Should I repair or buy a new Tivo?

[dnsmithnc]

I am trying to decide on whether I need to repair or buy new Tivos. From what I can gather one has tuner problems and the other needs a new hard drive. In making this decision I need to know if my assumptions are correct on the following issues.

1) Tivo and Direct TV no longer have a business alliance
2) If I buy a Tivo for direct TV, I can no longer record two programs as once. I understood this to be the case from talking to a Direct TV tech support person.
3) If I buy a new Tivo, the price from direct TV is much more expensive than the $5.00 or so I am paying now per month now. This information comes from Direct TV tech support.
4) If I buy a refurbished Tivo like what I have, I will still have to pay more money per month for my Tivo service and still not be able to record two programs at once.
5) If assumptions 2, 3, and 4, are correct, it is in my best interest to do what I can to keep my Tivo going including new harddrives and repair of the tuner if needed.

Please let me know if any or all the assumptions above are incorrect and, if there are any other factors I should take into account. Presently I have two RCA 39 hour recording time Tivos. One already has an upgraded hard drive.

Thanks,
Dave in NC

[ThAbtO]

1) Tivo and Direct TV no longer have a business alliance
2) If I buy a Tivo for direct TV, I can no longer record two programs as once. I understood this to be the case from talking to a Direct TV tech support person.

There might be a new DirecTV/Tivo HD in the works for DirecTV but its going be a while to see it out.


4) If I buy a refurbished Tivo like what I have, I will still have to pay more money per month for my Tivo service and still not be able to record two programs at once.

It depends on the model of the new Tivo, and its source. If you go with OTA and/or cable, the Tivo HD and XL will record 2 channels at once, mix and match antenna and cable.

Just don't buy Refurbs from Tivo and you can get Multi-service discount for its 1st year.

[netringer]

Dump DirecTV and get one or more new or used HD TiVos for use with CableCARD.

[ZeoTiVo]

1) Tivo and Direct TV no longer have a business alliance
2) If I buy a Tivo for direct TV, I can no longer record two programs as once. I understood this to be the case from talking to a Direct TV tech support person.
3) If I buy a new Tivo, the price from direct TV is much more expensive than the $5.00 or so I am paying now per month now. This information comes from Direct TV tech support.
4) If I buy a refurbished Tivo like what I have, I will still have to pay more money per month for my Tivo service and still not be able to record two programs at once.
5) If assumptions 2, 3, and 4, are correct, it is in my best interest to do what I can to keep my Tivo going including new harddrives and repair of the tuner if needed.

1. TiVo and directTV do indeed have an alliance again. They are working on a newTiVo powered DirectTV HD DVR. My bet is it will be out in 2009
2. - if you buy a standalone TiVo series 2 it is true that you will only record from one tuner. Series 3 will not work at all. I would look on ebay for SD DirectTV TiVo powered DVRs and get one of those to tide me over until new unit comes out.
3. yes, a standalone TiVo DVR is not sub through DirecTV so no subsidy on monthly price. The DirectTV tech conveniently ignored the used DirectTV TiVo powered DVRs you can by used
4. wrong. if you buy a TiVo meant to be used on directTV you will have two tuners and be able to use both at same time. I have read here that if you bring your own that DirectTV will activate it - though likely starting a new 2 year contract.
5. Fixing the one hard drive is indeed the best and if you can repair the tuner for cheap then that sounds easiest as well and no new contracts from DirectTV.


there is a directTV forum here where you can get more first hand accounts on your questions

[dnsmithnc]

Thanks everyone for your help. Thanks especially to ZeoTivo for thoughtful, well organized and understandable responses.

Dave in NC

[SER71]

Dave,
I am in NC also, Durham to be exact. I am currently sitting here looking at a DirecTV HDVR2 that I have been using as a paperweight for about 4 years. I fired it up this morning and it still works, I just don't have DirecTV anymore. If you want it, it's yours if you are close enough to come and get it, it still has the access card. Also, if you are not close enough to come get it, I'd be willing to work a deal with you on shipping charges and just ship you the harddrive and access card out of it. Let me know.

Scott

[jmace57]

1. TiVo and directTV do indeed have an alliance again. They are working on a newTiVo powered DirectTV HD DVR. My bet is it will be out in 2009



If this comes to pass, I will dump Comcast faster than you will believe...

Jim