How do you like your SAT-T60?

vanclute · 09-04-2006, 05:32 PM

I have an old phillips SA Tivo that has served us extremely well for years... we simply can't live without TiVo ever again! However we have just added new DirecTV Service so it's time to see about a TiVo upgrade. I'm looking at getting a used SAT-T60 dual tuner TiVo and just wanted to get a sense of how people like the sony box. Any big "gotchas" or anything else to beware of? Anyone know what the upper limits on storage upgrades are? I'll definitely want to upgrade it pretty much straight away.

Thanks in advance everyone!

Jonathan

old7 · 09-04-2006, 06:24 PM

I have a couple of Sony T60 TiVos. They are good machines, but no different than any other Series I DirecTiVo, except they use the Sony remote instead of the peanut remote. Some love the Sony remote others hate it. My wife loves it.

Is there a reason you are considering getting the Sony and not an S2 DirecTiVo?

vanclute · 09-04-2006, 06:48 PM

Well I really want lifetime service, and I can get a really good deal on an older S1 unit this way. We have had our SA TiVo all this time and haven't suffered from any lack of the S2 features.

The biggest reason though was the shock I received when I found out the other day that D* no longer offers TiVo equipment at all, and TiVo has done away with lifetime! I had no idea this had happened (I use the thing, I don't follow it

) and was extremely disappointed as I had planned to get a 2 room installation with a pair of new TiVo units. Now all they have is their DVR service, which is as far as I can tell mostly the same as an old S1 TiVo anyway.

All we need is good recording & playback abilities, lots of storage, all the standard TiVo features that we know & love, and lifetime sub. We work from home so the need for remote logging in to set recordings is nil, and we don't have another S2 unit in the house anyway so networking them is also out of the question.

Since I can get the SAT-160 for about $250 including lifetime, it doesn't seem to warrant getting an S2 and paying such a huge premium. Although if you can enlighten me as to anything I'm missing, I'm all ears!

Jonathan

rminsk · 09-04-2006, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanclute

Well I really want lifetime service...

When DirecTV took over managing the DirecTiVo the lifetime service was transfered from the TiVo to the DirecTV account. The only way to transfer lifetime service is if the other person cancels there DirecTV account and transfer the lifetime to you. Lifetime can not be transfered with the unit.

vanclute · 09-04-2006, 07:07 PM

oh crap... ok that's important. When did this happen, if you know? I know with my SA TiVo it went with the box so I assumed it was the same for D* models too. Has anyone done this switch that could speak up about what's required/involved? I was hoping this would be relatively simple...

Thanks everyone,

Jonathan

rminsk · 09-04-2006, 07:14 PM

It was several years ago that DirecTV took over the DirecTiVo boxes. It is most likely a unit running hacked software. If it is running 2.5.2 (old DirecTiVo software) the unit maybe hacked. The DVR service cost ~$6/month and that covers all the DVRs on you DirecTV account.

vanclute · 09-04-2006, 07:29 PM

OK this is really important that I get clear on how this works then. After speaking with DirecTV they told me that they only offer THEIR flavor of DVR service now, and not TiVo. So, do I still have to sign up for their DVR service at $6 a month even if I'm not using their DVR? And will their service still support the TiVo?

Boy this just keeps getting more convoluted...

rminsk · 09-04-2006, 07:38 PM

The DirecTiVo will still work fine with DirecTV and they will still activate it. You will still have the ~$6/month fee. The DVR DirecTV leases now is not based on the TiVo software.

vanclute · 09-04-2006, 07:44 PM

ahhh good. So just to clarify... I jus call up D* and ask to activate the TiVo on my account, they charge me $6 a month, and I'm good to go?

In this case, it seems silly to buy a DTiVo with lifetime after all since you still have to pay monthly regardless. Al I right on this? It seems that I could just buy any old DTiVo without a subscription, and pay $6 a month with DTV. Yes? No? Undecided?

Jonathan

MikeekiM · 09-04-2006, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanclute

ahhh good. So just to clarify... I jus call up D* and ask to activate the TiVo on my account, they charge me $6 a month, and I'm good to go?

In this case, it seems silly to buy a DTiVo with lifetime after all since you still have to pay monthly regardless. Al I right on this? It seems that I could just buy any old DTiVo without a subscription, and pay $6 a month with DTV. Yes? No? Undecided?

Jonathan

DirecTV's monthly charges would be like this:

* Content Charge (~30-100 bucks depending on the package you choose)
* TiVo Guide Data (~6 bucks for your entire account...regardless of number of TiVos)
* Mirroring Fee or Lease Fee (~5 bucks for every additional TV)

So if you had lifetime service, you would be able to avoid the ~6 dollar per month fee for the account...

Jerry_K · 09-04-2006, 10:49 PM

With DirecTiVo you will only have one recording quality, best. So you may want to consider upgrading the hard drive.

cbrrider · 09-04-2006, 11:05 PM

As rminsk already stated, most of the Directv Tivo's listed on eBay as "lifetime subscription" are hacked units running an old version of the software 2.52 with xpluz. These do not have true lifetime which tied to the user's account. Lifetime is no longer offered by Directv. That being said, I was able to find one on eBay a few months ago.

If you are able to actually find an old unit with a true lifetime subscription, check the access card # and serial # with Directv to be sure the seller's account actually has lifetime and that there are no nasty surprises on the account.

To transfer the lifetime subscription, the seller's account needs to be closed and you have to call Directv to have them transfer the lifetime subscription to your active account. You'll probably need to speak with a supervisor to accomplish this since most customer service reps won't know what you are talking about.

cbrrider · 09-04-2006, 11:19 PM

Other things to consider:

1. If you are able to find one, the return on investment of lifetime dvr subcription on a Directv tivo will take much longer to recoup at $6/month. The $6/month is good for any number of dvrs (including non-Tivo dvrs) on your account. This is different from stand alone Tivos.

2. If you signed up for Total Choice Premier, the DVR fee is waived. You just have to pay for the mirror fees.

3. Weaknees still sells open box or refurbished Directv Tivos. Do a google search for "Directv Tivo Blowout Specials." They also have new Directv R10 Tivos if hacking the units is not important.

rminsk · 09-04-2006, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeekiM

* TiVo Guide Data (~6 bucks for your entire account...regardless of number of TiVos)

You are not paying for the guide data. The standard non-DVR receivers receive the exact same guide data as the DirecTiVos. It is just a DVR fee.

rminsk · 09-04-2006, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry_K

With DirecTiVo you will only have one recording quality, best. So you may want to consider upgrading the hard drive.

It does not record at "best" quality but at "perfect" quality. It records the DirecTV data stream directly and does not recompress the signal. Even at perfect quality the MPEG encoding equipment that professional broadcasters use is much better than what a consumer product like TiVo has. When a DirecTiVo says 30-hours it usually is pretty close to 30-hours.

Lord Vader · 09-05-2006, 12:23 AM

I've got several DTIVO's, my oldest a Sony T60 (4 years old this fall) that is still crankin' along. It's got two drives in it, both initially installed when I hacked the unit. It's running 2.5.2 and I still consider it my "main" TIVO, even though I've got HDVR2's and an HR10-250.

I happen to love my T60, and I prefer its remote over the peanut one any day, although I still wonder just what the hell that little "." on the remote's number pad is for. I have NEVER used the decimal point for channel numbers.

MikeekiM · 09-05-2006, 12:26 AM

I've had my Sony SAT-T60 for quite a few years, and it has performed flawlessly... Love it...

I just wish it was a 2nd gen so it would get the software update that includes support for folders... Oh well...no biggie... Still a great unit...

Lord Vader · 09-05-2006, 12:29 AM

The only thing I don't do with it is downloading of recordings and other such connectivity stuff. My other DTIVO's do that.

vanclute · 09-05-2006, 12:59 AM

Wow, thanks everyone for all the great information. Unfortunately I'm still a little lost... and I'm usually so sharp on tech stuff!

Scenario is this: Just got D* service and want a DTivo, as opposed to the D* version DVR service.

My choices seem to be, go to the store and buy a new TiVo box and pay TiVo $nn per month, forever... or go buy a used DTiVo box.

Am I correct in my assumption that in either scenario, I need to pay D* the $6/month DVR service fee, even if I'm not using THEIR DVR service?

Am I also correct in assuming that I must purchase a unit with a lifetime subscription, in order to use it with my new D* service? Or does the $6/month activate my TiVo for me already for as long as I continue to pay it?

This is not nearly so clear a path as it once was... I was expecting to just call up D* and have them come install everything and give me hardware. Discovering that they don't "do" TiVo any more was quite a shock and has led to infinitely more confusion.

Bottom line: Exactly what do I need in order to stick a series 1 or 2 (non HD) DirecTiVo onto my new D* service, without paying every month just for the TiVo itself?

Thanks all!!

poppagene · 09-05-2006, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanclute

ahhh good. So just to clarify... It seems that I could just buy any old DTiVo without a subscription, and pay $6 a month with DTV. Yes? No? Undecided?

Jonathan

Yes -- if you are going to have to pay $6 DVR fee, then you can buy any old DTIVO.

JimSpence · 09-05-2006, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rminsk

It does not record at "best" quality but at "perfect" quality. It records the DirecTV data stream directly and does not recompress the signal. Even at perfect quality the MPEG encoding equipment that professional broadcasters use is much better than what a consumer product like TiVo has. When a DirecTiVo says 30-hours it usually is pretty close to 30-hours.

I would not call it "perfect" quality, but "actual" quality. Perfect implies that DirecTV is sending a good picture.

poppagene · 09-05-2006, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanclute

Wow, thanks everyone for all the great information. Unfortunately I'm still a little lost... and I'm usually so sharp on tech stuff!

Scenario is this: Just got D* service and want a DTivo, as opposed to the D* version DVR service.

My choices seem to be, go to the store and buy a new TiVo box and pay TiVo $nn per month, forever... or go buy a used DTiVo box.

Am I correct in my assumption that in either scenario, I need to pay D* the $6/month DVR service fee, even if I'm not using THEIR DVR service?

Am I also correct in assuming that I must purchase a unit with a lifetime subscription, in order to use it with my new D* service? Or does the $6/month activate my TiVo for me already for as long as I continue to pay it?

This is not nearly so clear a path as it once was... I was expecting to just call up D* and have them come install everything and give me hardware. Discovering that they don't "do" TiVo any more was quite a shock and has led to infinitely more confusion.

Bottom line: Exactly what do I need in order to stick a series 1 or 2 (non HD) DirecTiVo onto my new D* service, without paying every month just for the TiVo itself?

Thanks all!!

If you want to use the dvr features of a DTIVO, you will need to pay the $6 for DVR service (this covers the dvr servicefor all the direvtv dvrs in the household regardless of whether they are tivo software or directv software). If for whatever reason you don't plan on recording with your dvr, then you can activate the unit as a directv receiver and avoid the $6 monthly dvr fee.

In addition, there will still be monthly receiver fee (or lease fee on leased equipment) that will be charged for every additional active receiver on your account.

Some posters on this forum have reported that they have still been able to get the older dtivo units by asking for them. Additionally, the HR10-250 unit for high definition is a tivo unit and may not be a round much longer so you may want to look into getting one of these.

Johnnie_Miami · 09-05-2006, 09:54 AM

I guess I'm a bit confused regarding tivo lifetime subscription. I have a SAT-T60 that just passed the 5 year mark in July and (knock on wood) I have not had one problem with it. It's pretty well hacked so 163 hours of recording storage, networking, tivoweb, etc. I can't say enough about this unit. Never a problem in all these years - can't say that about too many other things I bought 5 years ago.

So I bought mine with the lifetime subscription. Can I expect to now see a $6/month charge on my tivo? If I were to upgrade the SAT-T60 to the HR10-250 would that start up this monthly fee? I'm not sure how they can charge anyone with a lifetime subscription a fee - especially since that money was paid to d* and not tivo.

Thanks!
- Miami

JimSpence · 09-05-2006, 12:24 PM

The Lifetime sub was transferred to your DirecTV account, so replacing the unit will not take that away. Just make sure that you add the new unit to the account first and make it the primary before you remove the older unit. Otherwise you may have to play CSR roulette.

newsposter · 09-05-2006, 01:19 PM

on the chance the lifetime thing doesn't work out...how about trying to get a free HDtivo per the other thread in the forum? The pic looks better than my T60 on my CRT in SD but even if it's the same pic for you, the HDtivo would be free and have 250 gigs of storage. I initially got HDtivo only for additional SD storage.

vanclute · 09-05-2006, 01:29 PM

The whole HD switch is something I know basically nothing about. So I can still record SD programming just like always, without having to get any HD service, if I get an HDTiVo? Or do I have to subscribe to HD service from D* in order to do so?

Boy there are just too many variables in this equation... my head hurts!

poppagene · 09-05-2006, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanclute

The whole HD switch is something I know basically nothing about. So I can still record SD programming just like always, without having to get any HD service, if I get an HDTiVo? Or do I have to subscribe to HD service from D* in order to do so?

Boy there are just too many variables in this equation... my head hurts!

Yes, you can record sd programming just like always without having to get hd service from directv.

newsposter · 09-05-2006, 06:38 PM

just be aware, any activiation of HDtivo is a 2 year commitment. regardless of own or lease.

Jonathan_S · 09-06-2006, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanclute

Scenario is this: Just got D* service and want a DTivo, as opposed to the D* version DVR service.

My choices seem to be, go to the store and buy a new TiVo box and pay TiVo $nn per month, forever... or go buy a used DTiVo box.

Am I correct in my assumption that in either scenario, I need to pay D* the $6/month DVR service fee, even if I'm not using THEIR DVR service?

If you buy any flavor of DTiVo, the Sony Series 1, or the newer Series 2 that are still available from various places online (and of course ebay), you will be paying DirecTV $6 per month.

UNLESS you find someone with a real DirecTV lifetime subscription that is willing to cancel their account and transfer the subscription to you. Then you would not pay DirecTV the $6 per month DVR fee because you would have DirecTV lifetime DVR service.

For any DTiVo you pay DirecTV or have a DirecTV lifetime service. You do not pay TiVo.

If you buy a standalone TiVo to use with a DirecTV receiver (which will only get you one tuner) you would pay TiVo $13 / month.

UNLESS you ebay yourself a TiVo lifetime service gift card; buy a Humax TiVo (lifetime still available); or buy a TiVo with lifetime.

[Note: Even if you buy the new TiVo standalone series 2 Dual Tuner, it cannot use the dual tuner feature to record from two DirecTV receivers]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanclute

Am I also correct in assuming that I must purchase a unit with a lifetime subscription, in order to use it with my new D* service? Or does the $6/month activate my TiVo for me already for as long as I continue to pay it?

As I explained above. You need either to pay the DirecTV DVR fee, or acquire a DirecTV lifetime subscription.

vanclute · 09-06-2006, 11:57 PM

Thanks much, this makes sense now. I think the thing to do is just get myself a Series 2 and pay the $6 per month. I'll probably upgrade equipment again to HD within a couple of years at most anyway, so paying all that extra for lifetime is pretty silly.

Thanks everyone for clearing this up!!