No DirecTV support at all in Series 3?

[bigjohn]

Ok, so let's say there's a Tivo standalone with 2 separate inputs.

If I had two DirecTV receivers (or any source for that matter) feeding those two inputs, is it correct that I won't be able to record on those two inputs simultaneously?

What would be the point of having two inputs then.

(I derive my question from a post on Zatz' board, The Series3 doesn’t support satellite *at all*, it is strictly cable and antenna. That’s been discussed in great detail in places like TiVoLovers.com and TiVoCommunity.com. Because satellite is a closed system, TiVo’s only option is S2 style external tuners. Since most users opt for the cheaper integrated boxes, it isn’t a good market for TiVo. )

[BillyBob_jcv]

I don't understand it either. I think the issue is that it supports OTA RF or cablecard as inputs, but not an HDMI.

[ADent]

You could take the RF output of your satellite receiver and use the coax input on the S3.

Of course you would want to use only manual recordings, turn off suggestions, and have to set matching manual timers on your DirecTV Receiver.

Oh and there aren't any boxes with RF HDTV output (besides old E*5000), so this would be for SD only.

[tbeckner]

(I derive my question from a post on Zatz' board, The Series3 doesn’t support satellite *at all*, it is strictly cable and antenna. That’s been discussed in great detail in places like TiVoLovers.com and TiVoCommunity.com. Because satellite is a closed system, TiVo’s only option is S2 style external tuners. Since most users opt for the cheaper integrated boxes, it isn’t a good market for TiVo. )Its very simple, there is no real market for Stand Alone TiVos attached to DirecTV or Dish receivers, especially since DirecTV and Dish could actually give away their CHEAP DVR boxes.

It really is just that simple.

The Series 3 TiVo was created to be marketed to cable and OTA customers who wanted superior capabilities and it really couldn't be built to allow the superior intergration that a DirecTiVo allows in a satellite service situation for many different reasons.

[SullyND]

Oh and there aren't any boxes with RF HDTV output (besides old E*5000), so this would be for SD only.

And this is the key. Why would someone with DirecTV want a Series3? It would essentially be a very expensive dual tuner SD DVR.

[BillyBob_jcv]

Its very simple, there is no real market for Stand Alone TiVos attached to DirecTV or Dish receivers, especially since DirecTV and Dish could actually give away their CHEAP DVR boxes.

It really is just that simple.

The Series 3 TiVo was created to be marketed to cable and OTA customers who wanted superior capabilities and it really couldn't be built to allow the superior intergration that a DirecTiVo allows in a satellite service situation for many different reasons.


The problem I see is that exactly the same argument can be made with cable - that the cheap giveaway dvrs the cable companies can offer are going to drive tivo out of that market. If satellite AND cable are no longer a viable market for tivo, they better hope that TVs like the LG that have a built-in dvr don't become more popular!

[SullyND]

The problem I see is that exactly the same argument can be made with cable - that the cheap giveaway dvrs the cable companies can offer are going to drive tivo out of that market. If satellite AND cable are no longer a viable market for tivo, they better hope that TVs like the LG that have a built-in dvr don't become more popular!

Cable will allow TiVo to offer an HD DVR. It would not be possible to record HD on a TiVo from Satellite. Why would anyone want a really expensive dual tuner SD unit?

[Adam1115]

Cable will allow TiVo to offer an HD DVR. It would not be possible to record HD on a TiVo from Satellite. Why would anyone want a really expensive dual tuner SD unit?

Because a lot of people get most of the HD content OTA. DirecTV offers 4 HD Channels (or something stupid like that) for $9.99 a month, a waste of money. My cable company doesn't offer ANY HD period! So, OTA is the answer for many.

[BillyBob_jcv]

Cable will allow TiVo to offer an HD DVR. It would not be possible to record HD on a TiVo from Satellite. Why would anyone want a really expensive dual tuner SD unit?

I guess I'm dense - why wouldn't it be possible to build a Tivo HD DVR that accepted input over HDMI-HDCP?

[SullyND]

I guess I'm dense - why wouldn't it be possible to build a Tivo HD DVR that accepted input over HDMI-HDCP?

It's possible, but would people be willing to pay the several thousand dollar cost of owning such a unit? (The reason it would be prohibitively expensive has been thoroughly documented on here)

[bigjohn]

Cable will allow TiVo to offer an HD DVR. It would not be possible to record HD on a TiVo from Satellite. Why would anyone want a really expensive dual tuner SD unit?

because the programming that i currently record isn't even really offered in HD. i record approx 15-20 hockey games per week, i need flexibility not quality

[bigjohn]

And this is the key. Why would someone with DirecTV want a Series3? It would essentially be a very expensive dual tuner SD DVR.

the first one may be $800, but not the 2nd iteration

i would want one because as of now, i can't even get tivotogo working (mac user) and while remote scheduling is cool it has limitations. i'm hoping S3 solves those problems, except for DirecTV users, it creates problems.

so DirecTV offers an inferior product & won't enable features on current Tivo models & Tivo is abandoning satellite users who want a dual-input solution. it shouldn't be this hard to record some programming.

[SullyND]

because the programming that i currently record isn't even really offered in HD. i record approx 15-20 hockey games per week, i need flexibility not quality

You'd be better off getting either 2 S2s, or a Dual Tuner S2 (Pending it actually allowing you to record from an STB)

so DirecTV offers an inferior product & won't enable features on current Tivo models & Tivo is abandoning satellite users who want a dual-input solution. it shouldn't be this hard to record some programming.

TiVo is not abandoning DirecTV users, DirecTV is abandoning it's users who prefer TiVo. If Satellite were required to provide a cable-card type device I could see your argument, but it is your provider who chooses to be closed.

[rifleman69]

so DirecTV offers an inferior product & won't enable features on current Tivo models & Tivo is abandoning satellite users who want a dual-input solution. it shouldn't be this hard to record some programming.



In all actuallity, DirecTV's product is the ONLY HD-TiVo out there right now. Sure it might be a bit slow and sluggish, but it's still better than anything Dish or cable has on the market.