Series 2 w/Lifetime Issues - Here's what TiVo offered

For $399 you can get an 1TB OTA Roamio with lifetime.
Buy TiVo Roamio OTA, Antenna DVR + streaming. No TiVo Service Fees!

 

Right. So, is the $50 worth it? Depends if you may ever switch back to cable or if you are handy enough to install a cablecard bracket in the OTA (you are).

 

Is it worthwhile to pick up a used TiVo wireless network "G" USB adapter for the Series 2 and try that (if you otherwise are happy with the Series 2)? I have that for my Toshiba Series 2 TiVo--will the Sony accept it as well? TiVo Wireless G USB Network Adapter (AG0100) by TiVo *FREE SHIPPING* 851342000223 | eBay ($13 including shipping)

edit: Or this used TiVo wireless network "G" adapter for less than $7 (including shipping)--but auction ending in less than half an hour. TiVo Wireless G USB Network (AG0100) by TiVo 851342000223 | eBay

Of course, this also gives you an excuse to jump forward 12-15 years from the Series 2. There have been a few nice changes in that period . . . .

You also could wait and see if TiVo has any sales between now and the end of the year (e.g. Nov.-Dec., at it's done the past few years) or brings back an offer to transfer Lifetime from a Series 2 for $99 with the purchase of a Bolt from TiVo.

 

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Forget series 2, leave the SD machines behind, most SD is OTA digital subnets that don't always look that good, especially on larger screens.

 

The Bolt provides Stream functionality that the Roamio OTA cannot since the standalone TiVo Stream has been discontinued. Not sure if that's something you'd use, but keep it in mind.

 

What kind of error message are you getting?

From my reading here (not personal experience), older TiVo units take a LONG TIME to process Guide Data (especially cable vs OTA). Unplug the telephone connection for ~2-3 days and then try again. Certainly there are some Series 2 owners here who can chime in with better advice (if they see this thread).

• Do you need another TiVo DVR?
  - How about a Mini? Used Mini?
• Besides the 1000GB Bolt, is your Series 3 still in service?
• Is 500GB enough?
  - Series 6 units use 2½" HDDs; Series 5 units use 3½" HDDs (less expensive, more 'stable' choices to chose from)
• Unless you buy a 'donor' Roamio Basic for the cablecard socket, the ~$15 socket listed in the 'popular' thread here is NOT an exact match; i.e. the two rows of pins are not properly spaced and need to be bent 'slightly' towards each other. Several 'non-techie' users have failed to achieve the desired results. Even the 'premium' version (using a custom pcb, 'custom' etched by an eBay seller for double the price) had a 'Quality Control' issue (that was quickly handled by the Seller).

 

The OP already owns one Bolt.

 

If you already have a bolt, why not just pick up a mini?

 

Current related thread discussing Series 2 / 3 w/ Guide Problems:

Does anyone have a Series 2 (or 3) Tivo that's still loading the Program Guide?​

 

Really? I thought that most people who went this route ultimately had no issue with it.

 

Personally I don’t think they are offering you much of a deal and since you already own a Bolt and a S3, I’d retire the S2 and get a Mini.

 

You could probably find an all-in bolt on eBay for that price. I wouldn't buy directly from Tivo unless it was a better deal. Keep in mind that your S2 has some value. At least $30.

 

I'm confused. Series 2 boxes don't have ATSC tuners do they? So how were you planning to record OTA signals?

 

Series 2 TiVos (except the dual-tuner 649 model and the extremely rare 542 model) can be set up to use antenna with a converter box. Why anyone would bother these days is another matter.

 

TiVo seems to have deleted or moved their page on this, but Weaknees still has a copy of their converter box list. If you picked up one of the free converters at the time of the digital transition, and if you can find your Series 2 infrared blaster (if you were using a digital adapter on cable, I'm guessing it is still handy) then you may be able to try this out with no expense.

WeaKnees Blog » Blog Archive » TiVo Unveils Plans for Digital Transition, 2009

 

Because one already has the box and the TiVo box has Lifetime or Lifetime Basic, especially as a secondary TiVo.

 

I do.

Still using TWO series 2s.

 

You can purchase an OTA converter box and an IR cable on eBay. Might be ok to use on a small screen TV.