Just bought a Tivo HD DVR

[gumby99]

I just purchased online the package lifetime deal with a R65216 180-hr TiVo HD DVR. I have a few questions for some experienced users:

1. I do not have cable or satelite just a HD antenna and I understand my new unit (have not recieved yet) will provide the digital tuner needed for the feb 2009 loos of analog. I use a Sony wega reg. tube set. Weaknees and Tivo said yes but I am nervous, anyone done this?

2. Verizon has announced they will provide FIOS based programming in my area this fall, how will my new unit interface to the Verizon service (assuming I get it)?

[jjberger2134]

I just purchased online the package lifetime deal with a R65216 180-hr TiVo HD DVR. I have a few questions for some experienced users:

1. I do not have cable or satelite just a HD antenna and I understand my new unit (have not recieved yet) will provide the digital tuner needed for the feb 2009 loos of analog. I use a Sony wega reg. tube set. Weaknees and Tivo said yes but I am nervous, anyone done this?

2. Verizon has announced they will provide FIOS based programming in my area this fall, how will my new unit interface to the Verizon service (assuming I get it)?

1. TiVo HD can receive over the air (OTA) signal. You will not have a problem connecting the TiVo HD to your analog Sony Wega.

2. In order for your TiVo to interact with FIOS you will need a CableCard, which will replace the Verizon FIOS box.

Check out the Series 3 forum for more info on cablecards.

Let me be the first to say -- Welcome to the forum.:)

[gumby99]

thasnks for the confirmation!

[gumby99]

So my new unit is considered a series 3? Great! I'm off to series 3 forum.

[jjberger2134]

The HD is not technically a Series 3 (there are some important differences) but they share some of the same architecture and both are HD capable, so many people post questions/comments regarding their HD unit in the S3 forum.

[jjberger2134]

BTW, here is a link to a review of the TiVoHD vs. TiVo S3. Scroll about 1/3 down the page (at the end of the review, but before all of the user comments) and there is a nice comparison chart, highlighting the differences.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/10/23/tivo-hd-vs-series3/

[wmcbrine]

On the contrary, the "TiVo HD" is technically a Series 3 (and yes, it's covered in the Series 3 forum), despite the differences. To further confuse you, the "Series 3" is technically a TiVo HD, as well. (Just look at the boxes if you don't believe me.) Unfortunately, there's no other way to designate them, unless you want to use their model numbers (TCD648250 vs. TCD652160 -- "648" and "652" for short).

[bicker]

Yeah, let's confuse the issue some more. :)

For all significant intents and purposes (at the level of detail expressed in the OP's original inquiry), except one, TiVo Series 3 and TiVo HD are going to perform the same. The only significant difference is that the TiVo Series 3 requires two CableCARDs (regardless) whereas the TiVo HD can use just one M-Card.

[ZeoTiVo]

I use a TiVo HD with a digital OTA antenna and analog cable hooked up. the guide data is complete for the OTA antenna and I can record two things at once from OTA or two form analog cable or one from OTA and one from cable.

The recordings from OTA are digital already and very clear and I think the HD is better then the compressed versions you tend to get from cable.

And in this forum it is best to identify you have a TiVo HD model (as you did;)) to get the most accurate answers to questions.

If the series 3 forum you will find threads by people using FIOS with a TiVo HD - I wish it was coming to my area.

[atmuscarella]

gumby99;

I also just purchased a TiVo HD for OTA use only - works great and my digital OTA channels come in much better than their analog counter parts.

The one down side to a TiVo HD is that when you record digital OTA is that most prime time stuff is HD or upconverted to HD which means your TiVo HD will only have about 20 hours of recording time. Which of course is great if you have an HD TV, however if you are viewing it on a standard tube TV (like I am for now), the picture from the TiVo HD isn't noticeably different than the picture from the cheap Magnavox digital tuner box I bought running through my Series 2 TiVo.

Thanks,