Are you relying on TWC for your internet connection? If so, you're buying channels 2-13 analog whether you like it or not.I just joined, but I've been reading the forums for awhile. I had a Sony Tivo back in the day and adored it but then I switched to Dish Network. Now, unfortunately, I'm stuck with cable again (Time Warner) and hate the DVR with a white-hot passion. I thought I'd get Tivo and the cable card and be done with the horrid thing, but based on what I've been reading, Premiere sounds like a bit of a nightmare.
The TW DVR is working fine, except for tonight when it hardily recorded something that then vanished (weird, but hello, Bittorrent), so I wondered if folks had any opinion about whether it's viable to switch. I DO like the idea of saving a bit of money, which I would with the Tivo, but I don't want a bunch of headaches either. TW seems to be a particular problem with Tivo, at least based on what I've read here.
And just as an aside, does anyone know off the top of their heads whether it's possible to keep the cable but dump the broadcast channels (which cost me $13 a month) and go OTA with the Tivo? My thought is that then, I would at least have the reliability of the major channels.
Any help or discussion would be greatly appreciated. This forum is wonderful!!
Thinking of going back to Tivo, but scared...
I just joined, but I've been reading the forums for awhile. I had a Sony Tivo back in the day and adored it but then I switched to Dish Network. Now, unfortunately, I'm stuck with cable again (Time Warner) and hate the DVR with a white-hot passion. I thought I'd get Tivo and the cable card and be done with the horrid thing, but based on what I've been reading, Premiere sounds like a bit of a nightmare.
The TW DVR is working fine, except for tonight when it hardily recorded something that then vanished (weird, but hello, Bittorrent), so I wondered if folks had any opinion about whether it's viable to switch. I DO like the idea of saving a bit of money, which I would with the Tivo, but I don't want a bunch of headaches either. TW seems to be a particular problem with Tivo, at least based on what I've read here.
And just as an aside, does anyone know off the top of their heads whether it's possible to keep the cable but dump the broadcast channels (which cost me $13 a month) and go OTA with the Tivo? My thought is that then, I would at least have the reliability of the major channels.
Any help or discussion would be greatly appreciated. This forum is wonderful!!
The TW DVR is working fine, except for tonight when it hardily recorded something that then vanished (weird, but hello, Bittorrent), so I wondered if folks had any opinion about whether it's viable to switch. I DO like the idea of saving a bit of money, which I would with the Tivo, but I don't want a bunch of headaches either. TW seems to be a particular problem with Tivo, at least based on what I've read here.
And just as an aside, does anyone know off the top of their heads whether it's possible to keep the cable but dump the broadcast channels (which cost me $13 a month) and go OTA with the Tivo? My thought is that then, I would at least have the reliability of the major channels.
Any help or discussion would be greatly appreciated. This forum is wonderful!!
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
Are you relying on TWC for your internet connection? If so, you're buying channels 2-13 analog whether you like it or not.
Nope. I'm on DSL. The less TWC the better!Are you relying on TWC for your internet connection? If so, you're buying channels 2-13 analog whether you like it or not.
No headaches here with my five Premieres on FiOS. Each box has a cable card. My Premieres have been as rock solid as any TiVo I've owned during the last ten years.
Yes- time and again those with issues are louder than those without. I have no problems, though I agree there is room for improvement. (if you chose to use HD screens - some are still SD, and where is my andriod app?)
I'm relatively positive you will see those with issues post after this, but remain aware that most people do not have serious issues with the Premiere. Though, like any electronic, some do.
I believe you will find several on these forums who use OTA for broadcast channels to avoid any signal degradation they may have from their cable company.
I'm relatively positive you will see those with issues post after this, but remain aware that most people do not have serious issues with the Premiere. Though, like any electronic, some do.
I believe you will find several on these forums who use OTA for broadcast channels to avoid any signal degradation they may have from their cable company.
I record from both OTA and the locals on analog cable with my premiere. I use OTA for everything I want in HD and the analog cable for everything else. When I upgrade to a 1TB drive, I'll nix the analog cable.
I realize there are plenty of people around here that have had a lot of issues. However, I am not one of them. Sure, when TWC did there most recent line-up change Tivo was useless for over 48 hours. Otherwise, In the 4 months I have had a Premier I have had the HD menu lockup once, I have never had an issue with Netflix, and I have only had issues once with the SDV adapter and that was a result of a transformer in the neighborhood that was reseting every 15-30 minutes. The advantages this DVR has over cable DVRs far outweigh any issues I may have had.
Now, would I like a 100% HD interface. Yes. Do I covet the Virgin version of the guide? If you don't then you probably haven't seen it. Otherwise, it does what it should when it should and this is record TV shows. I paid $350 for my Sony DHG-250HDD several years ago. At $460 for my TiVo with lifetime I feel like I got a great deal. TiVo isn't the end all be all solution for everyone though. If you are apprehensive I suggest buying a used one on eBay. If you get tired of it just hawk it back.
Now, would I like a 100% HD interface. Yes. Do I covet the Virgin version of the guide? If you don't then you probably haven't seen it. Otherwise, it does what it should when it should and this is record TV shows. I paid $350 for my Sony DHG-250HDD several years ago. At $460 for my TiVo with lifetime I feel like I got a great deal. TiVo isn't the end all be all solution for everyone though. If you are apprehensive I suggest buying a used one on eBay. If you get tired of it just hawk it back.
Appreciate the feedback! And it's good to hear from people who aren't having major issues. I suppose if there had been a forum before I bought my first Tivo, I probably wouldn't have gotten it. It's just that with the cable cards AND the adapter for the SDV, it almost seems like too much potential to go wrong. I suppose I could get one, try it out, and if it doesn't work, I can sell it. I'm planning on getting the lifetime service and I get the upgrade discount so I'd probably come out okay.
I'll keep reading the forums for awhile and mull it over and if anyone has any thoughts or advice, please share! If I find out I can cut the broadcast fee from TWC and just use an antenna, that would make it even more tempting...
I'll keep reading the forums for awhile and mull it over and if anyone has any thoughts or advice, please share! If I find out I can cut the broadcast fee from TWC and just use an antenna, that would make it even more tempting...
Let me get this straight...
TWC takes a ''free'' product (OTA), and charges the customers a fee to rebroadcast those channels?
I'm glad that I'm in an area where I'm not forced to rely on cable to get my OTA channels.
TWC takes a ''free'' product (OTA), and charges the customers a fee to rebroadcast those channels?
I'm glad that I'm in an area where I'm not forced to rely on cable to get my OTA channels.
I've had mine since Sept. and so far so good. The units does feel unfinished and it has some bugs occasionally but for the most part I am very happy. If you compare it to the Dishnetwork VIP722 or the cables DVR then I can rate it much higher. I think I went through 4 VIP722's in 18 months and 3 cable DVRs in 2 years.
Some people have had issues and of course those will be the most vocal (I would too).
I went cold turkey though I only use my TIVO for OTA now. SO I don't have any experiences using a cable card.
T
Some people have had issues and of course those will be the most vocal (I would too).
I went cold turkey though I only use my TIVO for OTA now. SO I don't have any experiences using a cable card.
T
It's "free" over the air, but not to the cable companies.Let me get this straight...
TWC takes a ''free'' product (OTA), and charges the customers a fee to rebroadcast those channels?
I'm glad that I'm in an area where I'm not forced to rely on cable to get my OTA channels.
Google "must carry must pay" to learn something about the broadcasters' sense of entitlement.
Just remember, people are 100 times more likely to take the time to voice a complaint than a praise. I'd say that most people that find their way to these forums are those experiencing problems and looking for answers. There are a lot of people out there with no need for a place like this as their boxes have worked fine from day one.
You'd be hard pressed to find any electronic device not being slammed in a forum somewhere.
You'd be hard pressed to find any electronic device not being slammed in a forum somewhere.
I use 2 Premieres with FIOS without issues. The #1 complaint I see is with people that have tuning adapters. It seems switched digital video and the tuning adapter is some technology created on the 7th level of hell.
I'm a little worried about that because apparently, I have some SDV channels. I haven't done a ton of research on it, but is this something that ALL channels will eventually be? Because so far, the SDV channels on my system aren't channels I care about. At least as far as I can see, unless I am thoroughly misunderstanding SDV. Which is possible!I use 2 Premieres with FIOS without issues. The #1 complaint I see is with people that have tuning adapters. It seems switched digital video and the tuning adapter is some technology created on the 7th level of hell.
timatkn:
That helps. I DID go through several -- maybe three -- Dish VIP622s. Of course, my thing there was that I didn't own them but I WAS really happy with my Sony Tivo and if the issues with the Premiere are less hardware than the issues with the VIPs, then that makes me happier.I've had mine since Sept. and so far so good. The units does feel unfinished and it has some bugs occasionally but for the most part I am very happy. If you compare it to the Dishnetwork VIP722 or the cables DVR then I can rate it much higher. I think I went through 4 VIP722's in 18 months and 3 cable DVRs in 2 years.
The other thing I don't want to do is buy the Premiere if they're gonna come out with something new in the next few months, but that doesn't sound likely. You're all being so helpful. Thanks!!! It's also good to know that this forum is here...
I'm a little worried about that because apparently, I have some SDV channels. I haven't done a ton of research on it, but is this something that ALL channels will eventually be? Because so far, the SDV channels on my system aren't channels I care about. At least as far as I can see, unless I am thoroughly misunderstanding SDV. Which is possible!
timatkn:
Couldn't tell you. Verizon doesn't do SDV, and I believe they don't even plan to.
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
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