TiVo questions?

Question

Ok, for about a year now I have wanted a TiVo, but have had a hard time finding info, especially about model difference. I am finally about to get one, but have some last questions, even if you can't answer all of them please reply with what you know. Thanks for any help you can be and I will make sure to leave a "best answer"

- Is there any difference between TiVo 40 and 80 (Besides hours it can record)
- Is there a difference between the TiVo 80 white model (TCD540080) and the black model (TCD649080)
- can TiVo 40 record two shows at a time?
- With models that do record 2 at a time can you record both shows from basic cable?

Forgot to say. Only I would be using the TiVo so I think 40 hours is plenty, I would prefer that one unless the 80 has more features that intreast me.

Answer 1

there is no difference between the 40 and 80 except the recording time. You can record 2 shows at the same time with both of them, but you will need to be watching one of the shows u are recording.

I have the 40 and i have 27 seasons passes between the family and it is plenty of room

Answer 2

Ok, I'll try and answer the best I can as I've had a TIVo for the past 4 years and don't know how I lived without it. As far as I know there is no difference between the 40 and 80 hour units except the amount of time you can record. You may think that 40 hours sounds like a lot, but it's surprising how much you manage to accumulate on the machine when you get it, we have managed to fill up an 80 hour machine without even trying. We actually have 2 machines now, as the prices when down so much from when we first got one. No difference but the color in the models that you mentioned, you can just be color coordinated if you choose! I believe that it's only the 80 hr that records 2 shows at a time. It's either record 2 shows at a time or record 1 show and what one show, those are your two choices. You also have options or different speeds. You have high quality, medium quality, basic quality. Sort of like on a VCR where you could put 2 hrs on a tape up to 6 hrs and your quality would change depending on how much you crammed on. I usually use the medium for TV shows and the higher for movies that I want to save, but can end up with more than one DVD for a movie. And yes, you should be able to record 2 shows on basic cable at the same time, the TIVo can't tell the difference of what you are recording.
What you should do though is, when you are setting it up, have someone who knows what they are doing help you set it up, and have a DVD that's a burner routed through the TIVo so that you can download things that you want to save downloaded onto a DVD, this can be done by someone with some technical knowledge.

Answer 3

DO NOT BUY A TIVO!!!

I have one, and I loved it. I thought it was the greatest thing ever created... That was until had to speak to customer service.

I had my Tivo for about 9 months, then the credit card that the bill was taken from was lost. I got a new card, but didn't remember to change the info on the Tivo. Two months later I turn on the Tivo to see the "service canceled" message. I changed the info online, but to no avail. The next night I talked to customer service, I was transfered to 4 different RUDE people for over an hour until I was told all I could do was pay an early termination fee of $200 bucks or re-sign a contract at $20 a month +$40 late fees , instead of he regular $12. I only had one month left to be out of contract and pay $12 a month.

Don't use Tivo. There are plenty of better services

Answer 4

i love tivo. the 80 is the best bet because of recording time. you will want alot of space. buy it now. the white is a decorative color option. mine is black and matches my dvd player. If you have a dvd recorder you can record on tivo and burn to a disc. It is a nice option.

Answer 5

ensure you hook up the VCR to the tivo. on the tivo, there should be some type of video and audio outputs. they'd be marked output to VCR. you do not pick to plug them into some thing categorised enter. Now, play the tivo and hit record on the VCR. ensure the VCR is wanting to the right channel, maximum situations its channel 3.