TivoHD - Misleading Advertising - What were they thinking?

[mkrosse]

I just opened the box on a TivoHD and discovered a major Uh-Oh!!!!!

TivoHD, per advertising, says it works with "any cable setup" (except UNLESS you have an existing cable set top box!!!!!!!!!!)

I got one for xmas & just opened it to install with a "push pull" of an existing Tivo2; this was going to be an interim step to HD system upgrades later this year.

Except, upon opening the box, I discover TivoHD does NOT support an existing cable set top box. One MUST deal with the brain-dead at the local cable company who require weeks notice to actually roll a truck to insert a 1/2 oz piece of plastic.

What were TivoHD designers thinking? Why did they ignore simple migration scenarios? Why did they not include simple $0.25 part to work with existing set top box & a simple push-pull into an existing configuration.

Tivo needs to fix their misleading advertising and show in big bold red letters: DOES NOT WORK WITH YOUR EXISTING SET TOP BOX - YOU MUST GET CABLECARDS - IT WORKS ONLY WITH CABLECARDS.

[JohnTivo]

It will also work with basic cable... no cable box needed.

[bkdtv]

mkrosse,

The TivoHD replaces your cable box. Just plug your coax into the TiVo and you'll get all basic cable channels. The TivoHD will also integrate HD channels from an off-air antenna into the same guide with your basic cable channels. For encrypted digital cable channels, you will need a CableCard.

The technology does not yet exist to produce a standalone HDTV DVR for <$300 that can record high-definition from another box without significantly degrading quality. There's also no way to support dual-tuners -- so you can watch one channel while recording another -- with a connection to another cable company box.

If you want the ability to watch one HD channel while recording another, or the ability to record two different HD channels simultaneously while watching a prior recording, then the DVR must integrate the tuners, effectively replacing the cable company box.

[ah30k]

Could you please clarify for us the exact wording you state is inaccurate?

[chinhster]

Umm, the box clearly states cablecard decoders may be required to receive digital cable channels. I suspect the website does too.

[jjberger2134]

From the website:

Works with any cable provider using CableCARDs™**

** TiVo® HD and Series3™ HD DVR: Does not support satellite service. Two CableCARDs™ may be required for dual tuner functionality and to receive dual digital cable channels. Cable service required to receive cable channels. TiVo does not provide cable service. CableCARD is a trademark of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. Works with over-the-air antenna.

[RonDawg]

Could you please clarify for us the exact wording you state is inaccurate?

I guess he wanted the "Requires CableCards to receive encrypted digital cable" to be the same size font as the "TiVoHD" on the box...

[Dancar]

It will also work with basic cable... no cable box needed.

Uhm.. That's true if you're not interested in season passes or wish lists applying to HD channels, in which case you'd buy a SD Tivo or no Tivo at all.

[Mars Rocket]

The TiVoHD *is* a cable set top box. It replaces the one you're currently using. If the one you have now requires CableCards, then so will the TiVoHD. If the one you have does not, then neither will the TiVoHD. It's as simple as that.

The fact that the cable co. needs a long time to come out and install the CableCards (or the fact that they require them in the first place) isn't the fault of TiVo - the technology doesn't require that it take a long time.

[ZeoTiVo]

welcome to the Forum. err umm "nice, forceful" first post :)

[wkearney99]

Tivo's information is in no way misleading. Reading comprehension is KEY. That YOU didn't understand the process doesn't make it Tivo's fault.

That and a cablecard is not a 1/2 piece of plastic. It's a security device that requires being programmed and paired to the device. It "shouldn't" take a truck roll to do this. That's the cable company's fault. If you want to complain about misleading, complain about THAT.

[Grakthis]

I just opened the box on a TivoHD and discovered a major Uh-Oh!!!!!

TivoHD, per advertising, says it works with "any cable setup" (except UNLESS you have an existing cable set top box!!!!!!!!!!)

I got one for xmas & just opened it to install with a "push pull" of an existing Tivo2; this was going to be an interim step to HD system upgrades later this year.

Except, upon opening the box, I discover TivoHD does NOT support an existing cable set top box. One MUST deal with the brain-dead at the local cable company who require weeks notice to actually roll a truck to insert a 1/2 oz piece of plastic.

What were TivoHD designers thinking? Why did they ignore simple migration scenarios? Why did they not include simple $0.25 part to work with existing set top box & a simple push-pull into an existing configuration.

Tivo needs to fix their misleading advertising and show in big bold red letters: DOES NOT WORK WITH YOUR EXISTING SET TOP BOX - YOU MUST GET CABLECARDS - IT WORKS ONLY WITH CABLECARDS.

Here's my question for you.... why would you possibly WANT that? If you want an SD DVR that interfaces with your cablebox, save yourself $150 and get an S2.

[Bodie]

Here's my question for you.... why would you possibly WANT that? If you want an SD DVR that interfaces with your cablebox, save yourself $150 and get an S2.

Sounds like he already has one to do "push pull" with (whatever that means).

[TexasGrillChef]

With a TV HD unit. I don't understand why he wants to use his STB at all. TiVo HD doesn't need the cable cards unless you want the digital encrypted channels.

Maybe he is wanting VOD & Pay per view? Maybe his system is using SDV?

TGC

[busyba]

Sounds like he already has one to do "push pull" with (whatever that means).

Keep doing the "push pull" and you'll go blind and then you won't need a TiVo.

[Adam1115]

I just opened the box on a TivoHD and discovered a major Uh-Oh!!!!!

TivoHD, per advertising, says it works with "any cable setup"

Where do they say that?

[ah30k]

It's clear the OP went radio silent after his nonsense post.

[mattack]

Uhm.. That's true if you're not interested in season passes or wish lists applying to HD channels, in which case you'd buy a SD Tivo or no Tivo at all.

Well, I'm *interested* in season passes or wishlists for HD channels, but since we have no manual QAM mapping, I don't have them.

heh heh, just nitpicking your wording.