Series 2 w/HD DVR

[TracerBullet]

I'm making the jump to HD and am trying to make sense of all the various options for hooking up my TiVo. A series 3 is not currently in the cards so I'm going to go with a cable company HD DVR, used solely to record HD programs.

I know I can hook up the HD DVR to my TV via either component or HDMI and my TiVo via composite, but I'm concered about the boxes "fighting" for control. For example, if my HD DVR is recording something on an HD channel and the TiVo decides to record something, then the TiVo would change the channel, correct?

Unfortunately my cable company scrambles analog channels, so I can't go that route. Would the simplest solution be to get an analog box for the TiVo and leave the HD DVR box out of the loop entirely?

[crowfan]

That's probably the easiest to do, and will also give the best result. Otherwise they will "fight" for control. I did what you are suggesting before I got my S3 and it worked pretty well.

[TracerBullet]

I just got off the phone with my cable company (Time Warner) and was told that if you have a digital cable account they won't "let you" have an analog box. So, I'd either have to get another digital box for the TiVo or hook both the TV and the TiVo up through the HD box.

Wow, I hate Time Warner.

[crowfan]

Sorry, I didn't notice that part of your OP. I had a digital box hooked up to my S2.

[TracerBullet]

Yeah, that's probably what I'll have to do. Of course, if you're not swapping a box, then you need to make a service appointment, and that's 30 bucks. :mad:

[bidger]

Does TWC have an analog tier of channels in your area? IOW, channels you can view if you hook up the coaxial cable to a cable-ready TV. In my area, ch. 2-72 are viewable without the aid of a STB. If you have that option, you could use the TiVo for those channels and the TWC HD-DVR for digital channels.

[gastrof]

Does TWC have an analog tier of channels in your area? IOW, channels you can view if you hook up the coaxial cable to a cable-ready TV. In my area, ch. 2-72 are viewable without the aid of a STB. If you have that option, you could use the TiVo for those channels and the TWC HD-DVR for digital channels.


This part of the OP may be significant.

"Unfortunately my cable company scrambles analog channels, so I can't go that route."

[bidger]

Sorry, my bad. I focused on what I thought was the OP's attempt to control a HD-DVR with a TiVo when I clicked on the thread.

[Alarmcluck]

Hang on...why do you need an an analog box? Why not just get a second digital box? that's what I have. I have one HiDef box and one digital (no hidef) box. Since they work independently there's never any conflict. Am I missing something here?

[annenoe]

Hang on...why do you need an an analog box? Why not just get a second digital box? that's what I have. I have one HiDef box and one digital (no hidef) box. Since they work independently there's never any conflict. Am I missing something here?

Yeah, that's what I do as well. Two boxes (and I pay for each) hooked up to two different inputs on TV. I just switch back and forth. I can watch/record both HD and SD with no conflict.

[TracerBullet]

Hang on...why do you need an an analog box? Why not just get a second digital box? that's what I have. I have one HiDef box and one digital (no hidef) box. Since they work independently there's never any conflict. Am I missing something here?

Yeah, I know I can do that, but I hate giving the cable company any more money than is absolutely necessary. It's just so annoying that they're starting to scramble the analog signals.

My other option is to swap out my current digital box for a cable company HD DVR and just use multi-room viewing to make my living room TiVo a "dumb" TiVo that doesn't record. I might do that.