Tivo Question for anyone who has it

[KillyKillall]

So how does it work as far as setting it up? I have to buy the hardware and pay a subscription on top of that? Or just subscription? or what?

 

[Fiveohhh]

yeah you buy the hardware I think you get a few day trial and than ya gotta pay subscription costs

 

[imported_Strang]

You have to buy the hardware and then have three options as far as subscription goes: You can pay $13/mo, you can pay something like $300 for a lifetime subscription or you can use TiVo Basic which doesn't have as many features.

This doesn't apply to DirecTiVo, however. The monthly fee for that is $5, unless you have the Total Premier package.

 

[mcvickj]

Do you have to have a phone line? A while back someone mentioned they were going to be releasing a version that had an Ethernet port so you could get your updates via your broadband connection. After I moved I had no ambition to get a land line. I use my cell phone as my primary communication.

 

[Wheatmaster]

what's Tivo basic? and what's the price? because i don't want to pay $13/month

 

[KillyKillall]

It connects via phone line?

 

[Rogue]

I don't have to pay a monthly subscription for mine. I get three days of programming download and it works just fine for me. I don't need all the other, "Record a show by your favorite actor, etc." stuff that the subscription service give you. It was a straightforward hookup for me, although be sure you have a phone line nearby and that you won't need to use the phone for several hours while it downloads and updates the code on the box if necessary. Once that is complete, I put my on my wireless network to download all the programming data over my cable modem.

 

[Snuffaluffaguss]

tivo basic only comes with a few models that have built in dvd recorders. as for the rest of your questions they are all on tivo's website under FAQ's

 

[FrustratedUser]

Can a TiVo be used witth any Cable provider?

 

[rahvin]

Originally posted by: Wheatmaster
what's Tivo basic? and what's the price? because i don't want to pay $13/month

Tivo Basic only exists on the Tivo/DVD recorder combinatations. Tivo Basic is 3 days of Guide Data and reduced functionality (see Rogues post above).

 

[torpid]

Tivo basic is not available on all models. IIRC most series 2 models without dvd recording do not support it. What it means is basically you have a souped up VCR.

Any tivo can be updated to use ethernet. It just depends on which model you have. Newer ones I believe just need to have a usb ethernet adapter and altered dialing code. DirectTV ones would need a kernel modification. Series 1 tivos would need a piece of hardware attached to the motherboard itself.

 

[Wheatmaster]

ok so just get a tivo with dvd recording, hook up with ethernet and i'm done? no monthly payment?

 

[Rogue]

I purchased this one:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...98113&type=product

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: rahvin

Originally posted by: Wheatmaster
what's Tivo basic? and what's the price? because i don't want to pay $13/month

Tivo Basic only exists on the Tivo/DVD recorder combinatations. Tivo Basic is 3 days of Guide Data and reduced functionality (see Rogues post above).

Panasonic sells a DVD player/DVR that comes with Tivo basic.

 

[geecee]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
Can a TiVo be used witth any Cable provider?

For the most part. It should provide you with a list of cable providers in your area once you've started setting it up. It will then set up the channels and download the program guide information accordingly. If you have a cable box, there may be a IR blaster cable that you have to connect from the TiVo to the cable box that will allow your TiVo to change channels (using the cable box).

 

[KillyKillall]

I just went to the site and watched the demo. It's very informative. Between that and the FAQ's..I'm ready to buy.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: KillyKillall
I just went to the site and watched the demo. It's very informative. Between that and the FAQ's..I'm ready to buy.

If you want to avoid monthly fees make sure to buy a model which is compatible with TIVO BASIC. Such as the model Rogue purchased.

TIVO FAQ: What Is the Difference between TiVo Basic and TiVo Plus?

We got a TIVO for FREE but it doesn't offer TIVO BASIC 🙁

It is nice to hook it up to broadband and change our "to do list" via the web. I think it updates once an hour? So I could login from work, change it to record the news at 6PM, at 5PM it would update and be ready to record by 6PM.