Switched digital video

[djkid4]

Does this unit still require the tuning adapter if your cable provider has digital switched video?

[fatlard]

Does this unit still require the tuning adapter if your cable provider has digital switched video?

Yes

[djkid4]

Yes

Oh. Ok. Hate those things

[WhiskeyTango]

Another FAIL on this Tivo. They made the UI look pretty but couldn't be bothered to address a major issue users are having.

[FrancesTheMute]

Another FAIL on this Tivo. They made the UI look pretty but couldn't be bothered to address a major issue users are having.

to be fair, it's not really Tivo's fault, it's the Cable Companies rolling out SDV way faster than anticipated.

[orangeboy]

Another FAIL on this Tivo. They made the UI look pretty but couldn't be bothered to address a major issue users are having.

So what tuning adapter did you want TiVo to incorporate? The Cisco/SA TA, or Motorola? Think carefully!

[WhiskeyTango]

So what tuning adapter did you want TiVo to incorporate? The Cisco/SA TA, or Motorola? Think carefully!

Don't know, I don't have SDV (yet, thankfully). I just don't understand them releasing a new model with the same problems as the previous model. I've read plenty of horror stories about SDV on this site to know that it is a known issue that has yet to be addressed. You'd think part of their $60 million annual R&D budget would go towards addressing current and known problems. Instead, Tivo chose to just make the UI look better and ignored those issues. Why bother with a new model then? It's like Toyota releasing the next years model that still has gas pedal problems but saying that they've added satellite radio standard and expecting people to pony up big bucks.

[orangeboy]

Don't know, I don't have SDV (yet, thankfully). I just don't understand them releasing a new model with the same problems as the previous model. I've read plenty of horror stories about SDV on this site to know that it is a known issue that has yet to be addressed. You'd think part of their $60 million annual R&D budget would go towards addressing current and known problems. Instead, Tivo chose to just make the UI look better and ignored those issues. Why bother with a new model then? It's like Toyota releasing the next years model that still has gas pedal problems but saying that they've added satellite radio standard and expecting people to pony up big bucks.

Sorry - it was a trick question. TiVo would had to build 2 or more models with integrated Tuning Adapters, because Motorola TA's don't work on a SA headend, and SA TA's don't work on Motorola headends. I say 2 or more models, because a third box could be a less expensive box without an integrated TA. It then begs the questions: how many to make of each? how much to re-tool the assembly line to produce 2-3 different models? what's the consumer going to do if they move to another area with a different cable headend? I think the current modular implementation, allowing the use of any TA (or not) with a single DVR model is the best idea given the current situation. I had a SA Tuning Adapter for the better part of 6 months, and had trouble only on the day of install. I'm sure TiVo addressed or is addressing the major problems that occur with the Series3 DVRs with this new hardware and software. I'm also sure there are problems that TiVo can never address...

[SeanC]

Sorry - it was a trick question.

I don't know why, but I'm shocked that people are so mystified by the fact that the S4 doesn't deal with SDV or tru2way. You're trick question and explanation is exactly why they won't and shouldn't build a bunch of different S4 models.

As for tru2way, there is no standard there, just a proposal. No one is supporting it yet so there is nothing to build to.

I think people should just come to terms with the fact that we'll probably never see a Tivo that fully integrates with cables systems, cable companies will keep moving those goal posts to protect their box rentals.

[MickeS]

I think TiVo did the only thing they realistically could do with respect to tru2way at this point - ignore it and build their own IP based VOD solution. It was ridiculous to seriously expect this box to have it.

[pninen]

The tuning adapters are a disaster. (I have Cisco)

TiVo has never been able to write software that will communicate reliably with the tuning adapter. This will be the death of them.

I would buy a new box in a heartbeat if it got rid of the tuning adapter, or hell even if it worked properly with the tuning adapter.

[WhiskeyTango]

The tuning adapters are a disaster. (I have Cisco)

TiVo has never been able to write software that will communicate reliably with the tuning adapter. This will be the death of them.

I would buy a new box in a heartbeat if it got rid of the tuning adapter, or hell even if it worked properly with the tuning adapter.

This is my issue. At least get the TA's to work properly. I don't care about OnDemand content, that's why I have a Tivo, I use it's capabilities to record what I want to watch so I don't need OD. The problem I've heard about is the TA's crapping out making the Tivo useless or unreliable at best. This isn't the only issue not addressed, what about CCI and MRV issues? What about the lack of integrated scheduling across a network? Etc. None of these issues were addressed in what was proposed to be a new level of DVR. Instead we got a pretty UI and streamlined search function. Not worthy of a new Series IMO.

[nrc]

Not worthy of a new Series IMO.

The "Series" has nothing to do with features. A new hardware platform was need to to deal with the demands of an HD interface and new features. That's what makes it a new series. Other features may be added over time.

[captjackny]

The tuning adapters are a disaster. (I have Cisco)

TiVo has never been able to write software that will communicate reliably with the tuning adapter. This will be the death of them.

I would buy a new box in a heartbeat if it got rid of the tuning adapter, or hell even if it worked properly with the tuning adapter.

I’ve had the premier box for about a year now and have had Tuning Adapter problems from the beginning. I have the Time Warner Cisco TA and after few weeks it starts to drop SDV channels until it gets to the point where all SDV channels are unavailable/not found.

I’ve had the cable card and TA replaced by Time Warner but problem persists. Recently I spoke to the Time Warner tech rep in their North Carolina tech support center where the TA and Cable card experts are. He told me that the TA dropping SDV channels is a well known problem with TiVo and it is because the USB connection between the two boxes gets corrupted over time and the TA then never receives the request for a SDV channel from TiVo. The only solution is to unplug the USB and power and then re-plug. This does work but at some point down the line the USB will lose contact and the problem will reoccur.

Basically customers are caught in the middle since Time Warner implies it is a TiVo problem although they know TiVo will probably never do anything about it. The rebooting is not a big deal but the problem is when it happens and you are scheduled to record a SDV channel, you’re screwed.

I would have never purchased the Premier box had I known about the SDV problems.

[unitron]

Aren't tuning adapters what the cable company provides if you're using something other than something you rent from them?

If so, of course they're going to be as cheap to build as possible and only work under ideal conditions, because the cable company doesn't want you using anything you aren't renting from them.

[rblum]

While in some cases the TA problem is cable company related, there is one fact at my installation: My Tivo HD has no problems or maybe one in a year, and my Tivo Premier has had many such issues in a year. I even swapped TAs to be sure it wasn't the individual TA.

[crxssi]

I’ve had the premier box for about a year now and have had Tuning Adapter problems from the beginning. I have the Time Warner Cisco TA and after few weeks it starts to drop SDV channels until it gets to the point where all SDV channels are unavailable/not found.

I’ve had the cable card and TA replaced by Time Warner but problem persists. Recently I spoke to the Time Warner tech rep in their North Carolina tech support center where the TA and Cable card experts are. He told me that the TA dropping SDV channels is a well known problem with TiVo and it is because the USB connection between the two boxes gets corrupted over time and the TA then never receives the request for a SDV channel from TiVo. The only solution is to unplug the USB and power and then re-plug. This does work but at some point down the line the USB will lose contact and the problem will reoccur. [...]

I shouldn't say this, because I might regret it (I will knock on wood ahead of time). But it seems that my Motorola TA on Cox on my Premiere has no such problems. Granted, I don't think I am tuning many SDV stations, however, because most of the stations I record are not SDV.