Some quick general questions from an old TiVo guy

[Philosofy]

I moved three years ago, before TiVo had come out with a high def cable version. I can't get satellite at my house.

Right now we only have one TV, but we want to add one to the kitchen. I was thinking of two high def TiVo's: that way we can network them wirelessly and watch whatever show we want wherever we want. One TiVo can plug directly into my modem or router, the other would be wireless. I realize I can't watch high def from one TiVo on the other in real time.

With two TiVo's, how much would my subscription costs be?

Also, my mom is the only person I know without cable or satellite. She has an older standard TiVo with lifetime subscription. Can that be transferred since it will essentially be a brick when the digitial transition happens?

Thanks!

[jkalnin]

The first TiVo is no brick. My Series 2 is connected to a Comcast digital converter box which will work fine for a long long time. Problem solved there.

The lifetime on a TiVo is $400, $300 for the second one. Each unit costs around $200, and the cable company will charge you for extra cable cards - around $10 a month for each one or more. Hard to say your total cost but I suspect having a TiVo in the kitchen is overkill.

[ZeoTiVo]

the cable company will charge you for extra cable cards - around $10 a month for each one or more.

you are getting robbed then. Most large cable companies do not charge that much but more in the range of 2$ a month.

You can move a subscription over by just calling the CSR, your Mom may need to chime in, if it is not on your account already or by going to the website and changing the TSN if it is on your account already.

An TiVo did indeed update series 2 software so they can control various digital convertors for OTA antennas

[Philosofy]

The reason I want two TiVo's is because I want to network the kitchen tv in with the rest of the entertainment unit. A TiVo seems like the most elegant solution. If I went monthly with the two HD TiVo's, what would the costs be?

[pcbrew]

The previous responses were a little of base concerning your stated situation...

The first TiVo is no brick. My Series 2 is connected to a Comcast digital converter box which will work fine for a long long time. Problem solved there.

This doesn't apply since you say your Mom does not have cable or sat service.

Zeo is right in that older S2's have been upgraded to handle DTV converter boxes.

You can move a subscription over by just calling the CSR, your Mom may need to chime in, if it is not on your account already or by going to the website and changing the TSN if it is on your account already.

However, this does not apply since you cannot transfer lifetime service. However, your Mom is eligible for reduces cost lifetime service, which most folks here would probably recommend. If you can register them on your Mom's account, it's only $299 each and then you can transfer them to your own. This is equivalent to your Mom buying them and buying LT and then selling them to you. Otherwise it would cost you $399 each.
(Note: I am assuming your Mom is at a separate residence.)

If you do not want to go lifetime, the plans are listed here:
https://www3.tivo.com/store/plans.do
Monthly payments are $12.95 each.
You need to sign up for at least a year of service.
You can get a 1-year pre-pay for $129 ($10.75/month)

[ZeoTiVo]

However, this does not apply since you cannot transfer lifetime service.

If you do not want to go lifetime, the plans are listed here:
https://www3.tivo.com/store/plans.do
Monthly payments are $12.95 each.
You need to sign up for at least a year of service.
You can get a 1-year pre-pay for $129 ($10.75/month)
oops - forgot the one at mom's was lifetime - but that can be used to saved costs on the other 2 TiVo DVRs by getting MSD rates on both
Multi Service Discount price is 9.95 a month or 99$ for the year or the 299$ for lifetime mentioned by pcbrew

[pdonoghu]

The reason I want two TiVo's is because I want to network the kitchen tv in with the rest of the entertainment unit. A TiVo seems like the most elegant solution. If I went monthly with the two HD TiVo's, what would the costs be?

The costs have already been provided if you put the Tivo's on your mom's account. If you open your own account, the first unit would be $12.95/month, or $399 for lifetime (although you could activate lifetime on your mom's account for $299 and then transfer to your own account). Your second unit would qualify for the Multi Service Discount, $9.95/month, $99/year prepay, or $299 lifetime.

[restart88]

Also, my mom is the only person I know without cable or satellite. She has an older standard TiVo with lifetime subscription. Can that be transferred since it will essentially be a brick when the digitial transition happens?

Older? Won't a digital converter work with it??

BTW the digital conversion already happened yesterday. :D

That said some stations are still broadcasting analog. But some no longer are.

[berkshires]

Don't forget to buy your mom a TiVoHD for Mother's Day, subscribe to Netflix, and register all 3 THDs on your Netflix account so you all can watch lots of good stuff.

[ciper]

you are getting robbed then. Most large cable companies do not charge that much but more in the range of 2$ a month
Told you so.

[pcbrew]

Older? Won't a digital converter work with it??

BTW the digital conversion already happened yesterday. :D

That said some stations are still broadcasting analog. But some no longer are.

Yes, DTV converter will work, as Zeo noted.

FYI, the DTV conversion (analog shutoff) deadline was delayed until June 12:
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=7045953#post7045953
Stations can still shut off the analog signal before then, but the official deadline was shifted. I believe the stimulus bill just signed includes additional ($650 mil) funding for the converter box coupon program.

[fallingwater]

The first TiVo is no brick. My Series 2 is connected to a Comcast digital converter box which will work fine for a long long time. Problem solved there.

The lifetime on a TiVo is $400, $300 for the second one. Each unit costs around $200, and the cable company will charge you for extra cable cards - around $10 a month for each one or more. Hard to say your total cost but I suspect having a TiVo in the kitchen is overkill.

Although one CableCARD is often provided free and a second one for S3 is typically cheap ($2± mo.) most cable co.s charge extra when an account uses more than one device using CableCARD(s). Thus HDTiVo will save a couple of bucks monthly over S3 but when either is used along with another S3/HDTivo $5-6 mo. will typically be added.

[jkalnin]

I got that price wrong about the cable card sorry. The $10 that I am thinking of is the additional outlet fee that Comcast hits you with for having more then one digital box.

[ZeoTiVo]

you are getting robbed then. Most large cable companies do not charge that much but more in the range of 2$ a month.

Told you so.

I got that price wrong about the cable card sorry. The $10 that I am thinking of is the additional outlet fee that Comcast hits you with for having more then one digital box.

:rolleyes:

[jkalnin]

I don't know what your rolling your eyes at, care to see my cable bill? Or just search for my username in here and digital outlet, I've already complained about Comcast nickel and diming me to death.

[pdhenry]

I agree with jkalnin. There's a fee for the second "digital outlet." I thought it was on the order of $6 or $7. Then the first Cable Card on that additional outlet is free, the second (for an S3) is a couple of bucks.

[ZeoTiVo]

I don't know what your rolling your eyes at, care to see my cable bill? Or just search for my username in here and digital outlet, I've already complained about Comcast nickel and diming me to death.

sorry I wa not clear that it was Ciper I was rolling my eyes at after his attempt at showing high cost of cable cards from some other thread. the 10 dollar digital outlet charge is something to definitely consider if add a second digital anything.

[ciper]

sorry I wa not clear that it was Ciper I was rolling my eyes at after his attempt at showing high cost of cable cards from some other thread. the 10 dollar digital outlet charge is something to definitely consider if add a second digital anything.
3$ for the cable card and 7$ for the second digital outlet comes to 10$ per month.
Its not a stretch to think a person would have a "free" cable box in the kitchen/bedroom and the TiVoHD in the front room which, at a minimum, would suffer from the 10$ charge in my previous sentence.

Basically with guide mapping he could have a cable box in the kitchen which is included with service and the TiVoHD in the front room without the extra 10$ a month.

Told you so.