Help -- what "size" TiVoHD and what pricing plan to get?

[rlcarr]

I currently have:
(a) A single-tuner S2 with Product Lifetime (not being used, but I let it connect every few months so that TiVo knows it's still alive).
(b) An S2DT with 3-year pre-paid that'll be expiring in December 2009.
(c) I do NOT have an HDTV and while we will eventually be getting one, that probably won't happen for at least six months.

My cableco (RCN) has announced it'll be going all-digital on August 12, 2008 (and the other two cableco options I have are already all-digital), screwing my existing S2DT, so I need to get a TiVoHD (I really need to have dual-tuner functionality).

However, if it wasn't for RCN going all-digital, I'd stick with the S2DT until we got our HDTV, hoping for a higher-end TiVoHD to come out, or hoping that a "Series 4" was out by the time we were ready to go all HD. I'd really hate to get a TiVoHD right before a new model came out.

So I'm trying to decide what to do. Should I just get the cheapest TiVoHD I can find, deactivate the S2DT and have the TiVoHD finish out the three-year prepay and then see what TiVo has available in late 2009? (I can do that, right -- if you have prepaid service you can deactivate the current TiVo and activate a new TiVo (if not bought directly from TiVo) on the remaining time?) The pro would be this would be the cheapest way to have a stopgap until the end of 2009, but the cons would be that I'd miss the chance to get Lifetime on it (and maybe Lifetime'll be gone again by the end of 2009) and that I'd have only 20hrs of HD capacity for when we do ultimately go HD (though I suppose I could do a drive upgrade later on).

Or should I get a pre-upgraded TiVoHD in the size I'd want it to have when we ultimately go HD? And then annual or lifetime? The idea here would be that I'd in essence be committing to it for three years (that's breakeven for annual vs. lifetime) regardless of what new models come out and then see what TiVo has in 2011?

[gastrof]

Your dual tuner Series 2 will still be usable on an all-digital cable system, if you get a cable box for it. It'll no longer be dual tuner, but it'll still work.

Your single tuner Series 2, same story.

When you say "the cheapest TiVo HD", what exactly do you mean? To the best of my knowledge, there's only three choices. Get a new one, get a "factory renewed" one for $199, or get a used one on eBay. (I find it hard to believe anyone would be selling one, but maybe.)

As for capacity, are you taking into consideration the fact you can hook up an external hard drive for additional storage?

There's talk that TiVo already has a Series 4 as a demo-model. How soon before it can be released/sold? I dunno. Supposedly it'll allow for true two-way communication with your cable company. How? I dunno.

[RonDawg]

Since the OP seems to be most concerned about dual-tuner functionality, the cheapest way to retain this is to take that Lifetime'd single tuner S2 that is not being used, and hook that up to another digital box from RCN.

If the RCN boxes will allow a serial connection to the TiVo, they can be right next to each other on the same TV. If IR blasters will be used, the OP will need to ensure that one TiVo doesn't change the other's box, either by putting them in separate rooms, or using some kind of makeshift "tent" to prevent stray IR signals.

[jlb]

I think I saw a banner on this forum that is for refurbed HDs for $179.

[rlcarr]

When you say "the cheapest TiVo HD", what exactly do you mean?


Refurb or not, also whether to just get the stock size or get a pre-upgraded one.


As for capacity, are you taking into consideration the fact you can hook up an external hard drive for additional storage?


I know about the Expander, but I don't want to use one. Both now and in the future, the TiVo is not in a good physical place to have some external drive hanging off it.


There's talk that TiVo already has a Series 4 as a demo-model. How soon before it can be released/sold? I dunno. Supposedly it'll allow for true two-way communication with your cable company. How? I dunno.

Exactly my problem 1/2 :)

[TivoZorro]

I'm sort of in the same situation. Although Time Warner isn't going all digital yet but I don't trust them to not do it next year.

Like you, what I need is dual turners whether it is for analog cable or for digital.

Am about to pull the trigger on this Tivo HD - 1015 hours from DVRUpgrade.

http://www.dvrupgrade.com/dvr/stores/1/product1_NoModel.cfm?SID=1&Product_ID=646&Category_ID=6

But I need lots of space. Have a 700 Hour Tivo that is almost always close to being full. Would love to have this as my base recording unit with the 700 Hour as backup and extra storage. Of course I'd like to have it set up before the Summer Olympics.

Am a bit concerned with the freezing issue with the Tivo HD but figure that Tivo will eventually get it resolved.

[jlb]

I think $ for $, your best bet is to get a stock unit and then upgrade yourself.

[acvthree]

I think $ for $, your best bet is to get a stock unit and then upgrade yourself.

I agree. Upgrade yourself either with the internal, external or both.

Just the standard external with the HDTivo is not enough storage, in my opionion, if you plan on watching any HD material.

I've used some of the services in the past and been very pleased, but the current software available is just too easy. An upgrade could be just the price of the disk drive, but make sure you have a PVR style disk drive (for noise and continuous duty).

Al