HUMAX failed - how do I get same functionality?

[frapnitz]

Power failure (yes, it was on a surge protector) caused my HUMAX Series 2 to hang up on "Welcome-Powering up" screen. No amount of unplugging/pause/57 would make it play nice again......decided to bite the bullet and buy a new one, only to find out that they don't appear to be sold anywhere, and their website looks like it is down......Therefore, can I get the same functionality with 2 unique boxes (a Series 2 and a DVD Burner of some type)? Is there another combination box available that I have been unable to find via my Google searches? If so, any recommendations???? My wife is going to miss those saved episodes of Desperate Housewives.....also.....I currently am working with a DirecTV receiver, so guess that would make 3 unique boxes.....I would be grateful for any recommendations on hardware, etc....

Afterthought??? Will running a DirecTV box to my Tivo to a DVD Burner to my Plasma, in Serial, degrade the picture at the end???

Thanx to all you folks out there much smarter than me.

[funtoupgrade]

The units are readily available on eBay and also on the TiVo web-site as web specials. A new programmed hard drive might solve the problem. You need an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) of at least 350 watts instead of your little surge protector for your TiVo.

[frapnitz]

Thanx......I have a built in antipathy towards eBay....too many scammers......looking more for the answer "Can a 3rd party DVD Burner work in serial with a TV 80 hour Series 2 box, and if so, any good ideas?"

Most Humax machines you see now are of the "re-built" variety.

Once again thanx for responding.

[funtoupgrade]

Why not rebuilt or refurbished? Neither Humax nor TiVo repair any electrical components. If the motherboard board is bad it is replaced with a working one, if power supply bad it is replaced with a working one. Same for hard drive and front panel. There are no other electrical parts. Absolutely no difference from a personal computer that has either defective parts replaced or upgraded. If you buy from a reputable seller with good feedback and used Paypal you should have nothing at all to worry about. Have bought over 200 TiVo units there with only a couple of problems which were rectified.