[Tad W]

Every few years I evaluate the state of streaming vs. cable TV, and once again conclude the TiVo (especially the DVR experience) remains far more polished and (for access to traditionally cable channels) the best value (unless maybe you are sharing streaming accounts with friends/family and avoiding surpassing data limits). I wish TiVo would support a few more of the modern streaming apps in the DVRs, but otherwise my wife and I still prefer the TiVo experience and just renewed for two years with Cox Cable service.

I currently have a Bolt VOX with lifetime service and a few VOX minis on Cox Cable's basic 140 channel package. It performs fairly well... minor issues include the Bolt occasionally needs a reboot, will get stuck re-starting (worked-around by disabling power saver mode such that it doesn't put itself into standby), and misleading "error" messages when all 3 tuners are all in use. I believe that the 3 tuner limit is coming from Cox and not the Bolt.

With this background in mind and TiVo having a sale on the Edge, what advantages (or disadvantages) would there be in upgrading to the Edge? I don't think I can use any additional tuners without upgrading the Cox service. Does the Edge start and/or operate faster than the Bolt (as the Bolt was faster than the Roamio)? Does the Edge perform any better if multiple Minis are streaming from it simultaneously?

 

[BigJimOutlaw]

Depending on the Bolt you have, you should have 4 or 6 tuners to work with. This is independent of your cable service. Sounds like a problem with the tuning adapter (assuming you use one).

I honestly see little value in upgrading to an Edge from a working Bolt. The CPU is about 25% faster, which you'll mostly notice when artwork populates the screen. Fine for what it is, but not worth the upgrade money. (For comparison, the Bolt CPU was 3x faster than the Roamio, so Bolt-to-Edge is much more modest.)

There's also Dolby Digital and Atmos support, but again, not worth the large upgrade cost. Tivo's core function as a DVR is solid. Using it as a DVR along with the Minis will always be its highlight. For everything else, a streaming stick or a smart TV's integrated apps will always be better and cheaper.

 

[Tad W]

Thank you for the opinion on the Edge upgrade.

I took a look at the Diagnostic screen for the Tuning Adapter. It shows all 4 tuners tuned to a channel, although two tuners are on the same channel; not sure if that is normal. I will pay closer attention when a Mini reports it can't watch live TV because "the main DVR is restarting" which really means that it is out of available tuners (at least if I force another Mini into standby it always resolves that).

 

[powrcow]

I have a Premiere with Cox and use 4 tuners simultaneously with no issues. I only have one Mini, however. The out of tuner message you are seeing is not a Cox limitation but maybe due to how you are using the Minis. Remember that the host TiVo reserves a tuner for itself.

 

[mattack]

don't understand why one would waste the money. oh you're getting weird errors.. have you tried putting a new hard drive in (it'll automagically format a drive as if it were 3 TB..). and/or you can use tools to copy your existing recordings to a new drive.

but if the current one was working properly, the only reason would be more tuners.