[ragnrok23]

Hello everyone,
I've been lurking the boards for a few hours reading some great info :up: . I want to get a TIVO for the upcoming season, and with the big rebate now offered, I figured what better time than now? Anyway I am torn on which Series 2 to get. I have no cable box/card. I do have a HD TV (Mitsubishi LT46131). I was wondering if I can use the QUAM setting on my TV to act like a cablebox to allow me to record two shows at once? Also if I go with the normal Series 2, will it allow me to record one show while watching another show live on a different channel? Finally, will these boxes still work in a couple of years when all TV goes digital?

Thanks for everyones help!

 

[wolflord11]

What do you currently have? Cable, Sat etc.

This will effect what unit to get: For Cable get the TivoHD.

For Sat, you only have the Series 2. And it does not matter if you get the Single Tuner or the Dual Tuner because both only work as a Single Tuner with Sat.

Also, since you have a HD TV, remember that the Series 2 is Analog only and does not take full advantage of HD.

As for the Boxes still working when all TV goes Digital. Sat has been fully digital for years, and the Series 2 works ok. Yes you lose some picture quality from the change from Digital to Analog, but its not that bad.

I do not believe the QUAM setting will do what you would like it to do.

And welcome to the Forum

 

[classicsat]

If you have cable and/or OTA, and think you will for some time, get a TiVoHD.

If you insist on a Series 2, get a DT. You can record two analog, or one analog, one box. And no, you cannot use your TV tuner as a box.

Whatever TiVo you choose, you can record what it records, and also view what your TV is capable of tuning, with the cable also connected to your TV tuner.

 

[ragnrok23]

Thanks for the replys- right now I only have cable stright from the wall (no box- no HD offered in my town yet)

since I only have analog cable currently, I was just thinking of getting a series 2 since they are so cheap, and upgrade to a better recieve when I get HD. (most likely in the form os Sat when I get my own house 2-3 years away)

so based on this , I guess I am better off getting the Series2 DVR making $20 AR?


Thanks for the greeting Wolflord11

 

[usnret]

You should seriously look into the Dual Tuner. We have a Panny 42" plasma, no HD is offered here on our cable and we have a cable box. I had the DT with no cable box for approx. a year, could record 2 analog channels with no prob. Got a cable box and can now record 2 analog channels at the same time or 1 analog and one digital at the same time. Have a splitter coming from the wall to the cable box and DT, so can also watch a 3rd program while recording 2 programs (great for this time of year with all the new programs). Although a bit more cost involved, give the DT a real good look before you go with a single tuner Tivo.

 

[ragnrok23]

You should seriously look into the Dual Tuner. We have a Panny 42" plasma, no HD is offered here on our cable and we have a cable box. I had the DT with no cable box for approx. a year, could record 2 analog channels with no prob. Got a cable box and can now record 2 analog channels at the same time or 1 analog and one digital at the same time. Have a splitter coming from the wall to the cable box and DT, so can also watch a 3rd program while recording 2 programs (great for this time of year with all the new programs). Although a bit more cost involved, give the DT a real good look before you go with a single tuner Tivo.

so you just split the cable out of the wall into the Dual Tuner and you were able to record 2 chanells?

 

[bubba425]

so you just split the cable out of the wall into the Dual Tuner and you were able to record 2 chanells?

No need to split, since you aren't using a cable box, the dual tuner gets both signals over the one coax input coming from the wall. So, basically you take the cable you have going from the wall to the tv and put the tv end into your dual tuner tivo and then connect your tivo to your tv.

The splitter is only needed if you want to record two shows at the same time and watch a third show live.

 

[usnret]

You have to run one of the splits directly to the tv. Then you can select either the input from the Tivo to watch tv or slect the direct input to the tv to watch live tv. While you are watching the live tv input your DT can be recording 2 other programs. Mine is set up so that when I select the "TV" input on the tv, it is the live tv input and when I select "component 1" on the tv, that gets me the Tivo input.

 

[ragnrok23]

Thank you everyone for the replies

One more question, do I have to buy the Tivo wireless network adaptor, or can I just buy a normal computer one?

 

[classicsat]

The TiVo wireless adapter is the best choice, as it is fastest with TiVo, and offers the best security. If you can find a supported PC adapter, you can use it though.
The DT and the HD models have a built in Ethernet port, if that interests you.

 

[ZeoTiVo]

. If you can find a supported PC adapter, you can use it though.

the TiVo HD will only support the TiVo wireless adapter and does not support any other wireless adpater

 

[ragnrok23]

You should seriously look into the Dual Tuner. We have a Panny 42" plasma, no HD is offered here on our cable and we have a cable box. I had the DT with no cable box for approx. a year, could record 2 analog channels with no prob. Got a cable box and can now record 2 analog channels at the same time or 1 analog and one digital at the same time. Have a splitter coming from the wall to the cable box and DT, so can also watch a 3rd program while recording 2 programs (great for this time of year with all the new programs). Although a bit more cost involved, give the DT a real good look before you go with a single tuner Tivo.

When you had the DT with no cable box, did you have to get a cable card?

Also they way I have my set-up, every once in a while, I unplug my cable and plug in an antenna (For HD). so basically- the cable coming from my wall is just my HD antenna- will this screw up my settings on the TIVO? I plan on splitting the cable out of the wall, and having one go to the TIVO and the other directly to the TV. I hope that makes sense

 

[megazone]

When you had the DT with no cable box, did you have to get a cable card?

The S2DT *cannot* use CableCARD. Only the Series3 and TiVo HD can.

Also they way I have my set-up, every once in a while, I unplug my cable and plug in an antenna (For HD). so basically- the cable coming from my wall is just my HD antenna- will this screw up my settings on the TIVO? I plan on splitting the cable out of the wall, and having one go to the TIVO and the other directly to the TV. I hope that makes sense

Sounds like you need a Series3 or TiVoHD, which are the only models to support HD from antenna. The S2DT doesn't support antenna at all. The old S2 only does NTSC - no ATSC HD.

On the S3/HD there are two inputs - one for antenna and one for cable. You DO NOT want to keep pulling them, because you have to re-do Guided Setup when you do that. Just connect it and leave it be. Split the cable if you need to.

 

[ragnrok23]

I know it seems like I should go with a series 3 or HD, but here's why I don't want to right now

I have no HD available from my cable company- I plan on moving in about 3 years, and at that time I will 90% get a dish

I do not want to record HD when I use my antenna, I am only interested in watching TV in HD, so the fact series 2 does not record using OTA signal does not bother me

I guess I do have to plug the antenna directly into the TV if I want to watch HD though..............