HD TiVO price break -$299

[hdtvtechno]

A couple more questions....

1.  Would I have to get a new dish to receive HD programming?  I'm pretty sure I have a multisatellite dish now - I have regular TiVo, so I think I do.Look at your Dish, and see if it has 3 LNB's ?
2.  If I had a HD TiVo, would I have to subscribe to DirecTV's HD programming or could I just use it to record locals in HD through my antenna? NO,  Yes you can just use your OTA antenna
3.  Is it worth it to have HD TiVo if the technology is changing soon?  YES  

Thanks

Replys to your questions in bold type

[Bebop]

Both numbers go to the retention dept. But when I inquired, they mentioned the $299 with $100 rebate - nothing about $150 or $100.

Bebop, could you please elaborate on the magic words to say to get the unit for $100?

I just asked the simple question,  "Is there any other discounts by signing the 2 years commitment?".

Then the operator offers:

$5 off Total choice for 6 months
$5 off HD Package fro 6 months
Free 6 months of Showtime.


If I persisted, probably have gotten more free programing. I don't think I'll watching much of the free Showtime anyway, maybe just the Showtime HD. So, if you added up the free offer and discounts, the unit ended up costing about $100.

[Bebop]

A couple more questions....

1.  Would I have to get a new dish to receive HD programming?  I'm pretty sure I have a multisatellite dish now - I have regular TiVo, so I think I do.
2.  If I had a HD TiVo, would I have to subscribe to DirecTV's HD programming or could I just use it to record locals in HD through my antenna?
3.  Is it worth it to have HD TiVo if the technology is changing soon?  

Thanks

The installation would be included in the price. If you needed a new dish for HD they will replace your current dish and also run 2 lines into you home.

For Question #2, you''ll have to ask DirecTV, but I didn't read or hear anything  that say you can't.

Yes, for the price they are offering, besides they will replace the Tivo when MPEG-4 PVR comes out.

[chadl11]

I have 2 lines coming from the dish.  It's split in the basement - 2 going up for TiVo and the other in the rec room.

I'll probably call and see what kind of a deal I can get and then try and beg my wife for the okay!  

Thanks for the info.

[Rick Sass]

I have 2 lines coming from the dish.  It's split in the basement - 2 going up for TiVo and the other in the rec room.

I'll probably call and see what kind of a deal I can get and then try and beg my wife for the okay!  

Thanks for the info.

You'll need at least 3 lines from the dish - a 3 LNB dish - and 4 would be better.

[borghe]

a 3 lnb dish has 4 lines coming in from it.

and to answer your question about is it worth it even though the tech is changing, directv has already essentially said that they will be upgrading all HD customer equipment at their cost when they roll out locals. If you want it before Milwaukee locals get rolled out, you will likely have to pay some cost (possibly heavily subsidized) but if you just wait for MPEG4 until we get locals, you should get an MPEG4 DVR for free in exchange for your Tivo.

[lori]

I have been holding out on getting an HD dvr because I didn't want to spend $1000.  I called DirecTv this morning and got the $299 deal (less $100 rebate).  There is no way I would have gotten that deal without this thread.   When I first asked the rep about the HD dvr, she said that they were on sale for $649.  I replied that I had heard you could get them for $299.  What do you know, all of a sudden I could get it for $299 instead of $649.  

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.  This forum rocks!!   :guitar:

[Paul Bethke]

As did I!

Now for the next question - has anybody in this forum looked into expanding the disk capacity of this unit or connecting it to a (wireless) network? I saw claims of people doing this on Ebay.

Thanks...Paul

[jimbop99]

Here's half of your question http://tivo.upgrade-instructions.com/step1.php

[borghe]

//www.dealdatabase.com/forum has all you need for doing REALLY crazy stuff with it (wireless/ethernet, digital extraction, web server, etc). A warning though. You REALLY need to know what you are doing with a computer command line (or be perfect at following instructions) to do those mods. It took me a time or two to get it right and I've been using computers since the VIC-20 and Linux since Slackware '94.

Luckily upgrading the hard drive is MUCH easier.

http://www.newreleasesvideo.com/hinsdale-how-to/

[easylistener]

I have done all of that stuff to my reqular directivo.  I bought a kit from weakaness and it was real simple to put in.  I have also hacked it to my wireless network.  That takes some work.  I have also installed a external hard drive via the usb port.  Go to the tivo community site and there is more info there then you will ever need.

[Paul Bethke]

Thank you very much for the links and encouragement. It arrives tomorrow so I'll most likely play with it the way it is for a while before making it "even better".  

Best to you all...Paul

[Army82ndAB]

I called DirecTV yesterday regarding this deal and received it right away, but was unable to get any extra programming added onto it for free...Oh well! I was also told that when we do switch to MPEG-4 that we will be given the boxes free with a 2 year committment, but that it was not something that has been publicly stated or promised.

[jf3233]

Simple questions?

1. When using HD Tivo box it would replace my existing HD box allowing me to use that box in another room?

2. How many lines need to come into the HD Tivo box.  It needs 2 if you plan to record while watching TV correct. If you will not do this will 1 line work?

[hdtvtechno]

Simple questions?

1. When using HD Tivo box it would replace my existing HD box allowing me to use that box in another room?


2. How many lines need to come into the HD Tivo box.  It needs 2 if you plan to record while watching TV correct. If you will not do this will 1 line work?

Yes it can replace the non HD box,

Yes it has to have 2 lines of cable from the dish, to record 2 different shows.