Will recordings be deleted if I cancel Comcast?

siamesekitten · 10-20-2010, 07:11 PM

I currently have Comcast, but I'm thinking of just using my HD TiVo to record over-the-air channels, along with my Netflix account for cable shows.

But I have about 100 hours of previously recorded HD shows on it that I don't want to lose. (I have 2TB of storage.)

If I cancel Comcast and return my CableCard, will I still be able to watch my previously recorded shows?

Any comments on the reliability of over-the-air recording compared to cable would also be welcome.

Thanks!

gastrof · 10-20-2010, 07:18 PM

Once the shows pass thru your cable card and are recorded to the hard drive, they're recorded, and where they came from has no effect on them or how long they stay on the drive.

The only thing that'd affect that would be if they were digitally coded to erase at some point, or the TiVo itself erased them to make room for new recordings.

Cancel Comcast and go to DISH, DIRECT, or OTA, it's all the same. The recordings already made will stay where they are. Your TiVo knows no difference. It's just a recorder.

"Reliability"? Maybe you mean "reception", since that's the only factor coming into play here. Again, where a show comes from (what source) has no effect on how the TiVo works.

Now, as for your OTA reception... You'd know that better than us.

siamesekitten · 10-20-2010, 07:21 PM

Thanks much! That's what I thought, but just wanted to be 100% sure since losing all those shows is NOT an option!

siamesekitten · 10-20-2010, 07:24 PM

PS By "reliability", I guess I meant the quality of program guide information, since it would now be over-the-air channels.

Is over-the-air program data updated as reliably as cable data?

djwilso · 10-20-2010, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siamesekitten

PS By "reliability", I guess I meant the quality of program guide information, since it would now be over-the-air channels.

Is over-the-air program data updated as reliably as cable data?

Sometimes even the cable guide data can't be trusted. These days I have to go through my To Do list on a regular basis to make sure that all the Season Passes are recording as they should be.

scandia101 · 10-20-2010, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siamesekitten

PS By "reliability", I guess I meant the quality of program guide information, since it would now be over-the-air channels.

Is over-the-air program data updated as reliably as cable data?

Guide data is only as reliable as what each individual source provides to Tribune Media Services. Tivo has nothing to do with it.

ewilts · 10-20-2010, 10:19 PM

If you have Comcast Internet service, it's actually cheaper to lower your cable subscription to just Basic Cable. It costs me $11.50 per month and I get $15 off my Internet bill because of the "bundle". In addition, I kept my 2 CableCARDs (and they're free here) in my S3 so I still have traditional guide data and the channels all stayed in the same place.

wmcbrine · 10-21-2010, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siamesekitten

Is over-the-air program data updated as reliably as cable data?

The TiVo's guide data comes from TiVo Inc. (who get it from Tribune) over the Internet, or over the phone if you prefer. It doesn't come over the air or over cable (unless you happen to have cable Internet). So there's no difference in that respect. The channels you get over the air are (mostly) a subset of the channels you get via cable, and the guide data for those channels should be identical regardless of how you get them.

LifeIsABeach · 10-21-2010, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siamesekitten

Thanks much! That's what I thought, but just wanted to be 100% sure since losing all those shows is NOT an option!

If losing these shows is not an option I would consider transferring them to a pc as backup. All hard drives will fail sooner or later (hopefully much later).