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Archive through March 21, 2008

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Jan ~ Apr 2009: Buyers Banter: TiVo and other DVRs: Archive through March 21, 2008 users admin

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Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Monday, March 10, 2008 - 3:28 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
Just got my 40" HD TV. Never had cable or satellite and don't want it. Have had TiVo Series 2 for past four years and love it. It doesn't work with HD TV signals. So . . . am seriously thinking of HD TiVo Series 3. I've been looking at and asking questions on a TiVo message board. If you're hooking it up with cable -- problems and headaches. Just OTA, pretty easy and problem-free it seems. Does anyone here have HD Series 3? What do you think of it? Any other brand DVRs? Don't think there are many out there. If you have satellite, they supply / sell their own DVRs. TiVo does not work with satellite.

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Monday, March 10, 2008 - 4:50 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Teachmichigan a private message Print Post    
I have satellite and tivo. It works. I still have the directv/tivo combo but I do know you can get a separate tivo box and it works w/directv, too. Couldn't live w/out my tivo, and I'd hate to have to learn a new system (that tivo guy is just too cute - and I'm just too lazy!! LOL)

Kitt
Member

09-06-2000

Monday, March 10, 2008 - 5:11 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kitt a private message Print Post    
I have the original DirecTV/TiVo combo too, and dread the day when it gives up and we have to find something else.

I've heard TiVo 3 isn't as versatile as the older versions, but I haven't experienced it myself. I'll be looking for opinions here too, in case we decide to go HD.

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Monday, March 10, 2008 - 5:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
I don't think today you can get new satellite service and have TiVo Series 2 (or any TiVo) work with it. Pretty certain that HD TiVo absolutely would not work with satellite because satellite services don't want it to -- they want to supply their own DVRs.

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Monday, March 10, 2008 - 6:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bob2112 a private message Print Post    
Colordeagua is correct. The HD Tivos are designed for cable and do not support satellite service.

We've had 3 DirecTivo's for about 5 years and they are going strong. You can still get the DirecTivo's and replacement parts from 3rd party vendors. 3 months ago we added DirectTV's HD DVR in our basement and it is working fine. It is also dual tuner, but uses a different interface than the Tivo. Adding the new receiver cost $232 total and included the receiver, a new 5 LNB dish, installation, and they upgraded my 5X8 switch to a 6X8 switch that will handle the high def signals.

So now we can record 8 shows at a time! With 2 teenagers and 3 adults, most of those tuners are busy during prime time Monday through Friday.


Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - 6:24 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
Bob, I have one TV -- that's it. (I'm in a one bedroom condo -- none in there.) As I said, no cable or satellite and won't be. I look at message boards about HD TiVo Series 3 and get scared. So much techie stuff. I just want to keep it simple. I was anxious about Series 2 when I got it four years ago. NO problems. I love it. Now I would like Series 3 for my new (very) HD TV. Come next February my analog Series 2 won't work for me any longer. HD TiVo Series 3 a good thing? Place where I want to buy it has $200 rebate until April 5. TiVo site says they're out of stock. Read on a message board they're no longer manufacturing them? I want my TiVo for HD.

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Monday, March 17, 2008 - 8:26 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
Bob, you're in computer help. And, Bob, you were here in TiVo. Abt was just here and hooked TiVo HD up. I called to activate service. Now I'm just waiting the app. hour before I can start the TiVo programming.

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Monday, March 17, 2008 - 10:17 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bob2112 a private message Print Post    
Yay! Just in time for the NCAA March Madness in HD!

Post a review of how you like it in a week.


Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Monday, March 17, 2008 - 11:38 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
It's programmed and running . . . so far so good. Record two at the same time. Yippeeeeee!

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 10:20 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
From four years of Series 2, I have good handle on how to work TiVo. This is now HD. In reading HD instruction book, I've learned about difference between interlaced and progressive scanning. (So difference between 1080i and 1080p.) There are more settings to make because of HD.

One little oddball thing -- it often does not delete a recorded program out of "Recently Deleted" folder. No matter whether you try to delete it from first or second screen. Have to go to live TV and then go to "Recently Deleted" folder and then into program info screen. Deleting it then (after coming from live TV) from that screen will work.

Otherwise, OK.

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 4:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
Someone on a TiVo board said deleting programs from Recently Deleted folder could fragment the drive? Then I'll ignore the folder. No problem.

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 5:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bob2112 a private message Print Post    
The "Recently Deleted Folder" is basically a chance for you to recover something you may have accidentally deleted. Kind of like the recyclebin in Windows. The programs in there are free to be overwritten when the Tivo needs space to record something else. You can just ignore it until you accidentally click delete and then you will think it's a cool new feature.

Hey! I think I found you at the Tivo Community. I seldom post there (maybe never?) but read there all the time.

BTW, The Tivo OS is Linux based and its file system does not really suffer fragmentation like a Windows PC. I wouldn't worry about that.


Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 7:57 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Teachmichigan a private message Print Post    
That little folder would be my first reason for purchasing it! I can't tell you how many times I've accidentally deleted something I wanted to keep!

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 6:35 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
Bob, over there I'm Sundog301.

Occasionally on 5.1 the sound drops and gets very "tinny". Sometimes though not always changing the channel briefly stops it. Sometimes just have to wait it out. Doesn't usually last too long. (It is annoying.) I don't think it's my new Sony TV. TiVo? If so, does that get fixed in an update? (Sounds like computers!!) Or is it in the reception? I'm OTA only -- rooftop antenna on top of five-story building.

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 6:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
The Recently Deleted folder wasn't always there. TiVo updated to include that during the past four years while I had TiVo Series 2.

With the bigger hard drive I had on Series 2 box, I kept a lot (and maybe never looked at it again?!). I love Ellen. There's something on almost every show that I wish I could keep forever. (Without getting into recording / burning on a disk, etc., etc.,etc. All that would be too much like . . . .)

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 8:40 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bob2112 a private message Print Post    
Yup, Sundog301 had to be you. I read a post about someone who had Tivo HD for 2 days, OTA reception and then saw Chicago area and I thought there could not be another person that fits that description. Add in the Recently Deleted folder talk and that would have been too much of a coincidence.

Tivos like to be full, as long as you have old programs that it can delete to record your new shows. I turn off suggestions, but if you leave them on they will deleted before anything you choose to record.

I can record around 440 hours on the my main Tivo. I have the entire series of Arrested Development on there and I have not watch a single episode. It took several months to get them all via repeats, but I printed out the episode list from tv.com so I can sort out the order and some day I'm set for a marathon.


Kitt
Member

09-06-2000

Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 9:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kitt a private message Print Post    
You're in a different world to me. My old TiVo can record 32 hours, and on the rare occasion we go on vacation during Sweeps month it can overfill!

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 10:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
On HD TiVos, programs will only record in HD. You can't set the quality for recording. HD TiVo (not Series 3) has just 20G hard drive, but it is expandable.

Bob, would I be correct in saying digital signals are stronger, but not as stable as analog signals? Does that make sense?

I have my TiVo set to 720p fixed. Tried Native. That wasn't good viewing when on-screen changed. Tried 1080i fixed. OK. I think 720p looked smoother?

Tonight I deleted three programs out of Recently Deleted with no problem???

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 10:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
I always have had TiVo's suggestions turned off -- with Series 2 and now HD. Few years ago Nielsen did contact me to put their thingy on my TV. When they found I had TiVo which could record suggestions, they wouldn't do it. I told them I always have that turned off. No. Still would not use me. IIRC, their box is on your TV for two years and you get paid a total of $250.

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 10:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
No. 3

With Series 2, I had splitter so I could record a program and watch another. When this HD was hooked up on Monday, I had the splitter taken out. (Someone else was hooking it up.) Now I sorta wish I'd had it left in so when I'm watching live TV, could just watch through TV set and not TiVo. Bob, would the signal be strong enough for that or would it be split too much? Quality of cable and splitter really matters?

Do you mind questions here? Not as bad as over there?

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 10:40 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bob2112 a private message Print Post    
Colordeagua: I think you mean 20 hours of HD recording. If you had a 20GB hard drive, you'd be looking at only a couple of hours of HD recordings. The Tivo HD I see at ABT (not series 3) says 20 hours HD and 180 standard definition (SD). I think this the one you got.

What analog signal are you talking about?
I thought the OTA is all digital now.
Is your Tivo HD connected to your TV with an HDMI cable?

You'll have to play with different output settings based on whether you are watching an HD or SD program. With SD your TV should allow you at least 3 options to view:

1. The regular picture with bars on the side because SD does not fill the screen.
2. Stretch the picture to fill the screen (making everything look a little fatter).
3. Fill the screen but crop off some of the top and bottom of the image.

With HD I think I would try the 1080i output and set the TV for 1080p (assuming your new TV is 1080p). There are so many combinations that you really need to see what looks best on your equipment. I usually watch SD with bars on the side and HD in 1080p.

My HD DVR records 50 hours HD, and 200 hours SD. Either you have a smaller hard drive or your HD programs are storing more data than DirecTV. I think DirecTV compresses the signal more (loses some data) because I've heard some people complain thah the DirecTV HD picture is not as good as other sources. I can't tell the difference, but I'm not that picky. Mine has a 320GB hard drive, so I would guess yours must have around 250GB.


Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 10:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bob2112 a private message Print Post    
I just read some specs and you have a 160GB hard drive.

Can you record 2 shows at a time using just OTA?
Are there 2 OTA inputs?
I see it talk about 2 cable inputs for recording 2 things at once, but it's not clear about OTA.

Are you talking about a splitter so 1 signal goes into the Tivo and the other directly into your TV?

The stuff I've read says to get an HDTV-compliant splitter of at least 5 - 1100Mhz. Radio shack would have it.


Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 11:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
Right, hours not G. It's late.

Yes, that's the one I got -- from Abt. Cables? Abt hooked it up for me.

I'm talking about analog in the past -- and current. Analog can still fly through the air until Feb. next year.

With this box I can record two OTA programs at same time and watch one or the other or watch a recorded program at the same time. With a splitter, I could record two at the same time and watch a third live through TV only. Guess I sort of like the idea of being able to watch live TV through TV if signal would not be split too much. Could watch more / better "native" TV that way.

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 11:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
If I really want splitter again, I think Abt would come back (for a few $$). Yes, I would think that's how it would be split. The only way?

If you're only watching through TiVo, then isn't the TiVo resolution setting the only one that really matters? The TV is just native.

Abt has all the cords in back nicely bunched together. Back of my TV and everything is in the wide-open spaces . . . not hard to get to. TV is just on a stand with wheels.

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 12:07 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
This is the TV I got. When I was watching it before I got TiVo HD (so watching through TV only), seemed to be in all different resolutions -- depended on how show was aired. From what you read about this TV, it can support all resolutions OK?