Finally ready to upgrade to HDTivo -- Qs on where to buy & lifetime

[Mobocracy]

I've currently got a SA Series2 and am finally sick enough of BSing around HD that I'm ready to buy an HD Tivo.

I want one that is pre-upgraded, though, and from what I can tell his means choosing between WeaKnees and DVRUpgrade, both of whose prices are identical for the 70 hour HD model I'm looking for. (Yes, I could do it myself, but the savings is nominal enough that I'd rather someone else did it).

Which company is a better choice? I can't see much difference between the two, other than DVRUpgrade doesn't list a phone number on their web site.

What are my lifetime options for this new box?

I have a lifetime on my S2, but I plan on keeping that box and will probably self-upgrade that to a larger drive size and put it in another room, so I'd rather not give up that lifetime.

Although there's probably some sense in transferring my lifetime to the new unit since chances are the older analog S2 unit will either die or be functionally obsolete before the purchase price of a second lifetime is recouped (I bought the S2 in October of 2002, so I've gotten a lot of mileage out of that lifetime!).

[TiVo_Fanatic]

Ive never bought from any of the two but from everything I've read / heard weaknees would be the way to go.

[moonscape]

this is nothing to base a decision on, but i'd personally go with weaknees based on having had a rather annoying email exchange with someone at DVRUpgrade who ran on the condescending side.

left a sour taste, though nothing that would necessarily reflect the business apart from him (and even so, he could've just been in a mood, or whatever...)

[tivoupgrade]

What are my lifetime options for this new box?



You can still purchase a lifetime subscription for either the Series3 or TiVo HD, as long as you have another activated TiVo on your account (and it sounds like you do).

Also, please see these specials (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=377395) posted in the Series3 area, they are better prices than what you've seen directly on our site ($50 off the model you referenced); we always try to have some specials running as part of our sponsorship here.

Thx,
Lou

[LifeIsABeach]

I (as well as many others here) have ordered from both companies and have had no problems.

[Mobocracy]

You can still purchase a lifetime subscription for either the Series3 or TiVo HD, as long as you have another activated TiVo on your account (and it sounds like you do).

Also, please see these specials posted in the Series3 area, they are better prices than what you've seen directly on our site ($50 off the model you referenced); we always try to have some specials running as part of our sponsorship here.

Thx,
Lou

I PM'd you about purchasing at a discount.

I did call Weakness yesterday and was told by them there was no lifetime opportunity currently for a new HDTivo; I did make it clear to them that I guess I can always call Tivo for clarification about what the opportunities are and aren't.

[tivoupgrade]

I PM'd you about purchasing at a discount.

I did call Weakness yesterday and was told by them there was no lifetime opportunity currently for a new HDTivo; I did make it clear to them that I guess I can always call Tivo for clarification about what the opportunities are and aren't.

Unless something has changed within the past few days, the TiVo HD is still eligible; I have not checked since last week, though and will do so shortly.

[edit: I just checked and the TiVo HD is still eligible for purchase of a lifetime subscription for $399. The presumption here is that you already have a unit and an active subscription with TiVo; so perhaps that is where the confusion lies. Screenshot attached...]

More info here (http://www.dvrupgrade.com/dvr/stores/1/series3_all_units.cfm); and if you prefer to speak in real-time with someone, our live-chat is currently on.

Lou

PS As for the discount, the coupon codes and ordering instructions are listed out in the first post of the 'ongoing specials thread...' (link above is fixed)...

[Mobocracy]

Unless something has changed within the past few days, the TiVo HD is still eligible; I have not checked since last week, though and will do so shortly.

[edit: I just checked and the TiVo HD is still eligible for purchase of a lifetime subscription for $399. The presumption here is that you already have a unit and an active subscription with TiVo; so perhaps that is where the confusion lies. Screenshot attached...]

More info here (http://www.dvrupgrade.com/dvr/stores/1/series3_all_units.cfm); and if you prefer to speak in real-time with someone, our live-chat is currently on.

Lou

PS As for the discount, the coupon codes and ordering instructions are listed out in the first post of the 'ongoing specials thread...' (link above is fixed)...

Thanks. I just placed my order online, the coupon codes applied perfectly.

Let's just hope Comcast can do the cable card thing right!

[tivoupgrade]

Thanks. I just placed my order online, the coupon codes applied perfectly.

Let's just hope Comcast can do the cable card thing right!

Thx!

On the issue of CableCards; try to run through the setup/prep steps discussed in this knowledge base article (http://www.dvrupgrade.com/dvrupgrade-support-center/index.php?x=&mod_id=2&id=202), reprinted from info provided on the TiVo web site.

Also, when you schedule your CableCard installation, try to get them to bring "plenty" of CableCards because they don't always work the first time. I know Comcast, and others, are getting better with these CableCard installations, but of the problems we've seen with installation (and there haven't been *that* many), fluky CableCards is definitely the most common.

Thanks,

Lou

[Mobocracy]

Unless something has changed within the past few days, the TiVo HD is still eligible; I have not checked since last week, though and will do so shortly.

[edit: I just checked and the TiVo HD is still eligible for purchase of a lifetime subscription for $399. The presumption here is that you already have a unit and an active subscription with TiVo; so perhaps that is where the confusion lies. Screenshot attached...]

More info here (http://www.dvrupgrade.com/dvr/stores/1/series3_all_units.cfm); and if you prefer to speak in real-time with someone, our live-chat is currently on.

Lou

PS As for the discount, the coupon codes and ordering instructions are listed out in the first post of the 'ongoing specials thread...' (link above is fixed)...

Thanks again for all your help. I got the box setup and registered with lifetime today.

For some reason I figured that the lifetime option wouldn't be available online, so I called and the CS rep said there was no lifetime option other than transferring lifetime from my S2 for $199.

I hung up with her and did it online and got the $399 multi-subscriber lifetime option, which I took.

I was really surprised that the CS rep didn't know about this, or is it supposed to be online only?

Comcast has my cable card install scheduled for next Wednesday, so I'll be all ready to go then. The box is hooked up to the net and the cable coax input so it'll be "warmed up" for the install. I've done the guided setup and all the other housekeeping.

My only worry is how far along Comcast is with switched digital in our area, but I guess I won't lose sleep over it.