New series 3. Subscribe for Tivo service first?

[KevinG]

So, new Series 3 is waiting for me at home.

Comcast is scheduled to be here in 3 days to install the 2 cable cards.

Do I have anything to do before then? Subscribe to Tivo service? Or is the tivo subscription done *after* the cable cards are installed?

Thanks.
-Kevin

[20TIL6]

I think you can subscribe before or after the cable card install. From the moment the S3 starts talking to the mothership, I think you've got a grace period with full functionality. Maybe a week or 10 days, I think.

[wolverines]

The grace period on mine was 5 days. You can activate at any time. I just called up and switched over the lifetime on one of my S2s.

[dig_duggler]

Try it out and make sure you like it first before entering the contract.

[KevinG]

Thanks for the info, this will be by first non-DirecTV tivo...

Try it out and make sure you like it first before entering the contract.

Like it? Is there something specific I should be looking for?

I've had 2 upgraded DTivos for 5 years now, so I don't consider myself a tivo newbie. :)

-Kevin

[randywalters]

So, new Series 3 is waiting for me at home.

Comcast is scheduled to be here in 3 days to install the 2 cable cards.

Do I have anything to do before then? Subscribe to Tivo service? Or is the tivo subscription done *after* the cable cards are installed?You should have 7 days from the time it first dials the 800 number or connects to your broadband connection.

I set mine up on a Saturday morning, ran Guided Setup which found all the analog cable channels and OTA channels, and i got several days of Guide data and started watching and recording shows immediately. From that point it said i had 7 days left before i had to subscribe.

For the next three days i was recording and watching programs, then on Tuesday i had the two Cablecards installed and started getting all my digital and HD channels.

I continued to record and watch for 3 more days with the Cablecards then on the 6th day (Friday evening) i finally subscribed to the 3-year for $299 prepaid package.

[pl1]

So, new Series 3 is waiting for me at home.
Do I have anything to do before then? Subscribe to Tivo service? Or is the tivo subscription done *after* the cable cards are installed?

Wow. Looks like I'm the exception to the rule. When I got my box at work, I called TiVo and transferred my lifetime service by reading the S/N off of the outside of the box. By the time I got home, I was all activated. Then I upgraded the hdd. I guess there is some risk in it, but it worked out OK for me. :p

[ewilts]

So, new Series 3 is waiting for me at home.

Comcast is scheduled to be here in 3 days to install the 2 cable cards.

Do I have anything to do before then? Subscribe to Tivo service? Or is the tivo subscription done *after* the cable cards are installed?

My preference (and this is what I did) is to subscribe *first*. Go through the Guided Setup and start watching what you can - heck, you paid for the box so you may as well use it! Then when Comcast shows up, you'll already be familiar with the S3 (it was my 3rd TiVo but I was new to the S3). Once you have CableCARDs installed, prove they work but doing the channel tests, and then re-run Guided Setup again after the installer leaves since it will take a while to update the guide for all of the new channels. For now, enjoy having a dual-tuner TiVo on normal cable. You could also, if you wanted to, hook up a pair of rabbit ears and see if you can get some OTA HD (you may also get it off the cable now).

.../Ed

[randywalters]

My preference (and this is what I did) is to subscribe *first*. Go through the Guided Setup and start watching what you can - heck, you paid for the box so you may as well use it! Then when Comcast shows up, you'll already be familiar with the S3 (it was my 3rd TiVo but I was new to the S3). Once you have CableCARDs installed, prove they work but doing the channel tests, and then re-run Guided Setup again after the installer leaves since it will take a while to update the guide for all of the new channels. For now, enjoy having a dual-tuner TiVo on normal cable. You could also, if you wanted to, hook up a pair of rabbit ears and see if you can get some OTA HD (you may also get it off the cable now).But why not use up the free 7-day trial period before committing to a subscription plan? This effectively extends their 30-day money back guarantee to 37 days, and those extra 7 days may come in handy if one encounters problems with the cable company getting the Cablecards working, or getting them back in stock if they're out, or if you encounter a problem with the S3 itself during the first week and it has to be returned or replaced.

I wanted to stretch things out as long as possible just in case so i used up the whole free trial period and waited till the last day to subscribe. Had i encountered any catastrophic problems with the cablecard or the S3 itself during the first week i was ready willing and able to return it to Costco and not be stuck with a huge early termination penalty or a subscription that i cannot use.

[aaronwt]

I signed up for the TiVo service after going through the guided setup with each S3. I wasn't going to return it and if I did I figured TiVo would sWitch my plan to the replacement S3 if that's what I needed. Besides if I didn't do it right away I would probably forget to set up the service later.

[pl1]

But why not use up the free 7-day trial period before committing to a subscription plan? This effectively extends their 30-day money back guarantee to 37 days, and those extra 7 days may come in handy if one encounters problems with the cable company getting the Cablecards working, or getting them back in stock if they're out, or if you encounter a problem with the S3 itself during the first week and it has to be returned or replaced.

Good point if you think you might want to return it. But, in my case, I'm transferring two of my three lifetimes to the Series 3 and it is more important to me to have that happen successfully than anything else. The TiVo warranty is one year parts, 90 days parts & labor. So, I would do something in that regard if there was a problem.

[KevinG]

Thanks all. I think I'm going to follow Randy's advice. I may even pay for a single month before signing up for the 3 years.

I have an OTA antenna in the attic, so between that and analog cable I should end up with a single tuner Tivo, with no program guide until the cable cards are installed, right?

Thanks again.

[DeathRider]

Thanks all. I think I'm going to follow Randy's advice. I may even pay for a single month before signing up for the 3 years.

I have an OTA antenna in the attic, so between that and analog cable I should end up with a single tuner Tivo, with no program guide until the cable cards are installed, right?

Thanks again.

Should still have 2 tuners and program guide

[randywalters]

Thanks all. I think I'm going to follow Randy's advice. I may even pay for a single month before signing up for the 3 years.

I have an OTA antenna in the attic, so between that and analog cable I should end up with a single tuner Tivo, with no program guide until the cable cards are installed, right?Actually you'll have both tuners and the program guide so you'll be able to record any combination of OTA and/or Analog cable programs while you're waiting for your CCs to be installed. You should even get all of the local HD channels that your cable company gives you free from the wall, only they won't show up in the Guide and you'll have to find them on your own and then manually record those channels until the Cablecards are installed. You'll have full functionality, but you won't be able to tune to any digital channels in your digital or HD package until you get the CCs. And the Tivo won't let you forget to subscribe within the first week - i got lots of messages to "Please Subscribe To The Tivo Service" and kept checking the Diagnostics menu where it shows how many days are left on your free 7 day trial. When mine indicated 1 day left, i subscribed.

But i don't think you can sign up for just one month, they make you commit to one year at least on their one-year monthly plan (which i guess is why they call it a one-year plan). Once i was sure that the Tivo was working well and i was getting all my channels, i went ahead and subscribed to the Prepaid 3-year $299 special which comes out to $8.31 per month (which is about 20 minutes worth of salary time :-).

I've been renting cable DVRs for over a few years now but his is my first Tivo ever, and i was a bit worried about committing to a subscription plan too quickly after reading so many horror stories here like new Tivo harddrives failing, or problems developing after the Cablecards were installed causing the Tivo to be returned or replaced, Cablecard installs gone wrong, or cable companies having the Cablecards backordered for 2-3 months or not available at all, and i was also worried that i may find that one or more of my favorite digital and HD channels are on TWC's dreaded Switched Digital Video which means the Tivo won't tune them in which could only be verified after the Cablecards are installed. Luckily everything is working perfectly so i felt safe committing to the subscription plan. I'll be returning two of my three cable DVRs within a few months.

[robm15]

This has been a great thread for me. I just ordered a Series 3 from Costco, $150 off, and it will be here in a week or so. But I will wait to register it until after I have the cable cards and it is working so that if I have to return it, I can without hassles.

[KevinG]

Actually you'll have both tuners and the program guide so you'll be able to record any combination of OTA and/or Analog cable programs while you're waiting for your CCs to be installed. You should even get all of the local HD channels that your cable company gives you free from the wall, only they won't show up in the Guide and you'll have to find them on your own and then manually record those channels until the Cablecards are installed.


Okay, I knew there was something about having the cablecards (and 2, not just 1, right?) Geez, if TIVO would map those QAM channels I wouldn't even need the cable cards! All I want are the HD locals!


But i don't think you can sign up for just one month, they make you commit to one year at least on their one-year monthly plan (which i guess is why they call it a one-year plan).

Oh well, so much for that plan. :o

3 years it is. :-)

Thanks.