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View Full Version : TiVo HD vs. TiVo S3

drew00001
09-11-2008, 04:09 PM
I have researched this, but was wondering if anyone is seeing any audio or video differences between S3 and THD Units.

I currently have my S3 connected to a new 50" 1080P plasma and a Surround Sound receiver, with two Cablecards. I also have a THD, which is connected to a 36" analog 4:3 television in my bedroom, without any Cablecards.

I am totally happy not having Cablecards on my THD in my bedroom, but am considering attaching such to my Plasma and Receiver with one M-Cablecard. I expect this will allow me to return the two S-Cablecards and not pay Comcast for the additional Cablecard charge.

My primary concern is if I will notice a difference in audio or video quality between the THD and S3 units. Please let me know if you have any experience with this.

As a side note, I have a 750GB drive in my S3, which I would move to the THD if I attached the THD to my receiver and Plasma.
jlib
09-11-2008, 09:45 PM
...As a side note, I have a 750GB drive in my S3, which I would move to the THD if I attached the THD to my receiver and Plasma.Just make sure you realize you are only moving the physical drive not the contents. You will have to redo the drives from the originals or your backups. Makes more sense to just buy another 750GB or 1TB drive for your HD. Prices are affordable for anyone with 2 TiVos and a 50" Plasma. ;)
drew00001
09-12-2008, 11:21 AM
Prices are affordable for anyone with 2 TiVos and a 50" Plasma. ;)

I wish this were true. I will actually have forgo the second drive. :(
jlib
09-12-2008, 04:53 PM
So, in your case it is not affordable precisely because you have 2 TiVos and a 50" Plasma. Understood.
drew00001
09-12-2008, 06:02 PM
So, in your case it is not affordable precisely because you have 2 TiVos and a 50" Plasma. Understood.

It was mostly just the Plasma.
drew00001
09-15-2008, 12:36 PM
Bump . . . hope everyone had a great weekend.
bweeston
09-15-2008, 01:03 PM
During an extended period when I was having cablecard problems in the Cox Phoenix area, I began watching TV on both of my TivoHDs without the cablecards. I can tell you I noticed a significant difference in the video quality between having the cablecards in my TivoHD and not.
ZeoTiVo
09-15-2008, 01:26 PM
During an extended period when I was having cablecard problems in the Cox Phoenix area, I began watching TV on both of my TivoHDs without the cablecards. I can tell you I noticed a significant difference in the video quality between having the cablecards in my TivoHD and not.
you mean between recording digital channels and analog channels. I think that was more a sourceo f recording issue versus THD itself.

with cable cards I do not think the OP will notice any difference. Loosing the contents of the S3 versus buying another hard drive will be an issue for him however.

any PC with TTG the OP can use to move them off the S3? if so then you can move them onto the TiVo HD with no issue after the hard drive swap.

Bear in mind you need an S3 image as well. And I am not sure you can copy even the OS part of the S3 onto a smaller drive from the 750gig in now. if you have the original S3 drive than you cna just simply put that back in.

then take the 750gig - and let the copy software reformat the drive and then copy the Tivo HD image and shows onto the bigger drive.
drew00001
09-15-2008, 02:24 PM
. . . I am not sure you can copy even the OS part of the S3 onto a smaller drive from the 750gig in now. if you have the original S3 drive than you cna just simply put that back in.

Good point . . . I had planned on keeping several protected recordings (6 star wars and Live Free or Die Hard, etc) on my S3.

I suppose I have two issues: (1) whether I can copy 750GB to original 250GB drive, and (2) whether the S3 will play protected recordings without Cablecards.
ZeoTiVo
09-15-2008, 02:44 PM
Good point . . . I had planned on keeping several protected recordings (6 star wars and Live Free or Die Hard, etc) on my S3.

I suppose I have two issues: (1) whether I can copy 750GB to original 250GB drive, and (2) whether the S3 will play protected recordings without Cablecards.

cable cards have no bearing on playing the shows once they are recorded. No issues there.

Simply put - you can not do a copy of an image on a lrger drive to a smaller drive.

you can not do a copy of the shows from the S3 to the TiVo HD while swapping hard drives.

It really is expedient to find the money for a larger drive for the TiVo HD and just up its size or else bite the bullet on two cards in the S3
drew00001
09-15-2008, 09:09 PM
It really is expedient to find the money for a larger drive for the TiVo HD and just up its size or else bite the bullet on two cards in the S3

Good point! I'll likely just bite the bullet for now, and upgrade my THD's drive (and get a multicard) when I have more money.