SA Tivo in the Motorhome.

[tourdewolf]

Long time member but haven't been around in awhile, could use a little push in the right direction. Searched and read quite a bit to try to get up to speed but still not sure of what we need to make this work.

We are currently traveling around the USA in a motorhome. It's equipped with a semi auto (non mobile) dtv dual LNB dish connected to an HR10250. Works well when we have a clear view, unfortunately that isn't as often as we'd like (hardly ever) which has me looking for an alternative.
We also listen to and watch several podcast on the computer along with other video content.
Most campgrounds we stay have DTV or DISH modulated with connections at each site. Also we have an OTA antenna, wifi router connected to a sprint air card (most campgrounds have wifi also). Both tvs are SD so we don't need HD but wouldn't want to rule out an upgrade in the future.

Is it possible and what would would I need to buy (after dropping DTV) to add a SA Tivo and record both OTA and/or modulated feeds from the campground. Also we would like to watch podcast and other videos on the Tivo and hopefully drop tv shows onto dvd to watch while the motorhome is in motion (I turn all HDD devices off while moving). Does this sound feasible or am I missing something?
Please share any suggestions, advice, links to other post, etc.

[pdonoghu]

I use a Series 2 dual tuner in a travel trailer. We set up the travel trailer for a month at a time in a campground with a cable feed, so our circumstances are a little different.

You will need to connect the Series 2 to the internet to receive the guide data and to keep it working. If it goes 2 weeks without a connection, it has very limited use. Connecting to the internet will also give you access to Tivo casts, pod casts, rent/buy Amazon Unbox movies, etc.. You can connect a Tivo to your router to get these.

I assume that the DTV/Dish signal is modulated onto RF and no satellite set top box is needed? If that is the case, it will look like cable to the Tivo. The potential issue you face is if the channel lineup is the same as satellite or different in each campground. You may or may not be able to get accurate guide data, and you might have to rerun guided setup at each campground if the lineup is different (assuming you can get a lineup).

You could use Tivo Desktop to transfer non copy protected content to a computer and burn a DVD (you'll need a supported application that can read Tivo files to burn DVDs).

So far so good. The issue I see is with OTA. The only currently available (new) Series 2 is the dual tuner model, which does not support OTA. You could get a used Series 2 single tuner model, most of which support OTA. Come 2/2009, analog OTA transmissions end, so you would need a digital to analog converter box to be able to tune digital OTA. Tivo has announced support for select converter boxes for Series 2 single tuner Tivos that originally supported OTA. You will be able to do OTA, or use the campground cable feed, but not both at the same time (unless you get 2 Tivos).

So in general, it sounds like what you want to do will work. Not sure how well a Tivo hard disk will hold up in a motor home. I expect the life expectancy will be significantly shortened. We've probably run about 8 or 10 K miles with the Tivo in the travel trailer, so far so good.

[classicsat]

To include OTA in what you want, you need an older Series 2, or a TiVo HD/Series 3. You may be able to, in a limited fashion, set up a DTV-OTA tuner as a cable or satellite box.

[ZeoTiVo]

check out streaming option on the web like HULU, SyncTV and Netflix as well. If you can hook into decent internet connection at the parks then that is a viable option. HULU is free even.

The Series 3/TiVo HD has been slated to get You Tube streaming sometme this year - could be the start of more streaming via TiVo. Note this will not be for series 2 due to hardware limitations on H-264 format for series 2.

OTA will be a problem since it will change as you travel, factor that into your thinking.

you can go to www.zap2it.com and see if they list channel guide(s) for the mobile parks - with any luck it will be just one guide for most of the parks at least in the same brand like KOA.

[tourdewolf]

Great! This is just the insight I was hoping for.
It sounds like I need to shop for an older Series 2 or an HD/series 3 for OTA. My only reason for wanting OTA is for the few campgrounds that have no tv hookup whatsoever.

All of the inputs (dtv, cable, ota) connect to a matrix switcher allowing us to select individual sources for each or all tvs. I'm correct in thinking that I could record any single source at a time? Could I just switch between the campground feed to ota and back. I'm guessing I would loose season pass type features and would need to rely more on time and channel record settings (those of course would change with each location).
Does the series3 or HD support the new digital OTA broadcast?

Are there any reasons not to go ahead and get an HD Tivo, assuming when we get stationary again we'll hookup with cable or dtv?

Thanks so much for the feedback, I've been wrestling with this for months but it looks like I'm close to a solution.

TD

[classicsat]

You would repeat guided setup wherever you go, to get local lineups. Or otherwise just do a scan and manual recordings.

Season passes are for the particular channel, so if you are in a different place, the OTA channels will not work, nor may some cable type programming.

The Series 3/HD models do not work with any provider that absolutely requires you have a box. Mostly, that is satellite and IPTV services. They come equipped with digital OTA tuners, so are ready for that, and can be set up for cable and OTA at the same time.

An older Series 2 would need a DTV-OTA box for digital OTA, but will get analog OTA or cable at the same time, plus can work with a DirecTV receiver to record from it.

Just thinking, you can keep the HR10-250 for OTA in the motorhome (it will work for OTA if satellite signal is missing), and a Series 2 DT for the cable systems, multimedia, and a second DirecTV reciever.

[petew]

You mentioned dumping TV shows off to DVD. This is possible from a S2/S3 Tivo via a PC, but for a more integrated approach the HUMAX DRT800/400 is a wonderful unit. It's a Series 2 Tivo with DVD-RW built in. Unfortunately they've long since ceased manufacture so you'd have to search for one. I have one and love it.

[RonDawg]

The Humax DVD units I believe are still available brand new from the Weaknees site. The Pioneer and Toshiba models you would have to search out a source such as eBay.