Tivo series 2 as cable box no subscription

[jasonbondone]

Hello I am thinking about getting the tivo series 2 and using it instead of my cable box. I spoke with tivo and optimum and they say it will work if i have basic cable all i have to do is connect the coax cable. I just want to know if i just get series 2 with out activating it will it still work? I heard when its not activated there is a message on the bottom that says activate tivo. Is this true or is it true if you have phone line plugged in? I want to activate but not until july. And will i get channels like tnt tbs mtv and so on. Since they are basic channels?

[mec1991]

A series 2 without service makes a nice doorstop or boat anchor.

[jasonbondone]

A series 2 without service makes a nice doorstop or boat anchor.

so which model can be used with out service?

[socrplyr]

so which model can be used with out service?

Depends on your definition of use, but S2s w/ DVD and S1 (at least some of them). Those ones are bettered by a VCR in terms of usability.

In general, the Tivo is a device that REQUIRES service... This forum has a nice search function to find information about Tivos without service.

[jasonbondone]

Depends on your definition of use, but S2s w/ DVD and S1 (at least some of them). Those ones are bettered by a VCR in terms of usability.

In general, the Tivo is a device that REQUIRES service... This forum has a nice search function to find information about Tivos without service.

yeah i know about search function. but no questions like mine have been asked. I basically want to use it instead of my cable box because i don't want to rent a box. I will get subscrition later onbut in the meantime i want to watch cable using the tivo. Do you understand now

[socrplyr]

yeah i know about search function. but no questions like mine have been asked. I basically want to use it instead of my cable box because i don't want to rent a box. I will get subscrition later onbut in the meantime i want to watch cable using the tivo. Do you understand now

The S2 doesn't replace a cable box, so any channels you can pick up directly with it will be analogs which you can get with the TV already. Now you can get a little bit of a buffer I believe without the sub. With most cable companies this means you will get channels less than 100 just like you already get with your TV. The S2 requires a cable box with it to get digital channels. As for something that replaces the cable box that would be an S3/HD/HDXL, but those would work the same unless you got a cable card. I am not sure if they operate a cable card without the service. As for the comment about the search, i just meant that for more info on those models that work somewhat search for it because it isn't worth it for me to search and post it when you could have yourself (wasn't meant as derogatory, just lazy on my part). Hope that was the info you were looking for.

[jasonbondone]

The S2 doesn't replace a cable box, so any channels you can pick up directly with it will be analogs which you can get with the TV already. Now you can get a little bit of a buffer I believe without the sub. With most cable companies this means you will get channels less than 100 just like you already get with your TV. The S2 requires a cable box with it to get digital channels. As for something that replaces the cable box that would be an S3/HD/HDXL, but those would work the same unless you got a cable card. I am not sure if they operate a cable card without the service. As for the comment about the search, i just meant that for more info on those models that work somewhat search for it because it isn't worth it for me to search and post it when you could have yourself (wasn't meant as derogatory, just lazy on my part). Hope that was the info you were looking for.

ok thanks i will now need to search and see if i can use with out sub with the s3 model thanks

[jjberger2134]

All S3 TiVo's require a subscription to use full functionality. All S2's require a subscription, except for the integrated DVD units (see below on the integrated units). The only thing you can do with an UNSUBSCRIBED TiVo is to play back shows already recorded, and use trick play on live TV (FF, RW, Pause the 30 minute buffer).

There were some integrated TiVo/DVD units made by Pioneer and Toshiba, that fall into the S2 category and they had something called TiVo Basic which is a free stripped down version of the TiVo Service. Those are no longer produced, so you would have to go used.

Basically, a new TiVo is not what you are looking for if you want to avoid subscription costs.

[jasonbondone]

All S3 TiVo's require a subscription to use full functionality. All S2's require a subscription, except for the integrated DVD units (see below on the integrated units). The only thing you can do with an UNSUBSCRIBED TiVo is to play back shows already recorded, and use trick play on live TV (FF, RW, Pause the 30 minute buffer).

There were some integrated TiVo/DVD units made by Pioneer and Toshiba, that fall into the S2 category and they had something called TiVo Basic which is a free stripped down version of the TiVo Service. Those are no longer produced, so you would have to go used.

Basically, a new TiVo is not what you are looking for if you want to avoid subscription costs.
not trying to avoid subscription cost. right now i am looking for an alternative to a cable box. I will be getting service but down the line so i want something cheap that i can use until a few moths when i am ready to pay for annual subscription.

[jjberger2134]

not trying to avoid subscription cost. right now i am looking for an alternative to a cable box. I will be getting service but down the line so i want something cheap that i can use until a few moths when i am ready to pay for annual subscription.

An alternative to a cable box would be the TiVoHD or S3 model. Those models replace the cable box by using cable cards (which you rent from your cable provider at a nominal cost).

Unfortunately, you cannot use the TiVo service without a subscription for a few months. I think you *may* be able to use it for about 2 weeks until you run out of guide data. Others will know better, but by severing the connection (phone/internet) you still may get functionality without guide data or the automatic recording features.