Help the idiot: Adding a 2nd Tivo

[fanofbigmedia]

I have decided to bite the bullet and add a second (hacked/zippered) DirecTivo for the kids room. However, I have two concerns that I was hoping to get some help in understanding.

Note: I am replacing an existing receiver with the DVR40.

First, I bought a DVR40 off Ebay. Since it comes with an access card, should I activate the DVR40 with the access card included? or Should I pull the access card out of the old receiver and activate Tivo service on it?

Second, I only have one cable ran to this room. Will the unit realize there is only the one tuner available and act as a single tuner Tivo? Is there anyway to split the signal on the one cable using a power pass LNB splitter? Is there something I am missing?

Many thanks for any advice.

[BTUx9]

If you are able to activate with the existing card, that'd probably be best.

Yes, you can set the tivo to use only one satellite input, and no, you can't split a single satellite line to give your tivo 2 inputs. (for a simple, round dish, the cable either carries the even or odd channels at any given time... need 2 cables <one carrying even, one carrying odd> to multiplex)

[jporter12]

I have heard varying stories on activating used cards. The route I took (does not mean it will work for you) was using the card that came out of my already subbed standard receiver, and insisting that I knew they could use it to activate my TiVo. The CSR tried to get me to buy a card, but right off the bat, I told them I knew my current card would work, and they put me on hold for a minute, then came back and activated it!

If you want to utilize the second tuner, you'll need another cable as already posted. Not sure, but you may need to re-run the guided setup to let it know you only have one cable to get rid of the nag screen. Maybe someone else could verify this?

[fanofbigmedia]

Excellent advice. Thanks all!