Tivo - have to subscribe?

[Slickone]

Can you use a Tivo without subscribing? Do you lose features or the whole thing?

Can a DirecTV TIVO receiver be used with cable TV somehow?

 

[xChris]

You can use Tivo without subscribing. I can't imagine using Tivo without the subscription, but it can be done, you just loose a lot.

I don't think a DirectTV Tivo can be used with cable. I'm pretty sure the tuner in DirectTV TIVO is set up for DirectTV and won't work on cable. I'm not 100% sure though.

 

[Slickone]

Originally posted by: Chris
You can use Tivo without subscribing. I can't imagine using Tivo without the subscription, but it can be done, you just loose a lot.

If the only purpose is to keep from wearing out VCR's and buying tapes when they wear out...when you record daily shows to watch at night. ?

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: Slickone
Can you use a Tivo without subscribing? Do you lose features or the whole thing?

Can a DirecTV TIVO receiver be used with cable TV somehow?

1) Not sure if you can use it, but if you can you will lose features
2) No, you have to use it with DirecTV. I can't even record off of an old school antenna with my DirecTiVo.

 

[Slickone]

What about a regular PVR then?

 

[Falloutboy]

12 dollars a mounth isn't that much to spend..... if its too much build you own PVR or use bit torrent

 

[KoolHonda]

I just use a regular DVR/DVD recorder.

 

[Slickone]

So using a PVR (ie. Tivo) without subscribing would be just as good as building a PC to do it, right?
If it's only to replace a VCR? Can you still program it to record at a certain time without subscribing? You just lose the fancy program guide stuff, right?

 

[KoolHonda]

Mine works just like a VCR except it stores the programs to it's HD or a DVD-RAM or DVD-R disc.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: Slickone
So using a PVR (ie. Tivo) without subscribing would be just as good as building a PC to do it, right?
If it's only to replace a VCR? Can you still program it to record at a certain time without subscribing? You just lose the fancy program guide stuff, right?

Yes. But a PC (with appropriate software) has a program guide, etc. and does not require a monthly fee.

 

[JHeiderman]

Can a DirecTV TIVO receiver be used with cable TV somehow?

This question was already answered but I'll give the exact reason why. The DirecTV Tivo units can't encode and capture the video signal. They capture the DirecTV signal right off the dish to the drive. That is why when viewing DirecTV Tivo shows they are identical in quality to the live DirecTV showing. There is no compression settings, no quality settings, they just capture the feed right off the satelite. I love my DirecTV Tivo!!!

- J

 

[Concillian]

Originally posted by: Slickone
So using a PVR (ie. Tivo) without subscribing would be just as good as building a PC to do it, right?

Actually, not as good.

If you build your own you have:
- control over the compression algorithm, so you can encode in some format that can easily copied to your PC, or sent to your friends.
- Network interface to other PCs / the internet so you can also stream mp3s from Shoutcast or other online radio stations or play mp3s from your own personal collection
- a connection to free internet programming guides that pretty much have all the features of a TiVo in terms of capturing programs you like, etc...

 

[Slickone]

Originally posted by: Concillian

Originally posted by: Slickone
So using a PVR (ie. Tivo) without subscribing would be just as good as building a PC to do it, right?

Actually, not as good.

If you build your own you have:
- control over the compression algorithm, so you can encode in some format that can easily copied to your PC, or sent to your friends.
- Network interface to other PCs / the internet so you can also stream mp3s from Shoutcast or other online radio stations or play mp3s from your own personal collection
- a connection to free internet programming guides that pretty much have all the features of a TiVo in terms of capturing programs you like, etc...

That's cool and all, and I've thought about making one for myself when I get time, but for my mom just to use to replace the VCR's and tapes she keeps wearing out from recording daily shows, sounds like a cheap Tivo should work.

 

[Slickone]

Originally posted by: Slickone

Originally posted by: Concillian

Originally posted by: Slickone
So using a PVR (ie. Tivo) without subscribing would be just as good as building a PC to do it, right?

Actually, not as good.

If you build your own you have:
- control over the compression algorithm, so you can encode in some format that can easily copied to your PC, or sent to your friends.
- Network interface to other PCs / the internet so you can also stream mp3s from Shoutcast or other online radio stations or play mp3s from your own personal collection
- a connection to free internet programming guides that pretty much have all the features of a TiVo in terms of capturing programs you like, etc...

That's cool and all, and I've thought about making one for myself when I get time, but for my mom just to use to replace the VCR's and tapes she keeps wearing out from recording daily shows, sounds like a cheap Tivo should work.

BTW, thanks for the explanation JHeiderman. I'll let you know what shows I want recorded.