Thinking about getting a TiVoHD

[.mak]

I picked up a new 37" 720p LCD the other day (which replaced a 4.5 year old 32" LCD) and now I'm thinking about ditching my S2DT in favor of a TiVoHD..

A few questions, though;

1.) My new LCD handles SD content very well, next to no artifacts on any channel using the built-in tuner.. but there are many artifacts when using the S2DT through A/V and S-Video.. could the leap to a digital TiVo (e.g; TiVoHD) resolve this, and give me the same clarity I get from my TV's built-in tuner?

2.) Are there any known issues with the TiVoHD (QAM tuner doesn't pick up as many channels as other QAM tuners, etc)

3.) I'm worried that future upgrades might come sooner than expected.. does anyone know about a new HD box coming anytime soon? I've heard the Series3 is being pushed out for a replacement box, and wonder if it'd be best to wait it out.

4.) If I get the TiVoHD, and I pick up the CC's from my cable co., does a single M-Card enable the dual tuner function of the TiVoHD? ..or would I need two? If I need two M-Cards, why are they superior to S-Cards?

That's all for now, I greatly appreciate your useful replies :)

-mak

[dorian]

I saw your questions, and being relatively new to the HD market myself I thought I would offer a non-techhie set of answers.


1.) My new LCD handles SD content very well, next to no artifacts on any channel using the built-in tuner.. but there are many artifacts when using the S2DT through A/V and S-Video.. could the leap to a digital TiVo (e.g; TiVoHD) resolve this, and give me the same clarity I get from my TV's built-in tuner?
My perception (not quantifiable nor truly measured by any standard means other than what I see) is that the TivoHD offered a much better picture for SD on my HDTV as well as my SDTV than did my previous series 2 box. The difference is noticable on both a standard TV as well as an HDTV when viewing digital cable channels through a cable card in the Tivo HD. Just a couple of weeks ago I purchased the TH-50PZ700U. I'm super impressed how there are no artifacts in large blocks of same color graphics.


2.) Are there any known issues with the TiVoHD (QAM tuner doesn't pick up as many channels as other QAM tuners, etc)
I'm unqualified to report anything on the QAM tuner. I have Comcast cable with a multi-sunch cable card and it pulls in all the channels so I don't have to mess with QAM. I personally am not aware of any other issues as I am pretty much a casual Tivo user and don't use anywhere near the hard drive capacity.


3.) I'm worried that future upgrades might come sooner than expected.. does anyone know about a new HD box coming anytime soon? I've heard the Series3 is being pushed out for a replacement box, and wonder if it'd be best to wait it out.I've heard rumors, but most of them have proved out wrong or are still rumors. I jumped into TivoHD about 4 weeks ago just and am glad I did. I've gotten four weeks of great use. Like cell phones, computers, and HDTV.... if you keep waiting for the rumored next big thing you may as well stick with what you have until it breaks and you are forced into the current technology.

If I get the TiVoHD, and I pick up the CC's from my cable co., does a single M-Card enable the dual tuner function of the TiVoHD? ..or would I need two? If I need two M-Cards, why are they superior to S-Cards?A single M-Card works nicely with the dual tuner TivoHD. The only real superiority of the single M-Card I'm experiencing is the price offered by my cable company for using it (free versus another couple of bucks if I want a second card). Technology wise, I don't see how a dual card setup could give me any better performance. I'm getting no lockups and have not had to reboot or rerun the initial setup since I've had it.


Hopefully others might follow with more technical jargon that can better feed the numbers beast in us all.

[tluxon]

1) It stands to reason that the picture from a TiVoHD digital tuner would be much better than getting it via the analog tuner of a S2 which is going to require an analog->digital conversion and be dependent on the "quality" you select. In my experience the digital tuner in the TiVoHD does as good a job as any other digital tuner I've used.

2) The QAM and ATSC tuning of the TiVoHD is as good as any I've used.

3) With software updates, the TiVoHD should have a long life.

4) I have used both S-Cards and M-Cards and see no disadvantages with the M-Cards. As noted above, the cableco charges should be less with the M-Cards.

Go for it. :D

[.mak]

Am I correct to believe I only need one M-Card to use the dual tuner features of the TiVoHD, compared to 2 with the S-Card?

I'm aware that M = MultiStream and S = SingleStream, but I want to be sure :)

-mak

[bkdtv]

Am I correct to believe I only need one M-Card to use the dual tuner features of the TiVoHD, compared to 2 with the S-Card?That is correct.

[TriBruin]

I will try and add a couple of ideas.

I picked up a new 37" 720p LCD the other day (which replaced a 4.5 year old 32" LCD) and now I'm thinking about ditching my S2DT in favor of a TiVoHD..

A few questions, though;

1.) My new LCD handles SD content very well, next to no artifacts on any channel using the built-in tuner.. but there are many artifacts when using the S2DT through A/V and S-Video.. could the leap to a digital TiVo (e.g; TiVoHD) resolve this, and give me the same clarity I get from my TV's built-in tuner?
I can't speak specifically about an Analog SD signal, but if you local cable company uses ADS (Analog(?)-Digital Simulcast), you will receive a pure digital single instead of an analog. The Tivo will then record the pure digital signal without any analog to digital translation. This will eliminate many of the artifacts you currently see.

2.) Are there any known issues with the TiVoHD (QAM tuner doesn't pick up as many channels as other QAM tuners, etc)
The Tuner in the TivoHD should have no problem with picking up all channels. In fact, some people report that the tuner is so good, that they have to attenuate (lower the strength) of the signal.

3.) I'm worried that future upgrades might come sooner than expected.. does anyone know about a new HD box coming anytime soon? I've heard the Series3 is being pushed out for a replacement box, and wonder if it'd be best to wait it out.
Tivo and Comcast have announced they are working of setting the standard for Tru2Way (formally OCAP). This will allow users to have the ability to use services such as On-Demand directly with their Tivo. However, no time frame has been set for any equipment.

4.) If I get the TiVoHD, and I pick up the CC's from my cable co., does a single M-Card enable the dual tuner function of the TiVoHD? ..or would I need two? If I need two M-Cards, why are they superior to S-Cards?
As others have said, the TivoHD will use a single M-Card for the dual tuner. However, the Series 3 Tivo did not support the use of an M-Card for dual tuner. If you wanted Dual Tuner capability you had to have two Cable Cards (either S-Card or M-Card).

That's all for now, I greatly appreciate your useful replies :)

-mak

[hmeister]

Hi...

How many of you are on Comcast and did they give you any problems requesting the free card?

I am still on two Series 2 and am just turning the corner to HD...

H.

[Devx]

Hi...

How many of you are on Comcast and did they give you any problems requesting the free card?

I am still on two Series 2 and am just turning the corner to HD...

H.


Rather than give you my opinion I'll just provide the link to the official Comcast CC thread so you can see for yourself.

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=316310

[hmeister]

Rather than give you my opinion I'll just provide the link to the official Comcast CC thread so you can see for yourself.

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=316310

Devx...

Your right about linking this. I have been half following this thread and it is huge. Thanks for the link...

H.

[Budget_HT]

Hi...

How many of you are on Comcast and did they give you any problems requesting the free card?

I am still on two Series 2 and am just turning the corner to HD...

H.

Where we live, there is no free card for some folks. I helped my sister in law set up her new TiVo HD a few months ago and Comcast is charging her just under $2 per month for her first and only card, even after she challenged them with examples of folks getting the first card free elsewhere.

[.mak]

Where we live, there is no free card for some folks. I helped my sister in law set up her new TiVo HD a few months ago and Comcast is charging her just under $2 per month for her first and only card, even after she challenged them with examples of folks getting the first card free elsewhere.

I believe the first card is only free if it's the only other decoder in your home.. e.g; If you have 1 cable box, your card, and any other decoders, will carry a fee.

At least, this is how I understand it.

-mak

[Dancar]

The fees for cable cards vary, even for the same provider. It seems that evey state division of Comcast, Charter, etc. makes their own CC pricing policy.

So FWIW, we're paying Comcast in Washington state $1.75/month for an M-card and an S-card they insisted we need, but really don't.

[derspiess]

I'm going on less than 1 week of experience, but my TivoHD does a great job with an analog cable signal. It should be even better once I get my cable card installed, I would think.

It also does a good job detecting & displaying QAM channels. It detected just under 500 channels total but of course only displayed the few that TW-Cincy leaves unencrypted (i.e., the bare minimum broadcast & PBS channels). I think the OTA HD channels look better, but the picture quality of QAM channels thru the TivoHD is quite good IMO.

[Budget_HT]

I believe the first card is only free if it's the only other decoder in your home.. e.g; If you have 1 cable box, your card, and any other decoders, will carry a fee.

At least, this is how I understand it.

-mak
They seem to make this as confusing as possible.

My SIL has no other cable box. Her only decoder is the M-card in her TiVo HD. They charge her for that first and only card. Go figure!

[classicsat]

Tivo and Comcast have announced they are working of setting the standard for Tru2Way (formally OCAP). This will allow users to have the ability to use services such as On-Demand directly with their Tivo. However, no time frame has been set for any equipment.


That doesn't include the current Series 3 platform(s). Tru2Way requires full 2 way capability, which they do not support at all. The supposedly coming Tuning Resolver will be only for SDV.

Depending on perspective, Tru2way will be implemented on the supposedly in development Series 4, and/or on Comcast boxes that will have the TiVo UI installed.

I wouldn't expect new hardware this end of this year, if this year at all. Go buy a TiVo HD now if you must.