them.

Also includes free shipping.

http://dynamic.tivo.com/0.11.lp_KZ.asp?a=ncwo

 

[unknown]

how would this work for an upgrade....if you already have service?

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: unknown
how would this work for an upgrade....if you already have service?

Agreed. Not sure about that. esspecially as I only pay $6 a month for my Tivo. I do need a new unit though.... mine after 4 years needs to be rebooted daily because it fades to black and white every 8 hours or so.

 

[JBT]

Screw it ordered one. I'm sick of having to reboot the original we have. Plus the dual tuner will be nice. Only down side is the current one i've got has a 200GB in it and the new one will be only an 80GB. We'll see if they actually give me a multi room discount since again I've only been paying $6 a month for it for the last 2 years.

 

[NGerding]

I just bit the bullet and ordered this. Don't know why it has taken me so long! Think of all the shows I have missed! Sigh!

 

[superHARD]

Originally posted by: JBT

Originally posted by: unknown
how would this work for an upgrade....if you already have service?

Agreed. Not sure about that. esspecially as I only pay $6 a month for my Tivo. I do need a new unit though.... mine after 4 years needs to be rebooted daily because it fades to black and white every 8 hours or so.

man that sucks!!!...glad you got a new one!

 

[Java Cafe]

A complete Tivo newbie here. Does it make sense to prepay them for 3 years (and get the price break)? Or, do you think being locked into any technology for such a long time isn't so smart?

Currently, these are the per month rates they are offering: 1 year: $10.75; 2 years: $10.38; 3 years: $8.31.

What is Tivo's history of raising (lowering) rates, can you tell me?

 

[Rassi]

To answer the question about an upgrade, the new unit would be your "upgrade" and you'd still own your old unit (which you'd cancel the service on) and then you could sell that on eBay or give it to someone as you wish. I had a Humax unit with a DVD burner in it that I sold before Christmas last time they offered this and sold it for about $80....

As for the pre-pay... I'd be a bit skittish on pre-paying for more than 1 year. Over the holidays, they had brought back their lifetime memberships (lifetime of the EQUIPMENT, not the owner). But since this unit isn't an HD unit, you'll eventually want to get a different TiVo I would suspect. But this is a nice unit for now.

 

[AmpedSilence]

how is this better than the DVR that comes from comcast.

Sorry, but TiVo always comfused me.

 

[solleyman]

Originally posted by: AmpedSilence
how is this better than the DVR that comes from comcast.

Sorry, but TiVo always comfused me.

So difficult to explain. I had a TiVo for a couple of years and when I moved, I finally paid for the HD cable package for my 61" DLP and got their HD DVR. It pains me to use the DVR after having a TiVo. Mental pain is constant, the physical pain comes and goes. Even my non-techie wife, who absolutely hates everything I buy from ATHD, is begging me to spend the cash for the HD TiVo.

I tried to explain to my sister-in-law, who was arguing for the DVR (she's never had TiVo)...back when people had to walk from one place to another, the horse 'n buggy was a pretty kick ass idea. So....TV = walking, DVR = horse 'n buggy, and TiVo = Mercedes (or other nice car of your choice). Once you've had that car of your choice, the horse 'n buggy looks pretty crappy.

I know that's not a specific answer to your question, but you can read up on features/usuability at www.tivocommunity.com.

 

[Rassi]

TiVo also has a lot of other features that other DVRs don't have, like being able to transfer your recordings to your other TiVos, your PC, and your portable devices. You can also access all your MP3s and Photos on your computer thru your TiVo. Like Solleyman said, check out tivocommunity.com - there's a ton of stuff you can do with it, and once you have a TiVo, a "plain-jane" DVR is never enough.

 

[Java Cafe]

Just signed up for the 1-year deal. We'll see how this experience turns out. I'm not a TV junkie; I hope this will not turn me into one. ;-)

 

[AmpedSilence]

so, would i get rid of the comcast box and just have the TiVo and get a cable card? I think the actual technical aspect of setting it up is what confuses me, not the actual features that come with the TiVo, those i know. The web site (corporate one, not the community one) really doesn't offer any help either.

 

[JBT]

For this unit you wouldn't use a cable card, thats only for HD Tivo's.

It would go...
Coax from wall > Coax spliter >
Coax split 1. Cable box > S-Video > Tivo S-video input > S-Video to TV.
Coax split 2. Tivo Coax input.

 

[solleyman]

Originally posted by: Java Cafe
Just signed up for the 1-year deal. We'll see how this experience turns out. I'm not a TV junkie; I hope this will not turn me into one. ;-)

I actually watch less TV than before the TiVo because I only watch the shows I want (and, of course, no commercials).

To expound on some of the benefits....ability to get to my PC for music and photos is great, and the search & guide capabilities of the TiVo blow my DVR away. Like Steve Martin, for example? TiVo will automatically record everything that Steve Martin does...movies, charity events, appearances on Leno, whatever. Also, TiVo quickly learns what types of shows you like to watch and, when it's not busy, will record other shows, on its own, that it thinks you may like, based on genre or actors or whatever.

 

[imported_pdtar]

Thanks to op for share and others for both tech and metaphorical advice. Not heavy TV user but this deal is just good enough to open wallet.

 

[WilhelmII]

Originally posted by: AmpedSilence
so, would i get rid of the comcast box and just have the TiVo and get a cable card? I think the actual technical aspect of setting it up is what confuses me, not the actual features that come with the TiVo, those i know. The web site (corporate one, not the community one) really doesn't offer any help either.

The Comcast Motorola boxes running Tivo software just became available in MA and NH. Sounds like there are still a lot of bugs, and the equipment is not as good as actual Tivo boxes, but it is an option.

 

[Java Cafe]

(This may be slightly tangential to the discussion, but not exceedingly so.)

I availed myself of this offer, and was pleasantly surprised to see the box delivered to my home in two days! I have a Charter Communications cable box, and I thought that the setup was a little more challenging than I had expected. The directions were clear enough, and I really had no problems (other than the hassle of mucking about in an ankle-deep tangle of wires behind the TV), but I don't think it's something that non-technically inclined folks (read, non-geeks) would enjoy doing.

But, something strange is going on with respect to how the TiVo box is handling the TV signals from Charter. Channels 2-29, which they call Basic Cable, works fine. But, it fails to display what is known as Extended Basic (which means channels above 29 through 100). Then comes the Premium Channels. I only have the Family Package (which is like a few dozen channels in the two hundreds, maybe 220- 250).

Now, here's the interesting correlation with something else, which makes me believe that this problem is somewhat intractable. :-( About two months ago, I stopped being able to receive the Extended Basic in a bedroom TV set (which is NOT attached to cable box). Until then, both Basic and Extended Basic used to be available there; I neither expected or got the Premium channels in that room. I called Charter and they said that "a new law has been passed that now requires them to serve the Extended Basic only through a Cable box; you could get Extended Basic (and the Premium channels) on your second TV set if you get a cable box, for which there is a monthly rental fee, of course." I did not get the rental box.

But, I think that they do/did something to the signals in the Ext Basic range, that is making it incompatible with TiVo. (I may be wrong.)

I am writing this here (and I apologize if this is irrelevant), just so that the some among the many wise people on this forum may be able to offer me a bit of light or direction. Thank you for reading this.

 

[AMDMaddness]

Originally posted by: Java Cafe
(This may be slightly tangential to the discussion, but not exceedingly so.)

I availed myself of this offer, and was pleasantly surprised to see the box delivered to my home in two days! I have a Charter Communications cable box, and I thought that the setup was a little more challenging than I had expected. The directions were clear enough, and I really had no problems (other than the hassle of mucking about in an ankle-deep tangle of wires behind the TV), but I don't think it's something that non-technically inclined folks (read, non-geeks) would enjoy doing.

But, something strange is going on with respect to how the TiVo box is handling the TV signals from Charter. Channels 2-29, which they call Basic Cable, works fine. But, it fails to display what is known as Extended Basic (which means channels above 29 through 100). Then comes the Premium Channels. I only have the Family Package (which is like a few dozen channels in the two hundreds, maybe 220- 250).

Now, here's the interesting correlation with something else, which makes me believe that this problem is somewhat intractable. :-( About two months ago, I stopped being able to receive the Extended Basic in a bedroom TV set (which is NOT attached to cable box). Until then, both Basic and Extended Basic used to be available there; I neither expected or got the Premium channels in that room. I called Charter and they said that "a new law has been passed that now requires them to serve the Extended Basic only through a Cable box; you could get Extended Basic (and the Premium channels) on your second TV set if you get a cable box, for which there is a monthly rental fee, of course." I did not get the rental box.

But, I think that they do/did something to the signals in the Ext Basic range, that is making it incompatible with TiVo. (I may be wrong.)

I am writing this here (and I apologize if this is irrelevant), just so that the some among the many wise people on this forum may be able to offer me a bit of light or direction. Thank you for reading this.

You will need a series 3 Tivo for the cablecard to unlock the digital stuff. OR just hook up your digital box to your tivo.

 

[Java Cafe]

Thanks, AMDMaddness. Will call Charter and see what they have to say. Am hoping I don't run into one of their dumb phonedroids; I have had incredibly bad luck on the pone with Charter.

 

[AMDMaddness]

I have charter as well. I just gave back their DVR and ordered this TIVO its about $13 cheeper a month than what charter is offering and I own the box. Charter blows, your best bet is to call like you are doing to get your cable card, either way they send out a tech to install it and they configure it in the field. It would be so easy if they could just get the card ready in the office and hand it over, but that would be to easy.

 

[Java Cafe]

Originally posted by: AMDMaddness
I have charter as well. I just gave back their DVR and ordered this TIVO its about $13 cheeper a month than what charter is offering and I own the box. Charter blows, your best bet is to call like you are doing to get your cable card, either way they send out a tech to install it and they configure it in the field. It would be so easy if they could just get the card ready in the office and hand it over, but that would be to easy.

Thanks, so much. I am moving this discussion off-line now; I think I have strayed from the original post quite significantly.

Please look out for a PM from me.

 

[Achtung]

Wow, thanks for the deal! I needed to upgrade my Tivo from 40 hours to 80 hours, and this way I do that AND save on my monthly service. Just ordered.

 

[unknown]

Originally posted by: Achtung
Wow, thanks for the deal! I needed to upgrade my Tivo from 40 hours to 80 hours, and this way I do that AND save on my monthly service. Just ordered.

Hey - can you clarify for me how this would work as an upgrade? I would love to upgrade my old single to a dual tuner and still pay my monthly $6

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: unknown

Originally posted by: Achtung
Wow, thanks for the deal! I needed to upgrade my Tivo from 40 hours to 80 hours, and this way I do that AND save on my monthly service. Just ordered.

Hey - can you clarify for me how this would work as an upgrade? I would love to upgrade my old single to a dual tuner and still pay my monthly $6

I would guess you can't keep your same pricing scheme. You'd just replace your Tivo with this one, cancel you current service, and begin paying $13/m.