What's REALLY stopping them?

[John Slider]

What's really stopping the TiVo manufactures from coming out with a TiVo box that will tape as many shows that are on at one time as you want? I mean, I don't really watch a ton of TV, but on one or two days I have more than just two shows I would like to tape. My question is, are there any real technological issues that are holding them back, or are they just jerking us around, waiting for S4 so that they can just squeeze a little more from our wallets?

Another question; when they say the DT model will be able to record two shows at once, does that mean two shows PLUS one you may be watching and not recording at the same time?

[lessd]

What's really stopping the TiVo manufactures from coming out with a TiVo box that will tape as many shows that are on at one time as you want? I mean, I don't really watch a ton of TV, but on one or two days I have more than just two shows I would like to tape. My question is, are there any real technological issues that are holding them back, or are they just jerking us around, waiting for S4 so that they can just squeeze a little more from our wallets?

Another question; when they say the DT model will be able to record two shows at once, does that mean two shows PLUS one you may be watching and not recording at the same time?

You can record two shows at once while watching a show that you have previously recorded.

As to the number of shows at once its only cost and demand

[wickerbill]

Every extra channel you want to record at the same time would require a separate tuner and MPEG2 encoder. So if you want to record four channels at a time, you would need four tuners and four encoders. I don't know what the hard drive write and read capacity is, but at some point you will have more information produced by the tuners than the hard drive can keep up with and then you either have to use a RAID configuration to speed up writing or something else.

The new dual tuner tivos only have two tuners so if you're recording two shows, you can't watch a separate live show. You can watch one of the two shows already recording or something that has already been recorded.

If you really want to record more than two shows, why don't you just buy a second tivo?

[ZeoTiVo]

to record shows you need to write to the hard drive. the more streams writing - the more hard drives and related hardware - the higher the cost. Tuners and encoders/decoders cost money as well.


to watch a third show you will need a cable feed directly to the TV and not have any trick play

[Olde Fortran]

I have more than just two shows I would like to tape.

That didn't take long! :D

[John Slider]

You can record two shows at once while watching a show that you have previously recorded.

...But not a live show? That's my question.

Okay, situation, it's Tuesday night, time for TV, I sit down and decide to tape Veronica Mars, & House, can I watch Scrubs at the same time? Or do I have to choose one of those shows to cut from my schedule?

EDIT, if any of the questions I just asked were just answered please excuse this post. Damn you guys are fast. :)

[ZeoTiVo]

...But not a live show? That's my question.

Okay, situation, it's Tuesday night, time for TV, I sit down and decide to tape Veronica Mars, & House, can I watch Scrubs at the same time? Or do I have to choose one of those shows to cut from my schedule?

EDIT, if any of the questions I just asked were just answered please excuse this post. Damn you guys are fast. :)


actually I have 4 TiVos and thus do not have this problem. When I swap one out for a Dual tuner unit - then I will be up to 5 recordings at once. 3 on my main TV :)


I think you can buy razors with 4 blades, but then it costs less to keep adding anotehr razor :D

[John Slider]

I may just end up purchasing the Series3 Dual Tuner TiVo box and leave my VCR hooked up for the added ability of taping another show, if that's possible.

Thanks for the help guys.

[btl-a4]

You could always split the signal with one going to your TiVo DT and one going directly into your tv on a different input. Let the TiVo record Veronica Mars and House while you switch your tv to the different input and watch it live on TV. That's the setup I use with my Series 2.

[c3]

Warning: After using TiVo, you may not want to deal with VCR and live TV.

[Dan203]

...But not a live show? That's my question.

Okay, situation, it's Tuesday night, time for TV, I sit down and decide to tape Veronica Mars, & House, can I watch Scrubs at the same time? Or do I have to choose one of those shows to cut from my schedule?

The easiest way to do this is to simply run an RF cable from your TiVo's RF output to the RF input on your TV. Then when you want to watch a 3rd show live simply put the TiVo into Stand By mode. Stand By on a TiVo is just like the TV/VCR switch on your VCR. It passes through the original cable signal while continuing to record whatever was set up.

Dan