Try weaknees.com.
Series 2 Repair
My Mom has an old single tuner Series 2 with a lifetime, that is having freezing issues. She contacted Tivo and after some troubleshooting they said it would cost $149 to replace the unit and $199 to transfer the lifetime. Seems like a lot of money, especially to transfer the lifetime. I'm thinking it may be time for an upgrade but she doesn't have an HD TV, wireless internet and know how to connect all that stuff. The Series 2 is very simple for her, but I am not sure trying to salvage it is worth while. I think the hard drive might be the issue, but I live almost 2,000 miles from her, so I can't just drop by to fix it.
Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?
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Weaknees is to expensive.
Cable or OTA? Although it doesn't really matter.
Considering the new pricing change, $149 for a new Tivo (even if it is a refurb) w/ $199 to transfer the lifetime sounds like a good deal.
Was she offered a Premiere as her replacement Tivo?
Any Tivo will work fine with an SD TV.
Considering the new pricing change, $149 for a new Tivo (even if it is a refurb) w/ $199 to transfer the lifetime sounds like a good deal.
Was she offered a Premiere as her replacement Tivo?
Any Tivo will work fine with an SD TV.
It would certainly seem to be a hard drive. If you can image/swap out the HDD, maybe see if there's an "if it fits it ships" box that she can send it to you in. Swap out HDD, make sure it's working after a new HDD, send it back in similar fashion.
Done and done for probably ~$100 including the shipping and probably a much larger HDD than she has.
-DPF
Done and done for probably ~$100 including the shipping and probably a much larger HDD than she has.
-DPF
Initially they told my Mom the replacement would be a single tuner Series 2, like what she has. That didn't sound right to me so I called Tivo and they said someone gave her incorrect info, that the replacement would be a refurbished Series 2 Dual tuner. They also lowered the price from $149 down to $79.99, but couldn't reduce the lifetime transfer of $199. So $278 with free shipping before tax. Still kind of expensive, but an upgrade to a dual tuner box.
If we upgraded to a Premiere it would cost $479.98 for the box with a lifetime. Since my Mom only has basic cable and doesn't have a HiDef TV, I'm not sure a Premiere is the way to go. And even if she was thinking about getting a HiDef TV, Im not sure she would understand how to hook up the cables. She's not electronics literate.
Probably the most cost effective way is for her to send me the box and I replace the drive and hopefully that fixes the problem. Or I can purchase a used dual tuner with a lifetime on ebay for her. I would like her to at least get upgraded to a dual tuner box. I found new Series 2 boxes (single and dual tuners), on ebay, but that $199 lifetime transfer fee is just to much to spend on an older box.
I forgot to ask the Tivo rep what the warranty would be for the replacement, but I can't imagine it being more than 90 days.
Decisions, decisions.
If we upgraded to a Premiere it would cost $479.98 for the box with a lifetime. Since my Mom only has basic cable and doesn't have a HiDef TV, I'm not sure a Premiere is the way to go. And even if she was thinking about getting a HiDef TV, Im not sure she would understand how to hook up the cables. She's not electronics literate.
Probably the most cost effective way is for her to send me the box and I replace the drive and hopefully that fixes the problem. Or I can purchase a used dual tuner with a lifetime on ebay for her. I would like her to at least get upgraded to a dual tuner box. I found new Series 2 boxes (single and dual tuners), on ebay, but that $199 lifetime transfer fee is just to much to spend on an older box.
I forgot to ask the Tivo rep what the warranty would be for the replacement, but I can't imagine it being more than 90 days.
Decisions, decisions.
Really? Flat fee repair, including return shipping is $149. Beating that from 2,000 miles away is going to be a hassle I think.Weaknees is to expensive.
Since you are talking about a Dual Tuner S2, I assume she is connecting to analog cable????
Digital cable would require a converter box and OTA digital TV would also require a converter. I thought that rendered the Dual Tuner S2 into a Single Tuner box.
A Dual Tuner box might be overkill. I am sure someone else can fill both of us in.
Digital cable would require a converter box and OTA digital TV would also require a converter. I thought that rendered the Dual Tuner S2 into a Single Tuner box.
A Dual Tuner box might be overkill. I am sure someone else can fill both of us in.
dlfl, The $149 Weaknees charges is for a similar sized drive and includes return shipping. I am sure I can get a drive new for much less and beat their total price, including the round trip shipping. But if there is more wrong with the box that needs repairing, then it's probably a good price.
a68oliver, I get your point about the Dual Tuner. I didn't think about that.
So I think the most cost effective route is for her to send me the box, I replace the drive, maybe even upgrade it and send it back to her.
a68oliver, I get your point about the Dual Tuner. I didn't think about that.
So I think the most cost effective route is for her to send me the box, I replace the drive, maybe even upgrade it and send it back to her.
what model Series 2 is it? I have some spare OEM series 2 drives lying around...
It's a TCD24008A model. Not sure what the differences between it and a TCD24080 are.
i believe 80 is for 80gb and 40 is for 40gb and 8a is 80gb refurbished and 4a is 40gb refurbished. Or maybe not, I just read it somewhere.It's a TCD24008A model. Not sure what the differences between it and a TCD24080 are.
If 8a is refurbished then that is interesting because I also have an old Series 2 Tivo that is an 8a, which I purchased new on Amazon back in 2003. I remember it being listed as a new item. Had I known it was refurbished I would have sent it back.
The S2 Dual Tuner will not do OTA.Since you are talking about a Dual Tuner S2, I assume she is connecting to analog cable????
Digital cable would require a converter box and OTA digital TV would also require a converter. I thought that rendered the Dual Tuner S2 into a Single Tuner box.
A Dual Tuner box might be overkill. I am sure someone else can fill both of us in.
TCD540040 Series2, I made a mistake when I said it was a model TCD24008A.what model Series 2 is it? I have some spare OEM series 2 drives lying around...
Oops! I forgot that. I have never owned a S2.The S2 Dual Tuner will not do OTA.
28 rabbits flew away to 50club ru/]Italy
Look for a single tuner S2 on craig's list and swap parts with the lifetime unit.
I believe the "a" only means that it has different hardware mostly due to what the suppliers were manufacturing and that a refurbished unit would have a TSN that indicates the fact.i believe 80 is for 80gb and 40 is for 40gb and 8a is 80gb refurbished and 4a is 40gb refurbished. Or maybe not, I just read it somewhere.
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