Which Tivo unit do I need? Trying to help 70 year olds come to Tivo...

noahas · 07-02-2009, 07:50 PM

Hi,

I am hoping someone more knowledgeable than myself can help. I am trying to get my 70 year old parents to stop using their current set up (2 VCR's connected to an analog antenna). They want to be able to record 2 shows at once and don't want cable or satellite.

They have about a 15 year old antenna so I assume it must be analog, yet for some reason, with no converter box, they get a nice digital picture.

My question is, with these basic needs, using an antenna, which series of Tivo (if any) would be able to record 2 shows at once. In addition, they don't want to run a phone line, so it would have to be able to use wifi to get the program guide info.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Playloud · 07-02-2009, 08:02 PM

I may be wrong, but I believe any Tivo would either need a phone line, or an Ethernet cable.

A Tivo HD would serve their needs. It will get the digital signal of an OTA antenna, and it can record two shows at once.

noahas · 07-02-2009, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Playloud

I may be wrong, but I believe any Tivo would either need a phone line, or an Ethernet cable.

A Tivo HD would serve their needs. It will get the digital signal of an OTA antenna, and it can record two shows at once.

I know the Series 3 or HD can get away with just wifi, but am wondering if the series 1 or 2 could, since they don't need the added functionality (HD signal) or the series 3 or HD, I was hoping to see if I could get away with one of the older less expensive ones that will:

record from antenna
record 2 shows at once
and be able to use wifi only

Thanks.

stevel · 07-02-2009, 08:26 PM

There are no more analog TV signals (with minor exceptions). Perhaps they have a TV with a digital tuner already. The VCRs won't record anything.

A TiVoHD with the Wireless USB adapter would do the trick. I don't think you can get by with any less. No Series 2 can record two digital OTA shows at once.

ThAbtO · 07-02-2009, 09:32 PM

Having an antenna doesn't mean its only analog. I use the rooftop antenna for a very long time for both analog and digital reception.

Series 1 was the first original Tivo which is not sold by Tivo any more, does not support networks, only phone line, no software updates, does not support the digital converter box.

Series 2 has network support, digital converter box support, BUT only will record 1 channel at 1 time.

Series 3 has all the support similar to Series 2, but does not require a digital converter box to receive digital Over-The-Air antenna signals, records 2 channels at once on either OTA or cable or both at the same time. Network support is using either the built-in Ethernet port, or Tivo Wireless adapter.

As for the TV, you can use the existing if there are ports for the Composite (yellow/white/red cables, if not, add a RF modulator), Component (Red/green/blue for video), HDMI for combined video/audio. The Tivo can be set for 4:3 or 16:3 depending on the TV type. Viewing 16:3 video on a 4:3 screen will get bars on the top and bottom of the screen.

Unlike using a VCR; which you have to wait for the recording to end in order to watch that video. The Tivo allows you to watch from the beginning while its still recording, or watch another show while up to 2 others are being recorded.

gastrof · 07-02-2009, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noahas

Hi,

I am hoping someone more knowledgeable than myself can help. I am trying to get my 70 year old parents to stop using their current set up (2 VCR's connected to an analog antenna). They want to be able to record 2 shows at once and don't want cable or satellite.

They have about a 15 year old antenna so I assume it must be analog, yet for some reason, with no converter box, they get a nice digital picture.

My question is, with these basic needs, using an antenna, which series of Tivo (if any) would be able to record 2 shows at once. In addition, they don't want to run a phone line, so it would have to be able to use wifi to get the program guide info.

Thanks in advance for any help.

There's really no such thing as an analog antenna. Digital TV tuners receive the same channels analog TVs did. They can "understand" the digital signals, that's the only difference. I get good digital reception on a set of rabbit ears.

Unless your parents have a digital TV or digital tuner, they're not getting a digital picture.

They also would have to have SOME type of digital tuner to get pretty much anything now. Except for a few low power stations in a few isolated places, there ARE no analog TV stations any more. They're all broadcasting in digital.

If they do have a digital TV, this won't help their VCRs since most TVs (if any) don't have the ability to feed audio and video into another device.

The VCRs would need their own digital tuners. The ones in TVs can't help them.

Unless your parents have a computer with a connection to the internet and a wireless network in their home, their TiVo wouldn't be able to connect by WiFi. The wireless connection to the internet would have to be there first for the TiVo to be able to take advantage of it.

As suggested, a Series 3 TiVo would likely be the best thing for them. (Does TiVo even sell anything else now?)

The connection? Again, unless they have a computer and a wireless network, a phone line's gonna be necessary. I don't see any other way.

Then there's the fee that needs to be paid to TiVo for the machine to remain active...

noahas · 07-02-2009, 11:21 PM

Thanks to everyone for all the great info.

I was under the impression that there was an analog antenna and a digital antenna, apparently not. They do have a brand new flat screen which does have a digital tuner, so that explains that part.

The ironic thing is that for 70 year olds, they have wifi and about 5 computers in the house (including an Eee PC), but refuse to get cable or satellite ...

I saw some Series 2 on eBay with lifetime subscriptions for ~$250 and was hoping I could make that work, but it sounds like the HD it is. Thanks again for all the input.

Last question, as long as I am buying lifetime, what is the best way to do it. Meaning I thought I saw that I could buy lifetime for $299 since I already have Tivo (actually 2, a series 1 w/ lifetime & an HD, which I just upgraded to lifetime). Could I set it up at my house, pay $299 for lifetime and then take it to their house and install it? Or would Tivo catch on that it is checking the program guide from a new IP and disallow that?

Thanks again.

** Edit **** Nevermind, just saw this link: http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...light=transfer
that says I can get the Tivo HD w/ lifetime for $500. I am assuming it is not a problem to get this and then transfer it to my parents?

classicsat · 07-03-2009, 12:09 PM

Basically yes, once you establish the TiVo HD on your account with Product Lifetime, you can hand/transfer it to them to use.

noahas · 07-03-2009, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by classicsat

Basically yes, once you establish the TiVo HD on your account with Product Lifetime, you can hand/transfer it to them to use.

Thanks, I am all set now, here was the end result:

As a follow up. I just spoke with Tivo. It was no problem to transfer the service while I was buying it. As an aside, when they asked if I needed any other accessories, I said I needed a wifi adapter, but unless they could give me a great deal, I would buy it cheaper at Amazon. She gave it to me for 50% off or $29.95 and included it with the other free shipping with no questions asked.

Great deal all around in my opinion.

gastrof · 07-03-2009, 03:23 PM

Glad to hear how things are working out. Got a boot out of hearing your parents, in their 70s, are computer people.

lrhorer · 07-03-2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noahas

I was under the impression that there was an analog antenna and a digital antenna, apparently not.

Indeed not. An antenna is really just a couple of pieces of metal, which allows it to convert radio waves into a weak electrical signal. The antenna may have a complex physical geometry, but that is done to increase its ability to receive signals from the desired direction and eliminate signals from undesired directions, and to increase the signal strength, making the electrical signal easier to receive. There is no difference in the signal carrier itself between analog and digital signals. The difference is in the way the information is encoded in the carrier, and that has all to do with the transmitter and the receiver, not the antenna.

You may see antennas, cables, amplifiers, or passive devices advertised as "digital", but it's nothing but marketing B.S.

Quote:

Originally Posted by noahas

The ironic thing is that for 70 year olds, they have wifi and about 5 computers in the house (including an Eee PC), but refuse to get cable or satellite ...

I suspect that may be more of an economic perspective than a technical one. They also may feel there is little on non-broadcast channels to interest them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by noahas

I saw some Series 2 on eBay with lifetime subscriptions for ~$250 and was hoping I could make that work, but it sounds like the HD it is. Thanks again for all the input.

It could be made to work by getting two Series 2 units and a pair of digital converters, but it's hardly worth the trouble, and no less expensive.

stevel · 07-03-2009, 06:08 PM

My mom is 75, runs her own web site and has added RAM to her PC. She still calls me for help, though. On the other hand, my 85-year-old uncle, a retired Bell Labs engineer, prefers to stay in the DOS world.

noahas · 07-03-2009, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevel

On the other hand, my 85-year-old uncle, a retired Bell Labs engineer, prefers to stay in the DOS world.

Sometimes you wonder if he is really missing anything important by being there ....

lrhorer · 07-04-2009, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevel

My mom is 75, runs her own web site and has added RAM to her PC. She still calls me for help, though. On the other hand, my 85-year-old uncle, a retired Bell Labs engineer, prefers to stay in the DOS world.

That's because Window sucks. I surely would never use it if I weren't forced to do so.

lrhorer · 07-04-2009, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThAbtO

The Tivo can be set for 4:3 or 16:3 depending on the TV type. Viewing 16:3 video on a 4:3 screen will get bars on the top and bottom of the screen.

Um, that's 16:9, not 16:3.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThAbtO

Unlike using a VCR; which you have to wait for the recording to end in order to watch that video.

Not to mention that it holds at least 20 hours of video (up to 300 HD / 2000 SD with upgrades!) versus no more than 8 hours for a VCR tape, and that trying to find the start of a particular program on an 8 hour tape with ten or twelve shows recorded on it is a pain.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThAbtO

The Tivo allows you to watch from the beginning while its still recording, or watch another show while up to 2 others are being recorded.

Actually, more like 4. It is possible to be recording two RF feeds, an internet download, and a TTCB video from a PC all at the same time while watching something pre-recorded, or one of the events being recorded.