Question About TIVO DVR Timer Programming

[Frank-0-Video]

Greetings ...

Didn't know exactly where to place this. Anyways ...........

I've never had a TIVO unit, so I do not how it operates. The one question I wish to ask here is about timer programming. I am aware that a lot of timer programming can be done by entering a special code, or by choosing your desired program off of a list. However, I wish to know if such programming be done manually, as is done on a VCR or DVD recorder? By that, I mean putting in a channel number, start time and end time.

Thanx-A-Lot, Frank-0-Video

[yoda313]

I can't speak to the newer models but at one point I did have a 80 hour sd tivo (or was it 40 hour? can't remember exactly) model several years ago.

Yes you could do a manual programmed event like the old vcr/vhs days (and of course betamax ).

However I haven't had a tivo in quite a few years so I don't know if this ability has been restricted or replaced or called something else. I can't imagine they don't have this feature. I have a motorola dvr through comcast and I can do manual recordings as well as simply selecting a show from a program guide.

I would check out tivos faq page for more information. And if you know which model in particular you are getting or have you can always download the manual.

Just an fyi though you have to have an active subscription for it to work. You can't simply use it like an old fashinoned vcr and just pipe a tv signal to it and manually record shows. If I remember right you won't even be able to see the incoming signal without it seeing an active membership.

Now that is for the "official" tivo units. I don't know if it can be hacked or rooted or anything like that. They've been around long enough that I'm sure there is something that could be done. However you would have to own the unit outright and not rent it as that would void the warranty if its not a softmod. Even if you could softmod it I'm not sure I'd want to risk the complications of connecting a moddified tivo unit to their servers.

Some of my information here may be outdated but this was my experience with the standard def tivo and basic non digital cable several years ago.

[Frank-0-Video]

Greetings ...

Thank you -- If I choose not to get a TIVO (along with the pain of subscription), what's the next best choice?

[yoda313]

You could do a capture card or external box for a computer. You can do free program guides over the internet with a lot of them.

However your problem may be your tuner device. Chances are if you have basic digital cable/satellite you don't have a programmable box. You can only record the channel it is currently on.

There may be ir blaster setups you can get to remotely change the channel on the box at the right time. However that can be complicated and may have its own problems. Plus you wouldn't be able to watch another channel while its recording - assuming a single tuner single output unit. If its a dual or more tuner with multiple outputs (dedicated multiple outputs in other words tuner 2 outputting to output 2 all the time) might work without a specific dvr (tuner only models without an internal recorder.).

Of course you could get a dvd recorder with an atsc (assuming US given your location you listed) tuner. Than at least you could record ota channels (in sd only of course - hd would require a pc capture card).

You can record ota with any hd tuner card of course and it can change the channels on its own provided you have a strong enough reception. Digital ota requires a fairly strong and stable reception to record reliably.

Unfortunately its more complicated with digital cable than the old analog cable used to be. You can't just plug it in and start recording with impunity.

Of course you could skip this route and rely on hulu (the free version is pc only the plus model requires its own subscription fee) or netflix (again pay service) or amazon and itunes (again both pay). These days they put out recent tv shows pretty quickly and in hd too if you have a fast enough internet connection.

Hope this helps.

In the end it is easier to bite the bullet and get the subscription with either tivo or your service provider as it is really easy when its a standalone unit designed to just watch and record tv and nothing else (sans streaming options that might come with newer models).

The other downside of going internet only is of course lack of sports options. (however lots of the big guys now do stream online but you might not be able to watch all local teams and may not be in hd or not the way you would prefer to watch your favorite local sports team - including of course any blackout restrictions that would hit internet channels as well as regular broadcast stations) Though you can do espn on the xbox 360 if you have a live gold account subscription (60.00 or so yearly) and a espn3 compatible service provider. And there are sports packages available on the ps3 and xbox 360.

Plus if you have verizon fios you can do a lot of tv through your xbox 360 now. Though I dont' think it has full channel support nor dvr functionallity just yet. I'm sure its coming though.

Hope this helps and didn't confuse you too much. Good luck and feel free to ask more questions. If I'm not around other members can chime in.