TiVo HDTV w/ Time Warner Cable in Milwaukee

[jolson247]

Is it possible?  I am getting very sick of my POS Scientific Atlantic DVR and whichever user interface that it's running these days (3 reboots last week alone).  Can I buy a TiVo HD box and have it work with my TWC service?  I don't have anything except the digital cable tier and the HD channels and I don't use any of the OnDemand services or music or anything like that.  My viewing habits are basically on channels 504-530+ and some SD channels like 54, 55 and USA.

I've been patiently waiting for the SDV boxes to come out that will supposedly work with the TiVo boxes but have heard that SDV hasn't been activated yet in Milwaukee.  Any info from you would be appreciated - I'm not calling TWC Customer Service for any.

[TPK]

Is it possible?  I am getting very sick of my POS Scientific Atlantic DVR and whichever user interface that it's running these days (3 reboots last week alone).  Can I buy a TiVo HD box and have it work with my TWC service?  I don't have anything except the digital cable tier and the HD channels and I don't use any of the OnDemand services or music or anything like that.  My viewing habits are basically on channels 504-530+ and some SD channels like 54, 55 and USA.

I've been patiently waiting for the SDV boxes to come out that will supposedly work with the TiVo boxes but have heard that SDV hasn't been activated yet in Milwaukee.  Any info from you would be appreciated - I'm not calling TWC Customer Service for any.

CNet just reviewed a new Tivo unit (Tivo HD XL)...   Has a ton of features, comes with 1TB of drive, looks amazing albiet a bit on the pricey side...

http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-video-recorders-dvrs/tivo-hd-xl-150/4505-6474_7-33231115.html?tag=mncol;lst

It is cable card compatible, and supposedly support SDV with an add-on accessory ( SDV tuning resolver ) , which supposedly comes from the cable company...

Would kind of suck to get one of these and have it not work with SDV (whats the point)...

[basshive]

That box is gorgeous!!! Not sure its 500+ gorgeous but man. wow!

http://www.engadgethd.com/photos/tivo-hd-xl-dvr-hands-on-at-cedia/

[Klankster]

I just got a Series3 HD Tivo hooked up to TWC today -- I HATED the DVR that TWC supplied.  We've been Tivo users since they first came out and were totally spoiled by Tivo's excellent feature set and interface.

We're only having one problem -- The tech came out and set it up and it isn't tuning some of the channels it should, like 533 -- It's just black.  The local HD channels are working fine.  The tech said it might take a while for the settings to get properly "percolated" through TWC's system.  He thought we should repeat the guided setup after about an hour -- I did, but it still isn't working, so I guess I'll call it in.

Sure is nice having the Tivo interface on cable.  There are limitations, like the fact that you can't get pay-per-view content on it, but I can live with that.

[OlsonNet]

TW "turned off" many of the non-local HD channels for TiVo users a week ago as they prepare to switch to SDV. So if you are using the TiVo HD, as for HD channels you'll only get the local channels, ESPN and I think 2 others (532 and 539 were the others I believe). They also turned off a few of the SD channels, but none of the "major" ones - mostly west coast feeds of the movie networks.

We're only having one problem -- The tech came out and set it up and it isn't tuning some of the channels it should, like 533 -- It's just black. The local HD channels are working fine. The tech said it might take a while for the settings to get properly "percolated" through TWC's system. He thought we should repeat the guided setup after about an hour -- I did, but it still isn't working, so I guess I'll call it in.

Those channels are gone. The tech didn't know about the shut off. All the restarting in the world isn't going to help.

So those of us with HD TiVos will just have to wait until the SDV tuning adapter is available in 3-6 months. You can get a regular HD receiver from TW to use for those channels the TiVo doesn't get for this "transition" time, but you'd have to pay the monthly rental fee.

[jolson247]

3-6 months for the SDV add-on?!?!? What's taking so long? They had these months ago!!!

[LoadStar]

3-6 months for the SDV add-on?!?!? What's taking so long? They had these months ago!!!

Well, they were only CableLabs certified back in mid-July.. yeah, technically, that is almost 2 months, but it isn't as long as you imply.

[Klankster]

TW "turned off" many of the non-local HD channels for TiVo users a week ago as they prepare to switch to SDV. So if you are using the TiVo HD, as for HD channels you'll only get the local channels, ESPN and I think 2 others (532 and 539 were the others I believe). They also turned off a few of the SD channels, but none of the "major" ones - mostly west coast feeds of the movie networks.

Are you sure?  I don't currently subscribe to any of the premium channels (HBO etc.) so I can't check them, but I don't even get ESPN HD!  It's just black.  From your comment, it sounds like I shouldbe getting it.  Can you please verify this?

[Klankster]

OK, my issue (see earlier message) was some sort of configuration problem at TWC -- One of their techs just called back and the problem is resolved -- I now get ESPN HD.  Sadly, most of the other HD content ISN'T there, like TNT HD etc., apparently because of the SDV switchover.

Now, why in the world they decided to start the SDV conversion and blast CableCard users' ability to watch HD before there was a tuning adapter ready and in users' hands, I'll never know...

[UncleMeat]

Does anyone know if the SDV converter will allow access to the "premium" HD channels like Mojo and HDNet?

EDIT - Also, can you currently receive premium channels with the cable card?  I was given 6 months of Showtime free...

[jolson247]

Now, why in the world they decided to start the SDV conversion and blast CableCard users' ability to watch HD before there was a tuning adapter ready and in users' hands, I'll never know...

Because it's Time Warner Cable, silly!!!

[terminaldawn]

For the past several weeks now my HD Tivo is not fully recording programs on 504 (NBC) or 518 (CW).  The recording will start at the correct time and then RANDOMLY stop recording so I am getting partial recordings.  

(It has nothing to do with priority conflicts as the recording will sometimes stop 22 minutes, 39 minutes, 13 minutes, etc....)

Also I do not have to be recording either of these channels for the video to cut out.  I will be watching HD programming live on either 504 or 518, and randomly the video will stop playing.  The video will pause and not play further.  I can then change the channel to something else then back, I get the signal back.  It's almost as though the signal drops.  Does anyone else have this issue???

[UncleMeat]

For the past several weeks now my HD Tivo is not fully recording programs on 504 (NBC) or 518 (CW).  The recording will start at the correct time and then RANDOMLY stop recording so I am getting partial recordings.  

(It has nothing to do with priority conflicts as the recording will sometimes stop 22 minutes, 39 minutes, 13 minutes, etc....)

Also I do not have to be recording either of these channels for the video to cut out.  I will be watching HD programming live on either 504 or 518, and randomly the video will stop playing.  The video will pause and not play further.  I can then change the channel to something else then back, I get the signal back.  It's almost as though the signal drops.  Does anyone else have this issue???

Sorry... hasn't happened here.

[terminaldawn]

Sorry... hasn't happened here.

Are you recording things on 504 often?

[UncleMeat]

Are you recording things on 504 often?

We do 5 or 6 different weekly primetime shows (Earl, Office, Chuck, few others I don't watch) plus Sunday Night Football.

EDIT - everything is on 504, never 4.