Sad state of Tivo

7600 Views 46 Replies 22 Participants Last post by DouglasPHill, Apr 26, 2021

klyde

Discussion Starter · Apr 2, 2021 (Edited)

Just got off the phone with Tivo. I have been a Tivo user since the series one devices.
Ive had at least 8 boxes, all with lifetime. I still have a premier, Romeo, and Bolt with lifetime. Recently my Bolt OTA died. I called Tivo for a repair, they told me to call Weeknees.
Weeknees told me its a known problem and is unrepairable. I never heard of a company selling an electronic device with a known problem that cant be repaired.
The Bolt has already been discontinued.
Tivo will NOT re activate any series 1-5 boxes.
They now only sell Edge boxes.
Tivo doesn't offer any repair service.
They wont let me transfer lifetime from the Bolt I got from my Brother, They used to do it for $100 to a another Bolt of the same type they said.
They don't have any refurbished boxes.
They wont cut me a deal on the guide.
It will cost me $549 to add lifetime , $149 a year. of $12.95 a month to buy a guide for the Bolt.
A refurbished Bolt can be bought for $300 with lifetime.

Why would anyone stay with Tivo?
Im looking for an alternate box.

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1 - 20 of 47 Posts

High Technology

· #2 · Apr 2, 2021

TiVo hardware is now a legacy device / business for them Xperi bought TiVo in 2019, and touts itself as an IP licensing company. So they aren't a consumer electronics business, rather they focus on licensing their technology to others. They bought TiVo for the IP portfolio, not the installed userbase of TiVo devotees (which all of us are).

Xperi's About on Linked In says the following, which basically says it's all about licensing and not about hardware:

Xperi invents, develops, and delivers technologies that enable extraordinary experiences. Xperi technologies, delivered via its brands (DTS, HD Radio, IMAX Enhanced, Invensas, TiVo), and by its startup, Perceive, make entertainment more entertaining, and smart devices smarter. Xperi technologies are integrated into billions of consumer devices, media platforms, and semiconductors worldwide, driving increased value for partners, customers and consumers.

Reactions: 1

klyde

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 2, 2021

I believe Tivo will be dead in a couple of years if not sooner. I forgot to add that Tivo will NOT re activate any series 1-5 boxes.

dianebrat

· #4 · Apr 3, 2021

klyde said:
I believe Tivo will be dead in a couple of years if not sooner. I forgot to add that Tivo will NOT re activate any series 1-5 boxes.

1-4, S1-Premiere
Roamio units and higher are still valid and able to be activated

Reactions: 3

vjquan

· #5 · Apr 3, 2021

Most other alternatives are streaming boxes that can't be hooked up to a TV. I still think TiVo is best when it comes to a set top DVR. You can go with older TiVo hardware, but they're also slower.

Reactions: 1

klyde

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 3, 2021

Im pretty sure they told me series 1-5 can NOT be RE activated anymore. However It doesn't matter anymore to me. Im through with Tivo.

dianebrat

· #7 · Apr 3, 2021

vjquan said:
Most other alternatives are streaming boxes that can't be hooked up to a TV.

Huh?

klyde said:
Im pretty sure they told me series 1-5 can NOT be RE activated anymore. However It doesn't matter anymore to me. Im through with Tivo.

Fine, but that's incorrect, the Roamio is considered a supported box at this time, there's no reason for this thread to spread misinformation.

klyde

Discussion Starter · #8 · Apr 3, 2021

Amazon Fire TV Recast Review

Amazon Fire TV Recast review: One of the best cord-cutter companions yet

vjquan

· #9 · Apr 3, 2021

dianebrat said:
Huh?

No HDMI output.

dianebrat

· #10 · Apr 3, 2021

vjquan said:
Most other alternatives are streaming boxes that can't be hooked up to a TV. I still think TiVo is best when it comes to a set top DVR. You can go with older TiVo hardware, but they're also slower.

vjquan said:
No HDMI output.

What streamers are you referring to that don't have HDMI outputs?
I can't even name one that doesn't have HDMI, AppleTV, Nvidia Shield, Fire devices, Roku, all have HDMI

klyde

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 3, 2021

dianebrat said:
Huh?

Fine, but that's incorrect, the Roamio is considered a supported box at this time, there's no reason for this thread to spread misinformation.

I did not intend to spread false information. Perhaps there foreign help center made the mistake.

dlfl

· #12 · Apr 3, 2021

The stand-alone cable TV DVR concept (i.e., TiVo) has suffered from a major setback in the form of digital cable. With analog cable a DVR could be designed so that it worked with any cable signal, not requiring any cooperation from, or approval of, the cable company. Making TiVo work with digital cable requires cooperation (i.e., support) from cable companies to design and furnish devices (CableCARD and Tuning Adapters). For obvious competitive business reasons, such cooperation has not really been there, although their was a pretense of it, to satisfy FCC regulations.

I’m surprised at how long TiVo has survived given this situation. Now the whole situation is about to be swamped by the tsunami of streaming video, which eventually will make a lot of the previous issues disappear — along with cable TV and cable TV DVR’s.

This is the perspective in which to view the unsurprising “sad state of TiVo”.

Reactions: 2

vjquan

· #13 · Apr 3, 2021

dianebrat said:
What streamers are you referring to that don't have HDMI outputs?
I can't even name one that doesn't have HDMI, AppleTV, Nvidia Shield, Fire devices, Roku, all have HDMI

Referring to replacement DVR alternatives. The Amazon Fire TV Recast stated above has no HDMI and streams to devices.

MScottC

· #14 · Apr 3, 2021

vjquan said:
Referring to replacement DVR alternatives. The Amazon Fire TV Recast stated above has no HDMI and streams to devices.

Does the Amazon Fire TV Recast playback perform like a TiVo with regards to FF, Rewind, and other trick play desires, given that the material is stored at least locally within your home network? Or is it more like the god awful navigation of almost all the streaming service apps?

Pokemon_Dad

· #15 · Apr 3, 2021

klyde said:
Why would anyone stay with Tivo?
Im looking for an alternate box.

Try Channels DVR. Put a 30-day free trial of the software on a spare PC/Mac or an NAS (I use a Synology, easy simple install), put an HD HomeRun Connect Quatro or 4K on your home network, they find each other, and presto. $8/mo or $80/year if you like it.

Free Channels DVR clients: Apple TV, Fire TV, Android/Android TV, and iOS. Then you've got your local shows and your streaming services in a simple interface light years ahead of TiVo in streaming performance, controlled by one remote. Also works in any web browser, and can be used in-home or remote.

(You can even put Channels on TiVo's new Stream 4K, but that's extra work, it's not entirely reliable, and clearly you're done with the company. And hey, they're done with us, so why not?)

dianebrat

· #16 · Apr 3, 2021

vjquan said:
Referring to replacement DVR alternatives. The Amazon Fire TV Recast stated above has no HDMI and streams to devices.

That's not what you referred to, you referred to streamers of which all of usual suspects have HDMI outputs.
The Fire TV recast is more a niche product than streamers that you're more likely to find in a home.

krkaufman

· #17 · Apr 3, 2021

Pokemon_Dad said:
Try Channels DVR. Put a 30-day free trial of the software on a spare PC/Mac or an NAS (I use a Synology, easy simple install), put an HD HomeRun Connect Quatro or 4K on your home network, they find each other, and presto. $8/mo or $80/year if you like it.

Free Channels DVR clients: Apple TV, Fire TV, Android/Android TV, and iOS. Then you've got your local shows and your streaming services in a simple interface light years ahead of TiVo in streaming performance, controlled by one remote. Also works in any web browser, and can be used in-home or remote.

(You can even put Channels on TiVo's new Stream 4K, but that's extra work, it's not entirely reliable, and clearly you're done with the company. And hey, they're done with us, so why not?)

Isn't there some copy protection caveat that should always be included with these recommendations? The ability to record protected content is what keeps TiVo (even WMC) relevant.

Pokemon_Dad

· #18 · Apr 3, 2021

krkaufman said:
Isn't there some copy protection caveat that should always be included with these recommendations? The ability to record protected content is what keeps TiVo (even WMC) relevant.

He's talking about replacing a Bolt OTA, so I recommended OTA tuners. If he wants to include a CableCARD tuner (the 3-tuner Prime is in production again), then caveats may be required depending on the cable company and whether he wants premium channels, which leads to a discussion of the amazing TVE feature that may be a solution for some. I'm doing fine with an Xfinity CableCARD and no premiums. Also having fun with OTA.

Reactions: 1

cwoody222

· #19 · Apr 3, 2021

klyde said:
The Bolt has already been discontinued.

The first Bolt was released 6 years ago and has been discontinued since 2017, when they released the Edge. It is not uncommon for a company to discontinue one device after they release another. Note: "discontinued" does not mean "unsupported". They continued to sell new and refurbished Bolts for years but have since stopped.

klyde said:
Tivo will NOT re activate any series 1-5 boxes.

Not true. They have stopped activating up to the Premier, which came out 11 years ago. That's the same year the iPhone 4 came out, for perspective.

klyde said:
They now only sell Edge boxes.

It's their newest device, released 4 years ago. Not unusual for a company to solely focus on their current product line.

klyde said:
Tivo doesn't offer any repair service.

So. Neither do lots of companies.

klyde said:
They wont let me transfer lifetime from the Bolt I got from my Brother, They used to do it for $100 to a another Bolt of the same type they said.

This has never been an official option in their 20+ year history. Officially, lifetime service was NOT transferrable, period. If they let you, you got lucky.

klyde said:
They don't have any refurbished boxes.

So. Neither do lots of companies.

klyde said:
They wont cut me a deal on the guide.

Um, most companies don't "cut deals". I think Netflix costs too much. I tried to ask them to cut me a deal and guess what? They told me "No!" I guess I'll go to Hulu. The sad state of Netflix. Did you know they don't even support their apps on some devices that are 11 years old?

klyde said:
It will cost me $549 to add lifetime , $149 a year. of $12.95 a month to buy a guide for the Bolt.

That's been their pricing for quite some time. You are also not just "buying the guide". You are subsidizing the software and all features therein. Their business model for 20+ years has been a software subscription model.

klyde said:
A refurbished Bolt can be bought for $300 with lifetime.

OK. Then go buy one. No one is stopping you, including TiVo.

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vjquan

· #20 · Apr 3, 2021 (Edited)

klyde said:
Im looking for an alternate box.

vjquan said:
Most other alternatives are streaming boxes that can't be hooked up to a TV. I still think TiVo is best when it comes to a set top DVR. You can go with older TiVo hardware, but they're also slower.

dianebrat said:
That's not what you referred to, you referred to streamers of which all of usual suspects have HDMI outputs.
The Fire TV recast is more a niche product than streamers that you're more likely to find in a home.

The context to this discussion is to find an "alternative" replacement for TiVo, which is what I said above.
The Amazon box, which the OP is considering, is an alternative that's supposed to compete with a TiVo set top box, but has a downside of no HDMI output. I called it a streamer in the generic sense of no direct hookup.

cwoody222 said:
The first Bolt was released 6 years ago and has been discontinued since 2017, when they released the Edge.

Bolt OTA was released 2018-2019 per Tivopedia. My refurbished bolt has a manufacture date of early 2020.

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