New TV (HDTV) and old Tivo - Info please

[ArizonaJay]

We have 2 TIVO's on 2 TV's, wireless connection. The TIVO's are about 3 yrs old, 40 hour boxes. Connected to Cox Cable. They can 'talk' to each other and transfers are slow, but reliable. They both still work well, and I really don't want to replace them. However, one of the TV's is dying and we're going to replace it with a LCD HDTV. I know I have to upgrade my cable box for HDTV, but the salesperson indicates that TIVO will not work properly and that we should really consider switching to Cox DVR. I love TIVO, especially the searching capabilities, but odviously want to use the TV as well. If it's ONLY the HDTV signal that we lose on programs that we record on TIVO, I can live with that.

What's the real story, guys? And, if I really want to keep TIVO and get HDTV signals, what do I have to do?

[phox_mulder]

Your current TiVo's can't do anything with the HDTV signals.

They can record and playback a downrezzed imitation, but for recording/playing back HD, you need a TiVo Series 3, CableCo DVR, or homebuilt PC DVR solution.

They'll work as they always have for the SD channels, but the picture won't look quite as good on an HDTV as they've looked on your SDTV's.


phox

[ZikZak]

Most HD cable boxes output standard definition signal as well. Your current tivos can definitely work with that. They just won't record any HD. You can set up your current tivos to record standard def programming, but you'll have to watch the HD stuff live. Or get a series 3. :)

[gastrof]

The cable box can change any digital channel to SD (so's to work even with older TVs), so your TiVo will be able to record not just SD programming, but ALL programming.

It just won't record it IN high def. It'll record the show, but not with HD quality.

The problem comes in where your HDTV is concerned.

If the cable box can output two different types of video at the same time, HD to your TV, but SD to your TiVo, you're all set.

If it can't do that and can only do "either/or", then setting the box on SD output leaves your TV getting SD and only SD.

Also, even if your box can output two different types of video (SD and HD) at the same time to two different devices, the TiVo will only be able to feed a SD picture into the TV.

The TV may have to be carefully adjusted so's to not highlight all the "blemishes" that come with a SD picture.

[ArizonaJay]

So the real answer is: No, my Series 2 will not work with HDTV? I called Tivo today and they say that ALL programs (live or recorded) that go through my Series 2 will come out in standard def. That High Def will NEVER show up on my new HDTV. (I'm not technical enough to know about two switches on a cable box, and I dont' want to play with switches everytime I watch TV.) Unless I buy a Series 3 HDTV Tivo, which they quoted at $699.

To my ears, that's telling me that anyone who buys a new television set that they really can't have Tivo at a reasonable cost.

Am I missing something here? I hope so, because I am convinced that the Tivo software and searching capabilities will be sorely missed.

[bobnoxious]

That's just wrong. I just went through this last night with my Series 2 and my HD TV. I posted the experience.... short thread .... I'm not sure how to point you to the thread tho

[WayneCarter]

To my ears, that's telling me that anyone who buys a new television set that they really can't have Tivo at a reasonable cost.Not all "new TVs" are Hi-Def. The new standard is Digital, not Hi-Def. Hi-Def is a "flavor" of digital. Another "flavor" is roughly equivalent to "old fashioned" analog TV.

[atmuscarella]

Originally Posted by ArizonaJay
To my ears, that's telling me that anyone who buys a new television set that they really can't have Tivo at a reasonable cost. You can buy a new SD 32" TV for under $300 or you can buy a new 60" Plasma HD TV for $4000, and you can buy a new Series 2 SD Tivo for $100 or a new Series 3 HD Tivo for $630. My guess is the $630 TiVo is just as reasonable to someone buying a $4000 TV as the $100 TiVo is to someone buying a $300 TV. Bottom line is going HD cost allot more money than staying SD, if the increased cost is reasonable or not is a personal decision.

Thanks,

[DeathRider]

As others have posted, the TiVo will work just as it had prior to you upgrading the TV.

The new HDTV will display the output of the TiVos with no problem. After seeing the PQ (picture Quality) of digital, the PQ coming from your TiVos may be less desireable...and it also depends on how well you HDTV outputs analog SD content.

But, as you already seemed to know from your first post, your TiVos will not display/record HD broadcasts.

Now, if your TiVos control the STB (Set Top Box) for recordings, as long as it has composite (RCA) or S-Video, your TiVo can/will record the channel (analog or digital). If the STB outputs HD channels to analog (RCA/S-Video), you can record those as well. If not, they will record the analog cable channels, just as before.

If the later is the case, you would need an S3 or cable DVR to record HD broadcasts.

Now, depending on your provider, if your not going to bother recording HD (just watch it), you may be able to get away with just plugging the cable into your new HDTV (as long as it has a QAM tuner) and watch non encrypted HD channels.

If your new TV is "HD Ready", where it has no tuner, you need a converter box, sometimes the cable DVR is only $3 more a month (over the cost of the HD STB), it may well be worth getting it.

If you do get the cable DVR, you can use it to just record the HD stuff and your TiVos to record SD stuff.

[michael new]

so how is the connection made for the HDTV and Tivo?

Right now Im split from the wall to tv and Tivo no cable box, would it be the same only wall to tv and cable box to Tivo?