HD TiVO price break -$299

[Bebop]

My box came today. I was afraid I will have trouble getting the Tivo activated using my VOIP. But, after few tries it was activated.

The picture quality is better than the regular Tivo. And even the HDMI connection worked.

[Tom Snyder]

Is the OTA local program information reliable enough now to be confident that the stuff I want recorded (especially season passes) will actually GET recorded?

[Bebop]

The guide gets its data from DirecTV. I season passed a few shows and they seem to be accurate so far.

[Bebop]

It seems to. I season passed Simpsons and Family Guy to record first runs only. Looking at the up coming shows list, it will not start recording till 9/11 when the new season starts.

But, all bets are off when you want to record a show that is after a football game. The Tivo is not that smart.

[chadl11]

What number is everyone calling to get this deal?

[hdtvtechno]

Check post # 5  

[borghe]

Is the OTA local program information reliable enough now to be confident that the stuff I want recorded (especially season passes) will actually GET recorded?

as you know I've been using it for almost a year and a half now. as bebop said, the only issue (which affects ALL DVRs and VCRs even) is football.

OTA is updated as quickly as the TWC guide being they all get their info from Tribune (the HD Tivo in DirecTivo mode doesn't use OTA guide data, only satellite data which also carries local OTA data from TMS)

long story short, as long as the station updates the guide data for the HD channel as well as the SD channel with TMS, the HD Tivo will get it. If they don't update the HD channel correctly (which hasn't happened in a while IIRC) it will affect both TWC and DirecTV.

[Tom Snyder]

Hmm... quite a decision to make... If there's a promise to upgrade to a new Mpeg4-capable Tivo when they start broadcasting the HD locals, I may have to do it... but then we also may be moving next year, so between the two year commitment I have to make for this deal, and who-knows-how long I'll need to commit to take advantage of their Mover's Connection.. I could be locked in to these guys till 2010!

[950ash]

The DTV guy told me they have to send a guy out to install it or the warranty wouldnt be valid, I said Just to plug it up and turn on the power? He said yes.

Anyone else hear the same thing?

[borghe]

I never heard that about the warranty thing. every piece of equipment i've gotten directly from directv I have specifically ordered without installation.

Tom - commitments aren't cummulative. so if you did this now and commited to two years of programming, then moved and commited to another year or two through mover's connection, the further end time from that moment will take effect. so if you got two years now, moved in 6 months and mover's connection was another year, you would still only be under the two years from now. if however mover's is two years, you would be under two years from the point of the mover's connection install.

the HD migration has been stated as being free previously by DirecTV, but at other times hasn't. However, by the time HD locals actually get to us (sometime bext year likely) the cost of HD DVRs will probably be under $200, meaning it is more likely that DirecTV would give them for free vs. losing people to cable.

worst case scenario, you are out only $200 now, can record smallville (and hopefully veronica mars hint hint hint jimboy ), and then find out you have to pay $50-200 down the road you can dump them knowing your TiVo can still record all local OTA and all DirecTV HD that is still MPEG2 at that time.

[summerfun]

as you know I've been using it for almost a year and a half now. as bebop said, the only issue (which affects ALL DVRs and VCRs even) is football.

I found the best way to beat the football issue is to set the shows that come on AFTER football games to record an hour LONG in the original season pass setup screen. If the game does not run long, so what. If it does, you still have your program.

[Army82ndAB]

Hey did you guys get that mail-in rebate? I received my unit over a week ago and didn't think about the rebate, or the fact that I didn't receive any paperwork about it.

[Bebop]

http://www.directv.com/imagine/pdf/dvr_rebate_form.pdf

It is supposed to be included in your next bill.


Update: I got the rebate 2 weeks after the install.

[chadl11]

Well, my HD TiVo receiver is being installed Saturday.  

$149 (after rebates/discounts)
$5 off my package for 6 months
$5 off HD package for 6 months (but I'm not taking this)

$5.99 TiVo fee - up from $4.99  --did anyone else who already had TiVo experience the increase in TiVo fee?

Another question for HD TiVo people.... Are you able to record an HD program (or 2) and still watch another HD program?

I have a OTA antenna and am wondering if I have to split it and have one line going into the receiver and another straight into the tv.  Maybe the installer can answer that, but any help would be appreciated.

[Bebop]

Yes, you can record one and watch another channel at the same time. But, you have to use your TV's tuner if you want to watch a third channel while recording 2 at the same time.