Is my Series2 DT pretty much worthless now?

[cl8855]

Just moved to a new house and don't have cable anymore (probably never)...read up on all the over-the-air threads on the series 2 DT and pretty much ended up with the conclusion that it is not workable for OTA.

That being said, I will probably end up getting an HD Tivo, but it would be nice if I could find a way to use or at least sell my DT series 2?

Thoughts? Is there really no way to get a DT S2 to work with the converter boxes? Can I keep it just to transfer other recordings to on another set from my HD when I get it? Or will transfer capability stop working when I remove the subscription?

[Mindflux]

Just moved to a new house and don't have cable anymore (probably never)...read up on all the over-the-air threads on the series 2 DT and pretty much ended up with the conclusion that it is not workable for OTA.

That being said, I will probably end up getting an HD Tivo, but it would be nice if I could find a way to use or at least sell my DT series 2?

Thoughts? Is there really no way to get a DT S2 to work with the converter boxes? Can I keep it just to transfer other recordings to on another set from my HD when I get it? Or will transfer capability stop working when I remove the subscription?

Lots of folks are using their S2's with converter boxes, the only caveat is you essentially turn your DT into a ST. There's a few threads around here that explain which boxes work and how to get them to work properly with an IR Blaster.

I suggest you read through this thread: http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=375578&highlight=converter+box

[RonDawg]

Lots of folks are using their S2's with converter boxes, the only caveat is you essentially turn your DT into a ST.

The OP's issue is not making one of the tuners useless. It's the fact that he is now on OTA, and his particular unit does not officially support that, even with a converter box.

Workarounds exist, with varying levels of reduced functionality.

The cheapest thing for the OP to do is buy a used Series 2 single tuner (as long as it is not a model 542) and transfer his sub to that. Unsubbed ones can be had quite cheaply, and he may be able to do a trade for his S2DT.

[Mindflux]

The OP's issue is not making one of the tuners useless. It's the fact that he is now on OTA, and his particular unit does not officially support that, even with a converter box.

Workarounds exist, with varying levels of reduced functionality.

The cheapest thing for the OP to do is buy a used Series 2 single tuner (as long as it is not a model 542) and transfer his sub to that. Unsubbed ones can be had quite cheaply, and he may be able to do a trade for his S2DT.

Why are the S2 Single Tuner's OTA capable but not the S2 DT's? I'm not very well versed with the S2's other than I have an S2DT on Analog Cable with no problems other than an issue with MRV.


http://www.tivo.com/assets/pdfs/prm/digital-transition/Antenna_Converter_Instructions.pdf

This document is specific to S2's with a CECB (converter box). I guess I'm at a loss what the issue is?

[ciper]

Tivo intentionally disabled OTA on the latest models. It's merely a software issue.

Not sure why they don't have the option to re-enable it with an STB (unless its a legal issue).

[Mindflux]

Tivo intentionally disabled OTA on the latest models.

Yes but when using a converter box, the TiVo no longer needs the ATSC tuner?? The CECB is going to do that and output it either via composite or coax to the TiVo itself. The box is doing the tuning not the TiVo.

[gastrof]

Yes but when using a converter box, the TiVo no longer needs the ATSC tuner?? The CECB is going to do that and output it either via composite or coax to the TiVo itself. The box is doing the tuning not the TiVo.

No Series 2 TiVo ever had a built-in ATSC tuner.

ATSC tuners are for digital channels.

Here's the deal-

The regular Series 2 machines can use their own tuner to get non-scrambled analog cable, and OverTheAir television.

They can also work with cable boxes and satellite boxes.

The Dual Tuner Series 2 units were made at a time when the FCC required all new TV devices to have digital (ATSC) tuners if they had an analog (NTSC) OTA tuner.

TiVo chose to not put an ATSC (digital OTA) tuner into the Dual Tuner TiVo, and they got away with it by making the DTs unable to work with analog OTA. They can only work with unscrambled analog cable, and with cable/satellite boxes.

When the regular Series 2s were upgraded to also work with OTA converter boxes, the DTs weren't included because they were never meant to work with OTA anyway.

There is a way to make a Series 1 or Series 2 DT work with an OTA digital converter box. It's a little involved and the results aren't perfect, but it does work. (One of my machines is set up that way now.)

If you need the setup info, ask away.