Tivo HD now or wait for Series 4

[bdj470]

I have been using Tivo now for the past 4 years or so. I February of this year I got my first HDTV but I have been using a Series 2 Tivo for recording shows. I can not record anything higher then channel 99 as I was using the serial cable to record shows with the Tivo and Comcast standard definition box. I lost the IR cables so now I can only record straight from cable to the Tivo Series 2.

I have been thinking of getting of getting Tivo HD but I have been thinking should I wait for the Series 4 box. I am probably answering my own question as I rarely purchase any PPV events and occasionally watch VOD.

I have Comcast (Delaware) for my provider. I have their Motorola HD box, no dvr. I called my local Comcast and I can not get a straight answer if they have multistream cards. I talked to two different people and the only answer I get is "Yes we have cable cards."

So should I get a Tivo HD now or wait for the Series 4 (whenever they released)?

[ycrazyy]

Well considering I don't think they have even talked about a Series 4 yet it is probably way off in the future (at least 2 years?). I'd just get a TiVoHD if it does everything you are looking for an HD DVR to do

[tough joe]

I have been using Tivo now for the past 4 years or so. I February of this year I got my first HDTV but I have been using a Series 2 Tivo for recording shows. I can not record anything higher then channel 99 as I was using the serial cable to record shows with the Tivo and Comcast standard definition box. I lost the IR cables so now I can only record straight from cable to the Tivo Series 2.

I have been thinking of getting of getting Tivo HD but I have been thinking should I wait for the Series 4 box. I am probably answering my own question as I rarely purchase any PPV events and occasionally watch VOD.

I have Comcast (Delaware) for my provider. I have their Motorola HD box, no dvr. I called my local Comcast and I can not get a straight answer if they have multistream cards. I talked to two different people and the only answer I get is "Yes we have cable cards."

So should I get a Tivo HD now or wait for the Series 4 (whenever they released)?

You can pick up replacement ir cables on ebay and the tivo.com store too. Just another option.

[TiVoDoughBoy]

...I called my local Comcast and I can not get a straight answer if they have multistream cards. I talked to two different people and the only answer I get is "Yes we have cable cards."

I wouldn't worry too much about single- or multi-stream cards. I started originally with a pair of Series2 TiVos like yours (actually had an original Philips "Series1" before that) replacing one of them with a Series3 TiVo HD unit after upgrading our family room TV to a plasma HD set, and then six months later replacing the other Series2 with another TiVo HD. And our second TiVo HD I use with our 27" SD CRT in our bedroom, but now I can get all of the digital and even HD channels there, too. So the second unit is overkill for the TV it's driving, but the picture has never looked better!

Anyway, my first TiVo HD unit has a multi-stream "mCard" (the tech showed up and didn't even know what it was and that he only needed one of them) and the second unit I requested another mCard, but the tech showed up with two single-stream "sCards", saying that the depot was out of mCards. But long story short, it really doesn't make a difference, you'll get the same functionality with either one mCard or two sCards. And Comcast (I have Comcast in the Philly 'burbs) should only charge you for the "unit", not the individual cards if you end up with sCards.

Other than that, my opinion would be "why wait"? I haven't heard any rumors of a "Series4" device either. The only thing you'd potentially be missing is VOD (I assume you mean Comcast's "On Demand" content)... but there's no guarantee that a future "Series4" would support that anyway.

[bdj470]

I haven't heard any rumors of a "Series4" device either. The only thing you'd potentially be missing is VOD (I assume you mean Comcast's "On Demand" content)... but there's no guarantee that a future "Series4" would support that anyway.

Ok thanks all!

Yes that is what I meant VOD either pay per view events or On-Demand. I could not even tell you the last time I ordered a pay per view event. And I rarely watch VOD.

[Millionaire2K]

If Tivo was smart they would start making a new model at least every year or two. However for anyone with a HD TV id say get a Tivo HD. Even if Tivo comes out with a series 4 in the next year your box will still have GREAT resale value if you buy a lifetime sub or upgrade the HD.

Good luck.

[davezatz]

I don't think it's likely we'll see a significantly different TiVo model this year, but it's safe to assume a (SDV and VOD-capable) tru2way TiVo is being developed. Given the reasonable price of the TiVoHD, I'd pick one up now rather than waiting.

[DrewTivo]

If Tivo was smart they would start making a new model at least every year or two. However for anyone with a HD TV id say get a Tivo HD. Even if Tivo comes out with a series 4 in the next year your box will still have GREAT resale value if you buy a lifetime sub or upgrade the HD.

Good luck.

You mean, find a new way to annoy customers by introducing new and better models every year or so?

What would be nice is modest updates, such as a larger internal hard drive. Storage costs are plummeting, and HD gobbles the storage.

[dbenrosen]

Ok thanks all!

Yes that is what I meant VOD either pay per view events or On-Demand. I could not even tell you the last time I ordered a pay per view event. And I rarely watch VOD.

You can get PPV events with the Series 3 or THD with Cablecards. You just have to call the cable company to do it instead of using the remote. But it works fine.

[demon]

You can get PPV events with the Series 3 or THD with Cablecards. You just have to call the cable company to do it instead of using the remote. But it works fine.

Long as they haven't moved to PPV over SDV - which some providers have. If they use the more conventional PPV infrastructure, then you'd be correct - but it depends, as so many things do these days, which provider you're saddled with.

[NotVeryWitty]

I haven't heard any rumors of a "Series4" device either. The only thing you'd potentially be missing is VOD (I assume you mean Comcast's "On Demand" content)... but there's no guarantee that a future "Series4" would support that anyway.
The rumors have been out there for close to nine months, and are based on comments by the Tivo CEO during one of their quarterly earnings report. The biggest change for the "Series 4" is the support of tru2way (formerly called OCAP), which will be used for (among other things) VOD and PPV. Here's Dave Zatz's blog link which I believe was the first to report it: http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-11/details-on-tivo-series-4/

I'm personally waiting to upgrade my two Series 2's until this new model is released. Having VOD and PPV support will make the Tivo all the more valuable to me, but I also feel that the current Series 3 and TivoHD models have way too many CableCard and QAM tuner issues (especially with Fios).

[AbMagFab]

The rumors have been out there for close to nine months, and are based on comments by the Tivo CEO during one of their quarterly earnings report. The biggest change for the "Series 4" is the support of tru2way (formerly called OCAP), which will be used for (among other things) VOD and PPV. Here's Dave Zatz's blog link which I believe was the first to report it: http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-11/details-on-tivo-series-4/

I'm personally waiting to upgrade my two Series 2's until this new model is released. Having VOD and PPV support will make the Tivo all the more valuable to me, but I also feel that the current Series 3 and TivoHD models have way too many CableCard and QAM tuner issues (especially with Fios).

If you don't have them, how can you possibly make a statement like that?

I've had FIOS for almost 2 years, and other than some initial attenuation issues, had no problems at all. It's been perfect after the initial setup and the attenuation tweaks. The CC's have never been an issue.

If you take the very small sample size of people posting problems as the entire set of users, you'll get a very distorted view.

And you'll miss years of TivoHD enjoyment waiting for the "next thing". With CE devices, there's always a "next thing", but you should generally try to enjoy what's available now.

[Ziggy86]

[QUOTE=AbMagFab;6501620]It's been perfect after the initial setup and the attenuation tweaks.QUOTE]

Fios just became available in my area and I have Tivo HD. What are attenuation tweaks?

I was leary of switching to fios only because I am concerned the Fios insstallers won't know what to do with the setup.

[RoyK]

[QUOTE=AbMagFab;6501620]It's been perfect after the initial setup and the attenuation tweaks.QUOTE]

Fios just became available in my area and I have Tivo HD. What are attenuation tweaks?

I was leary of switching to fios only because I am concerned the Fios insstallers won't know what to do with the setup.

Although the TiVoHD has the dynamic range required to meet the specifications (or so we are told) it has pixellation problems when presented with the strong signal levels present on some cable systems and FIOS.

The problem can be reduced or eliminated by reducing the signal level by putting attenuators in the coax line between the wall and the TiVo. These are inexpensive but some experimentation is necessary to get the necessary level.

There is a separate thread dealing with this problem:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=375011

[TiVoDoughBoy]

...but I also feel that the current Series 3 and TivoHD models have way too many CableCard and QAM tuner issues (especially with Fios).

I have a TiVo HD with an MCard and another with two SCards, along with a Panasonic plasma set with another SCard, and I've yet to have a single CableCard issue. Granted, it's with Comcast and not Verizon FiOS, so I can't speak to the FiOS issue and the need for signal attenuation, and all of my CableCards are Motorola, not Scientific Atlanta (most of the early TiVo HD CableCard issues were with the SA cards)... but my personal experience has been positive.

And once OCAP or tru2way or whatever they're calling it today starts to become available, I fully expect that there will be similar issues when they become available. The unfortunate fact of life when it comes to CableCard or tru2way is that you have the cable companies, content producers, consumer electronics manufacturers, and the government all with competing interests, very often not with the best interests of consumers themselves at heart, trying to "collaborate" on a technology via CableLabs -- in the end, those "collaborative" efforts often fail to live up to their original promise, specifically the promise to the consumer, when they are actually delivered. Then when they are delivered, they are late and only half-heartedly (or less) embraced by any of the original "collaborators". My rant about CableCard and tru2way... great promise, but lacking in delivery.

[kb7oeb]

With refurbs around for under $200 why wait for something unannounced.

[bdj470]

I bit the bullet today and purchased TivoHD from Vanns.com for $249.99. I thought I saw on here in another post where if I printed out the merchants page. Best Buy or even maybe Circuit City would price match. They would not. I tried, never hurt to ask.

[ZeoTiVo]

If Tivo was smart they would start making a new model at least every year or two. However for anyone with a HD TV id say get a Tivo HD. Even if Tivo comes out with a series 4 in the next year your box will still have GREAT resale value if you buy a lifetime sub or upgrade the HD.

Good luck.

actually for the past 6 years or so they have done that
I came in at 240
since then have bought
540 (well actually some free ones on that TiVo rewards awesome deal)
Toshiba SD H400 - DVD
Toshiba RS-TX20 - DVD burner
couple of DTs
TiVo HD

the single Tuner 540s are out to other people now.
the SD H400 is in the bonus room for the kids (love the DVR and DVD in one for there, no fuss on inputs for the kids and one rremote for TV and TiVo)

have the DTs in the family room along with the RS-TX20 for DVD playback(love having the TiVo trickplay on a DVD:up::up::up:)

The 240 and TiVo HD are upstairs in my temp office.
The 240 is lifetimed and still serves duty with a Slingbox for my BIL in Switzerland for his Nascar
TiVo HD is hooked to my only HD screen(19") right now in the temp office

So I did not even have the S3 in all the above.
There will be a slight gap longer than 2 years for the S4 but that is mianly due to working woth cable companies on tru2way standard)