[cpals]

I currently have a single tuner Series 2, which works pretty good... little slow and has the smaller (40GB) hard drive.

I was thinking about going for the Series 2 dual tuner, but I believe if what I read is right, then I cannot. I only have rabbit ears (OTA) for my channel reception and I think I read that the new ones do not support this? However, my single tuner one works fine. What is the reasoning behind this?

Thanks.

 

[RoyK]

You are correct. The Series 2 DT units do not work with OTA signals. The series 3 DT units do, however.

 

[cpals]

Well, that seems like a pointless thing for TIVO to have done? I don't feel like spending $300 on a TIVO, but would have spent the $100.

 

[atmuscarella]

Well, that seems like a pointless thing for TIVO to have done? I don't feel like spending $300 on a TIVO, but would have spent the $100.

Under current federal regulations any devise that receives over the air (OTA) analog signals (old style TV) also has to have the ability to receive OTA digital signals. TiVo chose to leave the analog tuners disabled in the Series 2 DT because adding digital tuners would have cost them too much. Kind of sucks but that's what happened.

Thanks,

 

[Jim5506]

Under current federal regulations any devise that receives over the air (OTA) analog signals (old style TV) also has to have the ability to receive OTA digital signals. TiVo chose to leave the analog tuners disabled in the Series 2 DT because adding digital tuners would have cost them too much. Kind of sucks but that's what happened.

Thanks,

Has anybody tried a hack that would enable the OTA tuner?

 

[gastrof]

Does anyone know for a certainty that the machine HAS a tuner that'd get OTA?

It might have been built without one.

Besides, the TiVo's own software might not allow you to select OTA as a tuning option on the Series 2 dual tuner. (Which means you'd have to hack not only the tuner, if you can, but you'd even have to hack the TiVo's software.)

This sounds like a visit to the TiVo Underground forum would be appropriate.

 

[classicsat]

I am pretty sure the hardware is OTA capable, but the software is written not to support OTA on that model.

Edited to correct context.

 

[ForrestB]

I hope you folks realize OTA analog TV will be switched off on February 17, 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_television

 

[classicsat]

To add:

I think there may be some DB hack to put ones OTA lineup on there, but that would be an advanced hacker thing.

Another option is to kind of make your own cable provider with the channels you receive, using the setup of a local cable provider. It will take a bit of money and/or technical knowhow to set up and get working correctly. In that case, you may as well get a TiVoHD.
Or hold out and see what is around the corner.