[Visceria]

Okay, I have a few questions that need quick answering, please!

For one, does the HD Tivo (y'know, the $299 one) record two digital cable shows at once? I only have digital cable, so if this feature is still the analog/digital dual tuner as it is with the old, cheaper series 2 Tivo . . . then that's a major strike against HD Tivo for me.

Also, I've read on numerous sites that the Tivo-to-Go feature is going to come to HD Tivo and the other series 3 Tivo in November (albeit only a beta version). Now, my question for this is, will I have to buy an all new HD Tivo box when this happens, or will there be some sort of software upgrade or something to add onto my existing HD box?

And last but not least, will I be able to still have Comcast OnDemand with not just an HD Tivo, but a regular ol' series 2 Tivo, as well? Is it possible? Because I've been told both no and yes on this issue, and I really do not want to sacrifice my OnDemand service, not even for a really cool DVR. T_T

 

[EVizzle]

You can record two digital recordings at once, even two HD recordings at the same time. Either 2 Single Stream or 1 multi stream cable cards (which are rented from the cable co) decrypt the digital signal.

TivoToGo will arrive as a free software update, all existing HD boxes will get this, a feature that is currently working great on Series 2 Tivos.

You will lose OnDemand (cable cards do not support two way communication which is the foundation of OnDemand) if you return your rented cable box, but you could always keep the box and just run it into a different input on the tv and split the cable line from the wall to feed both the box and the TivoHD. Depends how much you really use this, but with the selection of movies at all hours of the night on cable, you could have a bunch Tivod to watch whenever.

Cablecard rental varies from company to company, but the first card should not exceed the price of a cable box rental. If you need 2 single stream cards, you may have to pay an additional fee (mine is 1.50 per month but others have reported higher charges).

 

[EVizzle]

to clarify the cable card thing, some cable companies do not have Multistream cards, so you need 2 singlestream cards to record 2 channels. The TivoHD is capable of using the Multistream cards, so if possible, get one of those and you are set.

 

[Visceria]

Just to clarify, though (because I'm a bit paranoid about this, haha), by opting to discard OnDemand all together, I'd still have all of my digital cable channels (such as HBO, etc.)? Anyway, I'm starting to evaluate just how much I use my OnDemand services . . . but I wonder, if I decide that I still want the OnDemand, exactly how hard it will be to split the cable, etc. My T.V.'s already got two gaming systems, a VCR/DVD combo, and Comcast's cable box hooked up to it, not to mention that my cable is also spliced with my brother's in the next room . . . so I'm just wondering how much more it can take. XD

Anyway, thank you for all of your help, and for answering all of my questions!