Toshiba SD-H400 DVD Player with Tivo - !!NO FEES!!

[RossMAN]

I found it for $115 after $100 rebate (which expires today). Note the unit is factory refurbished but does qualify for the rebate.

http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/dv...duct.asp?model=SD-H400

We have a spare TV which could use a DVD Player especially if it also offers FREE BASIC TIVO !!!

Looking for some reviews from fellow AT'ers if they like or dislike this model.

• 10-bit/54 MHz Video Digtial/Analog Converter
• Super ColorStream Pro® Output for both DVD & TiVo
• Digital Cinema Progressive with 3:2 Pulldown for both DVD & TiVo Playback
• Up to 80 hours of recording on TiVo Series 2? hard drive4
• Resolution: 540 Lines
• Video Black Level Expansion and PLUGE
• PLUGE (Picture Line Up Generation Equipment)
• Video DNR
• 24-Bit/192kHz Audio Digital/Analog Converter
• DOLBY® Digital and DTS® Compatible Output
• Spatializer® N-2-2?
• JPEG Viewer with TiVo Home***
• Media Option Upgrade
• Power Picture Zoom
• Screen Saver
• Auto Clock Set
• Front Panel Menu Operation
• Scan: x2. x8, x30. x100
• Slow Motion: Forward and Reverse - 1/16, 1/4, 1/2
• Channel Lock
• Multi-Camera Angle Select
• Multi-Language Select
• Multi-Subtitle Select
• Basic Remote
• Network Connectivity: 1 Modem (V.34); USB (2.0)
• MP-3 Audio
• Dialogue Expander for DVD only
• Disc Quantity: 1
• Disc Play: DVD/VCD/CD-R/CD-RW/CD/DVD-R1
• IR Blaster for Cable and DBS Box Control (C3 Control)
• Enhanced Picture Modes
• Multi-Brand Remote Control
• Free TiVo Basic? Service included***
• Easy-to-use TiVo® User Interface***
• EAM (Enhanced Audio Mode)
• 181 Channel NTSC Tuner
• RS232 Interface
• Y, Pr, Pb Out (1)
• S-Video (1)
• RCA Video (1)
• RF (1)
• Optical Audio Outputs (1)
• Coaxial Outputs (1)
• L-R Audio (1)

 

[Dulanic]

It's free TiVo basic service, which makes it a VCR for most purposes. You'd still have to pay for real TiVo functionality.

 

[royaldank]

My parents have had it for awhile. End of last year it seemed like Best Buy always had this on sale for $99 after rebate.

TiVo basic is fine if you don't want the TiVo Season Pass stuff. It's a glorified VCR with a 3-day programming guide. Not bad for $100 by any means.

 

[RossMAN]

I just discovered some not-so-good news

$100 rebate offer

Terms and Conditions:
(1) TiVo® Series2TM Digital Video Recorder must be purchased between 1/02/05 and 1/31/05, inclusive. Products purchased before or after these dates are not eligible for the rebate offer. Purchase date is determined by invoice or receipt date. (2) TiVo* service or TiVo PlusTM service (on DVD products) activation required by 2/28/05 and must be active for at least 30 days in order to be eligible for rebate. TiVo service or TiVo Plus service must be active at the time of rebate processing to be eligible for rebate. (3) TiVo service or TiVo Plus service required for full functionality. DVRs with TiVo BasicTM service are not eligible for $100 rebate. Activate your TiVo service or TiVo Plus service at http://www.tivo.com/activate/. (4) Valid only for new, or certified factory renewed, TiVo Series2 Digital Video Recorders purchased from a retailer or through our website (www.tivo.com). Not valid for pre-owned, second party, demo, or display DVRs. Valid only on TiVo model numbers TCD130040, TCD140060, TCD230040, TCD240080, TCD240040, TCD24008A, and TCD24004A, TCD240140, TCD540040, TCD540080, TCD540140, Humax model numbers T800, T2500, and DRT800, Toshiba model numbers SD-H400, RS-TX20, and RS-TX60, Pioneer model numbers DVR-810-HS and DVR-57H and Sony model number SVR3000. (5) Mail completed Rebate Coupon, dated receipt for new TiVo Series2 Digital Video Recorder purchase, and a clear copy of or original UPC from the DVR packaging to: TiVo ?$100 Rebate?, Promotion 04-26145, P.O. Box 540007, El Paso, TX 88554-0007. Purchase price must be included on the invoice or receipt. (6) All submissions must be postmarked no later than 3/31/05 and received by 4/15/05. (7) Please allow 8 - 10 weeks from TiVo or TiVo Plus service activation and rebate submission for receipt of rebate check. Rebate checks are void if not cashed within 90 days of issuance and cannot be reissued. (8) TiVo not responsible for lost, late, mutilated, misdirected or postage due mail. Incomplete or illegible requests will not be honored. (9) Omission of any necessary information will result in a postcard notification of ineligibility and will require re-submission postmarked by 5/31/05. (10) Offer valid only in the USA. (11) Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by Federal, state, or local law. (12) Any other use constitutes fraud. (13) Limit one rebate per TiVo Series2? Digital Video Recorder. (14) Limit two rebates per household. (15) Fraudulent submissions and/or use of multiple addresses or PO boxes to obtain multiple rebates is fraudulent and could result in Federal prosecution. (16) Offer good 1/02/05 through 1/31/05. TiVo services sold separately. Programming, pricing, terms and conditions subject to change. ©2004 TiVo Inc. The TiVo logo and TiVo are registered trademarks of TiVo Inc. Series2, TiVo Plus and TiVo Basic are trademarks of TiVo Inc. All rights reserved. Rebate questions? For faster service, you can track your rebate status on-line at www.tivorebates.com. For rebate Customer Support call 888-641-4128. *Monthly service fee is required for full functionality.

After you activate and pay for Tivo Plus (to qualify for the $100 rebate), I wonder if you can revert back to Tivo Basic?

 

[richardycc]

do all tivo comes with free basic tivo, I am looking for a cheap vcr to record the apprentice, maybe I can get this one instead?

 

[CalvinHobbes]

Originally posted by: richardycc
do all tivo comes with free basic tivo, I am looking for a cheap vcr to record the apprentice, maybe I can get this one instead?

Only 3rd party TIVO units have the free service. Real TIVO's must be activated and subscribed to.

 

[CalvinHobbes]

After you activate and pay for Tivo Plus (to qualify for the $100 rebate), I wonder if you can revert back to Tivo Basic?

Yep, it'll revert back to basic when you cancel the subscription.


For this and any other TIVO questions, visit the good people at www.tivocommunity.com

BTW, I have a TIVO series2 and a SD-H400.

 

[royaldank]

Originally posted by: CalvinHobbes

After you activate and pay for Tivo Plus (to qualify for the $100 rebate), I wonder if you can revert back to Tivo Basic?

Yep, it'll revert back to basic when you cancel the subscription.


For this and any other TIVO questions, visit the good people at www.tivocommunity.com

BTW, I have a TIVO series2 and a SD-H400.

I think the only complaint I've heard about cancelling after the refund is that the refund takes awhile. Folks were having to keep service longer than they expected. If they finally check your status and you're not subscribed, you'll be denied.

 

[CalvinHobbes]

I think the only complaint I've heard about cancelling after the refund is that the refund takes awhile. Folks were having to keep service longer than they expected. If they finally check your status and you're not subscribed, you'll be denied.

I've read the same thing. I didn't sub my DVD/Tivo, but I did send in my rebate for my series2.

 

[MrBond]

Yeah, service has to be active for the rebate to clear - and apparently they take the FULL amount of time to send the check. Someone was saying that all Tivo's come with 45 free days of Tivo Plus - but mine only had a week free (and it nags you every day until you activate it).

With the Tivo Basic units, I don't think you can get Tivo2Go either.

RossMAN, do you have a regular phone line? You'll need one to setup the service - I know the standalone tivo's will occasionally work with a WIRED ethernet adapter, from reading the forums it's hit or miss. What I did was buy a tested and supported USB adapter (the linksys USB2.0 one - under $30 shipped from newegg) and set my dialing prefix to ,#401 (comma, pound, 401). With my brand new series 2, I plugged in the network adapter and plugged it into my lan, THEN powered it up for the first time (it was never powered on w/o the adapter). I ran through the guided setup hooked up like that and it detected everything and set itself up.

After it makes the two calls, you can set it up to use a wireless network, but you need either a wired network (like I said, can be hit or miss) or a phone line to make the first two calls.

 

[YankeezXBA]

well just to give you an idea of the rebate process i sent mine out on november 30th, took them 21 days like they stated to say they recieved it, took 2 weeks, to make sure i have an account, 2 more weeks, to say my rebate is processing, than it takes 3-4 weeks for them to send it

 

[RossMAN]

MrBond,

I don't have POTS but have ordered SunRocket.com VOIP for $199/yr, hopefully that will work.

Otherwise I can bring it to a friends house to do the initial phone call.

 

[Rogue]

I have this unit and I must say that the remote absolutely blows. Worst remote design I've seen for a device like this in a very long time. I've been increasingly considering getting a different, programmable remote for it because it sucks so bad. Other than that, my only complaint is that it takes forever to change between TiVO and DVD modes of play and just as long or longer to simply eject a disk. I don't understand it, because it seems like ejecting a disk would be a simple process, no matter which mode I'm current in (DVD or TiVO), but it simply takes too damn long. Sometimes it's upwards of 20 seconds or more, though I've never officially timed it.

EDIT: And MrBond brings up another good point. I had to run about a 20 foot phone cable to my TiVO just to get it working initially. After that, I was able to put it on a wireless network, but it seems that it should come with the wireless driver package out of the box and NOT be required to be connected to a POTS line for upwards of 8 hours initially.

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
MrBond,

I don't have POTS but have ordered SunRocket.com VOIP for $199/yr, hopefully that will work.

Otherwise I can bring it to a friends house to do the initial phone call.

I have this unit and accidently reset it, forcing me to dial out instead of using the usb wireless adapter. I have vonage, it was able to successfully complete the call. It did take two trys though.

 

[RossMAN]

Rogue - Does the remote functionality suck for DVD or Tivo operation?

KK - Thanks for the info, I'm going to try that #401 trick first. Now I gotta find another cheap WiFi USB adapter.

 

[nitsuj3580]

I own this unit.

I subscribed for two months of plus, got my $100 rebate and was going to cancel but I really like the plus features (season pass and being able to schedule shows online)

The only thing I don't like about the unit is the dvd player. It won't play any of my backed up dvds (yes all legally owned, I just try to keep the originals in good condition). Everytime I put in a DVD-R that I know works on my two other dvd players it says "not an NTSC disk". Not a big deal because I have another DVD player but still kind of annoying.

No problems with the remote here. The DVD player does take an unusually long time to load if you're going from like Live tv or the tivo screen and select DVD from the remote but as I said above, I usually don't use the DVD functionality on this unit. No problems ejecting either. It's snappy enough. I hit eject and the disc pops out

 

[BornStar]

I have no problems with the remote. I think it works great.

To use the ,#401 (note the comma in front) you need to have a wired adapter. It worked fine for me with the SD-H400 and I've done it several times.

I hightly recommend the SD-H400. Let me know if you have any questions about it.

 

[nitsuj3580]

Originally posted by: BornStar18
I have no problems with the remote. I think it works great.

To use the ,#401 (note the comma in front) you need to have a wired adapter. It worked fine for me with the SD-H400 and I've done it several times.

I hightly recommend the SD-H400. Let me know if you have any questions about it.

Not to hijack the thread, but does anyone know if there is a region free code/hack for this unit?

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: nitsuj3580


The only thing I don't like about the unit is the dvd player. It won't play any of my backed up dvds (yes all legally owned, I just try to keep the originals in good condition). Everytime I put in a DVD-R that I know works on my two other dvd players it says "not an NTSC disk". Not a big deal because I have another DVD player but still kind of annoying.

I've only had the unit say not an NTSC disk when the format was in PAL. All other disks the I've burned using 8x ridata dvd-r disks have worked flawlessly. Maybe you are putting it in some format your other dvd players can handle, but not the toshiba unit. I dunno.

 

[RossMAN]

BornStar18,

What exactly do you mean by "wired adapter" can you provide some manufacturers and model numbers?

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
BornStar18,

What exactly do you mean by "wired adapter" can you provide some manufacturers and model numbers?

Probably he means any wired cat 5 usb adapters, not wireless.

 

[RossMAN]

How much do "wired cat 5 USB adapters" cost at Fry's?

 

[KK]

15 dollars AR for the linksys one USB200M

 

[MrBond]

KK - Thanks for the info, I'm going to try that #401 trick first. Now I gotta find another cheap WiFi USB adapter.

That trick only works with WIRED adapters, as someone else said. Tivo doesn't support anything wireless out of the box, actually they don't even support wired adapters for guided setup, but it will work for some units. Success seems to be really spotty from what I read on the Tivocommunity forums, one guy said he bought 4 Series 2 tivo's and it didn't work on all of them.

To maximize your chances of success (if you go the wired adapter route), get that Linksys USB200M or whatever one they have that's usb2.0 (looks like a flash drive). It's one of two officially supported and tested wired adapters for the Tivo.

You may be OK with the VoIP line - some people have gotten it to work, others haven't. Ethernet is the way to go with the Tivo though - I set mine up and had both "calls" made in under half an hour.

 

[richardycc]

just called comcast, and ordered their HDTV tuner/DVR for $15/month, hope I did the right thing.