Purchase Recommendation

[neumannu47]

This post is my first one. I have looked for an answer, but I did not immediately see it.

Presently I record on my ReplayTV 5040 and transfer the files to my hard drive for editing in VideReDo. I would like to be able to do the same with a Tivo, which I know nothing about. Which unit should I buy for HD recording plus the ability to download to my computer? Do all Tivos have that ability now?

Are the transfers done by Ethernet or USB? (They are Ethernet on the RTV.) How long does it take to transfer a 1-hour, non-HD show?

Thanks for the help. I apologize if the answer is right in front of me.

[ZeoTiVo]

Look at TiVoToGo on the tivo website. That is how shows are transferred to a PC via ethernet. HD can be transferred as well, save for coyright restrictions on copying some shows or illegal screwups on license codes by broadcasters.

I can transfer a 60 minutes high quality SD recording from my TiVo HD in 30 minutes via wired connections.

[neumannu47]

Is there only a single model of the Tivo HD DVR? Are there copyright restrictions on over-the-air HD television signals? This unit will not be used with a cable box or card. My cable company provides local stations in digital format (50.1, 50.2) unencrypted over regular cable.

[MickeS]

Is there only a single model of the Tivo HD DVR?

There is the Series 3 and the TiVoHD. The TiVoHD is the less expensive one, and is the newest model. The Series 3 is being discontinued and no longer in stock at TiVo.
Are there copyright restrictions on over-the-air HD television signals? This unit will not be used with a cable box or card. My cable company provides local stations in digital format (50.1, 50.2) unencrypted over regular cable.

On rare occasions, the cable company might incorrectly set a copy restriction on the local channels, but they are generally not restricted, and can be transferred to your PC.
If you are going to use the cable company to deliver the local channels to you in HD, you WILL need CableCARD(s) for your TiVoHD (it's the only sure way for TiVo to have guide data for those channels).
If you want to avoid CableCARDs, you should see if you can use an antenna to get your local HD channels OTA.

[dwit]

Is there only a single model of the Tivo HD DVR? Are there copyright restrictions on over-the-air HD television signals? This unit will not be used with a cable box or card. My cable company provides local stations in digital format (50.1, 50.2) unencrypted over regular cable.

Tivo makes two models with HD capabilities: The Tivo HD and the S3. The S3 appears to have superior transferring ability, at this time.

I don't belive there is anything in the transferred files that will prevent Video Redo from processing them. Pretty sure they will be down converted to 720 x 480 though.

Refer to the Tivo to Go/Home Media forum here for all you need to know about saving Tivo files.

[timckelley]

If you are going to use the cable company to deliver the local channels to you in HD, you WILL need CableCARD(s) for your TiVoHD (it's the only sure way for TiVo to have guide data for those channels).
If you want to avoid CableCARDs, you should see if you can use an antenna to get your local HD channels OTA.

I was told several times over in the Time Warner thread this isn't true. Time Warner delivers some locals, depending on what city you're in, over your analog cable in digital HD format, and you can use your TiVoHD, with no cable card installed at all, to pick them up, including guide data.

[ZeoTiVo]

I was told several times over in the Time Warner thread this isn't true. Time Warner delivers some locals, depending on what city you're in, over your analog cable in digital HD format, and you can use your TiVoHD, with no cable card installed at all, to pick them up, including guide data.

I have Time Warner and do not have guide data for the LOCAL HD passed over the cable

I do have a 30$ OTA antenna that works great on my TiVo HD and get all the guide data needed for it.

There are no copy restrictions placed on my OTA shows, and no restrictions can be legally placed on them either.


The Series 3 has been discontinued by TiVo, like others said and TiVo inc. focus is on the TiVo HD. Considering the TiVo HD is cheaper than the original Series 3 it seems a no brainer to me - though the series 3 at a bargain price could be a great value as well. Since the OP mentions HD and OTA, the OP should not even consider a Series 2 model.

[timckelley]

A very knowledgable user, called cableguy talks at length in the Time Warner thread about how to get your local networks in HD with no cablecard - just analog cable. Here's one of the many posts where he talks about it:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5653399#post5653399

[MickeS]

I was told several times over in the Time Warner thread this isn't true. Time Warner delivers some locals, depending on what city you're in, over your analog cable in digital HD format, and you can use your TiVoHD, with no cable card installed at all, to pick them up, including guide data.

I was giving a generic response that would be true for all situations. There might be exceptions to that. :)

[ZeoTiVo]

A very knowledgable user, called cableguy talks at length in the Time Warner thread about how to get your local networks in HD with no cablecard - just analog cable. Here's one of the many posts where he talks about it:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5653399#post5653399


yah, that is great for people in Austin
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=5654394
Yes, Austin is an exception to the rule. We have a very knowledgable director that knows how these things work. All psip data is passed, so even customers with just qam tuners in their tv's get correct guide data.

but it does not translate to NC TWC in any way. Plus if your read on in that thread - it also was spotty and others did not have guide data.

[neumannu47]

Would this be the latest model?

http://www.amazon.com/TiVo-TCD652160-Digital-Video-Recorder/dp/B000RZDBM2/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1202231572&sr=8-1

[MickeS]

Would this be the latest model?

http://*******.com/3cvp8s

Yep, that's the one (replaced the ******* with the proper word, so I saw the link to Amazon :)).
http://www.amazon.com/TiVo-TCD652160-Digital-Video-Recorder/dp/B000RZDBM2/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1202231572&sr=8-1

[ZeoTiVo]

Would this be the latest model?

http://www.amazon.com/TiVo-TCD652160-Digital-Video-Recorder/dp/B000RZDBM2/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1202231572&sr=8-1

Good price :up:

[neumannu47]

but it does not translate to NC TWC in any way.
I'm on TWC in NC. Does that mean I should expect problems? What a shocker.

[timckelley]

Yes, I only meant my post as a response to the (at the time) seemingly no-exceptions statement that he will definitely have to have a cablecard for locals. Admittedly, I didn't know which cable company the OP is using or if that city even has HD locals available via analog cable.

[dwit]

Good price :up:

Yeah, that's the lowest I've seen besides that 5 hour sale at CC for $240 a month or so back.

[fallingwater]

http://www.amazon.com/TiVo-TCD652160-Digital-Video-Recorder/dp/B000RZDBM2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=A1J7WSBJHTGUFA&s=electronics&qid=1202249063&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RZDBM2?ie=UTF8&seller=A1A653A5CL855U&sn=jerseyis

[MickeS]

Yes, I only meant my post as a response to the (at the time) seemingly no-exceptions statement that he will definitely have to have a cablecard for locals. Admittedly, I didn't know which cable company the OP is using or if that city even has HD locals available via analog cable.

Exceptions always just end up confusing things. :)