tivo branded models with life sub

[pip55]

Is there a list available that states what makes and models were tivo branded and received lifetime subscriptions?

[ZikZak]

What are you trying to do? Lifetime subs are assigned to individal tivos, not entire model runs. Any tivo could have a lifetime subscription.

[pip55]

I'm checking out ebay for a purchase of a tivo but each make and series offers different levels of options and service and it would make the search a lot easier having the facts up-front rather than chasing the after them once you found something of interest.

[ZikZak]

In general, Series 1 tivos do not have folders or any networking capability, although they can be hacked easily to obtain some of the functionality of S2s and more. Series 2 tivos have folders, multiroom viewing, and networking capability, but are difficult to hack. Series 2 DT tivos can record two programs at once, but cannot receive Over-the-air signals. Series 3 tivos record two programs at once, and do it in HD. They do not currently have multiroom viewing or tivo-to-go capability, but this may change in the future. S3s cannot be used with satellite services. Any model tivo could legitimately have a lifetime subscription, although you can no longer add one.

[lessd]

I'm checking out ebay for a purchase of a tivo but each make and series offers different levels of options and service and it would make the search a lot easier having the facts up-front rather than chasing the after them once you found something of interest.


The price on E-Bay that a seller will get for any TiVo with Lifetime Service is from $250-$400 more than the same TiVo without Lifetime Service, so it would be unusual for a TiVo seller (with a TiVo that has Lifetime) not to mention the unit has Lifetime Service on it. If you want Lifetime Service just search E-Bay with "TiVo Lifetime" and you will get a selection of what you want. All TiVos could have had Lifetime put on them at some point, the smallest window for getting Lifetime Service was the Series 2 DT so you will not find many of those units with Lifetime Service on them.

[atmuscarella]

Also read any adds for Pioneer or Toshiba DVD TiVos carefully. These units came with a free basic TiVo service which is not the normal full featured TiVo service. Some sellers of these units write a description that might lead you to believe the unit has lifetime service when all they are talking about is the free basic TiVo service that came with the unit.

Good Luck,

[alansh]

The other issue is that some early Series1s can be used without a subscription. However, you don't get the full TiVo service -- you have to schedule all recordings by time/date, and you get a periodic nag screen telling you to subscribe.

[classicsat]

Most Series 1s can manually record without service. Generally, that means all ones manufactured before October 2001. Only Sony TiVos were made after that point though.

Series 2s fromToshiba and Pioneer (which happen to only be DVD combos) come with a limited Basic TiVo service, but can be subbed for all Tivo features.
Some sellers calle the Basic "Lifetime Basic" No TiVo brand boxes, or non DVD TiVos came with the Basic service.

All other series 2s and the Series 3, including Humax DVD combos (they never had Basic), require a sub to work beyond buffering LiveTV and playing back pre-existing recordings.