Confused about TIVO. Please explain.

[tmchow]

I'm interested in buying a TIVO unit, but am confused about it's affiliation with DirectTV. Can someone give me the low down on TIVO and DirectTV?

I'm looking for TIVO to record regular TV and perhaps digital TV (eg. HBO), but do not want Sattelite TV.

I'm seeing all these units for sale out there that are DirectTV receivers adn Tivo Units all in one? Clarify.

 

[Steeven]

If you by a DirecTV tivo I think you have to subscribe to DirecTV.

 

[ScottMac]

If you get a DirecTivo unit (from any manufacturer), you sign up with DIrecTV, and they also sign you up for the "Tivo Plan" for the month, year, or "Lifetime." There are two separate charges, the charges for the DirecTV programming, and the charges for the Tivo services (through the phone, and from the datastream.

Now, the bad news: The DirecTivo units DO NOT record "off the air" (antenna or cableTV). It will only record shows coming down the stream from the satellite. That means that if you want to record a local channel, you have to subscribe to the "Local Channels" from DirecTV. The quality is excellent, but it'll cost you extra (assuming your local channels are available).

You can get the NON-DirecTV Tivo unit, and record from your satellite box as well as off the air (or cableTV), but it'll require more setup (setup the DirecTV receiver, then set up the Tivo unit). You would still end up paying for both services. I don't know if the newer generation satellite receivers have codes to control a Tivo the same as they would a VCR. I don't think they do.

FWIW

Scott

 

[tmchow]

Maybe I miscommunicated myself. I don't care about sattelite feeds.

I will only be recording regular cable and perhaps digital cable. So what sort of units should I be looking for? From what I'm reading in the above 2 posts, it looks like I don't need the DirectTV+Tivo units.

 

[Steeven]

just get a standard Tivo then. or if you don't want to pay the subscription fee get an ultimateTV unit.

 

[lizardboy]

buy a ReplayTV - I've got 2 now & cannot say enough good things about them

the new 4000 series replays are coming our next week (broadband connection, share shows via the internet)

the older models work great & can be easily hacked, i've got a 140-hour replay & a 110-hour replay

the best part...no monthly fee

no matter what anyone says...neither tivo nor replay is in great financial shape...replay was bought by sonicblue (makers of rio, etc) while tivo needs big holiday sales to avoid serious financial problems

 

[Steeven]

meant replaytv sorry.