If I switch to FIOS and Series 3 Tivo. . .

[hsuthard]

do I still have to get a set-top box for each room? We have two HD rooms and I'd like to get the kitchen tv hooked up as well, but it's a small standard def tv (although I could probably be convinced to upgrade that). Or does the Tivo replace the set-top box altogether?

Also, why should I get the Series 3 over the Tivo HD?

ETA: Currently, we have DirecTV and the DirecTivo HR10-250 in both HD rooms.

Thanks!!
Holly.

[Bschneider]

You need some type of set-top box at each TV wheather it is a Tivo or FiOS DVR. So the question is which box do you perfer? Or if your TV has cablecard slots you could use them and remove the set-top box altogether.

As I stated in the another thread, this would be thte perfect time to get a Tivo Series 3 or HD box with the lifetime subscription they are offering for a limited time now.

[bdraw]

Normally I'd say go with the TiVo HD, but recently Amazon has been selling the Series3 for $350 after a $200 rebate, and that's a fantastic deal.

[pilotbob]

do I still have to get a set-top box for each room?


The answer is, it depends.

If you have a tv with an analog reciever you can hook it directly to the cable and get the first 36 channels in the FiOS line up. This will basically give you the SD versions of the 5 networks and a couple other channels.

If you have a tv (new basically) with a digital tuner then you will be able to hook it directly up to the cable and get the "clear" QAM channels, which I think on FiOS is most all but the pay (premium) channels. (I'm sure I'll be corrected if I am wrong here.)

With the above two options you will not get any of the "interactive" stuff that a cable box gives you like the interactive quide, VOD, PPV, etc.

Verizon has 4 boxes available... a basic "digital adapter" that gives you all your channels, interactive guide, but no VOD or PPV. The standard set top box which gives you all channels, guide, VOD and PPV. The HD box same as standard but supports HD out. The DVR which is the same box for both an SD and HD set. Of course, it adds the ability to record shows, with two tuners.

If you have a analog TV and you want to get all the channels you will need a cable box.

If you have a digital TV that supports cableCard then you could use that TV without a box... you would rent a cableCard for $2.99/mo. You would get all the channels, including premium channels that you pay for. You would not get any interactive stuff.


Or does the Tivo replace the set-top box altogether?


Yes, the Tivo replaces the set-top box. The only Tivos with digital tuners that I am aware of are the Series 3 (S3) and the THD (TivoHD). You will need two cableCards in each of these to use the digital tuners. You can use "any" Tivo to recieve/record the analog channels, but once again, you will only get the first 46 channels in the FiOS lineup.


Also, why should I get the Series 3 over the Tivo HD?


That is really a personal decision. Basic out of the box differences is the S3 has a bigger hard drive, 250gb vs 180gb. The S3 has a better remote. The S3 has the fancy LED front panel that tells you what shows it is recording. The S3 also is "THX certified"... which I assume they paid Lucus to get.

Right now if you buy at Amazon and get the $200 rebate the S3 would only be $100 more.

Hope this helps,
BOb

[hsuthard]

The lifetime subscription (and the fact that my HR10-250 is dying) is why I'm going ahead with this now. So, the Tivo can replace the box altogether and I won't have to pay a set-top box rental charge?

Geesh. I'm on the phone with Verizon right now and it doesn't bode well for future customer service. The first number I tried, the guy couldn't locate my account number. Then, when I finally found the number, it turns out his system is down until NOVEMBER 18th!!! And he can't order any bundle services for me, only ala carte services. So he gives me not one but two other numbers to try -- the local business office and the Fiber Solutions Center.

Okay, now this lady is more helpful, but she says no cablecards can be used, and now she just cut me off!!! AARGH!!

[hsuthard]

OK, on my third call I got an installation setup :) This guy was much more knowledgeable (and knew how to work the phone system without cutting me off).

Hopefully they'll know to bring enough cable cards. I'm going to order 2 of the Tivo S3's (is there a limit on the lifetime offer?) now so they'll be here before the Fios guy.

Thank you all for your help! I love this place :)

[pilotbob]

Hopefully they'll know to bring enough cable cards. I'm going to order 2 of the Tivo S3's (is there a limit on the lifetime offer?) now so they'll be here before the Fios guy.


You can only get the lifetime offer if you are an "existing" customer. I'm not sure if your considered a Tivo customer as a DTV customer. But, if your not then you would only be able to get lifetime on one of your new Tivos.

BOb

[pilotbob]

I'm going to order 2 of the Tivo S3's (is there a limit on the lifetime offer?) now so they'll be here before the Fios guy.


You may want to check to see if you can get two rebates. Alot of rebates don't allow that.

I would tell Verizon exactally what equipment you want. For two Tivos you would need 4 cableCards.

Also, keep in mind while you don't need to pay a rental fee for the box, you do rent the CableCards at $2.99 each... which would be $12/mo for 4... plus you have to pay for the Tivo service.

BOb

[hsuthard]

Thanks, Bob. It looks like a maximum of two rebates per household, so I should be fine there. And even with the additional $12/mo. for the cablecards, I'll still be saving about $32/month with Fios. And getting more features and channels. The only option I'd like to have but don't see is for a protection plan. I loved Directv's protection plan and used it a couple of times.

I was spending $79/mo for Directv plus $45/mo for Fios Broadband. I'll now be paying $92/mo for both Fios broadband and TV. :)

[pilotbob]

I was spending $79/mo for Directv plus $45/mo for Fios Broadband. I'll now be paying $92/mo for both Fios broadband and TV. :)

Great! I have FiOS Internet and TV also, just got a Tivo HD and so far don't regret it! The extra space by being able to expand the hard drive and the features, reliability and usabillity of the Tivo is certainly worth it, now that Tivo is $250 that is!

I just wanted to make sure you had all the correct information.

Now I want to get a second Tivo and an HD tv for the master bed room. But, my wife wasn't ready to jump on that one just yet. Perhaps I'll get it for "her" for Christmas!

BOb

BTW: Behind my TV center is now quite a rats nest... ;)

[hsuthard]

Thanks, Bob!

I still have to buy a second Tivo for the theater room, I didn't want to put out $1000+ for both of them at once. I suppose, though, that I could put a Series 3 downstairs and a Tivo HD upstairs and save $100? Would there be any problem with that? Right now, it's mostly used for PS3 and BluRay, so there's not an immediate need.

[pilotbob]

I suppose, though, that I could put a Series 3 downstairs and a Tivo HD upstairs and save $100? Would there be any problem with that?

No, that would work. Although with the THD you are getting 70GB less internal hard drive space than with the S3.

BOb

[bdraw]

If you end up buying them, I'd really appreciate it if you gave me the TiVo referrals. I almost have enough points to actually get something.

Use my gmail account which is bjdraw

[hsuthard]

If you end up buying them, I'd really appreciate it if you gave me the TiVo referrals. I almost have enough points to actually get something.

Use my gmail account which is bjdraw

No problem, I'm happy to help out!

[hsuthard]

I got my Tivo Series 3 today from Amazon, I can't wait to hook it up! It's going to be a long install, though, I'm afraid. We've had DirecTv since we moved into this house 8.5 years ago.

I don't want to jump the gun, but should we take down the antenna on the roof? *crosses fingers* I would love to take that bad boy down! I know the Tivo accepts OTA signal, but FIOS will have that already, and hopefully more reliably, since our sycamore tree often disrupts the signal to our antenna.

Thinking it through, the installer is going to have to run a cable I guess from the FIOS box outside our house (we already had internet from FIOS) to the outside of the house where the cable line should come in. Hopefully that won't take too long, he shouldn't have to drill any holes at least.

I'm getting excited!

[Bschneider]

Are you a Rays fan? If so, you might want to leave the antenna up as 'some' of the games are broadcast in HD on ch 66 which FiOS doesn't carry at this time.

[bdraw]

Personally I'd keep the antenna anyways. It's nice to have as a backup if you ever had problems with your FIOS and like Bryan said, sometimes there is programming that is only available OTA.

[pilotbob]

I don't want to jump the gun, but should we take down the antenna on the roof? *crosses fingers* I would love to take that bad boy down!

Are you talking about the Dish or just a regular VHF antenna? If the dish, yea... take it down. As others said, you "may" want to keep the other up. But, I don't have one and have never had a problem finding something to watch. Espesially with Tivo Suggestions which seems to record EVERYTHING!!!

BOb

[hsuthard]

OK guys, thank you for all your help. I got the Series 3 hooked up in the family room today with 2 cablecards. The installer hadn't seen a tivo in over a year, so I controlled the Tivo remote :) and things went smoothly.

BUT, I have another problem now. I got in the TivoHD this afternoon (just after the installer left, of course), and went to hook it up to get it ready for cablecards. But, there aren't any slots in the back for cable cards?! Am I missing something? Will I need a box as well as the Tivo HD for my theater room?


Oh, and Ben, you should have gotten the referral credit today :)

[pilotbob]

OK guys, thank you for all your help. I got the Series 3 hooked up in the family room today with 2 cablecards. The installer hadn't seen a tivo in over a year, so I controlled the Tivo remote :) and things went smoothly.

BUT, I have another problem now. I got in the TivoHD this afternoon (just after the installer left, of course), and went to hook it up to get it ready for cablecards. But, there aren't any slots in the back for cable cards?! Am I missing something? Will I need a box as well as the Tivo HD for my theater room?


Oh, and Ben, you should have gotten the referral credit today :)

Um... did you read the installing the CableCards directions that came with the TivoHD. The cc slots are in the front, behind a little door that opens to reveal them. ;)

So, S3 they are in the back THD they are in the front.

BOb

[hsuthard]

OK, I'm an idiot. I figured it out.


Now for another hopefully just as easy question: it seems like only one of the tuners is working on the S3; one shows a grey screen on all channels (except the antenna channels) while the other tuner is working fine. There's a symbol showing on the non-working tuner that looks like a "sync" icon, two arrows chasing each other in a circular pattern . . .

Any ideas?

[hsuthard]

OK, after more researching and testing, it seems that CableCard 1 is showing as NOT SUBSCRIBED under the Conditional Access menu. CableCard 2 is working fine, which explains why only one tuner is working. Guess I'll call Fios next . . .

[hsuthard]

Another update -- gee this install is turning into quite the blog! I spoke with Fios tech support and the guy was able to re-initialize the offending card and all is well once again. Very nice techie he was, too.

[pilotbob]

Another update -- gee this install is turning into quite the blog! I spoke with Fios tech support and the guy was able to re-initialize the offending card and all is well once again. Very nice techie he was, too.

Yep... don't let the Verizon guy go until he tests channels on both cableCards!

BOb

[bdraw]

Oh, and Ben, you should have gotten the referral credit today :)

Yes I did, thank you very much!

[bdraw]

Wow you activated two!
That's great, but who's Holly?

Only 4 more referrals and I can get those Bose headphones that've always cost'ed more than I was willing to spend.

[Jodeus]

I finally got fed up with the Verizon DVR not recording certain series (PTI and Around the Horn being the main two) and bought a TiVo HD unit. Called Verizon on 1/21 and the earliest time they had for installation of the cablecards was 1/31. At least they gave me another credit for the DVR (3 in total now).

-Jody

[bdraw]

You can use the TiVo till you get the CableCARDS, just won't work with all the channels. Takes about the same amount of time to setup too.

Just run guided setup when you get the TiVo and tell it you don't have CableCARDs. Then when the CableCARDs come, after they are installed you'll be prompted to run it again now that the config has changed.

If you don't mind, I'd love to have your TiVo service referral.

[Jodeus]

Had my cablecards installed in my TiVoHD unit yesterday. I was a little scared when the tech called me prior to coming and said he only had 1 card and would have to get another one and 'what are they going into?'. I tell him a Tivo. He actually says "uh oh, haven't done that before'.

He comes and was gone within 60 minutes and both tuners were working fine.

The issue came in with the Tivo showing 'snow' on my TV after viewing live TV and then pressing the 'Tivo' button. After rebooting the Tivo and then going from HD to SD programming the same thing would happen. I called Tivo and worked with a tech for a short period and they offered to send me a new box. One other thing they had me do was hook the box up to my TV via component cables instead of HDMI. There was no problem going back and forth between SD/HD and menues then. I told Tivo I would call them back if I wanted the new box. I didn't want to have to go through getting Verizon back out.

I thought about it more today and hooked it back up via HDMI and had the same snow issues. I changed the video out setting on the Tivo to Force 1080i instead of Native and did not have the handshake issues anymore. I'm not sure if it's the Tivo or TV but at this point i'll just leave it set to 'force'.

-Jody

[bdraw]

Glad you got it working.

Last time I had my Series3 replaced I didn't have to re-authorize the CCs, not sure why.

Sucks that you are having the handshake issues, too bad you don't have another TV to try. HDMI and component both work on the same time on my Series3s and I have to say I can't tell the difference on my 60-inch Pioneer kuro plasma.

Did you activate your TiVo yet? If not, I'd love the referral.

[Jodeus]

Already activated the Tivo with a lifetime subscription from someone on ebay. Figured as long as i keep the box for over three years (still have my ReplayTVs from 2003) it will work out price wise.

-Jody