DirecTV customer with a question

[Jason Foster]

Did I read the TiVo Web site correctly that newer DT boxes won't record two satellite channels at once?

I used to have a DirecTivo, but a few months ago had to replace it with the DirecTV DVR because of a bad hard drive. I've regretted that since Day 1 and now I want to switch back to TiVo. I was hoping to get a new box from TiVo but if it's not going to record two satellite channels at once, it seems like the best move is to look to eBay for a used DirecTiVo.

Any advice?

[yardstare]

I have never bought from them but I now folks who have try "weaknees" on the world wide web. They have DTIVOs.

[phox_mulder]

Weaknees is a site sponsor, they have an ad up towards the top of the page,
and have new DirecTiVo's of many models both stock and upgraded hard drives.


phox

[dtremain]

In direct answer to your question, the new unit (most people here, like myself, have never used one, but unlike me, they already have a negative opinion) does record two programs at once, just like a TiVo-based unit. There are lesser differences (no Wishlist function, for example), and you cannot pause both tuners at the same time, but it does record two programs at once.

[SeattleCarl]

Originally Posted by Jason Foster

Did I read the TiVo Web site correctly that newer DT boxes won't record two satellite channels at once?

I used to have a DirecTivo, but a few months ago had to replace it with the DirecTV DVR because of a bad hard drive. I've regretted that since Day 1 and now I want to switch back to TiVo. I was hoping to get a new box from TiVo but if it's not going to record two satellite channels at once, it seems like the best move is to look to eBay for a used DirecTiVo.

Any advice?

I think you might be mixing DirecTV DVR's (either tivo based or the non tivo R15) and stand alone Tivos up.

All DirecTV DVR's have two tuners and can record two channels at one time. The R15 (which you appear to have) only has one live buffer but it still has two tuners.

However, stand alone Tivo units do not have dual tuners - in fact they don't have any DirecTV tuners, you would have to use a separate DirecTV receiver with them in order to receive D* programming. If you wanted to record two different D* channels at once, you would need two stand alone Tivos and two D* receivers.

Carl

[gfb107]

Try calling DirecTV and tell them you aren't happy with the R15 they sent you to replace your TiVo based DirecTV DVR, and asking them to replace it with a TiVo based DirectTV DVR.

Or buy a TiVo based DirecTV DVR from someone else (a number of forum sponsors sell them, or you may be able to find one on ebay).

[Jason Foster]

This is what's throwing me off (from the TiVo Web site about the new DT Series 2):

"Record from two basic cable channels, or one basic cable and one digital cable channel, at once. Does not support recording from two digital cable or satellite channels at once. Supports recording from cable and satellite sources only; does not support recording from over-the-air antenna."

It says the same thing about the 180 hr version, too. I'm just wondering why they'd not let you record two satellite shows at once, as the above fine print seems to indicate.

I guess I'll look for a used DirecTiVo. Thanks for everyone's help.

[ForrestB]

Jason you're confusing machines. You'll find NO information at all about a DirecTV Tivo/DVR on www.tivo.com - none. A DT Tivo is dual tuner Tivo that works with cable TV, satellite, etc. Apparently they can only record one satellite show at a time - in conjunction with a satellite receiver.

A DirecTV DVR, be it a DirecTivo (which they stopped selling a year ago) or a DirecTV DVR both have dual satellite tuner and they can all record two shows at a time from satellite..

[aaronbca]

Originally Posted by Jason Foster

This is what's throwing me off (from the TiVo Web site about the new DT Series 2):

"Record from two basic cable channels, or one basic cable and one digital cable channel, at once. Does not support recording from two digital cable or satellite channels at once. Supports recording from cable and satellite sources only; does not support recording from over-the-air antenna."

It says the same thing about the 180 hr version, too. I'm just wondering why they'd not let you record two satellite shows at once, as the above fine print seems to indicate.

I guess I'll look for a used DirecTiVo. Thanks for everyone's help.

Everyone seems to be confusing your question. You're right - the new DT Tivo on the Tivo website will record from satellite, but it will only record one show at a time from satellite sources...it is dual tuner/can record 2 shows at once only from cable (hence "optimized for cable"). No standard Tivo boxes can currently record dual tuner from satellite - only the boxes sold or formerly sold by DirecTV (R10 or earlier DirecTivos or the HR10-250).

[Jason Foster]

Yeah, I know you can't buy DirecTiVos from TiVo any more. I was just hoping their newer editions (non-DirecTV versions) would let you records two satellite programs at once. Thanks for everyone who responded and sorry if I caused any confusion with my question. Now, off to find a DirecTiVo on eBay...

[hijammer]

With a standard TIVO you would be very disapointed with the picture quality because it would be takgni the analog signall out of your sat box and then reencoding and compressing it.