[John7777]

Just curious, why do you have a frequent need to check signal strengths? If you don't want to go to the actual signal meter screen, you can also view signal strengths by going to the Diagnostics screen. This will show you the strength for any channels that are currently tuned.

Thanks for the tip on the diagnostic tool. I found it's a good idea to keep tabs on the signal strength since we just have an indoor antennae and weather conditions can mess things up for one channel from time to time. So, if we are recording one or two shows on that network, we can make adjustments for that evening. Not ideal, but until I can get a roof antennae with a remote, I'll make do. It's not all the time, but it does happen.

 

[Rapt0r]

Latest update:
So what I was previously trying to describe I've learned is 'TiVo+'. Since it showed up I've been noticing a strange bug with my Guide (TE4). Paging up several times looking to see what's on/coming up, then paging back down after a couple of pages or so my Guide jumps back to the page showing my current channel. If I happen to want to see what's on my Guide this way it won't work anymore. Anyone else having these problems?

Meanwhile, I'm looking at a couple of streaming services to supplement my existing two big name Streamers, plus adding some premium channels. This will alleviate me of these problems plus an ever increasing cable bill, which has more than doubled over the past year plus, and they removed channels too. Original promotion price for TV & Internet about 2 years ago started at $85, increased to $140 after the year was up, subsequently increased to $185 (and lost some channels), edged up earlier this year to $200, and just got a new bill for $210. Note, I use a CableCard and provide my own modem. Enough is enough!

Final update:
Well, these changes made my mind up. My Bolt now sits in the corner disconnected and missing its CableCard. I called to cancel my Cable TV service though intending to keep Internet service if they would deal. I was ready to select a couple of streaming services and add premiums on my primary streaming device, after doing some research on streaming channel options. What would my Cable company say?

The result of my call to the Cable company yielded keeping Internet and switching to a skinny package of about 60 streaming channels viewable via their app (which I'd previously used on my streaming device). I was offered a decent locked in price good for three years, my already sufficient Internet speed was doubled for free, and combined with the other streaming app and premium adds I chose, I saved $40 a month, and the skinny bundle covered the channels of one of the other pre-selected bundles (cost and offerings). My viewing habits will need to change slightly and yes, I'll have to deal with some ads (still looking at potential options to mitigate this) but, all in all, I'm happier that my out of control Cable bill has been dealt with, for a few years, and I won't have to watch TiVo continue down the road of 'how can we get even more money out of our customers'. Plus, I've saved money and have faster Internet.

Will I ever come back to TiVo? Perhaps, it depends on what happens with Cable. Will they die out or simply change their ways to compete with Streaming. And of course, where TiVo is at the time regarding how they are treating their customers. Now looking into cheaper solutions for OTA DVRs to further mitigate one of my streaming app options ... Good luck, all!

 

[spiderpumpkin]

I highly recommend you try the Channels DVR OTA and TV Everywhere functionality with that skinny bundle. They've also added Locast, ABC, Fox and NBC but those are more dependent on where you live but Locast can be set up once with VPN and then just works afterward without VPN. Channels - Live TV, everywhere

Final update:
Well, these changes made my mind up. My Bolt now sits in the corner disconnected and missing its CableCard. I called to cancel my Cable TV service though intending to keep Internet service if they would deal. I was ready to select a couple of streaming services and add premiums on my primary streaming device, after doing some research on streaming channel options. What would my Cable company say?

The result of my call to the Cable company yielded keeping Internet and switching to a skinny package of about 60 streaming channels viewable via their app (which I'd previously used on my streaming device). I was offered a decent locked in price good for three years, my already sufficient Internet speed was doubled for free, and combined with the other streaming app and premium adds I chose, I saved $40 a month, and the skinny bundle covered the channels of one of the other pre-selected bundles (cost and offerings). My viewing habits will need to change slightly and yes, I'll have to deal with some ads (still looking at potential options to mitigate this) but, all in all, I'm happier that my out of control Cable bill has been dealt with, for a few years, and I won't have to watch TiVo continue down the road of 'how can we get even more money out of our customers'. Plus, I've saved money and have faster Internet.

Will I ever come back to TiVo? Perhaps, it depends on what happens with Cable. Will they die out or simply change their ways to compete with Streaming. And of course, where TiVo is at the time regarding how they are treating their customers. Now looking into cheaper solutions for OTA DVRs to further mitigate one of my streaming app options ... Good luck, all!

 

[hectichouse]

I was able to opt out using chat support , had to reply three times about the workaround to fast forward the ad but eventually they got the message and gave 72 hours to remove

Sad day for Tivo, I'm an ex-employee, if they needed an extra dollar they could always ask me than repeat the same ad over and over again

 

[Donbadabon]

I was able to opt out using chat support , had to reply three times about the workaround to fast forward the ad but eventually they got the message and gave 72 hours to remove

Good luck. For me the pre-rolled ads were like herpes. Contacting support made them go away for a few weeks and now they are back.

 

[lessd]

One call to TiVo, one mad voice at TiVo, 1 week later my TiVo upgraded and no more preroll Ads, my TiVo is just like before. Software now on my Bolt 21.9.6.v5-USC-11-849. If it stays that way I will be happy.

 

[Phil T]

Still have not seen a preroll ad on my re-manufactured Bolt purchased this spring. I did get Tivo + about a week ago.

 

[Rapt0r]

I highly recommend you try the Channels DVR OTA and TV Everywhere functionality with that skinny bundle. They've also added Locast, ABC, Fox and NBC but those are more dependent on where you live but Locast can be set up once with VPN and then just works afterward without VPN. Channels - Live TV, everywhere

Thanks for the recommendation! Reasonably priced and actually supports my NAS for local DVR storage. I'll be taking a closer look at this service for my needs!

And then an update two hours later: I've now signed up for Channels Plus (which includes TV Everywhere) for their annual subscription (with a free trial month), setup my NAS to host recordings, added my two streaming service sources, installed their apps on my ATV4K and mobile devices, setup my initial recordings and am looking at their recommended OTA hardware for potential purchase. TYVM!

 

[tenthplanet]

Still have not seen a preroll ad on my re-manufactured Bolt purchased this spring. I did get Tivo + about a week ago.

Same here, Tivo Plus but no preroll ads on my Bolt.

 

[TKnight206]

I was able to opt out using chat support , had to reply three times about the workaround to fast forward the ad but eventually they got the message and gave 72 hours to remove

Sad day for Tivo, I'm an ex-employee, if they needed an extra dollar they could always ask me than repeat the same ad over and over again

If they need money, just raise the rates for monthly and annual. Also, isn't the Discovery Bar good enough for ads anyway?

After successfully opting out of the pre-show ads, a few weeks went by and then I started getting the gray arrow screen. And now the ads are back. TiVo is really starting to get to me.

Keep us in the loop about the ads coming back. @TiVo_Ted did say Yes, our customer support organization does have the ability to opt a customer out of this functionality. I believe there are a number of criteria that go into determining whether a customer is eligible for this (tenure, service plan, etc.). I don't think it's as easy as just calling us up and asking to be opted out.

 

[JKR123]

What are they doing to us? I called about five weeks ago to have the opt-out option turned on for my account. The ads quickly went away. This weekend they are back. I called again today and TiVo support said they would submit a new request. I shouldn’t have to make repeated calls every few weeks to have this turned off.

 

[mrick]

I got my bolt OTA back in August but just set it up today. Was procrastinating as the old TIVO was still working. Surprised to see this pre roll nonsense. I see some say they have not seen them on their Bolt.

I hope that's how it is with my OTA. Seems like class action lawsuit stuff to me.

 

[Bigg]

I'm just saying that there should be a consistent way to exit out of menus and apps and back to whatever TV you were watching before you went into TiVo Central.

I disagree. I think TiVo's design is just fine.

Seriously? Any and every feature that was meticulously designed into the system is by definition what it was "meant" to do. Claiming otherwise is just silly.

That's not true. Some features are necessary, but aren't the main function of a device. Like live TV controls on a TiVo. TiVo is a DVR first, and a cable box second.

 

[Charles R]

Keep us in the loop about the ads coming back.

I wonder if they have to flag the DVR each time the software gets updated... as in there isn't a "global" static settings (somewhere).

 

[JKR123]

I wonder if they have to flag the DVR each time the software gets updated... as in there isn't a "global" static settings (somewhere).

I think that may be the case because I first spoke to someone in billing thinking it was an account setting. I was then transferred to tech support and they kept asking me which box I was calling about. I told them I wanted all of my Bolt boxes to be set the same way.

Edit - What is odd is that my Bolt still showed the same version as it did last week before the ads came back, unless I am looking at the wrong screen.

 

[snerd]

Some features are necessary, but aren't the main function of a device. Like live TV controls on a TiVo. TiVo is a DVR first, and a cable box second.

That isn't an absolute, it is in the eye of the user. Someone who mostly uses the TiVo to watch live TV would probably view the live TV controls as the "main function", while those who mostly use the TiVo as a DVR would consider that the "main function".

It's a dessert topping *and* a floor wax.

 

[Bigg]

That isn't an absolute, it is in the eye of the user. Someone who mostly uses the TiVo to watch live TV would probably view the live TV controls as the "main function", while those who mostly use the TiVo as a DVR would consider that the "main function".

It's a dessert topping *and* a floor wax.

People also commute to work in F-350 trucks. That doesn't mean they are made for commuting to a 9-5 job, and doesn't mean they'll do a good job at that.

 

[BobCamp1]

TiVo is a DVR first, and a cable box second.

You keep saying that even though it isn't true. Note that saying it over and over again doesn't make it true. Reminds me of somebody in D.C.

Some people mainly watch live TV but need a DVR for occasional use. Some people are the opposite. Is Rovi going to tell people that only the latter group should buy a Tivo? Is Rovi going to tell people they're holding the remote wrong?

Trying to get back on topic: as I've said, with the pre-roll ads, the in-guide ads, the home screen ads, etc., Tivo is clearly a Rovi ad machine first. People are upset with this because they bought a Tivo to skip commercials, even though that's not what it was initially designed to do. But since a lot of people were buying the box primarily for that purpose, marketing told the engineers to make it a feature of the box. So they added a feature to skip commercials with one then with zero button presses to attract these people. Then Rovi started putting their own ads everywhere in the box, which went against why a lot of people (wrongly or not) bought the box in the first place.

This upset a lot of people, as this 79-page thread shows. The problem with upset people is that they start pointing out the other flaws in the product, hoping somebody will do something. So suddenly the fact the remote isn't as intuitive as it could be becomes an issue. The Bolts are too hot, they're not reliable, bad customer support, can't transfer from PC to Tivo, etc. And you can't tell upset people they're using the product wrong, because they won't listen. And because they usually have a point.

So my advice is for others to post the other suddenly horrible things about their Tivo in a different thread, and to stop telling people they're using it wrong. Neither is really helping.

 

[BobCamp1]

What are they doing to us? I called about five weeks ago to have the opt-out option turned on for my account. The ads quickly went away. This weekend they are back. I called again today and TiVo support said they would submit a new request. I shouldn't have to make repeated calls every few weeks to have this turned off.

No, you shouldn't. If this becomes a pattern, then I'd suggest going to TE3. There's no in-guide ads and no pre-roll ads. Yet.

 

[slice1900]

I wonder if the reason the ads came back was because Tivo did a software update. From what people say when you ask to have the ads removed they push a software update to your Tivo. If Tivo pushes a 'regular' software update that doesn't contain the "no ads" thing then you'd have to ask to have the ads removed every time there's a software update.

Though I have no idea why they need new software to not show ads. Seems like it could be a simple setting (though maybe one you can't access from the GUI, and they have to set from home base) but they don't have any reason to make it easy. Or to support dropping ads in TE4 at all.

Once again glad I've wanted to stick with TE3 for other reasons, these ads are just the cherry on top for why to stay on TE3!