Need some input on HDTivo purchase....

[dirk1843]

My Series 2 TiVo is dying a death due to hard drive failure, and thinking of what to replace it with. Like many others, been holding my breath for D*'s HDTiVo, but seems like it may be forever before we get it, wife will not let me go that long without TiVo.

Thought about getting D*'s DVR, but really a TiVo fan.

Found in my local Sears, ONE left, display model HDTiVo for about 70 bucks. No box, manual, remote, cables, etc. They will give 30 day return, but they don't think it has the full waranty from TiVo. Usually this would not be an issue for me, except for the fact that my 30 month old unit is dying.

I bit the bullet, and told them I would take it, then they could not get the security strap off it, and told me to come back tomorrow.

Is there anything special about the remote that comes with the HDTiVo? I have a couple of peanuts laying around, one for a Series1, one for a D*Tivo, and one for the dying Series2, so that won't be an issue.

Does TiVo offer good pricing on replacements/repairs for units that fail out of warranty??

Sears doesn't think it has even been plugged in before, and I think this may be a good deal for a bare box. Any thoughts??

[bkdtv]

Is there anything special about the remote that comes with the HDTiVo? I have a couple of peanuts laying around, one for a Series1, one for a D*Tivo, and one for the dying Series2, so that won't be an issue. You can use your old DirecTiVo / Series2 remote. The HD TiVo remote has an aspect button, though I believe the WINDOW button on the older TiVo remotes will perform that function.

Does TiVo offer good pricing on replacements/repairs for units that fail out of warranty??Inside the 90-day parts warranty, TiVo charges $0 for a replacement. Between 91-365 days, TiVo charges $49 for a replacement. After a year (out of warranty), TiVo charges $149 for a refurbished TivoHD replacement.

You should be aware that the TivoHD is not a reliable DVR for basic/analog cable with the current software. The TivoHD is only a reliable DVR for digital cable (i.e. cable with a CableCard) and OTA. More information on that in the Known Issues thread (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=7097497#post7097497).

Once you've verified that your TiVo works, you can upgrade it with a 1TB drive using the instructions in the Drive Upgrade sticky (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=370784).

[innocentfreak]

Found in my local Sears, ONE left, display model HDTiVo for about 70 bucks. No box, manual, remote, cables, etc. They will give 30 day return, but they don't think it has the full waranty from TiVo. Usually this would not be an issue for me, except for the fact that my 30 month old unit is dying.


Another option is Sears does offer an extended 2 year warranty for $20 or so.

[dirk1843]

Wow thanks for the heads up about the "grey screen" issue. I had no idea, and yes basic cable would be my main recording source.

Hard to believe that TiVo has had such a serious issue for such a long time on such a "basic" level.

Sounds like I won't be going back to Sears today........... :(

[Polekat]

Unless you wanted to purchase it for a fellow tivocommunity forum member? I'm serious by the way.

[dirk1843]

I went ahead and picked it up.

I can give it 30 days to see if it will work for me, Sears even offered a 10 dollar 2 year protection plan, they won't replace it, but will give me a gift card for the amount of purchase.

If it dosen't work out, who knows, may take polekat up on his post.

[innocentfreak]

I can give it 30 days to see if it will work for me, Sears even offered a 10 dollar 2 year protection plan, they won't replace it, but will give me a gift card for the amount of purchase.

Yeah my question for this has always been I wonder how Tivo would handle it with lifetime. Since you have an extended warranty, they supposedly will transfer it but if you aren't given a new Tivo as part of the swap are you SOL especially if you can't find a Tivo HD anymore assuming in 2 years time a new model is out?