True Cost of TivoHD (TWC)

[zync]

I'm trying to calculate the true cost of having a TivoHD on TWC (Austin in particular).

Here's the breakdown as I know it - in addition to TWC service...

1) TivoHD ($300, one time cost)
2) Tivo Subscription (varies)
3) 2 CableCards ($? per month)
4) 2 Outlet fees? ($? per month)
5) SDV TA ($? per month)

Anthing else? Does anyone know the answer to the ?'s above?

[FrancesTheMute]

You don't need 2 outlets, the TivoHD has two built-in tuners, only 1 coax goes into the back of the Tivo. You should only need 1 M card if your provider has them (most do these days, I think). The word we've gotten from TWC at least was that the TA would be provided free of charge, but who knows if that will stay true.

[bdraw]

You can buy the TiVo HD at Amazon for $229 all day long and three years of service is $300. CableCARD rental fees vary but at usually not more than $4/mo. I've never heard of anyone charging you for a TA or two outlets and you're going to have a TV there regardless so the first outlet shouldn't be counted so.

229+300+144=$673 for three years.

Vs the typical provider supplied DVR at $15/mo. $540.

[mattack]

You can buy the TiVo HD at Amazon for $229 all day long and three years of service is $300.

IMHO, if they're going to prepay for 3 years, they might as well pay $399 of lifetime -- or $299 if they already have a subscribed Tivo.

[ThAbtO]

My total cost for my THD, $324 for the THD+tax, and $199 for lifetime transfer, comes to $523, and I'm not using any cable only OTA. :D

[ciper]

I'm trying to calculate the true cost of having a TivoHD on TWC (Austin in particular).

Here's the breakdown as I know it - in addition to TWC service...

1) TivoHD ($300, one time cost)
2) Tivo Subscription (varies)
3) 2 CableCards ($? per month)
4) 2 Outlet fees? ($? per month)
5) SDV TA ($? per month)

Anthing else? Does anyone know the answer to the ?'s above?

Unfortunately no one can answer the question unless they are your neighbor. The fees vary wildly even within the same company. Some People have to pay for basic tier, extended tier, digital tier, HD tier, 2 outlet fees, 2 cable cards, an install fee on top of other fees I can't think of at the moment.

You don't need 2 outlets, the TivoHD has two built-in tuners, only 1 coax goes into the back of the Tivo.
That is not always the case. "Outlet" often means two simultaneous channels tuned in digital to the cable company regardless of how many pieces of coax are connected.

[TexasGrillChef]

If your THINKING going with TiVo will be your LOWEST cost solution and your looking to switch to TiVo to save money....

Then don't bother. Tivo is VERY RARELY the lowest cost solution to DVR ownership. Sometimes it can be, but not always.

Keep in mind that the TiVo has more features and capability than any DVR offered by TWC.

However, I am with TWC in Dallas.

NO SDV Tuner adapter required here. If one is needed, only one per TiVo unit is needed. This may or maynot be an added extra fee depending on TWC market your in. If you have TWC's DVR, a SDV tuning adapter is not required. I did contact my friend who works in the corporate office here in Dallas. He said he did not beleive that the Tuning adpaters were an added fee, or that if they were, the first one was at no charge.

TiVo only needs one M-Card. In Dallas the FIRST M-Card is provided FREE. Additional cards are $2 each / month. I have 3 extra.. (2 Tivo's, 2 Cable Card TV's 4 total) or $6 extra per month.

Cost of a TiVo can range from $230 to $300 if you get one new or refurbished, or who you get it from.

TiVo subscription fees run from $13 a month to a lifetime for $299. I go for monthly. Some people have had issues with transfering their lifetime subscriptions when they have had TiVo's fail, replaced or upgraded. In this day & age with companies filing bankruptcy... even BIG companies like GMC, FORD, CHRYLSER.... if you buy a lifetime for $299. Their is No PROMISE you will get that for your lifetime. Think of all the homeowners who thought they were getting a good deal on their mortgage only to lose their homes in foreclosure.

TGC

[ThAbtO]

TiVo subscription fees run from $13 a month to a lifetime for $299. I go for monthly.

TGC

Price of Tivo service for lifetime, $299 is for MSD. and $399 for Non-MSD. Monthly, 12.95 is Non-MSD, 9.95 is MSD.

[zync]

If your THINKING going with TiVo will be your LOWEST cost solution and your looking to switch to TiVo to save money....

Then don't bother. Tivo is VERY RARELY the lowest cost solution to DVR ownership. Sometimes it can be, but not always.

Keep in mind that the TiVo has more features and capability than any DVR offered by TWC.



Um, thanks...? I was one of the first TW DVR customers in Austin, and I've been a Tivo user for 8 years, so I've sorta figured that out already.

But you did give me some helpful price points.

The real drive here is being able to finally ditch the TWC box now that there is a solution to SDV, plus Netflix looks promising.

[dianebrat]

plus Netflix looks promising.
I have 2 friends that both have S3 series Tivo's and Xbox360s and both have griped at me about the Tivo Netflix quality and implementation, and how much better they like the XB360 implementation.

YMMV
Diane

[Mindflux]

Lets see, I have TWC in Round Rock.

I pay no outlet fees, no HD fees. Just a basic fee for the cable service, internet service and phone service. I pay a small fee for my M Cable card and no T.A rental fees (I was told there were none).

Overall, the net difference between the TWC HD Box and the TiVoHD box is a couple more bucks a month. 12.95 from TiVo + $3 or so from TWC for the M Card. vs a "Converter Box" of $5.10 and a HD box fee of $6.95.

Also you can get a TivoHD for as low as $208 shipped from 6ave.com with the right coupon right now.

[Brad Bishop]

When I was trying to figure it out (I'm in Atlanta) the main thing I came across is how you figure it:

If you completely ignore the cost of the TiVo + Lifetime service (just figure it as 'one of life's costs' and move on) and just look at it month to month then, yes, for me it does work out cheaper month to month.

If you look at the overall cost, you'd have to hold onto your Tivo well past it's useful life to make up the $15/month fees that they'll charge you for HD+DVR. The break-even point was something like 5 years out at which point the cable-costs would start out-weighing the cost of the Tivo+Lifetime.

The reality is that you'll probably buy a newer TiVo by then, anyway. It'll have Tru2way or some other feature or yours will die or be struck by lightning or something.

The big thing that pushed me over the edge, and I could deal with the cable company's kludgy interface, was the stupid channel line-up. I -hated- that I had to scan through all of these channels I didn't subscribe to in order to get to the ones I did (like scanning through 100s of Spanish, Porn, event-specific-sports channels, premiums, etc.). You couldn't turn them off, either. I asked the CSR one time about it and she told me, "They want it like that to encourage you to subscribe to the other channels."

Anyway, although it's kind of stupid, that's what pushed me over the edge. When my mom got an HD TV recently I told her, "Just get the cable box," because the reality is that she won't want to deal with the cost or trouble of getting TiVo working with her cable system and I don't want to work as some sort of out-of-state proxy for it.

[Scopeman]

I'm trying to calculate the true cost of having a TivoHD on TWC (Austin in particular).

Here's the breakdown as I know it - in addition to TWC service...

1) TivoHD ($300, one time cost)
2) Tivo Subscription (varies)
3) 2 CableCards ($? per month)
4) 2 Outlet fees? ($? per month)
5) SDV TA ($? per month)

Anything else? Does anyone know the answer to the ?'s above?

I am in Austin/Round Rock, I pay $2.95 per CableCard and $0 for the TA. There is no fee for a second outlet. I use two CableCards in my S3, you should be able to use only one in your TivoHD.

Check the Austin craigslist.org for cheap Tivos - they show up sometimes for ridiculously low prices.

FYI - Only recently did I install the cable cards (and the TA came last month). Until then I was using the basic (non-digital) TWC signal which provided a lot of channels in Analog non-HD, and combining that with a good attic mounted antenna. That gave me all locals in HD and everything in SD, and it was *cheap* compared to other options. Recently TWC offered me a great deal on Cable Modem/Digital Cable/Phone, otherwise I might have stayed with that setup.

However, now that my wife is used to HGTV in HD, I may not be able to go back to the prior setup. :-)

[bobrt6676]

Also you can get a TivoHD for as low as $208 shipped from 6ave.com with the right coupon right now.

I have seen several comments recently about a $208 coupon code. Where!!! The best I can fond is 240 @ Amazon today.

[ThAbtO]

Try www.couponcabin.com for all sorts of coupon codes from all sorts of stores.

[convergent]

I'm in Raleigh so your mileage may vary. (I'm paying a LOT more here to Time Warner than I did in Albany, NY for the same services)

Just bought a Tivo HD from Amazon for $227 + Tivo Lifetime for $299 from Tivo.

I just got a new price list for 2009 with many things from TW going up.

TW put in an MCard which is $2.50/month.
My understanding is the TA will be no charge.

In contrast, the 2009 pricing for TW's DVR is $10.95 for DVR service + $7.23 for additional box + $0.32 for remote... total $18.50/month. For 3 years, that is $666.
My 3 year cost for the MCard is $90 and my total cost including Tivo HD and lifetime fee is $616. So for me, the Tivo HD is $50 cheaper on paper. But who knows what will happen with the pricing over the next 3 years with TW. But for me, the Tivo is such a better DVR solution that I would want it even if it cost a lot more.