tivo for the kids w/o subscription

[mparker72]

I have a small tv in my kids playroom that does not have a cable box attached to it, so they cannot watch some of the higher numbered channels they like that are available in the living room.

I have two series 2 tivos in the house that are connected to my wireless network. Is it possible in any way to get a tivo (off ebay for example) and set it up (without a subscription) so that shows I've recorded in the living room can be transfered to it so they can watch them? I'm not interested in letting them record shows or any of the other features, just watching shows that have been recorded on another one of my tivos and transferred to it.

thanks in advance for any thoughts.

[aus1ander]

There is no way to do this without buying a second subscription. Have you thought about using KidZone on the main tv?

[mparker72]

Any other thoughts on how something like this might be accomplished on the cheap?

[stevel]

Well, a second sub is $6.95/mo. That's pretty cheap for that sort of nice service.

[aus1ander]

A cheap networked PC in the kids room could pull shows via TivoToGo.

[LifeIsABeach]

If you can find an old Series 1 TiVo most of them will record like a VCR without a subscription. You would need to add a card if you want to add it to your network and you would not be able to transfer shows to it, but you will be able to set it up to record the shows your kids like.

[mparker72]

Stevel, you have a good point. 6.95 is not that much. What got me started on this kick was the discussion w/ my wife about getting them a cable box which is 9.99/mo and I really wasn't wanting the ongoing costs.

Aus1ander, they do have an old computer in there and I hadn't thought of the TivoToGo option (I don't know too much about it) but I've been hesitant to network up there computer...and their hard drive is pretty small.

And the series 1 option might work except they won't get all the channels.

Durn...I guess I'm just too cheap. :)

[ZikZak]

Stevel, you have a good point. 6.95 is not that much. What got me started on this kick was the discussion w/ my wife about getting them a cable box which is 9.99/mo and I really wasn't wanting the ongoing costs.

The kids' tivo doesn't need to be connected to a cable box, or any video input at all for that matter, to be able to receive transfers from the living room.

And the series 1 option might work except they won't get all the channels.


You can't transfer a program from a series 2 to a series 1 anyway.

[matthewwhite]

you could do video distribution and share the tivo on both tvs.