TiVo HD

[Big Boy Laroux]

Finally, what I've been waiting for - An affordable (NOT $800) HD DVR from TiVo.

TiVo is releasing TiVo HD next month. In preparation, I returned my crappy ass, buggy comcast DVR today. TiVo is light years better in reliability and user interface.

The TiVo HD will have a MSRP of $299 - much better than the Series 3. And it's only sacrificing some hard drive space and the front LED display, basically. It has an external eSATA port to allow attaching an external hard drive (this capability will be enabled in the future, as well as TiVo-to-go). It does not connect to On Demand from your cab;e company, but I never use that anyway.

Anyway, I'll be getting this in august or september. Can't wait! Anyone else?

Some links:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...d.php?t=359947

http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-vide...tag=prod.txt.1

[Rhylan]

Every cable-provided DVR I've ever seen has sucked.

Long live Tivo.

[Big Boy Laroux]

yeah, i have 2 TiVo's at home, one Dual-tuner and one single-tuner in the bedroom. I just had the Comcast DVR to record HD shows. TiVo is so much better than the cable company DVR, it's not even funny. It's like night and day.

[Flacolaco]

Please buy a HD TV for me, so I can get this and then we can talk about it.

[dude1394]

Hmm....My cabledvr...

1. records programs as told.
2. pauses live tv
3. records hd
4. has two tuners
5. can watch recorded while recording two streams (I believe).

What's the problem?

[jthig32]

The FIOS DVR is perfectly functional, and is included in the cost for HD programming. If you have one you have the other. I can't imagine paying money for Tivo.

[bernardos70]

Seriously. HDTV's have dropped in price considerably in the last 12 months though, so you might wanna see if you can afford one now. They're within reach for us regular people.

As far as the HDTV Tivo.... I like the interface, it is very nice, but I do have a Dish Network DVR that is quite reliable. Not as advanced as the Tivo, but then again I know Dish offers more advanced DVR's than the one I have.

Have you ever used a Dish DVR?

[Big Boy Laroux]

I don't have Dish, I don't have access to FIOS, I have Comcast. And comcast's DVR sucks. Seriously. It doesn't record things on the list, the fast-forwarding lags behind, there's no auto-correction for over fast-forwarding (this is one of the best things on TiVo).

Plus, Comcast requires you to have their full digital service to have their DVR, even if you just want to record HD channels. You can watch HD channels with the HD box without having the full digital service, but can't get the DVR box. So it's an additional 30 bucks a month, plus the 12 dollar DVR rental fee. Drop that down when using the TiVo HD (uses Cablecards, which Comcast provides at the lowest cable level), and I'm cutting down on my costs.

My question to the rest of you is: have you ever used a TiVo?

[Big Boy Laroux]

Originally Posted by dude1394

Hmm....My cabledvr...

1. records programs as told.
2. pauses live tv
3. records hd
4. has two tuners
5. can watch recorded while recording two streams (I believe).

What's the problem?

my Comcast DVR does that as well. Well, not the first one reliably. But it's clunky, and really isn't that great a deal (see my post above).

All 5 above are also done by TiVo HD. HD, Dual Tuner, etc. Only in a much better package (easily worth the extra money paid - like i said above, i wouldn't have bought the Series 3 for $800, but I'd buy this for $299 or less).

A great comparison is- DVR is to Tivo like Standard MP3 Player is to iPod.

They do the same thing, but the interface and user-friendliness is off the charts with a TiVo/iPod.

[Big Boy Laroux]

And I agree with bernardos on HDTV prices. LCD TVs have gone down in price. I have a 32 inch Westinghouse for my bedroom that i got for $400. Not the most top-of-the-line TV (with SONY, you're paying mostly for the name), but it is an amazing TV for that cost.

[jthig32]

That's strange. The FIOS DVR's are (I thought) the exact same brand and model as the comcast DVR's, and it has the skip-back after fast forwarding and overall performs quite well.

I have used a Tivo, and the feature gap between it and my current DVR is miniscule. The user inteface is prettier, but I don't think it's any easier to use. My wife flies around our DVR, and she's not exactly techy.

I actually think the comparison to the Ipod is accurate. It's the market leader, the big name, and it's that way because it pioneered it, and used to be head and shoulders above all others. But as other options have come along, it's maintained its spot due to its name.

But, if your only option is Comcast or Tivo, and your Comcast is that unreliable, I understand the need for Tivo. Something not being recorded is extremely irritating.

[Big Boy Laroux]

i wish we had Fios - not for their DVR, but for competition to Comcast.

What box does FIOS use for its DVR? Motorola? Scientific Atlanta?

[jthig32]

Motorola.

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by Big Boy Laroux

my Comcast DVR does that as well. Well, not the first one reliably. But it's clunky, and really isn't that great a deal (see my post above).

All 5 above are also done by TiVo HD. HD, Dual Tuner, etc. Only in a much better package (easily worth the extra money paid - like i said above, i wouldn't have bought the Series 3 for $800, but I'd buy this for $299 or less).

A great comparison is- DVR is to Tivo like Standard MP3 Player is to iPod.

They do the same thing, but the interface and user-friendliness is off the charts with a TiVo/iPod.

Welllllll.....don't have an ipod either, using that evil microsoft drm enabled player.

Sounds fine, it was free so that's fine, the 5 dollar charge per month is the same whichever box I would use. It's all about the benjamins man.

[DubOverdose]

I have the older Hughes Tivo HD for DirecTV....love it.

[Henry_VIII]

geek that I am with no cable/satellite/fios. I have set up my computer with a tuner and use gbpvr with a mediamvp to the tv over ethernet. Family loves it. Even without a HDTV that TivoHD device looks pretty good for just OTA people like me. When they finally kill the analog stations I'll be looking at my options of extending the life of my cheapo TV.

[Rhylan]

Gotta agree with BBL on the dvr/tivo::mp3/iPod issue. It's just a remarkable difference in the way it actually works. Better interface, smoother, easier to navigate within a recorded show, you get Tivo suggestions. It's awesome.

Also need one of you to buy me an HD TV when you buy one for Flaco. Right now I just have a series 2 Tivo in front of a run of the mill DirecTV receiver.

[jthig32]

Does Tivo still require a hack for the commercial skip button? My new FIOS remote has a 30 second skip forward button that could not live without anymore.

Tivo suggestions IS something no one else has, and would be kind of cool, but I can live without that.

[Big Boy Laroux]

It's not really a hack, you just enter some buttons on your remote.

i never use it... as weird as this sounds, i actually like to see the commercials i'm fast-forwarding through. if something catches my eye, i'll watch the commercial. i think i'd miss out on a lot of shows (by not seeing their promos)

The new TiVo swivel swearch is pretty cool, too. plus the ability to group all recorded shows into folders. just lots of little things that i appreciate more when having to deal with the clunky comcast interface.

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by Big Boy Laroux

I don't have Dish, I don't have access to FIOS, I have Comcast. And comcast's DVR sucks. Seriously. It doesn't record things on the list, the fast-forwarding lags behind, there's no auto-correction for over fast-forwarding (this is one of the best things on TiVo).

Plus, Comcast requires you to have their full digital service to have their DVR, even if you just want to record HD channels. You can watch HD channels with the HD box without having the full digital service, but can't get the DVR box. So it's an additional 30 bucks a month, plus the 12 dollar DVR rental fee. Drop that down when using the TiVo HD (uses Cablecards, which Comcast provides at the lowest cable level), and I'm cutting down on my costs.

My question to the rest of you is: have you ever used a TiVo?

No...you ever tried a gay man?

I'm sure it's a wonderful thing but unless my cable company is going to offer it to me for the $5 bucks they do now, I'm just not interested in spending the dollars. I'd rather have a year or so of blockbusteronline or netflix for my dollars.

[dude1394]

By the way, after reading this thread I entered said hack for skipping 30 seconds on my remote. GREATNESS!!

[Big Boy Laroux]

having used both, I would much rather pay for TiVo. The monthly fee balances out (as Comcast charges $12 a month for their DVR). The hardware cost is worth it to me.

As for movies, I just get free rentals through RedBox.

[Big Boy Laroux]

so i bought a TiVo HD on Friday (was waiting for a Best Buy reward zone weekend so I could get 12% off). Stopped by my local Comcast office that same day and picked up a multi-stream cablecard.

I set it up on Saturday morning, but it took a while. Not the TiVos fault - Comcast's fault. The CableCard was not set to receive all the channels I am entitled to, so I talked to about 5 CSRs who all just "hit" the card. I finally was able to talk to a supervisor, who finally talked with someone who knew something about cablecards. They re-initialized the card (instead of just "hitting" it), and i then got all my channels. The CSRs all said they were doing all that could be done, then the supervisor told me CSRs do not have the access to initialize a card. I wish companies would get on the same page or train their employees better.

so for those of you out there that may get it (I guess only Rhylan is interested ) and you have the same problem with Comcast, tell them to initialize the card, or send a "cold hit". I got that information from the TivoCommunity forum thread on comcast cablecards (just search google for it - i lost the link).

HD looks great, and combine that with the TiVo interface, and it's amazing. I couldn't be happier with this thing. I blows Comcast's DVR out of the water.

As for cost - I got the TiVo HD with Best Buy GCs (from credit card points) and birthday money, so it was free to me. The monthly fee from TiVo will be $6.95 for the HD box (I pay $12.95 and $6.95 for two TiVo boxes - i have a normal dual tuner upstairs as well). To rent a DVR from Comcast, it's 12 bucks a month (plus they make you move to their full digital package to get a DVR - an extra $20 a month. I don't want those extra channels). The CableCard rental is free. So i'm already ahead. if i paid for the TiVo box, i'd come out ahead eventually.

[Flacolaco]

Originally Posted by Big Boy Laroux

And I agree with bernardos on HDTV prices. LCD TVs have gone down in price. I have a 32 inch Westinghouse for my bedroom that i got for $400. Not the most top-of-the-line TV (with SONY, you're paying mostly for the name), but it is an amazing TV for that cost.

Well I finally did it. (My wife said it was ok )

I bought a Westinghouse 42" LCD HDTV this weekend from Best Buy. (yay 3 years no interest financing!)

As BBL says, it's not the best, but it's awesome for the price. I'm very happy. Getting FIOS HD next week or the week after.

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

Well I finally did it. (My wife said it was ok )

I bought a Westinghouse 42" LCD HDTV this weekend from Best Buy. (yay 3 years no interest financing!)

As BBL says, it's not the best, but it's awesome for the price. I'm very happy. Getting FIOS HD next week or the week after.

Wait a minute, wait a minute.

You've had FIOS all this time and not had a DVR? You just have the regular set top box?

Cause with FIOS, if you have the DVR, you have HD.

[Flacolaco]

Originally Posted by jthig32

Wait a minute, wait a minute.

You've had FIOS all this time and not had a DVR? You just have the regular set top box?

Cause with FIOS, if you have the DVR, you have HD.

Sorry, no DVR.

So I'm confused....I thought the DVR and the HD were two seperate charges? Is that to say that I can't in theory have HD and not also pay for the DVR?

How much extra a month is this going to cost me exactly?

[Big Boy Laroux]

right, you can have HD without having a DVR, at least you can with Comcast, I assume it's the same with FIOS. And if you have the DVR, you have HD.

in fact, with an HD-built-in TV like the one you have (westinghouse), you can get HD channels without a cable box (for free!). You can't get the encrypted channels like ESPN, but you can get ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CW and some other channels. You just have to know what channels they come into your TV as (they'll come in as a QAM channel like 92.1). I did that on my westinghouse for a while before I decided to get an HD box up in our bedroom for ESPN and ESPN2.

[Flacolaco]

Originally Posted by Big Boy Laroux

You can't get the encrypted channels like ESPN, but you can get ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CW and some other channels. You just have to know what channels they come into your TV as (they'll come in as a QAM channel like 92.1). I did that on my westinghouse for a while before I decided to get an HD box up in our bedroom for ESPN and ESPN2.

Does anyone know how to do this with FIOS? I've never heard of this.

[Big Boy Laroux]

it may not be possible with FIOS, as it is obviously different than cable. you may want to search google for it.

you should have a "-" (dash) button on your remote. that allows you to enter the "." (dot) in channels like 92.1. But again, i'm not sure if FIOS provides that like the cable companies do.

[Big Boy Laroux]

I pulled this list for the Dallas area from this thread:

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21661

North Dallas TX
Mar 2007: INHD, UniversalHD, and HDNet were encrypted by TimeWarner.
Jan 2007: INHD, DiscoveryHD, UniversalHD, and HDNet play properly with the Dec31 updates for HDHR.

HD...
106-3, DiscoveryHD
107-1, CBS
107-2, TNTHD
107-3, KTXA .. home of Dallas Mavericks
108-1, PBS
108-2, ABC
108-3, CW
110-1, FOX
110-2, NBC
xxx112-1, INHD
xxx112-2, UniversalHD
xxx112-3, HDNet

it lists Time Warner as the company, so it probably won't apply. Basically, you hook your cable line directly into the TV (not through the cable box), and try those channels. But FIOS may need a cable box for everything. I don't know.

[Big Boy Laroux]

may be able to find something useful in this thread, too:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=529070

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

Sorry, no DVR.

So I'm confused....I thought the DVR and the HD were two seperate charges? Is that to say that I can't in theory have HD and not also pay for the DVR?

How much extra a month is this going to cost me exactly?

Regular set top box that you have now if 5 bucks a month.

HD only box is 10 bucks a month.

HD + DVR box is 13 bucks a month.

So yeah, you can get HD with no DVR. If you have the DVR, you have HD.

It'd be kind of silly to get the HD box and not get the DVR box, I think.

As far as the non-encrypted HD channels, as far as I know you can't get them through Verizon. My friend just used over the air HD for a while, but would almost certainly have to put up an external antenna for that.

[Flacolaco]

Originally Posted by jthig32

HD + DVR box is 13 bucks a month.

Oh good. That'll do nicely then.

And they have the local KTXA 21 HD Channel don't they? Are there many Mavs games in HD?

[Big Shot Rob]

Flaco--BTW--as a newly wed--I am sure that when your wife asks you the question you now pose in your logo--you know the correct answer, right?

I made the mistake of answering this question honestly with a former girlfriend...yeesh...you'd of thunk I told her that the dress made her look like a hooker as opposed to making her look a bit wide in the bottom.

[Murphy3]

Originally Posted by jthig32

The FIOS DVR is perfectly functional, and is included in the cost for HD programming. If you have one you have the other. I can't imagine paying money for Tivo.

While my house was being finished (just closed on it last Wednesday), I've had the pleasure of living with some friends. Yes, they have Verizon Fios. Honestly, I cannot wait to get back to DirecTV. The Verizon On Demand is pretty cool, but their DVR is horrible in comparison to TiVO... And they charge a freaking arm and a leg to lease one of their units from month to month.

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by Murphy3

While my house was being finished (just closed on it last Wednesday), I've had the pleasure of living with some friends. Yes, they have Verizon Fios. Honestly, I cannot wait to get back to DirecTV. The Verizon On Demand is pretty cool, but their DVR is horrible in comparison to TiVO... And they charge a freaking arm and a leg to lease one of their units from month to month.

8 extra bucks a month is an arm and a leg?

[Flacolaco]

I'm so excited about having the Food Network HD and HGTV HD....I mean.....sports. Yeah, sports

[Flacolaco]

So has anyone bought a DVD player with HD 'upconversion' so that their DVDs with the analog signal don't look like crap on their new TV's?

(I didn't realize this stupid awesome tv was going to expose these crappy analog signals like this)

[MavsX]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

So has anyone bought a DVD player with HD 'upconversion' so that their DVDs with the analog signal don't look like crap on their new TV's?

(I didn't realize this stupid awesome tv was going to expose these crappy analog signals like this)

Right here(raises hand). I have a 42 inch Samsung (plasma), we bought it in May of 07. Then i wanted a dvd player, not blue-ray($800). So i found a matching Samsung dvd player. (i think its called the hd- up-converter). It was about $99 dollars, Jackpot!

Anyway, the dvd player uses a HDMI cable and they are expensive as shit. If you try and buy one from best buy they will recommended the monster brand and it is like $100+ dollars just for a 3' foot cable. I saw one that was 6 feet for $250., it has gold plated something or other.

I went with radio shack brand, i believe it is only 6 feet long, and it still cost me $50 bucks.

On top of that i had problems with the HDMI cable or the connection or something, so i just grabbed my cheapy composite cables(red, white and yellow), and use those. They look good enough. I don't know what i was doing wrong, the HDMI is for video so i was just running my HDMI to the TV, then running the optical cable for audio to my receiver, the TV would always lose the signal. Now with the Composite cables it works pretty good. Keep in mind that i have only watched 5 or 6 dvds on that tv since May.

That being said, i guess the HDMI cable and up converter is worth it. I think they are over priced but so is everything else in the world.

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by MavsX

i did. i have a 42 inch samsung(plasma), got it in may. Then i wanted a dvd player, not blue ray. So i found a matching samsung dvd player. (i think its called the hd- up-converter).

Anyway, the dvd player uses a HDMI cable and they are expensive as shit. If you try and buy one from best buy they will recommended the monster brand and it is like$100 dollars just for a 3' foot cable.

I went with radio shack brand, i believe it is only 6 or 10 feet, and it still cost my $50 bucks.

On top of that i had problems with the HDMI cable, so i just grabbed my cheapy composite cables(red, white and yellow), and use those. They look good enough.

That's a good talking point, HDMI cables. I hope everyone that has any use for one knows to never, EVER buy one from local retailers. You can buy them online from just about anywhere for 15 bucks or less. You can get them on ebay for 5 bucks. They are freaking digital cables, quality does not matter. Just buy one. Anything more than 20 bucks is nothing short of a scam.

Do a google search for hdmi cables, it's a pretty hot discussion. Or at least it has been in the past.