DirectTV with Tivo - ABSOLUTE NEWBIE!

[SoCalDaveBandito]

Ok, I'm an absolute newbie here so please be gentle.

I've been searching through the forums and quite frankly my head hurts right now. I currently have DirectTV as my provider and have an RCA Series2 (DVR40) that came with the service. Its my first PVR and I absolutely love it. It's an absolute must from now on.

However I want to expand and need advice. My home is completely networked and I'd like to leverage something along the lines of TivoToGo, but it's not available on my current DirectTV system. I'd also like to increase the storage capacity as well as how many shows can be taped at a given time (there are times when my wife, my daughter and I all want to record something at the same time)...

So I'm thinking I'd pick up a second unit.... a Tivo unit (at least Series 2) so I can record as well as export to my iPod or burn to DVD via my home network (I have plenty of storage capacity on my home servers).

My question is this... Can I simply buy a Tivo unit and plug it into my existing home setup or do I have to go through DirectTV to enable it?

[wscannell]

If you buy a standalone TiVo, you will need a directv receiver to connect it to. You will only be able to record one program at a time on the standalone. Also, you will need to pay for service from TiVo. You are better off getting a Directv TiVo from weaknees.com or used via ebay.

As far as expanding capacity, the options are to buy a preimaged drive (you can find them at the forum store) or to do it yourself. Do it yourself instructions can be found here: http://tivo.upgrade-instructions.com/index.php

Also, check out the upgrade forum for more upgrade help.

You can add network capability to your Directivo if you want to hack it. Search the Underground Forum for the Zipper.

[SoCalDaveBandito]

Thanks for the quick reply.

I already have two other DirectTV receivers in other rooms (my main living room has the RCA DVR from DirectTV which acts as the receiver) and have their service. Can I not just plug in a Tivo box (if purchased separately via ebay for example)?

As for expanding capacity, I guess I was aware that I could always increase the internal hard disk (much like doing so in an xbox), but was simply looking to purchase a larger one that the 40 GB one that I already have. Plus once I can add it to my network, then I should be able to extract the content and store it on my server... which has multiple large disks configured in RAID.

Thanks.

[ForrestB]

You'll need to activate any Tivo you purchase. If you purchase a standalone Tivo, then you'll only be able to record one show at a time and Tivo will charge you $19.95 per month for the 1 year plan, $14.95 per month for the 2 year plan or $12.95 for the 3 year plan.

By comparison, if you purchase a DirecTivo, you'll be able to record 2 shows at once and if simply disable one of your DirecTV receiver's and enable a DirecTivo, there will be no additional monthly charge at all.

If you want to network your DirecTivo's - it's a bit more work because the USB port on back of series 2 DirecTivo's isn't enabled from the factory. Happily there are many ways to enable the port for networking and other things - see Zipper

[John T Smith]

>once I can add it to my network

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...splay.php?f=24