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TiVo questions from a Newbie
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Posted by: dustem

Hi, Ive just recently been reading up on TiVos for the past 3 hours and Ive decided to get one since they are less expensive than an HTPC and the Home Media Option is now free.

I have DirecTv service, but I think Im gonna get a standalone TiVo so I can have the HMO feature.

So I guess my first question would be is does the TiVo directly hookup to my TV(the way my satellite receiver does), or would I have to route it to my satellite receiver using coaxial/composite cables?
If it hooks up directly to my TV, would I have any need for my satellite receiver, or would I just ship that back to DTV?
Would I be controlling watching TV through my DirecTV receiver or will all the video now be handled by the TiVo unit?
Also, will I be charged any fees by DTV if I sign up for TiVo and don't use their receiver anymore?

Im looking at 2 models:

TiVo Series2 Digital Video Recorder - 40 hour model
and
Samsung SIRS4040R

Now the question I have on both of these models are:

The Samsung has optical audio out, but is it a Series2 model and will I be able to use the HMO feature on the Samsung?

Are there any TiVo branded DVR models that have an optical audio jack, because I need optical out for a/v receiver.

Posted by: shady

Because you are going for a standalone TiVo and not a DirecTiVo, you will need to connect your Directv receiver to your TiVo and then your TiVo to your TV.

Posted by: dustem

Would I need to call DTV for activation or does it work out of the box?

Posted by: bidger

Regarding your first choice, if you gotta have HMO then yeah, you'll need a SA TiVo at this point in time. Personally, free or not, the HMO biscuit has never been enough for me to give up my D-TiVos. You say you researched for three hours, you might want to spend a little more time before you make your purchase.

You won't be charged by DirecTV for NOT using a D-TiVo, but you will pay TiVo $12.95mo./$299lifetime for DVR service as opposed to $4.95mo. to DirecTV for said service, DirecTV waives the fee if you're a TC Premier subscriber. You'll have one tuner on a SA as opposed to two on a D-TiVo, hope there are no scheduling conflicts w/ shows you want to record. If you decide to buy another, a second SA will cost you $6.95mo. as opposed to the standard $4.99mo. mirroring fee on a 2nd D-TiVo. Of course, if you do a 2nd SA, you'd be paying that mirroring fee on top of the $6.95 to hook up a 2nd DirecTV receiver. Yes, you do need the receiver to get DirecTV programming to a SA TiVo.

Regarding DD on a TiVo, AFAIK there is no SA that has that capability. Of course, the D-TiVo does that, records and outputs DD5.1 brdcsts. I'm at a loss as to why a DirecTV sub would choose a SA over a D-TiVo. To me HMO=BFD, but you do what you gotta to get what you want. Best of luck.

Posted by: dustem

I have optical audio on my receiver right now. Would I be able to have the sound output from my DTV Receiver to my a/v Receiver, but still use the video from the SA TiVo?

Posted by: dustem

Also, the main reason why I dont want to go the D-TiVo route is because Ive read that it requires a dual LNB dish. I onlly have a single LNB dish and I think itd be very costly to upgrade my dish.

Posted by: JimSpence

If you get a DirecTV DVR from DirecTV they will most likely upgrade your dish to the latest Phase III oval triple LNB dish for free. Also, note that you may think you have a single LNB dish, but in reality that single LNB may have two outputs (unless it is very old), which would be just fine for the two inputs of a DTiVo.

IMHO, the HMO functionality isn't all that's it's touted to be. Afterall, the reason for TiVo is to watch TV on your terms. As for watching on multiple TVs, you can distribute the signal in other ways.

Posted by: bidger

quote:
Originally posted by dustem
I have optical audio on my receiver right now. Would I be able to have the sound output from my DTV Receiver to my a/v Receiver, but still use the video from the SA TiVo?

You could watch live DD5.1 shows, but you wouldn't be able to TiVo them and have them playback in DD5.1. There is no optical audio input/output on a SA at the present time. Plus, I don't know how well the audio/video sync when using a TiVo and using the receiver for DD5.1. That's something you might want to search for.

Posted by: dustem

quote:
Originally posted by bidger
You could watch live DD5.1 shows, but you wouldn't be able to TiVo them and have them playback in DD5.1.

Thats cool, as long as Im able to watch my live shows in 5.1, im happy with it.

Posted by: dustem

http://www.circuitcity.com/detail.j...0&oid=89307&m=0

Well I found that receiver, it has optical out, but it is a combo receiver correct? Therefore, I wouldnt be able to use the HMO feature on that one and I also would get charged by DTV for using a different receiver.

Posted by: bidger

Yeah, it says DirecTV receiver w/ DVR so that's a combo. You're probably not going to find that price, $99, on a SA. You want TiVo to be in the description, not DirecTV, if you're going for a SA. Have you tried searching the forum for deals on a TiVo?

Regarding your post before this, you're quoting PART of what I posted. I don't know exactly how your A/V receiver and TiVo will sync up for a DD5.1 brdcst. PLEASE, for your own benefit do a search to see if anyone has posted an "audio problem" about this situation before you buy.

Posted by: dustem

http://www.circuitcity.com/detail.j...0&oid=68647&m=0

Thats my receiver, and I just barely found out right now, that Ive been hearing Dolby Pro Logic the entire time, and that my satellite receiver isn't capable of Dolby Digital.
Now I guess my new question is, when I get the TiVo SA and I connect it to my receiver via RCA audio jacks and not optical audio, will there be a noticeable difference or will it be minimal at best since its Dolby ProLogic and not DD5.1?

Posted by: dustem

bump, anybody have experiences with my question above?

Posted by: classicsat

This is what I am getting:

You want to choose between and SA Tivo and a DirecTV combo.

Heres what:
Standalone Series 2

:up: Has HMO
:up: No digital audio
Works with your existing receiver

You install it between your DirecTV receiver and TV,as if it were a VCR.
The Tivo controls what channel the receiver is tuned to. You control the Tivo

You will have to manually access the receiver only to make PPV purchases and make system adjustments.

The Standalone fee is $12.95 for the first Tivo $6.95 each additional Tivo.

DirecTV combo Series 2

:down: No HMO
:up: Has Digital audio
:up: Has dual tuners, allowing two programs to record at the same time.
Works instead of your existing receiver

If you wish to keep your existing receiver active, it will cost you the mirroring fee. To use both tuners, you will have to run a second line to your receiver
The Tivo fee for DirecTivos is $5 for all, except when you subscribe to the mentioned package.

Posted by: Jonathan_S

quote:
Originally posted by dustem
Thats cool, as long as Im able to watch my live shows in 5.1, im happy with it.

Just keep in mind that for this to work you will need to totally bypass the TiVo, both for audio and video.

If you left the video running through the TiVo it would be out of sync with the audio. Even in LiveTV the TiVo adds a second or two of delay due to video handling overhead. This isn't a problem when the audio is handled by the TiVo as well, because they are equally delayed, but it the audio bypasses the TiVo they would be out of sync.

quote:
Originally posted by classicsat
:up: No digital audio

Shouldn't that be " :down: No digital audio" ?