gguillot
03-03-2008, 11:28 AM
If you live in the hill country area of Texas (between San Antonio & Austin), it is likely that you will have GVTC as a cable vendor choice. I can tell you from 10 months worth of frustrating experience that GVTC's HD cable service is not compatible with either Tivo HD or Series 3.
Since last spring, I have tried repeatedly to get a Series 3 (actually two) and a Tivo HD to play nice with GVTC's digital cable. The combination of Tivo, Scientific Atlanta MCards and GVTC's fiber to the home service results in an unpredictable combination that constantly causes the Tivo's to loose connection with the cablecards, causing a black screen. When you look at the diagnostics screen, Tivo thinks everything is OK, with a signal lock and decent SNR. And yes, I have tried combinations of attenuators. A reboot solves the problem for a little while, but the problem soon returns within minutes.
The unfortunate part is that GVTC has worked with me diligently to try and resolve the problem, which is more than I can say for Tivo. They are a small independent cable vendor, who's customer service support has been outstanding.
After months of frustration, I am selling the Series 3 and going with DishNetwork. THe VIP722 box is no Tivo, but I am learning to adapt (what choice do I have.) I guess I will keep a watchful eye out for what goes on and will hopefully rejoin the Tivo HD experience in the future (I am keeping the two Tivo Series 2 boxes happily recording away on analog cable.)
Since last spring, I have tried repeatedly to get a Series 3 (actually two) and a Tivo HD to play nice with GVTC's digital cable. The combination of Tivo, Scientific Atlanta MCards and GVTC's fiber to the home service results in an unpredictable combination that constantly causes the Tivo's to loose connection with the cablecards, causing a black screen. When you look at the diagnostics screen, Tivo thinks everything is OK, with a signal lock and decent SNR. And yes, I have tried combinations of attenuators. A reboot solves the problem for a little while, but the problem soon returns within minutes.
The unfortunate part is that GVTC has worked with me diligently to try and resolve the problem, which is more than I can say for Tivo. They are a small independent cable vendor, who's customer service support has been outstanding.
After months of frustration, I am selling the Series 3 and going with DishNetwork. THe VIP722 box is no Tivo, but I am learning to adapt (what choice do I have.) I guess I will keep a watchful eye out for what goes on and will hopefully rejoin the Tivo HD experience in the future (I am keeping the two Tivo Series 2 boxes happily recording away on analog cable.)