Good timing again, Woot! I just paid $80 for a refurbed Premiere two weeks ago.. Love it!

With some basic screwdriver skills and a lack of fear these can be expanded to around 300 hours for the price of a 2gb drive.

These look nice, but the monthly fees or lifetime fees spoil the deal. I have a HTPC with a usb tuner card box and don't have to pay any monthly fee. The programming guide is in windows 7 and comes from Zap2it. A few channels were coming in 3 hrs off and Zap2it had them fixed a week after I notified them.

Long time TiVo user and I just upgraded to a new TiVo Premiere from Tivo for $99, including the wireless adapter and 6 months of HuluPlus.

Even though the Premier has a QAM tuner, don't expect to make use of it. It will tune and you can manually set it to record, but TiVo will not provide a guide. My options were to upgrade to the "standard" cable package for another $50/month or use the antenna. TiVo works beautifully with the local broadcast channels.

Thanks woot... I ALMOST bought a $79.99 refurb this morning! Score! I already have a Premiere and it's great. My four year old Series 3 is finally fading, so this will make the perfect replacement. Long live TiVo... Long live Woot!

craigthom wrote:Good timing again, Woot! I just paid $80 for a refurbed Premiere two weeks ago.. Love it!

With some basic screwdriver skills and a lack of fear these can be expanded to around 300 hours for the price of a 2gb drive.

A "2gb" drive"??

I have one, and love it. If you go to http://weaknees.com, you can buy hard drive expansion kits and other parts, cheap.

Old question: I'm considering this for future spec purposes. Until if and when I pony up for the subscription, does this unit have any value/use? As, perhaps, an OTA tuner/converter? Am I required to subscribe when I buy the unit?

crabboy wrote:Old question: I'm considering this for future spec purposes. Until if and when I pony up for the subscription, does this unit have any value/use? As, perhaps, an OTA tuner/converter? Am I required to subscribe when I buy the unit?

You basically need the subscription, without it you can still tune channels but you won't get the TiVo guide so you won't be able to select shows to record or access any of the other TiVo features.

The mass insanity that is subscription devices for recording TV. I have a harddrive, dvd recorder with a atsc tuner that records over the air HDTV in SD quality for the price of the hardware.

firebeyer wrote:You basically need the subscription, without it you can still tune channels but you won't get the TiVo guide so you won't be able to select shows to record or access any of the other TiVo features.

So, in the short run, I could use it (connected to an antenna) to tune in OTA channels? Could I connect it to a DVD recorder and make recordings?

I had a directv tivo unit for years still have it!!! boxed up. Switched to cable and DVR and have missed tivo ever since. If my unit was HD I would have switched back to Directv. Just because the service is so outstanding and nothing on the market can compete with tivo.

Stuck on Tivo 2, becuase Tivo Premiere no-worko with Dish Network.

Christ, I hate CEO egos. Just whip them out on the boardroom table and have a secretary measure whose is longer.

Then, both of you, go back to giving the customer some f'ing service

Trigger pulled.

badspeler wrote:I had a directv tivo unit for years still have it!!! boxed up. Switched to cable and DVR and have missed tivo ever since. If my unit was HD I would have switched back to Directv. Just because the service is so outstanding and nothing on the market can compete with tivo.

You realize the Tivo's Woot is selling right now can be used with your cable service?

KyserSoze wrote:These look nice, but the monthly fees or lifetime fees spoil the deal. I have a HTPC with a usb tuner card box and don't have to pay any monthly fee. The programming guide is in windows 7 and comes from Zap2it. A few channels were coming in 3 hrs off and Zap2it had them fixed a week after I notified them.

The service is way to high..

crabboy wrote:So, in the short run, I could use it (connected to an antenna) to tune in OTA channels? Could I connect it to a DVD recorder and make recordings?

First, issue, you do need a subscription to record--at least after the first month. The program guide I'd not necessary to record because you can set it up manually . However you need the Internet to set it up and that starts a timer that will shut off recording functions after one month.

Second issue, this does NOT have a built in OTA antenna. If you have a dvd recorder all you need is an OTA antenna--unless your dvdr doesn't have a tuner. I never tried to hook it up to a dvdr.I don't think it has the output for anything except TVs but I haven't checked recently. This unit is mainly to stream video like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon etc.

IMHO, if you already have a DVD recorder and want to stream off the Internet a rocku box will do that without any additional fees ( other than the service you are streaming). A Roku doesn't record though. If all you want is OTA, then buy an indoor antenna. If you are in a good reception area a cheap indoor antenna will work fine.

Do not buy a TiVo unless you need both Internet streaming avd a recorder and don't mind paying the fee. BTW, the lifetime subscription is for the life of the box and vastly increases the resale value later on.

I am using a Roku for streaming over the Internet and a indoor antenna for OTA.

I work as a cable tech, and I you should know that you will need a digital tuning adaptor (such as a MTR 700) and CABLEcable card provided by the cable company if you wish to view digital content. The tuner will be loaned for free, but the CABLEcard will run you around $2.50/month. From experiance, I will tell you that CABLEcards are finicky little devices and sometimes fail to pair, or will unpair from your TiVo.

michiganmarine wrote:I work as a cable tech, and I you should know that you will need a digital tuning adaptor (such as a MTR 700) and CABLEcable card provided by the cable company if you wish to view digital content. The tuner will be loaned for free, but the CABLEcard will run you around $2.50/month. From experiance, I will tell you that CABLEcards are finicky little devices and sometimes fail to pair, or will unpair from your TiVo.

Not all Cable Cos and markets (cities) need a SDV Tuning Adapter, Some do and they can be finicky at times, But it is not enough to worry about. The FCC has made it clear that Cable Cos MUST make 3rd party CableCARD devices perform as expected. If they don't, they could face fines. TWC seems to have the most problems and TWC tends to make it very difficult. Most of the other big Cable Cos just make sure it works as it should. I have Cox Communications and a Cisco SDV Tuning Adapter and my TiVos work very well, 99.9% of the time.

CableCard Know Your Rights:
http://www.fcc.gov/guides/cablecard-know-your-rights

http://support.tivo.com/ci/fattach/get/65615/1312909777/redirect/1

So let me get this straight. I use to have a VCR and I could pay $2.00 for a video tape and I could record tv for 6 months or more before it wore out. Not I have to pay $14.99 a month to record tv? Doesn't make sense to me. Give me my VCR back.

I find the box cost plus the subscription fees make the TIVO DVR's not a good deal.

If you have Windows XP/Vista/7 on a home network and an Xbox360 you can use Windows Media Center for all your DVR and guide needs.

I purchased a Silicon Dust HDHomeRun Prime 3 tuner http://sellout.woot.com/offers/silicondust-hdhomerun-prime-tuner-3 here about a month ago that does the tuning with a cable card.

I'm using Verizon FIOS and have absolutely no problems. My total monthly cost for FIOS now is $10/mo for basic channels and $4/mo for the cable card. That's less than the subscription fee for this box!

I can use as much storage space as I want on my PC for recordiings, I have three tuners so I can record three channels at once and I can play any media I want from my PC i the living room where the Xbox360 is. I also put another Xbox360 in my bedroom. All is good! :-0

bryaninphx wrote:Not all Cable Cos and markets (cities) need a SDV Tuning Adapter, Some do and they can be finicky at times, But it is not enough to worry about. The FCC has made it clear that Cable Cos MUST make 3rd party CableCARD devices perform as expected. If they don't, they could face fines. TWC seems to have the most problems and TWC tends to make it very difficult. Most of the other big Cable Cos just make sure it works as it should. I have Cox Communications and a Cisco SDV Tuning Adapter and my TiVos work very well, 99.9% of the time.

CableCard Know Your Rights:
http://www.fcc.gov/guides/cablecard-know-your-rights

http://support.tivo.com/ci/fattach/get/65615/1312909777/redirect/1

Ok I read all the comments, specs, went to the TiVO site and I am still a little unclear about whether this device can work for me.
I ditched cable, use roku for streaming. I do not have a cable box, and do not pay for cable. However, when I connect the cable to my TV I pick up digital broadcasts. I also have can hook up an indoor antenna instead of the cable hook up and pick up OTA programming. I would like to be able to record some of the programming that I can get over the air with my antenna (or with my cable hooked directly to the TV) . Would I be able to use either of these boxes to do this without additional tuners, cards etc? I do understand the monthy and lifetime TiVo charge. Thank you gang!

I am in the exact same situation. I am in for 1 if it would work at $15/month. few other questions....will the cable company sell me the cable card if I am not paying for any other service? Currently I am just getting local channels in HD OTA. Also, it has been a while since I had a DVR, is 45 hours enough for normal use. Not having cable I would really only use this for recording local channels and having ability to rewing. Not doing a TON of recording.

bomberfl wrote:Ok I read all the comments, specs, went to the TiVO site and I am still a little unclear about whether this device can work for me.
I ditched cable, use roku for streaming. I do not have a cable box, and do not pay for cable. However, when I connect the cable to my TV I pick up digital broadcasts. I also have can hook up an indoor antenna instead of the cable hook up and pick up OTA programming. I would like to be able to record some of the programming that I can get over the air with my antenna (or with my cable hooked directly to the TV) . Would I be able to use either of these boxes to do this without additional tuners, cards etc? I do understand the monthy and lifetime TiVo charge. Thank you gang!

I've been a TiVo subscriber for about 8 years. I purchase lifetime subscriptions when I buy my boxes. My only complaint is this Premier box is crazy under-powered. TiVo software has quite a few bugs and their support seems unwilling to fix them. They're well documented on various websites but updates just don't happen. TiVo doesn't seem to give a crap.
I have a CABLEcard with TWC and as long as there are no power glitches you're ok. If there's a glitch you spend forever getting it all sync'd back up.
The biggest pain in the neck is the wireless adapter. You have no setup through the Premier. You have to connect the adapter separately to your PC and configure it. I bought the 802.11n version and it doesn't reliably connect to 'n' (blue). Sometimes it is and sometimes it's connected to the 'b' (green) even though it has pegged signal strength.

Best price for the TiVo Wireless N Network Adapter?

These run anywhere from $65 and up - need it to connect... any better prices anywhere?

I have tivo and I love tivo and I love that the cable people can't charge those outrageous fees for their HD box and their HD "outlet"...

but you do need the TiVo Wireless N Network Adapter...

You may want to hunt around for an owners manual online to confirm, but my old original TiVO and my series 2 could be used without a subscription. You would have to manually tell the unit when to start recording and on what channel. Of course figuring out what shows you recorded would be hard to decipher as the only thing the menu would display was a recording at such and such time. Maybe the new ones still let you do this? Might be worth your time to check.

For the record, I dumped TiVO because after buying 2 lifetime subscriptions for each unit, I got tired of having to keep buying new ones every time I'd buy a new unit. Sure, they offer a 20% discount, but that still equates to a lot of money for a long time customer to have to keep forking over. So far my TWC dvr is doing just fine. Not as cute as TiVo, but it does work.

crabboy wrote:Old question: I'm considering this for future spec purposes. Until if and when I pony up for the subscription, does this unit have any value/use? As, perhaps, an OTA tuner/converter? Am I required to subscribe when I buy the unit?

mevande wrote:A "2gb" drive"??

Sorry. I meant 2Tb. It was early.

Listen, HTPC, people... You're right. Tivo isn't for you. BUT, not everyone wants to set up and maintain and use an HTPC.

This Tivo IS for people that want to replace their cable company's awful HD DVR. With FIOS, the HD DVR will cost you $20/mo (PLUS a $40 "upgrade" fee if you want the latest one!), and is generally not very useful.

With the Tivo Premire you get a smarter DVR. Even if you have more than two shows you want to record, the Tivo will record the two it can, then figure out what episodes it missed of the other shows and record them at a later time... Big deal if you have 20+ season passes like our household! Plus, the season pass management is way easier to use than the FIOS DVR.

PLUS, you get access to all the online services... Your Netflix streaming, Hulu/Hulu Plus, Youtube, Amazon Rentals, etc. So it kind of crosses over into the Boxee/Roku arena...

Now, the down sides. Yes, there's a monthly fee and a CableCard rental. But for me that actually ended up being $2 per month cheaper than the $20/mo rental fee for the FIOS HD DVR. Also, some cable companies use technology called Switched Digital Video which will make some channels not work on Tivo boxes. But all you need to do is request an SDV adapter from your cable company. They're free. Also, you miss out on any of your cable company's "On Demand" stuff. But to be honest, we never used it on the FIOS DVR so we don't miss it.

Lastly...the setup. I have never had trouble getting my CableCard and Tivo to play nice. I go to my FIOS office, pick up a card, they activate it at the store, I take it home and put it in the Tivo. Then you go online and put in the activation code. Done. I've had more trouble with techs that have no idea what a CableCard is or have never seen a Tivo... So I follow the directions and do it myself. Once it's set up there is no maintenance or anything. It upgrades itself and downloads the guide info automatically. You never have to touch it again unless you switch cable companies.

So yeah it's not for everyone. But if you hate your cable company's DVR and you want a set top box with some online services built in, this is your jam.

mybestuser1 wrote:The mass insanity that is subscription devices for recording TV. I have a harddrive, dvd recorder with a atsc tuner that records over the air HDTV in SD quality for the price of the hardware.

Not worth it for you, maybe. For those of us who like the remote, user interface, and features (like Wish lists) of a TiVo, it is worth the money.

If those things are not important, and they clearly aren't to you, then it isn't worth it.

Margarine tastes just as good as butter to people who have never had butter before.

I currently have two TiVos provided by my cable provider (charter).I would like to buy one of these just to play recorded shows from the other TiVos without a subscription on this unit. Does anyone know if this would work?

michiganmarine wrote:I work as a cable tech, and I you should know that you will need a digital tuning adaptor (such as a MTR 700) and CABLEcable card provided by the cable company if you wish to view digital content. The tuner will be loaned for free, but the CABLEcard will run you around $2.50/month. From experiance, I will tell you that CABLEcards are finicky little devices and sometimes fail to pair, or will unpair from your TiVo.

Maybe with your cable company, but not with mine. The cable goes straight from the wall to the TiVo Premiere with no converter. The cable card goes into the TiVo. They charge $1.99 "rental' for the cable card because cable companies are greedy, but that's less than the $5 a month they will want for their box after the first year.

TheRaven wrote:If you have Windows XP/Vista/7 on a home network and an Xbox360 you can use Windows Media Center for all your DVR and guide needs.

If all you want is that basic functionality, then, sure. If all you want is basic transportation, then a used Ford Escort will work. Why would anyone want to buy a better car?

I bought this the last time it was up on Woot. When it problems, neither Woot nor TiVo were willing to take care of it. So not only was I out the price of the TiVo from Woot, I was out the cost of the subscription to TiVo. Best of luck to those who do buy this.

crabboy wrote:So, in the short run, I could use it (connected to an antenna) to tune in OTA channels? Could I connect it to a DVD recorder and make recordings?

Tivo premier will work as a DVR with any video input. OTA and others will work fine. If you have an external tuner you will need an IR blaster configured unless you use a cablecard. I believe OTA will work fine and you should be able to configure a guide for that. Without service though all you can do is play previously recorded shows.

MurphsWoot wrote:You may want to hunt around for an owners manual online to confirm, but my old original TiVO and my series 2 could be used without a subscription. You would have to manually tell the unit when to start recording and on what channel. Of course figuring out what shows you recorded would be hard to decipher as the only thing the menu would display was a recording at such and such time. Maybe the new ones still let you do this? Might be worth your time to check.

For the record, I dumped TiVO because after buying 2 lifetime subscriptions for each unit, I got tired of having to keep buying new ones every time I'd buy a new unit. Sure, they offer a 20% discount, but that still equates to a lot of money for a long time customer to have to keep forking over. So far my TWC dvr is doing just fine. Not as cute as TiVo, but it does work.

Those were the original series 1 boxes. Series 2 you could view previously recorded shows but no new recordings.

badspeler wrote:I had a directv tivo unit for years still have it!!! boxed up. Switched to cable and DVR and have missed tivo ever since. If my unit was HD I would have switched back to Directv. Just because the service is so outstanding and nothing on the market can compete with tivo.

If you loved the original directTivo, you will like the new HD THR-22. It's pretty much the same but with some new features like on demand downloads and built in ethernet. We love it and are so glad we don't need to play with the diretv DVRs anymore.

cperry100 wrote:So let me get this straight. I use to have a VCR and I could pay $2.00 for a video tape and I could record tv for 6 months or more before it wore out. Not I have to pay $14.99 a month to record tv? Doesn't make sense to me. Give me my VCR back.

But could you tell your VCR, "Please record all NEW episodes of (insert show name here), whether on their normal night and time or on a different night" and have it catch all the new shows (even when it's on a different night and/or time) and skip the reruns?

For me, my only problem with TiVo as a company is that they don't offer an upgrade on the service under normal circumstances. I have a Series 3 with 2 CableCARDs in it (which have worked flawlessly since Comcast put them in) which I get all the HD channels on, and a Series 2 Dual-Tuner on which I can only watch local channels. Both have lifetime service already, so I'm not going to pay for a third lifetime service to get a Premiere. I wish they'd let me pay them $100 or something to transfer my lifetime service to a new device.

45 hours seems like it should be enough to me. Anyone have an opinion on this?

vfr800interceptor wrote:I've been a TiVo subscriber for about 8 years. I purchase lifetime subscriptions when I buy my boxes. My only complaint is this Premier box is crazy under-powered. TiVo software has quite a few bugs and their support seems unwilling to fix them. They're well documented on various websites but updates just don't happen. TiVo doesn't seem to give a crap.
I have a CABLEcard with TWC and as long as there are no power glitches you're ok. If there's a glitch you spend forever getting it all sync'd back up.
The biggest pain in the neck is the wireless adapter. You have no setup through the Premier. You have to connect the adapter separately to your PC and configure it. I bought the 802.11n version and it doesn't reliably connect to 'n' (blue). Sometimes it is and sometimes it's connected to the 'b' (green) even though it has pegged signal strength.

While I haven't experienced your power outage issues, I'm another who seems stuck at "b" instead of "n" for my Tivo wireless adapter. I haven't noticed any speed issues, other than when using Netflix via Tivo it seems a bit slow to patch in and download.

Bought the $44.99 version off of Woot about 2 Woot-offs ago. I bought the lifetime membership and like not getting a monthly bill. I did a lot of research first and found out that the main thing that goes wrong with these (if anything) seems to be that the hard drive goes. There are plenty instructional sites (and Youtube videos) walking you through how to replace the hard drive, so I decided to make the purchase, knowing I could likely remedy the most common issue on my own for minimal cash. So far, I'm VERY satisfied. I'm hooked to Comcast and had previously relied on On Demand and my sad old VCR. This made an excellent upgrade for me. Set your season passes and forget about it! Much easier.

For the price I wouldn't mind buying this just to use it as a streaming device like a roku. This way I have the option of upgrading later if I decide to get cable some day.

Can someone tell me if I can use this to stream netflix, amazon vod, and hulu without the subscription?

That's all I need to know to make a decision.