Record two HD shows simultaneously OTA?

[jhawkstew]

I'm considering getting a Tivo HD and dropping AT&T's Uverse service. (We don't like the DVR, have had lots of service outages, and don't watch much other than our locals which are crystal clear HD OTA). Since we'll be dropping a video provider and just going with OTA, I need a unit that can record OTA HD. Can the Tivo HD record two OTA HD shows at the same time?

[dwit]

Yes. Has 2 cable/antenna tuners and can tune/record any combination of hd/sd signals.

If no cable cards, then it can record any combination of sd/hd with antenna.

[jhawkstew]

That's what I thought. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't something weird like being able to record two cable channels using cable cards, but only one OTA channel at a time. (Our AT&T Uverse DVR can record 4 channels at once, but only 1 can be HD, for now. What a bummer.)

Thanks for the reply.

[greg_burns]

You may want to keep an eye on this upcoming product


Dish Network (Echostar) announces standalone TR-50 HDTV DVR (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=380516)

[TolloNodre]

I use my TiVo strictly for OTA and it works great - dual HD recording and all...

[ZeoTiVo]

You may want to keep an eye on this upcoming product


Dish Network (Echostar) announces standalone TR-50 HDTV DVR (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=380516)

That has moved back now to the end of this year at the earliest.
The TiVo HD is already in homes and doing a great job of recording 2 OTA channels at once.

[TheGreenHornet]

That's what I thought. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't something weird like being able to record two cable channels using cable cards, but only one OTA channel at a time. (Our AT&T Uverse DVR can record 4 channels at once, but only 1 can be HD, for now. What a bummer.)

Thanks for the reply.

I have the Series 3 via OTA with crystal clear reception! My S3 is running full time during prime time ESPECIALLY during the May rating sweeps period. Most of the time it is recording flawlessly two shows on opposite broadcast networks. I have plenty of shows recorded to stay home to watch instead of running around burning gas in my SUV.

Extra Bonus: I do not have to deal with cable card issues with Comcast.

[tootal2]

I'm considering getting a Tivo HD and dropping AT&T's Uverse service. (We don't like the DVR, have had lots of service outages, and don't watch much other than our locals which are crystal clear HD OTA). Since we'll be dropping a video provider and just going with OTA, I need a unit that can record OTA HD. Can the Tivo HD record two OTA HD shows at the same time?

I record jay leno hd ota and dave lettermen hd ota with tivo hd at the same time.

[wblynch]

By happenstance we've ended up with two TiVos that can record HD off the air. This gives us 4 active HD tuners (2 for each TiVo)

There are times when all 4 tuners are actively recording and we still miss something we like.

The networks must hate it when we mess with their carefully crafted schedules !! :D

[jhawkstew]

Let's add this question to the mix:

If I go with Comcast and get two CableCards, can I still record OTA? Or, am I limited to just recording the CableCard inputs once they are installed?

So, with two CableCards installed can I:
1. record two simultaneous OTA broadcasts?
2. record two simultaneous digital cable streams?
3. record one OTA broadcast and one digital cable stream simultaneously?

I'm guessing the answers are:
1. yes
2. yes
3. yes

Please confirm.

[Jonathan_S]

Let's add this question to the mix:

If I go with Comcast and get two CableCards, can I still record OTA? Or, am I limited to just recording the CableCard inputs once they are installed?

So, with two CableCards installed can I:
1. record two simultaneous OTA broadcasts?
2. record two simultaneous digital cable streams?
3. record one OTA broadcast and one digital cable stream simultaneously?

I'm guessing the answers are:
1. yes
2. yes
3. yes

Please confirm.That's correct.
(I think there is something weird if you only install ONE cablecard, but with two installed it works like you stated)

[GoHokies!]

That's correct.
(I think there is something weird if you only install ONE cablecard, but with two installed it works like you stated)

Absolutely correct.

In theory, with one CC installed, it should fall back to single tuner mode, one thing at a time, regardless of source. In practice, folks have recorded 2 things at once with one CC installed, but I think that it wildly varies on sources, cablecards and the alignment of the planets - not something I would depend on.

[astrohip]

Let's add this question to the mix:

If I go with Comcast and get two CableCards, can I still record OTA? Or, am I limited to just recording the CableCard inputs once they are installed?

So, with two CableCards installed can I:
1. record two simultaneous OTA broadcasts?
2. record two simultaneous digital cable streams?
3. record one OTA broadcast and one digital cable stream simultaneously?

I'm guessing the answers are:
1. yes
2. yes
3. yes

Please confirm.
Absolutely positively yes. I have an S3 with two cablecards from Comcast and an OTA HD antenna hooked up to it. I can mix & match from either or both inputs. I tend to watch the broadcast networks from the OTA antenna (even though I also get them thru the Comcast cards) because I think the PQ is slightly better. And I use the cards for all the cable crap-HBO, Disc, etc.

And the guide is amazing. It actually blends the two inputs into one seamless guide.