Why is it that the only place that has a stand-alone Tivo is ebay? All the old carriers for the most part don't even carry tivo products now. WTH???

I'd like a Philips HDR212 or HDR112, but at this point I'm not that picky. Pretty much anything to keep it under $250.

Just seems like tivo dropped off the face of the earth.

Greg

(*checks out window*)

Nope, still across 237, where they should be.

Don't know why you're having trouble finding them. I saw some at Fry's today, both Sony and Philips. It could be that they're changing the casing. I spoke with Richard Bullwinkle a while back, and they were talking about moving to a 1U design.

Some places may be sold out right now. It is a few weeks after christmas after all. I got mine at the best buy in frisco a few months ago. $199 i think

Sean

There has been a lot of bitching about this on the TiVo board. Someone made a terrible miscalculation and there were very few standalone TiVo's in the retail pipeline for the holiday season. In 2000 there was a glut of 14 hour TiVo's when they discontinued that model (I bought a unit at Amazon for $99 with a $100 rebate :-D ). My guess is the retailers or manufacturers were burned by that and overcompensated this year. I'm expecting some new hardware to be announced at CES.

There were some really long threads that I stopped reading on this topic. Maybe the real answer is contained in one of them.

Last month I sold two 14 hour standalones on eBay and was shocked that I got $180 each for them.

-Dylan

Hey Dylan,

I'm sure you get this all the time, but thanks for "Dylan's Boot Disk". I don't know how I could have lived without my 89 hour TiVo.

I guess I've been too lazy to drive out to Fry's. Why can't they have good electronic stores in Downtown Dallas, instead of out in 'BFE' ?

So far I've just been looking online to see if I can find a better price. I always get raped at Fry's and any other local vendor.

Greg

You got a deal then. I'm within a day of attempting a bid on a HDR212, so far it's into the $250's, but it's already got the network card and additional RAM installed. I figure I'd be dumping at least $100 for the network card adapter into a new unit anyway ($199 + $90 + $10). So I'm still partially ahead as far as that goes. Dammit. Why can't things be cheap when I need them to be, like the empeg?

g

Additional RAM? I haven't been following the Underground forum for a while. Did a non-hand-soldering-SMT-chips solution spring into being when I wasn't looking?

I'd love more RAM in my 3 Tivo's, but I'm not about to attempt any SMT soldering. Not on a chip, anyway.

In reply to:

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Why can't things be cheap when I need them to be, like the empeg?

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But they are! DirecTiVo's (the combo DSS/TiVo unit) are selling for the ridiculously low price of $80. You said in your other thread that you have a DSS receiver, so why go for a standalone? Is it for TiVoNet? Unless you have some special need I think the benefits of the DTiVo far outweigh what TiVoNet provides. I doubt you'll find any TiVo owner who would disagree with that assessment. (And I believe there are ways to get TiVoNet working with the DTiVo.)

The DTiVo's have been selling for under $100 for a few months but, according to some retailers, that price is going to end soon. I'd jump on it now.

-Dylan

It's been soldered on already ... there's no easy way of doing it. That's why this particular one is appealing to me. I'm a Homer when it comes to soldering, so this is my only chance of getting more memory, through the efforts of a previous owner.

Greg

Actually, you're right. My main decision to avoid the combination is for TivoNet. I've heard with some serious adapters and a little sawing, you can make it work. I'm just a little nervous about it. But hell, even if I screw up I can still afford another one for the price of what I'm paying for that stand-alone.

Should I get one that supports Dolby Digital too? Do you know if there are issues with that?

Greg

You're welcome. It's been very satisfying to me that so many people found that useful.

-Dylan

What is it specifically about TiVoNet that appeals to you? For my own needs, I've yet to see any compelling application for it.

All the DTiVo's support Dolby Digital through the optical output. There are some people who have had problems with the digital output and particular receivers (I believe Yamaha). I haven't followed this closely so I don't know the details. The absolute worst case scenerio would be that you fall back to the analog outputs, but it's unlikely that that would be necessary.

-Dylan

I think the benefits of the DTiVo far outweigh what TiVoNet provides.

If you have DirecTV and are using a standalone TiVo, you are missing the best feature. Dual tuner TiVo is life altering. I have a Sony SAT-T60 I paid $399 for a year ago and two Philips DSR6000Rs I paid $99 for at Circuit City a couple months ago. DirecTiVos are a steal at $99.

TivoNet will allow me the resources to store recordings offline and edit my schedule remotely.

I shouldn't need to store them offline for a while given 30 gigs of space, and if I set up the schedule right the first time, I'll rarely need to make adjustments. It's simply for future growth I guess.

However by the time I truly need more space, we'll all have HDTVs and this device won't even work then ... probably.

Screw it. I'm getting a Combo, if TivoNet works on it three months or a year from now, great, if not, it'll still be a great product.

Thank you Dylan for helping me to see the light of day ;-)

Greg

Actually, I use two Tivos with my HDTV. Works just fine. Doesn't record in HD, but it still works fine.

Are the DTivo prices for new DirecTV subscribers only?

Is Tivo of any use on it's own without the subscription? Seems silly to have a program guide for both DBS and tivo....

Wait, don't answer me. You'll probably just talk me in to wanting one and I can't afford it!

The Hughes box is $49.99 for new DirecTV subs and $79.99 for current subs. Check it out here.

From what I understand ... the $99 price I'm seeing is for a single directtivo unit ... no satellite. It's intended to replace an existing receiver you already have with your existing service.

They've got special prices though for new customers, who need the whole rig. See tivo.com for special deals. In some cases it's cheaper if you're a new customer, because they know you'll be giving them money for some time to come.

I don't quite understand how the combo units work as far as their interface goes ... I'm guessing it pretty much does away with the typical DSS schedule system and uses Tivos? Who knows.

Update ... I have preliminary approval from the wife on a combo unit ... have to wait a week and a half before I order though. Hope these prices stick around that long.

Greg

Jeez... I work for Hughes and didn't even know we offered a Tivo box! hehe

In reply to:

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Internet Orders Only. Limited time offer for new residential subscribers who purchase a DIRECTV System from Orbit Communications. Requires activation within 30 days of order. If you are a current DIRECTV subscriber you can either buy a standalone receiver at the discounted prices by using the search box above, or if you are in need of a complete DIRECTV System add $150.00 to the advertised price of the complete DIRECTV System of your choice. You can denote if you're an Existing Customer at Checkout. Requires the activation of TiVo service within 30 days of receipt.

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From what I know about TiVoNet, it'll come in really handy should TiVo ever go out of business. I've heard that you can use the TiVoNet card and a script to grab all your guide data from zap2it (which is where TiVo gets it's info), completely eliminating TiVo from the picture.

But, the guy that developed the script isn't releasing it because he doesn't want to screw TiVo out of business. At least I'm satisfied knowing that there are backup plans should something happen to TiVo.

I also like the idea of being able to remotely administer the TiVo.

This is the link to $79 Hughes box from Orbit.
http://www.orbitsat.com/cyberstore/product.asp?PID=GXCEB0T

Did you read their terms for ordering that unit? You have to activate both the DirecTV and TiVo service within 30 days or they charge you asinine amounts of money. Did you order one from these guys? Did you have to fax stuff to them? It seems very scary.

They are the same terms wherever you buy any DirecTV receiver. The terms have to do with DirecTV and TiVo subsidizing the unit if registered within 30 days (Orbit pays more than $79 for the unit). Also has to do with the high amount of money you could profit by selling the virgin access card.

I know if you buy a DirecTV receiver with cash at Circuit City, they still require a credit card so they can charge a penalty if you don't register within 30 days.

This Philips one is $5 cheaper when you take shipping into consideration:

http://www.americansatellite.com/products/viewprod.asp?nav=&SID=STCHRG2271397PL78IR71583Q1MS8YX7D&ITEM=272

There are a few factors to take into consideration when buying a DirecTiVo. Hughes, Philips, and Sony are all nearly identical. I prefer the Sony because the remote and the ability to control Sony VCRs. Hughes and Philips cannot control any VCRs (yet).

The Hughes unit ALWAYS comes with one hard drive installed. This is favorable for upgrading, but no longer necessary due to better underground software.

The Philips, like Sony, could come with either 1 or 2 drives installed. The Philips is also black which matches most other audio components.

Other than those things, they are the same. All 3 are made in the same factory with the same motherboard, software, and chasis.

[sigh] TiVo claims that I didn't get my original TiVo activated in time to fall under the grandfather clause that allows me to transfer my Lifetime Subscription to another unit. So while I could manage to spend about $100 upgrading to a machine that can record two shows at once and actually change the channels properly, I can't afford the additional $250 to get a new lifetime subscription, or the $10 per month to carry it until I could. Oh well, more neat stuff down the drain because I don't have a job. (Anyone want to pay me to stop making these posts? )

that is why I won't buy the lifetime subscription. I doubt I will have the same unit for 2 years to make it worth it

I've got one for sale. Phillips 312- upgraded to 68hrs. w/uninstalled Tivonet board and 3com nic card. $350 takes it. Never been subcribed and still has 1.3 software.

When I bought it, they weren't clear on that. That's why they have that grandfather clause. I guess I wasn't quite early enough.

But none of this applies if you are pre-existing, and don't need a dish. Right?

Greg

No, the terms are the same. You have to register the receiver within 30 days no matter what.

You mean register with tivo? This is cool. But if you mean register with DTV, I'm not planning on using any DTV card that might come with it, I'll have to use the one that comes with our apartment's satellite

It's the DTV card that must be activated within the time limit. Are you sure your apartment complex forces you to use their card? They shouldn't care. Whether you use a new card or swap an existing card, DirecTV (or some reseller) must be contacted to activate the exact receiver/card combination that you will be using. You can't just swap a card from one receiver to another without contacting DirecTV (excepting hacking).

This requirement to activate the included card is typical for newly purchased DirecTV receivers so if your apartment complex really is unyielding about this they are preventing everyone from buying their own receiver without paying hundreds of dollars in fees. (Maybe that is their goal. Do they charge a rental fee or something like that for the hardware?)

-Dylan

Dylan's response is good. Another thing to note is that a DirecTiVo receiver is activated through DirecTV. TiVo will not activate it for you.

Just confirmed, we have to use the old card... The way it works is our complex uses Southwestern Bell Home Entertainment ... they have a big dish somewhere and the signal is sent to all our apartments .. we then lease receivers to get the programming.

I asked SWBHE about a receiver of my own, they said I can use mine, but I have to use their card (they'll reprogram something for my reciever and their card).

I'm curious ... if I get this $89 unit, will I get a card with it? If I do, they're going to rape me on some fees if I don't use their card, right?

Greg

Well, I know that there are at least one or two out there. I had to drive to Portland for a friend's open house today (in beautiful no-sales tax Oregon), I kept thinking about Speedvision/WRC coverage on the drive down, so I just had to stop at the Circuit City (another place I usually avoid like the plague) in Jantzen Beach. They had exactly one Sony SVR2000 left. Now they have none. One upside of divorce. No permission needed!

Now to see if I can get my JP1 remote jiggered to run this thing, then get lost in the land of tivonet and drive upgrades. I'm doomed!

I'm think you may have been mis-informed by Southwestern Bell. By describing your situation, I assume you have a Sony receiver (A50 i think). These receivers are unique and you would probably need what's called a destacker to get reception on any other make or model receiver. This may be in addition to using your current access card. I could be wrong though. Tell us more about your setup.

Now to see if I can get my JP1 remote jiggered to run this thing

Ah, you gotta love the JP1. Coolest hack around.

It's been months since I've poked around that scene, since I haven't changed the equipment in my living room for months and haven't needed to reprogram it. But the last I looked, there were more Tivo tricks than you could shake a stick at. You should have no trouble getting programming into your JP1'd remote.

You're right, I've got two A50's (one for bedroom, one for living room). Both are plugged directly into that F-style connection in thir respective walls.

My assumption is that they've got one dish for our apartment complex, or the actual dish is somewhere off-site and they pump a signal to our block like a cable provider.

I arrange all additional features and payment as if Southwestern Bell is the only company. I don't even have a DirectTV account number as far as I know. They charge me $5 a month to lease each receiver then the normal going rate for programming.

The access card doesn't look specific to this sony or SWB but directTV. It's got a number three on the front and a directTV logo, on th eback it's got an NDS logo and quite a few numbers.

It'd be nice if I could just dump SWB and plug my new receiver in to SWB's connection and deal with DirectTV directly.

Is this helping to clarify my situation?

Greg

I think you may have to stay with SW Bell unfortuantely. This thread has more info on using a non-A50 receiver with your service. Good luck!

A couple of destackers is what it looks like ... God knows what those are. Think Radio Smack will carry them?

Greg

Destackers are only sold through a couple distributors, and they are not that easy for consumers to get since they're primarily used in commercial applications. Your best bet (I think) is to go to a DirecTV installer in the area and try to get them through them. Holland Electronics is the largest distributor AFAIK.

What a destacker does
The signal from the dish runs at a specific frequency range on the coax cable. However, the cable is capable of carying much more data than that range from the dish. So, in order to feed multiple customers off one cable, they do what's called stacking the signal. This is where they take one signal and assign it to a different frequency range in order to fit two or more signals on a single cable. Your A50 is able to natively use the unconventional stacked signal. Every other DirecTV receiver cannot. The destacker is an external device that takes the stacked signal and re-assignes it to the proper frequency range on the coax in your appartment.

This info is coming out of my head from what I remeber. It may not be perfectly acurate. I hope I described it clearly enough (probably not).