TIVO for newbies - need some help!

[Hillbeans]

Hi -

I'm interested in getting a Tivo for my husband's birthday next week but I have no idea where to start.

I know I could go look at Best Buy but I want to understand a little more about them first.

We have Direct Tv, so it's my understanding we need a unit made for that and not cable.

Any assistance and guidance as to where to buy, how much they cost, and what the best models are would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Bob Slydell]

I think you can order it straight through DirecTV (on their website) or you can get it through a place like Circuit City. There is a specific TiVo for DirecTV -- just look for the DVR box. There's basically two options, one for regular DirecTV and one for High Definition DirecTV, so if you have HighDef service, you'll want the DVR to go with it.

I've seen a lot of ads in the past for free equipment when you order a DVR box, so shop around and see if you can find a deal.

 

[Honu]

We have Tivo with cable in our No. California home and Direct TV with the Direct TV DVR at our Los Angeles house. Tivo is great, but isn't always compatible with the receiver equipment you might have from your cable or dish company. The communication between the Tivo and the cable box isn't the best and it often will record channel 4 when it should be recording channel 64. If I didn't have a lifetime subscription with Tivo, I would have cable DVR in our No. California place too.

 

[pooh4evr]

Check with your satelite provider we have Dish network- we have the DVR box - which is the regular satelite box or whatever it is called (the thing that sits by/under your TV) with the recording feature in it. It records, pauses blahblah blah - DH says he can never go back to "regular tv" especially when it comes to watching sports again! He's not spioled at all We also liike it because we can record our shows -CSI, Medium, ... not really kid friendly stuff upstairs and watch something else downstairs while the kids are up.

 

[amy4bruce]

We got our TiVo directly (no pun intended) from DirecTV. We never have any problem with it recording the wrong channel, unless I've programmed it wrong. They deliver it, set up your new remote (controlling both) and show you how to use it. It also comes with a very clear instruction booklet.

In our opinion, TiVo is up there with air conditioning, fire and the wheel.

 

[goaliewife]

We have Direct TV with tIVO and got the box at Best Buy. We are in No. California also and have never had a problem with it recording the wrong channel. We love it. Have one in the bedroom and one in the livingroom. One has more memory than the other and can hold more recordings and that is the only difference.

Good luck. You DH will love it.

 

[Binkrin]

Oh, that is the gift that keeps on giving! I keep telling my DH that he spoils me and I can't watch shows with commercials anymore. The best gift ever!

Anyway, I believe you have to go through Direct TV. Give them a call, see what they can do...

And enjoy!!

 

[goaliewife]

Oh, that is the gift that keeps on giving! I keep telling my DH that he spoils me and I can't watch shows with commercials anymore. The best gift ever!

Anyway, I believe you have to go through Direct TV. Give them a call, see what they can do...

And enjoy!!

Actually you can buy it anywhere and then you have to call Direct TV of course to let them know that you have a new box. It will have a new access card so they will need that information.

 

[Hillbeans]

Thanks everyone!

I assume it's a cost to rent the unit or is it a rent to buy kind of thing and then you also pay for monthly service?

 

[Bob Slydell]

Thanks everyone!

I assume it's a cost to rent the unit or is it a rent to buy kind of thing and then you also pay for monthly service?

You buy the unit (I think the basic combo DirecTV/DVR combo is like $99, but often there's rebates that make it free). You then pay a $5.99 a month fee for the DVR service.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

DH bought me a TiVo as an anniversary gift this year and I will NEVER EVER EVER go back to regular TV. I am such a dip at trying to program the VCR, I could never get it right which was kind of frustrating. But TiVo is pretty much idiot proof. Even my 2 year old can program it to record things.

TOV

 

[bicker]

The communication between the Tivo and the cable box isn't the best and it often will record channel 4 when it should be recording channel 64.

This is almost always due to an incorrect IR blaster setting, or IR interference in your home. It is always best to put your cable box in a cabinet which has little exposure to IR interference, and run the IR blaster into that cabinet. (Do be sure to leave enough room in the cabinet for adequate ventilation, so your TiVo doesn't overheat.)