Series 2 Subscription Ending

[bustacones]

My year long subscription ends shortly. I don't plan on renewing just yet as I will be moving within the next few months and am not sure what my dvr requirements will be (I may be forced to use a cable companys dvr).

I've read some conflicting opinions here but here's my question, if I disconnect my tivo from its internet connection, THEN call up and cancel my service, will my tivo be able to be manually set to record (by entering dates/times manually)?

I understand I will lose every feature (guide, season pass, etc.) but I'm hoping this slight bit of functionality would remain. It just doesn't make sense for me to commit to a year or more of tivo when I may not be using it in a few months (especially at 16.95 a month).

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks a lot folks.

[Lazlo123]

why renew? can't you just go month to month?

[supasta]

Originally Posted by bustacones

I've read some conflicting opinions here but here's my question, if I disconnect my tivo from its internet connection, THEN call up and cancel my service, will my tivo be able to be manually set to record (by entering dates/times manually)?

No, not on a Series2 unit. Only S1 models allow this. S2 units become boat anchors if not connected to the TiVo service.

Originally Posted by Lazlo123

why renew? can't you just go month to month?

Right. After the year your box will default to a month-to-month paid plan. I would suggest keeping this active for a month or two until you decide considering your options.

[bustacones]

Originally Posted by Lazlo123

why renew? can't you just go month to month?

Anybody know what the rate would be for this? I only see prices for 1, 2, 3 years on the tivo site.

[ZikZak]

I don't know what it costs for month-to-month (you should call and find out), but why do you think you may be "forced" to use a company DVR? Tivo works with pretty much every cable box in production.

[jlb]

Originally Posted by supasta

No, not on a Series2 unit. Only S1 models allow this. S2 units become boat anchors if not connected to the TiVo service.

This is not entirely true. My AT&T branded S2 works just fine as a manual recorder.

[mick66]

Originally Posted by supasta

No, not on a Series2 unit. Only S1 models allow this. S2 units become boat anchors if not connected to the TiVo service.

S1 models can do manual recordings and make daily connections (to reset time, no guide data gets downloaded) withou a subscription. The S2 models can do manual recordings as long as it never calls home again. It was previously believed that a S2 that didn't phone home for 30 days would be unable to record anything at all. If that was the case, it certainly isn't now. My own experience with a recent software version shows that after about 70 days a s2 will still be able to make manual recordings. Others have reported similar experiences. This is not to say that it will record indefinitely, only that the previously believed 30 day limit on unsub'd manual recordings is, for now, a thing of the past.

[mick66]

Originally Posted by bustacones

Anybody know what the rate would be for this? I only see prices for 1, 2, 3 years on the tivo site.

You continue to pay whatever the monthly rate is for the length of your service commitment whether you prepaid or paid monthly. The only difference is that when your commitment period is up, you can cancel anytime w/o any penalty fees.

If you were on a 1 year commitment (prepay or monthly) you will automatically be billed the 1 year commitment monthly rate, but you will not be committed to any length of service. The current one year monthly rate is $16.95.

If you had a 2 year commitment that was ending, you would be charged $14.95/mo
If you had a 3 year commitment that was ending, you would be charged $12.95/mo

[classicsat]

Originally Posted by jlb

This is not entirely true. My AT&T branded S2 works just fine as a manual recorder.

The difference is the Series is are allowed to. Yours just happens to, by some chance or circumstance.