TivoHD/S3 with FiOS

[pilotbob]

While the FiOS DVR isn't the greatest device in the world, it sort of worked ok. My biggest gripe with it was that there is no way to expand the space on it. Also, after the new Guide/software update it seems to hold even less... I'm lucky to get more than 12 hours of HD on it now.

So, I finally decided it was worth it to get a Tivo. I had been considering the Tivo Series 3, but when came out it was about $800. I could not justify it, espesially since you also have to pay for service seperatly. But, recently Tivo came out with the Tivo HD, which is basically the same as the Tivo S3 in features. There are a few differences you can find.

Also, Tivo recently added support for expanded drive space via an external eSata drive. They also announced the first "verified" expander drive... a 500GB unit. So... that was enough for me to go for it. I ordered the TivoHD from Amazon for $250 with free super savor shipping. I ordered the Western Digital DVR Expander directly from Tivo for $199. I also opted for the 3 year pre-pay service option at $299. So, $750 all told.

(BTW: There is a $200 rebate from Tivo on the Series 3 till I think the end of the year. Amazon's price on that is $550. So, it's really only $100 more than the Tivo HD. I might still change to this. Not sure if that means I will need Verizon to come out again and "re-install" the cable cards. Anyone know?)

So, I have the TivoHD unit and the 3 years of service... I have hooked it up but not using it yet.

Tommorow Verizon is comming to install two CableCARDS into the Tivo. I am also returning the Moto DVRs. The cableCards are $2.99 x 2 per month to rent and there is a $24.99 install fee. So, my bill will go down $7.01 per month. The Tivo for 3 years pre-paid comes out to $8.33 a month, so service wise having the Tivo will cost me about an extra $1 a month. BTW: I asked if they had any M-Stream cards, and the answer was no.

I'll add to this thread tommorow after the cableCards have been installed.

BOb

[Bschneider]

BOb -

Excellent. Welcome to the club. You wont be dissappointed. And I will also say that I believe you will see an improvement in the PQ too compared to the FiOS DVR box.

[bdraw]

You can re-install them yourselves, but you'll have to call and have the re-authorized. The good news is that they work for the most part till they are authorized, the only thing is that some of the cable Channels don't show up.

You really only need the 4 numbers (one on the back of the card, three on the screen) to activate, but sometimes you'll have a hard time getting someone on the phone who knows what they are doing.

Also, I'd suggest you go ahead and run guided setup before the installer comes, then add the CableCARDs when he gets there. This will save you some time, but I'll warn you, test both cards first before re-running guided setup or the installer may tried to leave before it completes, then it's a bad time to discover a card isn't working.

You should read up in the tivocommunity forum about FIOS and the TiVo, but the one bit of advice I will give you is that the error 161-4 is normal and actually a good error.

[pilotbob]

test both cards first before re-running guided setup or the installer may tried to leave before it completes, then it's a bad time to discover a card isn't working.


How would I do this?


You should read up in the tivocommunity forum about FIOS and the TiVo, but the one bit of advice I will give you is that the error 161-4 is normal and actually a good error.

A good error? You will have to explain that one? I've read some stuff on Tivocommunity... got more info from AVS latley.

BOb

[bdraw]

The error happens cause Moto CableCARDs stop responding while they are being updated from the headend. Updating from the headend is a good thing, thus it's a good error. Ultimately it is a problem TiVo and Moto would have to work out, so that the TiVo wouldn't expect the CableCARD to respond while it was updating.

[pilotbob]

This is a follow up to my TivoHD "install" message.

Verizon had scheduled my appointment for today between 12-2... tech showed up on 12 on the dot, nice... Brighthouse never did that.

He inserted the first cableCard, waited a few minutes and wrote down the numbers the Tivo displayed. Then, he inserted the second card, same thing.

He said he had to go to his truck to activate the cards.

About 10 mins later he came back in an ran the Channel Test on each card and it was able to recieve the HD channels... (The Verizon techs seem to like Discovery HD... I guess they know it will allways have HD content.)

After he left, I ran the guided setup again... after about 15 minutes it was done, it said it got todays guide so that it could be used, and would continue to download more data. I ran through some settings... found the video settings I liked at it looks great.

I set up a "season pass" for the shows that are on tonight that I like. Season pass is Tivo's term for "record all espisodes" btw. Is there any way to set default SP options? I couldn't find a way.

After than I reset up my Harmony 880 remote for use with the Tivo as the "Watch TV" activity device rather than the Moto STB. One thing I didn't understand, why the default mapping doesn't map any Tivo remote commands to the Menu button. I mapped it to the "Tivo" command, which is essentially the main Tivo menu. The Tivo has a "guide" button but it doesn't have a button to take you directly to the "what's playing" (recorded programs) list, or does it?

Anyway... very happy so far... Of course, that is if it records shows, which I expect it will. Next step is waiting for my "verified" external 500GB drive to arrive. It is on order directly from Tivo but I haven't got a ship notice yet. I will report back, once I get and install it, how it goes.

BOb

[bdraw]

Glad things went well.

Hitting the left button while watching live TV takes you to the last viewed TiVo menu. I believe double left takes you to the now playing list. There is a TiVo code out there to take you straight to the now playing list, it's a button that is on the DirecTViVo remotes that works on regular TiVo's too.

There are a few other shortcuts that I like, from TiVo Central, hitting 1 takes you to Season passes and 2 takes you to ToDo. Here are a few more.
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11257_7-5494730-1.html

I don't know how to set defaults for SPs, but that would be nice, I get sick of choosing keep all episodes every single time.

[pilotbob]

I found that the Harmony does have a button that takes you right to the "Now Playing" list. Thanks for that other link!

I don't understand why Tivo doesn't show your "to record" shows on the grid. I see alot of people on the forums requesting this... hope they add it. Is there an official place to add your "me too" to enhancement request or to even place official enhancement requests?

I also like the way on replay TV when in the guide, you can just set record to do a single record, if you press it again you get an all episodes record. If you want to set options you can press select and choose "record options". Plus you can set defaults too... Hope Tivo adds this stuff.

But, so far much better than the Moto DVR. Got a notice from Tivo that my expander drive shipped, I am supposed to have it Friday!

BOb

[pilotbob]

I see that Engaget is reporting that for a short time you can get a life-time subscription for you new Series2/3/HD. But, I went to Tivo web site and don't see anyway to do it. When I go to Upgrade Service/Account and put in my service number it says that the DVR is already activated.

Anyone know how to upgrade to the lifetime sub?

BOb

[Bschneider]

I am looking for the same.

[bdraw]

There are a few caveats.
You have to already have a TiVo that's activated.
Then you have to buy another TiVo between now and Feb and activate it.

So I already have two Series 3s, I'd have to buy a third one to get lifetime, they wont let me convert the two I have.

[pilotbob]

There are a few caveats.
You have to already have a TiVo that's activated.
Then you have to buy another TiVo between now and Feb and activate it.

So I already have two Series 3s, I'd have to buy a third one to get lifetime, they wont let me convert the two I have.

Yep... after reading some more stuff I see that this is the case. So, as a new Tivo owner of a single machine you can NOT buy a lifetime subscription. Bummer....

BOb

[Bschneider]

Thanks for the clarification. Thankfully I am all set to buy another one anyways.

[pilotbob]

So I already have two Series 3s, I'd have to buy a third one to get lifetime, they wont let me convert the two I have.

Unless you got the service for one of those within 30 days. You could return the service plan, and then re-buy the lifetime service plan.

Bob

[pilotbob]

Friday the WD DVR Expander I ordered from Tivo was delivered. This is a 500GB external eStata drive. It is a "Tivo Verified" drive so it is supposed to work with both TivoHD (which I have) and the Tivo Series 3.

I unpackaged it saturday to hook it up. Connecting it was pretty easy. It comes with an eSata cable (kind of short, I think 1 meter in length) and a power supply. The drive it self is pretty heavy.

The directions say to turn off Tivo (disconnect power cable) then connect the eSata cable to the Tivo and the drive, connect the power to the drive then reconnect the power to the Tivo. I followed these steps. After the Tivo restarted I went to system settings and it still showed 20 HRS of space.

So, I turned of the Tivo... smashed in the cable (it didn't seem to plug in all the way) and tried again, still didn't work.

So, I powered down the Tivo again, reversed the cable hopping that the other end might work better in the Tivo. I powered up the Tivo and it still didn't seem to work.

I had read on the forum about some people getting a bad cable. So, I did some research on the net... many people said it worked without issue.

So, I went back to my Tivo again, pressed the Tivo button, and up poped a message that I had attached an external drive and did I want to "prepare" it for use. I told it yes. It displayed "please wait" for a minute or so, then rebooted it self. When it came back at this point and I went to system settings it now displayed Upto 86 hours of HD! Yea!

It would have been nice if the directions were a little more explicit on what would have happend when you powered it up after connecting it. I expected to see something as soon as it came on. I guess it takes a while to recognize it... and internally create a "message" about the drive being there.

A small weird thing was that I also go the message that my system was updated to the "Fall 2007" update again. I had already got this message. I deleted it and got it again. After that I haven't got it any more.

Bottom line, the external drive is hooked up and working. I can't hear it at all... but then again I put it behind my TV stand/cabinet since that is the only place I had room for it.

While I initially planned to hook up a 750GB external but realized I could only use "verified" drives without hacking the thing. I decided to settle on the 500Gb which was only $20 less than the 750GB drive I had originally ordered.

But, I've gotta say, 86 hours of HD is much better than the 12-15 I was getting on the Moto DVR after the IMG upgrade.

So, I highly recommend Tivo for FiOS users.

BOb