SDV - Will there ever be a solution for Series 3 or HDTivo???

You will just have to wait for a definitive answer. There just isn't one now.

 

If Tivo did support or confirmed a no cost update or replacement that would support SDV, then I would switch today from DirecTV to Comcast and get 3 TivoHD's.

 

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FYI, Cablevision has already started with SDV. However, right now, the only channels that are on SDV are the spanish channels in the 200s.

I have an S3 and Cablevision and I can't get any channels in the 200s. Not that I care, personally. Just FYI.

 

The real answer is that nobody knows, and if you buy a tivoHD you should do so with full knowledge that it may be obsoleted in 1-3 years. At least it's not such a kick in the pants at $300.

 

I'm not too worried about it. Most of my TV watching is in the mainstream so the channels I watch are unlikely to end up on the SDV side of the fence.

 

there are not even substantial gut feelings on the issue right now. No one knows how seriusly the cable companies want to help TiVo in fixing this - they can either supply an easy answer that gives TiVo some options or point to the cable card 2.0 standard tha trequires an OCAP/Java running on the TiVo along with some more hardware and would require a new model. At that point TiVo might try component in from a cable box as the way to get SDV channels.

so could be simple and cheap or could be clunky and expensive. No one knows which way it will go yet.

 

As you might immagine, HD channels are highly watched at this time. It does not make sense for cablecompanies to put HD channels on SDV, as it would not save any bandwidth. Cable companies will more likely put lesser watched channels on SDV, such as some Spanish channels as mentioned above, as such channels are not in use 24/7/365. This is where the bandwidth savings and benefit of SDV comes into effect.

 

Since no one has even publicly annnouced they are actively working on a new standard that would allow Tivo to support SDV with an S3, it seems doubtful there would be a released solution for it in the next 12 months. More likely to be fixed in a future S4.

 

ya, id think theyll build a new device that is with the open cable 2 specs.

 

I don't think they will unless cable changes its mind about requiring full OCAP support. Basically if Tivo built a device now to support all those features as the licensing requires, they are agreeing the cable operator can download and run any software they want to use those features. Where is the advantage in getting a TiVo and then still ending up with a cable company provided user-interface.

 

Well, tivo is putting their software on cables hardware, id think theyd still use tivo's software and co-develop stuff for tivo's hardware as well.

 

They would have to come to an agreement with every cable operator to do that though. Otherwise it would work fine on people they have agreements to provide OCAP software to(whoohoo!), and other operators would be able to over-ride the Tivo software and run their own OCAP (blech!) Now, if they could get that agreement, I'd probably be onboard with the plan. Although, now what happens when a new cable company pops up??

 

Reasonable, well-qualified gut feelings differ.

 

We just had this discussion last week (particularly in the second thread):
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=357703
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=359707

In the first thread, MegaZone helpfully links to some newer information that points to the fact that a solution is being worked on by both parties.

Yet another case of the answer already being out there, without the need to create yet another SDV thread.

 

Another way to look at this SDV issue which may make you feel better with the following assumption:
Assumption: The chances of every single channel you like/watch going SDV are pretty low at least in the next 2-3 years

If there are any channels switched to SDV that you really like then there is always the option of renting the cable company DVR just for those and continue to use your Tivo(s) for the rest.
Feel better?

 

Umm, no. That solution sucks.

 

Reference 1. Reference 2. Reference 3.