If you do not have Tivo now you would probably get a SIII style Tivo, that has capability for two cable cards and that will plug into the Tivo (just like a PCMCIA card in a laptop) and the cable card will take place of the cable box. There are two types of cable cards, if you recieve the older version you will need two cards to decode too streams of cable (for the dual tuner), The newer model of cable cards will decode two streams of cable with a single card.
Verizon Fios
Just got Fios service for my TV. Wife not crazy about DVR functionality and wants Tivo. (no surprise!)
Would I need to get two separate fios set top boxes to go to the 2 inputs on the Tivo?
Could someone please clear this up for me?
Would I need to get two separate fios set top boxes to go to the 2 inputs on the Tivo?
Could someone please clear this up for me?
1 - 20 of 52 Posts
Nope. One Fios receiver for each Tivo box. I have the set-up and it works fine.
If you have a Series 2 DT, you can only use one cable box on it; the second tuner can only really work with what is analog cable (which isn't a whole lot with FIOS).
If you want a second box, you will have to live with it TiVo-less.
If you want a second box, you will have to live with it TiVo-less.
You may want to consider replacing your set to box with a TivoHD. It would be much simpler to just deal with one box.
Al
Al
It sounds like you may be under the impression that the FiOS DVR (or STB) is required if you want to use TiVo.quaa714 said:Just got Fios service for my TV. Wife not crazy about DVR functionality and wants Tivo. (no surprise!)
Would I need to get two separate fios set top boxes to go to the 2 inputs on the Tivo?
Could someone please clear this up for me?
This is not the case. You can eliminate the FiOS STB if you add an S3 or TiVo HD with 1 or 2 CableCARDs installed. Each model of TiVo I mentioned, has the slots for, and can utilize two CableCARDS simultaneously which allows you to record one channel while watching another. The CableCARDS give the TiVo the functionality of decrypting the encrypted channels.
:up:acvthree said:You may want to consider replacing your set to box with a TivoHD. It would be much simpler to just deal with one box.
Al
I have had FIOS with a TiVo SR3 since the first of the year. There were some glitches early on which seem to have been worked out. I do not have any FIOS boxes. Just two Motorola cable cards (which FIOS provides). The cable cards are one-way only, so you lose the capability for on-demand programs and other interactive features of the FIOS DVR. Depending on the plan you sign up for and deal you get on your TiVo box (the people who run this forum and some other re-sellers offer better prices than Tivo) there is a good chance your DVR costs will be less with TiVo than with the FIOS DVR,
Just out of curiosity, what is it exactly your wife dislikes about the FIOS DVR? (I went with the SR3 at FIOS install.)
Before you decide on the which TiVo box, make sure the HD had enough disk space/recording capacity for you? If not, get the SR3 (and this site offers upgraded units with even more capacity).
PS: When you call Verizon, some of their reps may play dumb and tell you there's no such thing as a cable card from Verizon. Be persistent and ask to be bumped up. Since you already have FIOS installed, you may have to go to a Verizon office to get the cable cards (and return your DVR).
Just out of curiosity, what is it exactly your wife dislikes about the FIOS DVR? (I went with the SR3 at FIOS install.)
Before you decide on the which TiVo box, make sure the HD had enough disk space/recording capacity for you? If not, get the SR3 (and this site offers upgraded units with even more capacity).
PS: When you call Verizon, some of their reps may play dumb and tell you there's no such thing as a cable card from Verizon. Be persistent and ask to be bumped up. Since you already have FIOS installed, you may have to go to a Verizon office to get the cable cards (and return your DVR).
I'm in the same boat I got FIOS and the HD DVR. It was driving me crazy. So I ordered a Tivo HD and there coming with cable cards this weekend.
Verizon's DVR is slow, poorly thought out and misses shows. Apparently there is new software coming out but it so buggy that I would probably throw it out the window due to frustration.
If you can get your hands on it get the multi-stream cable card. That way you only have to rent one.
Verizon's DVR is slow, poorly thought out and misses shows. Apparently there is new software coming out but it so buggy that I would probably throw it out the window due to frustration.
If you can get your hands on it get the multi-stream cable card. That way you only have to rent one.
I'm considering switching to Fios now that it's available here. I have one S2ST and one S2DT. For the latter, is the TiVo smart enough to know to record a major network show (CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX which is basically all you get with Fios without a box) using the non Fios box line going into the TiVo box and record a cable channel using the cable box feed into the TiVo box? If it doesn't do that then the show on the cable channel from the cable box feed will be missed due to the TiVo recording the major network show using that feed and the unavailability of the cable channel on the other line.classicsat said:If you have a Series 2 DT, you can only use one cable box on it; the second tuner can only really work with what is analog cable (which isn't a whole lot with FIOS).
If you want a second box, you will have to live with it TiVo-less.
Does that make sense? This is the only thing holding me back from switching to Fios TV.
Thanks!
As noted above, the dual-tuner TivoHD and Tivo Series3 both work great with FiOS. The TivoHD and Series3 replace the Verizon box -- they receive every FiOS channel directly without the need for another box. The TivoHD and Series3 have the following advantages over the Series2 -- they'll record any two SD or HD channels at once without another box, channel changes are much faster, and picture quality is superior. These boxes also support eSATA storage expansion with external drives.
There is just one issue to be aware of, beside VOD:
Depending on what ONT (the box which takes the fiber and outputs coax) Verizon installs, the signal strength coming into your home could be too strong for the Tivo. When the signal is too strong, pixelization results.
Forum members found they could eliminate that pixelization by adding one or two attenuators (which reduce the signal strength) before their Tivo. If you have FiOS and intend to add a TivoHD or Series3, you may want to order this pack of attenuators for $12.99 just in case. These screw on to the end of the coax cable.
There is just one issue to be aware of, beside VOD:
Depending on what ONT (the box which takes the fiber and outputs coax) Verizon installs, the signal strength coming into your home could be too strong for the Tivo. When the signal is too strong, pixelization results.
Forum members found they could eliminate that pixelization by adding one or two attenuators (which reduce the signal strength) before their Tivo. If you have FiOS and intend to add a TivoHD or Series3, you may want to order this pack of attenuators for $12.99 just in case. These screw on to the end of the coax cable.
I have a FIOS question. I've read that their on demand selection is huge. Is that true? I've had a Adelphia/TWC (L.A.) cable box in the past and liked on demand. Have a S3 already for the living room and was thinking about replacing my Humax DRT800 with a FIOS DVR in the bedroom because I would only be recording certain shows there and would like on demand somewhere as long as it has a lot of shows to offer.
FIOS is getting installed in my area right now and can't wait to tell Time Warner to get lost. Terrible service and ridiculous wait times for support. Is Verizon any better regarding support?
FIOS is getting installed in my area right now and can't wait to tell Time Warner to get lost. Terrible service and ridiculous wait times for support. Is Verizon any better regarding support?
Yes, the Dual Tuner box is smart enough to know that.baggs32 said:I'm considering switching to Fios now that it's available here. I have one S2ST and one S2DT. For the latter, is the TiVo smart enough to know to record a major network show (CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX which is basically all you get with Fios without a box) using the non Fios box line going into the TiVo box and record a cable channel using the cable box feed into the TiVo box? If it doesn't do that then the show on the cable channel from the cable box feed will be missed due to the TiVo recording the major network show using that feed and the unavailability of the cable channel on the other line.
Does that make sense? This is the only thing holding me back from switching to Fios TV.
It knows it because in the 'Channels I Receive' listing as marked as 'cable' if they as available on the direct cable or 'box' if they are available only through the box. So the TiVo absolutely knows which are available only on the box.
And you can edit it by selecting "channel 3 - box" instead of "channel 3 - cable" if you want, but by default it should be set up correctly.
Verizon charges $5 monthly for a FIOS box. What do they charge per month for each Cable Card?
Emacee said:I have had FIOS with a TiVo SR3 since the first of the year. There were some glitches early on which seem to have been worked out. I do not have any FIOS boxes. Just two Motorola cable cards (which FIOS provides). The cable cards are one-way only, so you lose the capability for on-demand programs and other interactive features of the FIOS DVR. Depending on the plan you sign up for and deal you get on your TiVo box (the people who run this forum and some other re-sellers offer better prices than Tivo) there is a good chance your DVR costs will be less with TiVo than with the FIOS DVR,
Just out of curiosity, what is it exactly your wife dislikes about the FIOS DVR? (I went with the SR3 at FIOS install.)
Before you decide on the which TiVo box, make sure the HD had enough disk space/recording capacity for you? If not, get the SR3 (and this site offers upgraded units with even more capacity).
PS: When you call Verizon, some of their reps may play dumb and tell you there's no such thing as a cable card from Verizon. Be persistent and ask to be bumped up. Since you already have FIOS installed, you may have to go to a Verizon office to get the cable cards (and return your DVR).
$3 per cable card.jjohnson_123 said:Verizon charges $5 monthly for a FIOS box. What do they charge per month for each Cable Card?
Their online chat help person told me $10 per card per month. However, I never told her where I was located. $3 sounds much better!ggpipe said:$3 per cable card.
Also, the boxes around here are $4 for the basic no guide or PPV/OnDemand box, $5 for the Moto box with the guide and PPV/OnDemand, and $10 for the HD box. Then there's the DVR box but I hear it's crap.
Thank you very much fredct. That's what I was hoping to hear!fredct said:Yes, the Dual Tuner box is smart enough to know that.
It knows it because in the 'Channels I Receive' listing as marked as 'cable' if they as available on the direct cable or 'box' if they are available only through the box. So the TiVo absolutely knows which are available only on the box.
And you can edit it by selecting "channel 3 - box" instead of "channel 3 - cable" if you want, but by default it should be set up correctly.
AFAIK, location makes no difference. The CSR was just on crack.baggs32 said:Their online chat help person told me $10 per card per month. However, I never told her where I was located. $3 sounds much better!
I'm thinking you are right but if they are $10 each per month I will surely stay with Comcast as I am looking to upgrade our older S2ST to a TiVoHD soon.wmcbrine said:AFAIK, location makes no difference. The CSR was just on crack.
My in-laws just got FIOS and of course the TiVo questions are coming to me. Which I have no idea about.
They ave two Series 2 nightlight TiVos and apparently they won't work with FIOS.
Can someone very simply just tell me what their options are to:
1. Keep TiVo
2. Use FIOS DVRs.
Thanks!
They ave two Series 2 nightlight TiVos and apparently they won't work with FIOS.
Can someone very simply just tell me what their options are to:
1. Keep TiVo
2. Use FIOS DVRs.
Thanks!
1 - 20 of 52 Posts
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