Upgrade Delema

Resist · 02-20-2009, 07:58 PM

I just upgraded my Series 3 with a 1TB drive and am thinking about upgrading an old Series 2 single tuner drive. It has a lifetime plan, so I probably want to keep it, but it is 5 years old and who knows how much time the drive has left. What replacement upgrade drive should I get?

Or is it better to get a new Tivo HD and buy the lifetime plan? Ideally I would like to transfer the lifetime from the old Series 2 to the HD (or my Series 3), but I don't think that is possible.

bkdtv · 02-20-2009, 11:24 PM

TiVo has offered Series2->TivoHD lifetime transfers in the past, but that option is not available at present.

Do you have a second HDTV in your home? How much do you watch the second TV?

Resist · 02-21-2009, 01:19 AM

We only have a 1 1/2 old Series 3 (Just upgraded the drive to 1TB) paying $6.95 a month for the service plan. This Tivo is used for our High Definition 61" wide screen DLP TV for the Family Room.

We also have a 5 year old Single Tuner Series 2 with the Lifetime service, used with a regular 27" non-High Definition TV. It is our bedroom TV, but plan on getting a new one soon. So it would be nice to have an HD Tivo to record HD content.

stevel · 02-21-2009, 08:21 AM

As far as upgrading the drive in the S2 - if you are running out of space and want to keep it, then a 500GB IDE/PATA drive will do. These are often available for $50 or so.

bitmap · 02-21-2009, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resist

[...]thinking about upgrading an old Series 2 single tuner drive. It has a lifetime plan, so I probably want to keep it, but it is 5 years old and who knows how much time the drive has left. What replacement upgrade drive should I get?

Most off the shelf IDE hard drives will do the job fine, but I've always used the Seagate DB35 drives, as they are designed and tuned for the type of file access in a DVR and for quieter operation. A bit more expensive, and harder to find. [google, i'm feeling lucky: "seagate DB35 Series Hard Drives"]

You could also use SATA disks, with a sata-ide bridge [weaknees TiVo SATA to IDE Converters].

I've yet to fill a 300GB disk with a dual tuner DTivo, so i'd think 300-500GB is more than enough for a single tuner box.

retired_guy · 02-21-2009, 10:29 AM

Since you now have a lot of extra capacity on your S3, I'd use MRV to move recordings from the S2 to recover space. If you need to watch them on the S2, you should be able to move them back faster than real time. I'd save that $50 or so to help buy another HD box sometime in the future.

lafos · 02-21-2009, 10:46 AM

Since your S2 has lifetime, I'd replace the drive before it dies, or at the very least, pull it and make a backup. Having a backup is a bit easier and $20 cheaper than having to buy an image down the road. If you lose or give up your S2, you'll also lose the $6.95 MSD rate, which is no longer available.

You could also consider buying an HD (people have reported then at $199 at Sears), and use your MSD to add lifetime to it for $299. You could then sell your S2 to recover some of your costs, or keep it.

Resist · 02-21-2009, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lafos

Since your S2 has lifetime, I'd replace the drive before it dies

This is my primary reason for upgrading the drive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lafos

If you lose or give up your S2, you'll also lose the $6.95 MSD rate, which is no longer available.

It isn't? So if I get another Tivo how much would I have to pay each month? If it is gone then I would probably get a new lifetime and try to sell the Series 2 with its lifetime.

newskilz · 02-22-2009, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resist

This is my primary reason for upgrading the drive.

It isn't? So if I get another Tivo how much would I have to pay each month? If it is gone then I would probably get a new lifetime and try to sell the Series 2 with its lifetime.

IIRC-The qualifying discount service has to be older than the one getting the $6.95/month rate. And no it is no longer available, the discounted rate right now I believe is $9.95/month. I think there is a FAQ page at TiVo about this, but finding it I'm not sure... let me check.

Check below for the FAQ: So if you lose your current lifetime TiVo (hasn't called in the last 180 days, or is not on your account) your current $6.95 rate will become the new qualifying box and increase to the then current rate of $12.95/month unless you purchase pre-paid plans. If you purchase a new box with lifetime, your current discounted box will increase to $9.95. So, you can buy lifetime for the current discounted box for $299 and will take 30 months to pay for itself (at the higher rate of $9.95/month). Granted a lot of money if you are purchasing a new box with new lifetime already.
TiVo says:

TiVo Multiservice Discount FAQ

Product Lifetime Service. If you are the registered account holder of a Product Lifetime Service plan, your Product Lifetime Service must be fully paid and in good standing. Your TiVo DVR to which the Product Lifetime Service is attached must have called into the TiVo service within the last 180 days to remain eligible for the MULTI-SERVICE DISCOUNT.

and:

Existing TiVo service plans are not eligible for the MULTI-SERVICE DISCOUNT. However, TiVo service subscriptions currently receiving the MULTI-SERVICE DISCOUNT shall continue to receive the MULTI-SERVICE DISCOUNT as long as there remains a Qualifying Subscription on the same TiVo customer account.

the actual answer:

TiVo service cancellation. If the registered account holder’s Qualifying Subscription is cancelled or otherwise becomes ineligible, the oldest eligible TiVo service subscription on the account shall become the registered account holder’s Qualifying Subscription and will no longer receive the MULTI-SERVICE DISCOUNT. TiVo service subscriptions currently receiving the MULTI-SERVICE DISCOUNT shall continue to receive the MULTI-SERVICE DISCOUNT as long as their remains a Qualifying Subscription in accordance with these terms on the same TiVo customer account. TiVo service subscriptions which have paid the annual fee in advance shall remain at the MULTI-SERVICE DISCOUNT rate until the expiration or renewal of their current prepaid or annual service plan in the event such registered account’s Qualifying Subscription is cancelled.

Never knew this qualifying statement: We all can lose any MSD at any time, at TiVo's whim, though highly unlikely since it would make a lot of us very upset indeed.

Changes to the MULTI-SERVICE DISCOUNT. TiVo reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to increase or decrease the amount of the MULTI-SERVICE DISCOUNT or discontinue the MULTI-SERVICE DISCOUNT or change any of the terms, restrictions, or conditions for eligibility for the MULTI-SERVICE DISCOUNT at any time, for any reason. If you are dissatisfied with any such changes to the MULTI-SERVICE DISCOUNT and/or the TiVo service, you may immediately cancel your use of the MULTI-SERVICE DISCOUNT and/or the TiVo service (subject to any applicable termination fees, if any) as provided in the TiVo Service Agreement or TiVo Service Plan Terms & Conditions, as applicable.

lafos · 02-22-2009, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newskilz

IIRC-The qualifying discount service has to be older than the one getting the $6.95/month rate. And no it is no longer available, the discounted rate right now I believe is $9.95/month.

You just confused me. I read the info on the TiVo site and that you posted, and can not see support for your first sentence. Based on your statement, if my 2002 lifetime box dies and my 2009 lifetime box becomes the principal, then all my $6.95 MSD rates jump to $9.95?

Is the converse then true, where I can add another TiVo and still get the $6.95 MSD rate?

If you could highlight the text that clarifies your first statement, I'd appreciate it.

Resist · 02-22-2009, 07:46 PM

It sounds like to keep my costs down, what I would need to do is keep my old Series 2 lifetime working and allow it to make a connection each month to show it is active. Then, I can have the Series 3 and add a new Tivo HD to get the $6.95 service plan?

I really like Tivo but the boxes are expensive and the pricing plans are expensive. Tivo need to simplify their pricing structure. Maybe even make the price of the box to include a 2 or 3 year service plan. Then after that they could give the option of a lifetime. Or better yet a lifetime plan that is transferable.

I don't know how you people do it with more than 2 Tivo's in your household.

jfh3 · 02-23-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lafos

You just confused me. I read the info on the TiVo site and that you posted, and can not see support for your first sentence. Based on your statement, if my 2002 lifetime box dies and my 2009 lifetime box becomes the principal, then all my $6.95 MSD rates jump to $9.95?

Yes, believe this is true.

Quote:

Is the converse then true, where I can add another TiVo and still get the $6.95 MSD rate?

You can't get the $6.95 rate on any new boxes. You can transfer an existing $6.95 sub to a new box, but can't add any at $6.95.

Resist · 02-23-2009, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfh3

You can't get the $6.95 rate on any new boxes. You can transfer an existing $6.95 sub to a new box, but can't add any at $6.95.

Well that just sucks!

newskilz · 04-03-2009, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lafos

You just confused me. I read the info on the TiVo site and that you posted, and can not see support for your first sentence. Based on your statement, if my 2002 lifetime box dies and my 2009 lifetime box becomes the principal, then all my $6.95 MSD rates jump to $9.95?

Is the converse then true, where I can add another TiVo and still get the $6.95 MSD rate?

If you could highlight the text that clarifies your first statement, I'd appreciate it.

I know way later but here it is... sorry, I've slept since then.

TiVo service cancellation. If the registered account holder’s Qualifying Subscription is cancelled or otherwise becomes ineligible, the oldest eligible TiVo service subscription on the account shall become the registered account holder’s Qualifying Subscription and will no longer receive the MULTI-SERVICE DISCOUNT.

So from this I assume that your oldest would be the $6.95/month box if you got rid of the first lifetime box. Now whether they actually do change the price or not since you already have another qualifying lifetime box (but newer )with which to give you a discounted rate on the other box? Not sure if it would stay at the same rate or go up to the now current discount rate of $9.95/month. So best bet would be to transfer the monthly to a new box if you no longer want to use the current discounted box. I'd personally probably keep the series 2 lifetime and slap a 1 TB in it (or two

) until the motherboard croaks, or gets really outdated... since it does support using a converter box and can get all the sub-channels too. So in this way you have the same functionality as an HD box, except for the recording in HD quality level-but if you use highest quality setting it will _appear_ pretty close.

Resist · 04-20-2009, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfh3

You can transfer an existing $6.95 sub to a new box, but can't add any at $6.95.

How?

lafos · 04-20-2009, 08:49 PM

If you have a TiVo which you pay $6.95/mo and want to replace it, simply log onto your account at tivo.com and replace the TSN. I did this with 3 S2's that I replaced with HD's, and the rate stuck. I have an old 540 S2 with lifetime. It's only purpose is to anchor the low rate. I plug it in every month or so for 2-3 days to maintain its standing. It has to call in at least every 180 days according to the MSD TOS on the tivo site.

Resist · 04-20-2009, 08:50 PM

I just checked and my $6.95 rate is only good until October of 2010. That sucks!

lafos · 04-20-2009, 08:52 PM

So you must have gotten that with a 3-year plan. I have two of those, and they will revert to the $9.95 rate at the end of the three years, also in the fall of 2010.

Resist · 04-20-2009, 08:56 PM

I guess I could get it down to $8.25 if I pay for a years service but that still sucks. No way to get a lifetime for my Series 3 now?

lafos · 04-20-2009, 09:22 PM

If you have a commitment, then you normally can't convert to lifetime until the commitment is over. You can always try calling them and asking. I did the math, and by the time the rate changes, the boxes will be 3 years old. Seems like converting to lifetime on them would not be great, as the payback is another 2.5 years at the monthly rate. I'm more likely to retire or replace them before the payback point.

Resist · 04-20-2009, 09:35 PM

Well here is the thing, our Series 2 has worked flawlessly since Dec 2003. It has had a lifetime service since day one, so it has more than payed for itself. Our Series 3 was purchased in 2007 and a few months ago I upgraded the drive to 1TB. I love the Series 3 and suspect it will last as long or longer than our Series 2. My plan is (if I am allowed) is to change the service of the Series 3 to a lifetime (for $299) in Oct 2010, when the $6.95 service contract expires.

If I don't do a lifetime service then the best deal I can get is $99 for a year's contract. This only if Tivo doesn't raise their rates again.

I am less likely to retire or replace them before the payback point.