Newbie with several questions

[oly]

I apologize if these questions have been asked elsewhere. I have searched the forums for hours, but still have several questions that seem to relate to different areas.

Basic info:
I live in the Portland, OR area and receive my service through Beaverton Comcast. I have had two single tuner Tivo's for several years with expanded basic cable, no set-top box. I am upgrading my systems to the following:

Family room: 1080p plasma HDTV (3 HDMI inputs), Denon receiver (4 HDMI inputs), Tivo Series 3 HD Home Theater Option (THX) (1 HDMI input), Sony Blu-Ray Disc Player (1 HDMI output), Slingbox Pro (with HD connect cable)

Den: LCD HDTV (3 HDMI inputs), Tivo Series 3 HD Home Theater Option (THX) (1 HDMI input), Slingbox Pro (with HD connect cable)

Cable upgrade: Going to digital preferred with HBO and HDTV.

Questions:
1. In order to receive the $200 (per unit) rebate from Tivo I must have new activation on my (newly acquired)Tivos and make a one year commitment or purchase lifetime for each unit. According to what I read on Tivo.com I can NOT go into "Manage My Account" and change my tag service number (this will not qualify for the rebate). I am not interested in having four Tivo's connected so do I have to phone Tivo Customer Service to cancel my existing service and then activate my new service?

2. Once I cancel service on my SA series 2, can I still hook it up to my TV to watch the 65+hours of programming I have on it? If so, how - hook it up like a VCR?

3. I have Comcast scheduled (on January 23rd) to come in and connect me to Digital cable and to install the cable cards in my two new Tivos. If I want the availability of On Demand programming and the possiblity of watching one channel while recording two others, will I need a digital set-top box in addition to the 2 cable cards (in each of the Tivos)?

4. Futher clarification, if I do NOT go with a set-top box, I will NOT be able to access On Demand programming. Is this correct?

5. If I decide not to go with a set-top box will I still have access to the premium movie channels I have subscribed to as well as all of the music channels that are provided as part of the digital prefered package?

6. I am planning on having Comcast install the digital cable (with HD) a few days before the HDTV's arrive. My reasoning behind this is to be sure the Tivos with cable cards are running before Magnolia Hi-Fi comes in to install the entire system. Does anyone see a problem with this plan?

7. I currently have my HD Tivos. I am planning on hooking them up to my standard definition TV, activating them, and running guided set-up prior to Comcast coming in to install the cable cards. This will give the Tivos a chance to download the latest system software. Will I need to run guided set-up again after the cable cards are successfully installed in order to receive the digital and the high def channels?

If you have any other helpful suggestions or comments, please pass them on.

Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.

[A J Ricaud]

Questions:
1. In order to receive the $200 (per unit) rebate from Tivo I must have new activation on my (newly acquired)Tivos and make a one year commitment or purchase lifetime for each unit. According to what I read on Tivo.com I can NOT go into "Manage My Account" and change my tag service number (this will not qualify for the rebate). I am not interested in having four Tivo's connected so do I have to phone Tivo Customer Service to cancel my existing service and then activate my new service?

2. Once I cancel service on my SA series 2, can I still hook it up to my TV to watch the 65+hours of programming I have on it? If so, how - hook it up like a VCR?

3. I have Comcast scheduled (on January 23rd) to come in and connect me to Digital cable and to install the cable cards in my two new Tivos. If I want the availability of On Demand programming and the possiblity of watching one channel while recording two others, will I need a digital set-top box in addition to the 2 cable cards (in each of the Tivos)?

4. Futher clarification, if I do NOT go with a set-top box, I will NOT be able to access On Demand programming. Is this correct?

5. If I decide not to go with a set-top box will I still have access to the premium movie channels I have subscribed to as well as all of the music channels that are provided as part of the digital prefered package?

6. I am planning on having Comcast install the digital cable (with HD) a few days before the HDTV's arrive. My reasoning behind this is to be sure the Tivos with cable cards are running before Magnolia Hi-Fi comes in to install the entire system. Does anyone see a problem with this plan?

7. I currently have my HD Tivos. I am planning on hooking them up to my standard definition TV, activating them, and running guided set-up prior to Comcast coming in to install the cable cards. This will give the Tivos a chance to download the latest system software. Will I need to run guided set-up again after the cable cards are successfully installed in order to receive the digital and the high def channels?

If you have any other helpful suggestions or comments, please pass them on.

Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.
Answers:
1. I'm not up on this.
2. Yes.
3.You will need a set-top box for on demand. Your Tivos can record 2 programs while you are watching a pre-recorded program. You will need a set-top box if you wanr to watch a third, live program.
4.Yes.
5. Yes, unless your cable provider is using SDV, which will require a set-top box to tune.
6.No problem--good idea.
7.Yes, re-run guided setup.