Is there an alternative to Tivo or HDTV that can be used without a phone line?

Question

I have cable but the company doesn't provide a DVR service so I need a system I can hook upto my TV apart from my cable box.

In response to the first answer, I meant DVR not HDTV but Tivo does require a phone line for intial set-up according to the man at Best Buy and he said a cell phone does not work. If there is a seperate system what is the name of the programs that can be purchased?

Answer 1

I'm not entirely sure I followed that. HDTV stands for high definition television. It provides a higher resolution version of normal TV shows, which look really nice on a really expensive TV. It is not even vaguely related to TiVo, which records programs on broadcast, cable, or statilite feeds in standard TV or HDTV formats. TiVo doesn't require a phone line, even though it says it wants to be connected to one. My parents have TiVo and it's not hooked up to the phone line and works just fine.

That said, there are DVD-R devices you can buy, which will record TV programs on DVD, and also DVR boxes you can buy, which work just like TiVo but without the TV guide data (so you have to tell it what time to record a program rather than searching for the name.

Answer 2

Yes, for once a TV salesman is right. You do need a phone line to set up your TiVo initially. I have heard that people have taken their TiVos to a friend's house for initial setup with a phone line, and after that they don't need it. See if you can find someone to help. You also might try asking this question on the TiVo Community Forum
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/
But be sure to search on "initial set up" and "phone" before you ask, or try the FAQ on that site. I'm sure this question has been asked numerous times.

Answer 3

You do need a phone line for the initial set up - even if you plan to do future updates via broadband. I brought my friend's Tivo home and did his initial setup before the phones were working in his new house. Takes a few hours and doesn't cost anything.

Answer 4

Your best bet is probably a tivo series 2-- and just borrow a friend's phone line. Does replaytv require a phoneline for initial setup? You could look into that one.

Answer 5

Any provider of this type is barely as good via fact the persons who use it. i would not use it for some thing that needless to say mandatory emergency scientific care and a pass to to A&E, eg suspected stroke, coronary heart attack, intense bleeding or respiratory undertaking. And neither could i pass to A&E if I had a cough or sore throat. so a techniques as I see it the provider will stand or fall by making use of ways good a role is achieved of folk being inspired to apply it for what this is meant for that's providing you with suggestion on self help for minor issues.