Tivo and Satellite

[Cajun2]

I am thinking of buying a Tivo and trying to get answers to my questions. All of the posts I read and the FAQ's talk about Tivo and cable. Is there a place where the talk is about Tivo and satellite ( I have Directv - cable is not available here)?

From what I read there is only one box that works with satellite and this does not work with HDTV - so what happens come Feb. 2008?

The specs state that this box will not record HD. Does it record these programs in standard format?

[JohnB1000]

If we're talking about HDTV then none of the stand alone TIVO systems can record HD from a DirecTV box. If you're talking integrated units then HR10 records a few HD channels and OTA, DirecTV HR20 does all the new channels and OTA, HR21 does all the new HD Channels but no OTA.

I'm not really clear what your question is :)

[Da Goon]

Any standalone tivo except the Series 3 or TivoHD will work with satellite. Nothing significant is happening in Feb 2008, but the looming analog shutdown is going to happen in Feb 2009, but only applies to over the air transmissions, so satellite tv won't be impacted at all during that transition. Standalone tivo's will record Directv in standard def format just fine. I'm watching a show right now recorded on my standalone from a Directv set top box. Just be aware that there are dual-tuner standalones, but they can only record one show at a time from directv. Look on ebay, you can find Directv-tivo combo boxes for fairly cheap, which will record two shows at a time via directv and will be cheaper than a separate tivo subscription.

[Cajun2]

Any standalone tivo except the Series 3 or TivoHD will work with satellite. Nothing significant is happening in Feb 2008, but the looming analog shutdown is going to happen in Feb 2009, but only applies to over the air transmissions, so satellite tv won't be impacted at all during that transition. Standalone tivo's will record Directv in standard def format just fine. I'm watching a show right now recorded on my standalone from a Directv set top box. Just be aware that there are dual-tuner standalones, but they can only record one show at a time from directv. Look on ebay, you can find Directv-tivo combo boxes for fairly cheap, which will record two shows at a time via directv and will be cheaper than a separate tivo subscription.

I guess what I need to know is what do I miss if I get a series 2 Tivo instead of a series 3 besides HD? Also, what are the Directv-Tivo combo boxes, who makes them and where else can I get them?

Thanks for all of the info.

[classicsat]

Series 2s won't tune digital OTA (the Series 2 DT won't tune OTA at all). Series 2s will tune analog OTA or cable with their built in tuner, or one digital STB, such as that from satellite.

Series3/TiVoHD units tune only analog and digital cable and/or OTA (cable with cablecards), with built in analog and digital tuners. They have no A/V input or control for external STBs.

DirecTV combos, AKA DirecTV TiVos, or often DirecTiVos, are Dual tuner DirecTV DVRs that run on TiVo software.
They are made by Philips, Hughes, Sony, RCA, Samsung, and a couple models manufactured under the DirecTV brand. There is only one HD model, but it does only MPEG2 HD from the BSS satellites. Newer HD comes on MPEG4/Ka satellites, so that model won't work with them.

[HiDefGator]

If you want Directv you should just get the non-Tivo Directv box. If you really want a real Tivo then get cable. You can drudge through a lot of what if's but that's what your choices come down to today. Any Tivo-Directv solution you go for will be temporary at best.