TiVo Community Forums Archives - Commitment Period for Standalones?

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Commitment Period for Standalones?
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Posted by: devnull

I spend most of my time in the Undeground

I'm in the market for a Standalone for my neighbor. I have two DTivos and know that there's a DTV commitment period that I have to sign up for when I buy them.

Do the standalones carry a similar commitment period (for the Tivo service, perhaps?)

Also, the local cable service is Comcast, formerly AT & T Cable. I know that AT&T had a special branded Tivo. Was there any benefit to that and does anyone know if Comcast has carried that forward?

gary

Posted by: tivoman

The standalones don't carry a similar commitment period like the DTiVos do. The AT&T models are just like any other standalone TiVo. The only difference was that they could control a cable box via serial port. I don't have Concast, so I can't say if they still control the cable box via serial port, but here on this forum I here its like winning the lottery if it works. :D

Posted by: cptodd

One either pays the monthly fee of $12.95 or the lifetime fee of approximately $300.00.

Chris

Posted by: rseligman

quote:
Originally posted by cptodd
or the lifetime fee of approximately $300.00.

Also known as "$299".

Posted by: coldtoes

quote:
Originally posted by tivoman
The AT&T models are just like any other standalone TiVo. The only difference was that they could control a cable box via serial port. I don't have Concast, so I can't say if they still control the cable box via serial port, but here on this forum I here its like winning the lottery if it works. :D

I don't think there's any difference now. The TiVo-branded series 2 standalones now have software for serial control under limited circumstances (right cable box model, right cable box firmware, cable provider has to have enabled the serial port on boxes in your area) that, AFAIK, is the same as what was on the AT&T boxes. My TiVo-branded 60-hr series 2 controls my Comcast Motorola DCT2000 like a charm now.

In some areas, Comcast has (apparently intentionally) disabled previously working serial ports on their boxes, and I would assume that serial control on AT&T boxes doesn't work any better than on TiVo-branded ones under those circumstances.

Posted by: randyf

AFAIK there is no such thing as an "AT&T" model anymore.

Last time I looked there was no reference to it on the sales page.

My first S2 unit was an AT&T 40 hour. It had buttons on the front of it, but otherwise worked just like any other S2. The harddrive died within 3 weeks, and I exchanged it for another "AT&T" unit, but this one looks like any other s2. (no buttons). In fact the ONLY way you would know that it is an AT&T unit is the system info screen says manufacturer "Comcast"

Posted by: ADent

The AT&T model (S2.1 with USB1.1) comes with the only peanut remote with a StandBy button (but you do lose the PIP/Window button).

The only committment is there is a 30 day Money Back Guarantee (still?), so if you keep it sub'ed for more than 30 days you are committed to paying your TiVo bill. ;)

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