Hooking up a Tivo HD w/o Cable Cards

[fpp777]

I am currently a Series 2 user and have a full understanding how it works. I am in the process of building a new house and I will be getting an HD TV. I already ordered a Tivo HD so I could set up a lifetime membership on it. I wasnt sure if it would be available in a few months, so I did it now. On my Series 2 I use Charter Cable. The cable comes out of the wall, into the digital STB , to the Tivo, then to the TV. I also have a digital STB in my bedroom. My question is this...

Can I hook the cable to the STB, then to the Tivo HD, then to the TV and get all the digital channels above 100, or...
Will I have to hook the cable directly to the Tivo HD and either get the non-digital channels, or...
Get Cablecards.

Thanks.

[ilh]

The TiVo HD cannot control a cable box. It needs a direct connection to the cable, so you'll need CableCards (1 M or 2 S) to get digital channels.

[fpp777]

So if the cable comes out of the wall, into the Digital STB, from there into the Tivo HD, then out to the TV, the Tivo wont pass thru the signal to the TV from the STB?

[CrispyCritter]

So if the cable comes out of the wall, into the Digital STB, from there into the Tivo HD, then out to the TV, the Tivo wont pass thru the signal to the TV from the STB?No way to get it from the digital settop box to the TiVo.

The TiVo HD replaces the settop box - it will not work with one.

[fpp777]

OK. I thought the R6 cable that goes from the STB to the TV could now go to the input on the Tivo and then output to the TV. I guess I will get it all figured out once it gets here.. Thanks.

[rickmeoff]

OK. I thought the R6 cable that goes from the STB to the TV could now go to the input on the Tivo and then output to the TV. I guess I will get it all figured out once it gets here.. Thanks.

no matter how many ways you ask it (or hook it up), you cant use it with the set top box; :D that would be like hooking up 2 set top boxes.

if you run the rg6 directly into the tivo, youll get all your analog channels though.

[fpp777]

Got it. And I got the Tivo also. I ordered it from Amazon yesterday with the free shipping and it arrived today. Much to my chagrin the wife is very happy that we will now have Tivo in our bedroom, even it means no digital channels.

[rickmeoff]

i just had a cc put in a new thd and had them take the stb, and our monthly bill dropped by $4 cuz the cc is cheaper than the stb.

i dunno about charter (we have bright house), but look into the cc cost......theres a good chance its less than the stb and it would actually save you money by getting rid of the box and going with the cc's.

then youll have your digital and analog channels in the bedroom until you get your hdtv setup in the new house.

[gu014]

I already ordered a Tivo HD so I could set up a lifetime membership on it. I wasnt sure if it would be available in a few months, so I did it now.

Are these still available? If so, where might i find one?

[fpp777]

I was talking about the lifetime subscription. They are running some type of promotion until February 8th that I qualified for. I bought it early because I am no sure of they will offer lifetimes in the future, and if they do, who knows what the cost might be.

[frazyaf14]

OK. I thought the R6 cable that goes from the STB to the TV could now go to the input on the Tivo and then output to the TV. I guess I will get it all figured out once it gets here.. Thanks.

The RG6 output on your STB is for audio/video (TV) connection only and does not pass the cable signal. Hence why your TV is set to channel 3 or 4.


Just for clarification ( not trying to hyjack the thread): does 1 M type cable card replace 2 S type cables cards in a Series 3 or THD unit?

[Rawson819]

Just for clarification ( not trying to hyjack the thread): does 1 M type cable card replace 2 S type cables cards in a Series 3 or THD unit?

From TiVo's CableCARD FAQs: (http://www.tivo.com/whatistivo/ccfaqs.html)
a TiVo HD box will require one (1) M-CARD (multistream CableCARD) or two (2) S-CARDS (single-stream CableCARDs). The TiVo Series3 HD DVR will require two (2) M-CARDs or S-CARDs.

[demon]

Just for clarification ( not trying to hyjack the thread): does 1 M type cable card replace 2 S type cables cards in a Series 3 or THD unit?

In the TiVo HD, yes; in the Series3, no. The Series3 can use an M-Card, but it will fall back to S-Mode (single-stream mode) since the Series3 doesn't know about M-Mode, or at least how to use it - so you'll still need two of them

[tpm]

just a note. I can get digital, HD channels on my tivo without cablecards. go to setup, channels, channel scan and then add the new found channels to your lineup. Here in NY channel 7-1 is a HD channel as is 2-1, 4-1, etc.
There may be a problem recording the "new found" channels as Tivo does not recognize them in the TV guide
Good luck