Recently I got a Tivo from a 3rd party distributor but it won’t work without a subscription. What can I do?

Question

Greetings;

I have a problem which I was hoping that someone could help me with. Recently I got a TIVO series 2 DVR, and so made plans to use it as a fancy VCR without bothering with subscribing to what I assumed would be superfluous features. I used it for a week, but a few days ago a subscription message popped up indicating that I needed to sign up for service if I wanted the DVR to continue working. It now only woks in ‘Live TV’ mode, and I can’t even use simple VCR recording features with it - essentially, a glorified paperweight. It does not make any sense to pay for service when simple VCR features of the DVR are clearly not a service but a part of the functionality of the device, just like the would be in a DVR. The $300 DVR has already been paid for - what is the point in me subscribing? I cannot return the device since the distributor does not accept returns unless defective, which apparently it isn’t. I’m not a hacker, but I just what to use my TIVO as a fancy VCR.

Answer 1

All TiVo-brand DVRs require a subscription to work. This has always been the case. The box it came it says "subscription required" on it. There are no hacks or ways around it.

Answer 2

The Tivo series 2 can ONLY be used with a VALID subscription unfortuantly. Tivo's first DVR was the Series 1 and IT CAN be used as just a Digital VCR without the subscription. Tivo decided when they came out with the Tivo Series 2's and Series 3's that thye would ONLY work with a VALID subscription. The Tivo CAN be MODIFIED (Hacked) to give some extra benefits, but I can tell you from experience that NONE of the Tivo hacking sites will even ALLOW any kind of hacking of the Tivo boxes to avoid a subscription. It is considered Theft of Service and they will delete any questions/comments with regards to it.

IF you are well versed in the Linux operating system then you could figure out HOW to hack it for you purpose, but I have NOT seen anyone that would EVER comment about how to do it.

The Tivos CAN be hacked legally to UPGRADE/ FIX the Tivo's to have more creature comforts, but to get past the Subscription issue is to have the ablility to hack the ZERO sectors of the hard drive. This is where Tivo's version of Linux CANNOT be hacked legally. Tivo has a Patent on there Software. Now some PARTS of the software are under the GNU licensing. License Restrictions. Here is something I found that describes it a bit.
...
"The Software may include some components that are covered by “free software” licenses, open source licenses and other similar license use rights, which require such components to be used, modified and/or distributed only under the terms of such licenses. Any such components are subject only to the terms of such licenses, and not these Terms."

Now as i said there are some PARTS of the software that is NOT Freeware, Open Source software and cannot legally be modified.

Check out these Tivo sites for more hacking/Modifying talk:
http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/index.php?
http://www.dvrplayground.com

So IF you are looking for what they consider a DUMB DVR you may have to BUY or Build your own. Check out MythTV software.

Answer 3

A series 2 is a bit tough to hack, as far as I know. But check out some of the tivo web communities and you might find a pointer to tips on how to hack it. In your case, hacking it would be the route to go; you have no intention of using the internal software, so most of it can be replaced.

Answer 4

No, you need a subscription. It really pays for the tv listings and tivo subsidizes the price of the box (I don't know how you paid $300, but after rebate from most place it's about $150).