I screwed up and got a Tivo 2. Does it have any current utility?

[octosquid]

I picked up Tivo 2 40 hour recording model that appears to be new in the box and fully functional with all accessories. I paid $ 25.00 for it at a local thrift but I was so interested in the tech and the cheap price I didn't stop to think think about the fact that I rarely watch TV and only have basic tier cable.

Before I try and dump it on Ebay or give it away is there anything you can do with an older DVR like this? Can I use it to record basic cable (Comcast) without paying some subscription fee? The fold out setup guide seems to indicate it will work with a wireless internet system to play MP3s but you it appears have to get a TIVO wireless USB adapter to plug into the USB port on the back of the TIVO.

[StanSimmons]

Depending on the model number, there may be lots that can be done with it. You should be able to get basic (analog) cable with it, and you may be able to use a DTV converter to get over-the-air tv as well.

What model number is it?

[ZeoTiVo]

a 40 hour TiVo means single tuner folks.

You will need to subscribe to do anything with the DVR.

[gastrof]

If the local cable system goes all digital, the TiVo should be able to control the channel changes on a cable box, and be completely useable by having the cable box feed into the TiVo.

In fact, the only downside is that in a Series 2 dual tuner, it's mostly usable with cable and satellite, and on an all digital cable system (or on satellite) it'll only be able to record one show at a time.

As mentioned, a standard Series 2 can also record OverTheAir television ('tho now it'd have to do so by way of external digital converter box). By rights a dual tuner Series 2 shouldn't be able to work with an OTA digital converter (not meant for OTA television at all), but there's even a way to make that work. (The method works well enough with my Series 1.)

The only downside to having a Series 2 is that it only records in Standard Def, whereas a Series 3 can record in high def. Still, even a high def channel can be downrezzed and recorded on a Series 2.

As Zeo said, tho', a Series 2 will only record if you pay for the TiVo service. Maybe the OP already knew that?

[ZeoTiVo]

is there anything you can do with an older DVR like this? Can I use it to record basic cable (Comcast) without paying some subscription fee?


As Zeo said, tho', a Series 2 will only record if you pay for the TiVo service. Maybe the OP already knew that?


Basically the OP has a 240 model TiVo DVR .
if he subscribes it he can hook his cable right to it and record basic cable with a very intuitive and easy interface.

If the OP subscribes and finds a usb to Ethernet adapter then he can make use of the series 2 broadband features like streaming mp3 or downloading movies from amazon to watch.

if the poster does the above and likes it then the TiVo can be easily expanded with a larger hard drive so it holds more shows.

[fallingwater]

240s are the best of the S2's and $25 is about what a 40 hr. 240 is worth.

If the OP just wants a cheap toy he can use his new unsubbed 240 as an analog cable box or a digital STB controller with half-hour 'trick play'!

(I wonder if that unsubbed 240 I was fooling around with some months ago is still able to record manually. It's clock should be about 15 mins. fast now. It hasn't called in for over 1½ years.)

[octosquid]

240s are the best of the S2's and $25 is about what a 40 hr. 240 is worth.

If the OP just wants a cheap toy he can use his new unsubbed 240 as an analog cable box or a digital STB controller with half-hour 'trick play'!

(I wonder if that unsubbed 240 I was fooling around with some months ago is still able to record manually. It's clock should be about 15 mins. fast now. It hasn't called in for over 1½ years.)

What is trick play?

[scandia101]

Basically the OP has a 240 model TiVo DVR
???
It could just as easily be a 540.

[scandia101]

What is trick play?

The ability to pause ,ff, and rw live tv within the 30 minute live tv buffer.

[ZeoTiVo]

???
It could just as easily be a 540.

the 540 started at 80 hours of record time. Octo said he had 40 hours. Either way the advice is the same.


Octo - you can hook up the TiVo and do the 30 minute buffer of TV and the trick play in that without a subscription - you can not however do even a manual record for later use. All you will have is a 30 minute rolling buffer and if you change channels on the TiVo then the buffer goes to 0 and starts over.

[fallingwater]

...you can not however do even a manual record for later use...

True.

Manual recordings on S2s without service are only possible after an S2 has had service and then not allowed to call in before service was cancelled. Even then it's not a sure thing how long manual recording capability might last. Perhaps it only works on S2's which previously had Lifetime Service which was transferred to HDTiVos.

[classicsat]

No, the 540 came in 40 hr models.
The 649 (and R10) started at 80 hrs.

The DVD models that came with TiVo Basic were all 80Hr or bigger, IIRC.

[fallingwater]

Damn; Octo, does it have a nightlight or is it plain grey?

[jlb]

Or by any chance is it branded by AT&T? The AT&T branded TiVo was actually the first Series two machine and IIRC it was a 40-hour machine. My AT&TiVo still can do manual record. But I am not even sure if all AT&T series 2 TiVos can or if it was a quirk with mine. Although it is nice to have this as a "third tuner", I rarely use it now. But since you have it, who knows, maybe you will use it.

[ZeoTiVo]

No, the 540 came in 40 hr models.
The 649 (and R10) started at 80 hrs.

The DVD models that came with TiVo Basic were all 80Hr or bigger, IIRC.

Darn - Wikipedia started with the TCD540080
DVRupgrade lists the TCD540040 though. I never noticed the 40 hour 540 DVRs. Guess they did not last long.

Still no real difference for the OP between the 2.

[scandia101]

Darn - Wikipedia started with the TCD540080
DVRupgrade lists the TCD540040 though. I never noticed the 40 hour 540 DVRs. Guess they did not last long.

The 540040 was significantly more popular than the 540080, probably because it was the less expensive version. Similarly, the cheaper 80hr DT model out sold the 160hr model to the point of they stopped making the 160hr model.

[FrodoB]

We own one of the 40 hour 540s. It just didn't stay 40 hours for long. :) (It's currently unsubbed connected to the guest room TV, since I don't really care [to the tune of "would be willing to pay monthly for it"] if our guests can't record. :) )

[octosquid]

Damn; Octo, does it have a nightlight or is it plain grey?

It's not branded. By "nightlight" do you mean the fact that the somewhat translucent front panel appears to be backlight when plugged in?

[ZeoTiVo]

It's not branded. By "nightlight" do you mean the fact that the somewhat translucent front panel appears to be backlight when plugged in?

that is a 540 model then if you have that.
It works the same as the 240 model but the USB port is not quite as fast as the 240 model