[Yorkshireexile]

I am about ready to buy my TiVo HD to replace the dead series 2 box. I will be calling the cable company to get them to install the M card in the TiVo, but in the interim can I just hook up the TiVo to the output from the cable box in the same way as I did with the series 2?

 

[stevel]

No, you can't.

 

[Yorkshireexile]

Thanks - though it was not the answer that I expected. Can I get basic cable before the M card is inserted? If I buy the TiVo today do I get any use out of it before getting the cable card installed?

 

[jakerock]

You can use it for analog channels with out a cable card (or over the air stuff). You can do manual recordings of non encrypted digital stuff from the cable, if you manually go through and figure out what stations are what.

 

[gastrof]

Jakerock?

Are you saying the Series 3 and the TiVo HD do QAM digital (without cable cards) in addition to OTA ATSC?

 

[Yorkshireexile]

You can use it for analog channels with out a cable card (or over the air stuff). You can do manual recordings of non encrypted digital stuff from the cable, if you manually go through and figure out what stations are what.

I have my new HD box in the trunk of my car! The install instructions may cover this - but tonight while there is no cable card in the box do I connect the cable in from the wall to the Antenna input instead of te cable input?

 

[jrm01]

I have my new HD box in the trunk of my car! The install instructions may cover this - but tonight while there is no cable card in the box do I connect the cable in from the wall to the Antenna input instead of te cable input?

The antenna input is used to connect a feed from the antenna. The cable input is used to connect a feed from cable.

use the cable input.

 

[gdomeier]

I hooked up cable to my tivoHD before the installer came. I received basic, some digital and some hd channels. The digital and hd channels did not contain guide data. I had to scroll through a lot of blank channels before stumbling upon the hd's.

 

[Yorkshireexile]

My question did look pretty dumb. I am sure that there was some logic to it when I asked it. The unit is now all hooked up and the comcast installer is coming tomorrow. I will add a little that may help others in a similar situation.

The install poster says that you may want to hold off hooking up the cable until the cable cards are installed. I hooked mine up and it immediately detected and set up all the basic cable stations. The advantage of using TiVo is worth the lack of the non basic channels for a couple of days.