Help on TiVo HD Purchase

[JPA2825]

I'd love some help in deciding whether to purchase a TiVo HD. Here is my current setup:

3 S2 TiVos (1 Lifetime, 2 MSD) on 3 TVs
1 Motorola HD Cable Box shares the big screen, HD TV w/ 1 of the S2s


I currently get Digital 2.0 which charges me $5 for a sports package and $15 for the basic HD w/ DVR (4 locals, PBS, ESPNHD and ESPN2HD)


EASY (I think)
I could swap the $15/mo. Moto DVR for 2 CableCards in the TiVo HD at $1.99 ea./mo. I lose On Demand, but keep the same programming (I'm pretty sure)


HARDER (but cheaper)
Drop down to basic cable+ (which is all we have on the other 2 TiVos)
Get an appropriate antenna and get OTA HD for the TiVo HD (AntennaWeb suggests I should have pretty good luck with that)

I would lose ESPNHD and ESPN2HD, but save at least $20/mo. (and maybe more if there is a charge for Digital 2.0 above basic cable+). I'd still be able to get all my HD content and would TiVo everything else off the basic cable+ (which I could also run to the TiVoHD in addition to the OTA antenna, right?)


Thoughts? Any help/opinions are greatly appreciated. My head starts to hurt after thinking about this for awhile.

[JPA2825]

Forgot to add, if I go to OTA HD, I might pick up the CW in HD which the cable co. does not currently offer.

Thoughts?


Also, any good threads on S3 v. HD? Is it really just a question of whether $100 is worth the extra storage, THX, nicer remote and OLED on front panel? (Also, would have to count on "undocumented" S3 transfer of lifetime v. current HD documented promotion.

[TheOrkinMan]

I'd love some help in deciding whether to purchase a TiVo HD. Here is my current setup:

3 S2 TiVos (1 Lifetime, 2 MSD) on 3 TVs
1 Motorola HD Cable Box shares the big screen, HD TV w/ 1 of the S2s


I currently get Digital 2.0 which charges me $5 for a sports package and $15 for the basic HD w/ DVR (4 locals, PBS, ESPNHD and ESPN2HD)


EASY (I think)
I could swap the $15/mo. Moto DVR for 2 CableCards in the TiVo HD at $1.99 ea./mo. I lose On Demand, but keep the same programming (I'm pretty sure)


HARDER (but cheaper)
Drop down to basic cable+ (which is all we have on the other 2 TiVos)
Get an appropriate antenna and get OTA HD for the TiVo HD (AntennaWeb suggests I should have pretty good luck with that)

I would lose ESPNHD and ESPN2HD, but save at least $20/mo. (and maybe more if there is a charge for Digital 2.0 above basic cable+). I'd still be able to get all my HD content and would TiVo everything else off the basic cable+ (which I could also run to the TiVoHD in addition to the OTA antenna, right?)


Thoughts? Any help/opinions are greatly appreciated. My head starts to hurt after thinking about this for awhile.

I'm doing EASY. Transferring my S2 lifetime and dropping the 14.95 DVR fee. By my calculations, I'll be paid off in 3 1/2 years (not counting the satisfaction of using a DVR that actualy works like it should). If you can get a single M-card instead of 2 S-cards, you won't even be charged the 1.99 cablecard fee.

Can't imagine losing ESPNHD - too much football on that station.

As for S3 vs HD - with the new e-sata expansion, there's no reason for the S3 unless you really don't like the looks of the HD.

[alyssa]

As for S3 vs HD - with the new e-sata expansion, there's no reason for the S3 unless you really don't like the looks of the HD.

I thought TivoHD's could only use a tivo branded HD as an external? If I'm recalling correctly they only have 500MB units.

[richsadams]

I thought TivoHD's could only use a tivo branded HD as an external? If I'm recalling correctly they only have 500MB units.You are correct. The TiVo HD w/software v9.2.j is currently restricted to using only the Western Digital 500 GB My DVR Expander (http://www.tivo.com/mytivo/domore/storage/index.html)via plug and play.

TiVo S3's w/software v9.2.j are able to use most other eSATA drives, but only the WD drive is supported by TiVo; all others install via plug and play with a warning.

Here’s more about eSATA drive expansion:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=370784

[JPA2825]

I thought TivoHD's could only use a tivo branded HD as an external? If I'm recalling correctly they only have 500MB units.

Obviously 500GB intended. I don't think I'll NEED more space immediately since I'm currently used to only ~17 hrs. of HD w/ the Moto and can spread my shows around (w/ backups of SD versions of HD shows we don't watch before they roll off) the 2 140 hr. and 1 40 hr. S2s. The 40 hr. S2 is the current Lifetime which I'll have for a year after the transfer. Hopefully in 1 yr. the flexibility & pricing of expanded storage will be WAY DOWN.

[aaronwt]

If it'sonly a $100 difference between the S3 and the TiVoHD then the S3 is the better deal. The remote alone is $50.

[TheOrkinMan]

I thought TivoHD's could only use a tivo branded HD as an external? If I'm recalling correctly they only have 500MB units.

If I should ever fill up the 500 GB with something other than recommendations, I'd be greatly surprised!

[alyssa]

light weight


:D :D

With 3 people recording, hd sports & movies plus likening to keep entire seasons of shows, my 750 gig [external] was filled rather fast. :o

[Mars Rocket]

If it'sonly a $100 difference between the S3 and the TiVoHD then the S3 is the better deal. The remote alone is $50.

The remote COSTS $50, but it's not worth that much. Or at least not that much more than the standard remote. I don't even use the TiVo remote all that often since I have an MX-500 programmed to control all my audio/video devices, inlcuding two tiVos, and I suspect a lot of other people have universal remotes of some type as well. Also, since the THD can be had for $250 from Amazon so the difference is even more. Plus no hassle with rebates. Plus the THD has more RAM, right? That's got to be good for something at some point...

[demon]

The remote COSTS $50, but it's not worth that much.

If you don't already have a good universal remote, it's a good, simple remote. The backlighting and learning functions certainly aren't anything to sneeze at.

Also, since the THD can be had for $250 from Amazon so the difference is even more. Plus no hassle with rebates.

I've heard you can get the Series3 bot for $550, and last I heard you can still get the $200 rebate; that puts its price in the $350 range. 50% more storage space, the OLED display, and now, the grandfathered capability to use *any* eSATA storage device (not just the WD My DVR Expander driver), there are some features there that are kind of nice.

Plus the THD has more RAM, right? That's got to be good for something at some point...

Maybe. Seems like the Series3 is doing alright so far.

[JPA2825]

Tough call, but eventually went w/ THD from Amazon for $254. Avoiding rebate hassle + sure lifetime transfer tilted the balance in the end. If storage is too small, I can use the $100 saved toward the 500GB expander. Thanks for the help.

[Mars Rocket]

Funny story about the Amazon price:

I bought my TiVoHD from Amazon. At home that morning I put it in the shopping cart at $254, but didn't have time to complete the transaction before leaving for work. At work (~10 minutes later) I logged into Amazon to pay for it, and the price had dropped to $249. :)

I frequently wonder about all the price changes going on at Amazon. I think they have some kind of AI sitting there watching the users and trying to coax a sale out of every interaction...