TiVo for dummies?

[JonInMiddleGA]

I figured I ought to do this in a separate thread instead of sidetracking in the CBS promo thread. But since TiVo was mentioned here AND it was part of a family discussion just a couple of days ago ... time for questions.

Here's what I think I know:
1) You buy a "box" that looks kinda like a DVD player. The boxes come in 40/80/120/etc hours of storage models & some have extra features like DVD-R and such.
2) You pay a monthly fee (or pre-pay a year, or pay a one-time $299 for life) for the service to work.
3) You then have the ability to record programs onto the hard drive in the box, they're stored digitally until you remove them/record over them.
4) You can order online directly through TiVo or buy them in big-box retail stores (Best Buy, etc).

Here's what I want to know/understand:
1) How easy is the recording process? Setting timers like the old VCR's? Or scanning barcodes in TVGuide? Or what ????

At this point, this is the number one issue, since the prospective purchase is for my 65+ parents. My mom especially is one of those in bed by 9pm people, but shows like E.R. are right up her alley & she'd love to be able to watch them on her own timetable instead of the network schedule.

2) If you aren't trying to avoid commercials, then in what other ways is TiVo superior to the old-fashioned VCR method of recording? Note: I get the obvious benefit of not having tapes lying around everywhere, and do not consider any quality difference between tape & digital as being particularly relevant. The intended recipients are retirees who just want to watch maybe a half dozen shows a week at their leisure, plus probably my dad would record some stuff he tends to miss/bail out on like college baseball & the like.

I know we've got some big TiVo advocates here, so I figure this ought to get some very strong responses. Thanks in advance.

[QuikSand]

Here's what I want to know/understand:
1) How easy is the recording process? Setting timers like the old VCR's? Or scanning barcodes in TVGuide? Or what ????

At this point, this is the number one issue, since the prospective purchase is for my 65+ parents. My mom especially is one of those in bed by 9pm people, but shows like E.R. are right up her alley & she'd love to be able to watch them on her own timetable instead of the network schedule.

Far, far, far easier than a VCR. Basically, you use the remote to navigate a few up-down menus, pick the shows you want to record, and push one button.

Even better, use the "season pass" feature, and select a show you want to record all the time -- and with one selection, you get that show recorded every time it's on. If it's shown at an unusual hour, it will adjust, and if it's not on one week, it won't record. Very, very simple.

I know quite a number of friends who have purchased TiVo for older family members, and it's surprisng how well it can be picked up.

[moriarty]

Here's what I want to know/understand:
1) How easy is the recording process? Setting timers like the old VCR's? Or scanning barcodes in TVGuide? Or what ???? .

It's fairly easy to set it up (although depending on how savy your parents are, you may need to help). Basically you can set up season passes (E.g. record every episode of ER) and it will automatically do so - hands off. You can also search for things by entering on-screen titles, actors, keywords, etc... Or if you're wathcing something you can always hit 'record' button. You can also use the onscreen menu (sort of like the typical guide) and select record if something is coming up soon.

Basically for older poeple, I set up the season pass and teach them how to watch the shows.

2) If you aren't trying to avoid commercials, then in what other ways is TiVo superior to the old-fashioned VCR method of recording? Note: I get the obvious benefit of not having tapes lying around everywhere, and do not consider any quality difference between tape & digital as being particularly relevant.

Well you'd be suprised by quality w/out a tape, but other big benefits are:
- being able to set up the seaon pass so they don't miss a show, favorite ball team, etc.
- ability to jump right to/select a show (no fastforwarding/rewinding through the tape to find the show
- after a while TIVO will automatically record stuff it thinks you may want to watch (so there's always some stuff to watch in your range)
- ability to record/pause live television. If you're watching a game and you have to take a leak a lot (like my parents) you can pause the show, even if it's live, and come back to it when you return.
- one remote control for tv/playback (big for follks who never know which remote does what).

[QuikSand]

The intended recipients are retirees who just want to watch maybe a half dozen shows a week at their leisure, plus probably my dad would record some stuff he tends to miss/bail out on like college baseball & the like.

In my opinion, even if this is all they do, they wil still find the service to be completely worthwhile, and very easy to set up. Most likely, they will find it to be useful beyond that as well, but it's wonderful and very easy for exactly this purpose.

And the "skipping commercials" is not a particularly difficult thing to set up, either. Post a little sticker on the back of the remote to remind them of the sequence (in case the system resets, and it needs to be re-entered), and they will quickly love that feature as well, I suspect.

[flere-imsaho]

Agree with what's already been said.

One note, however - I don't think it's possible any longer to buy a "lifetime" subscription to the data update service. I think you have to pay a monthly fee.

Bear in mind to get updates the box also has to be attached to a phone line.

[Daimyo]

1) It's incredibly easy. I got one for my non-technical parents two years ago and they told me the learning curve was the easiest for any technology they ever had. I think its actually the only remote my mom has ever been proficient with. It downloads a guide with 14 days of content. You can search the guide by title or by actor, director, etc, or by type (movie, sports, etc), or by category (action, comedy, etc), or some combo. When you view the info about a show there is an option to record only that episode or all episodes in the series.

2) You don't need to mess with tapes. You can start watching a show fromt he beginning while its still recording that show. You can watch show A that's already recorded whole show B is still recording. The ability to schedule season passes.

[digamma]

- ability to record/pause live television. If you're watching a game and you have to take a leak (like my parents) you can pause the show, even if it's live, and come back to it when you return.

Yeah, there's a technical term for this that I can't remember, but along these lines another huge advantage is being able to watch something while it is recording. We'll routinely start a show twenty minutes or so in (taking an extra few minutes at the dinner table or whatever else) and almost catch the recording for the live ending.

The other must have feature in my book is a dual tuner, which allows you to record on one channel while watching live television on the opposite tuner (or alternatively to record two shows at the same time (while, perhaps watching a third show you had previously recorded)).

[Ramzavail]

TiVo and its competitor, ReplayTV, are great products, easy to use but sometimes hard/expensive to set up.

You have to think about how they are hooking it up and connecting to the internet.

1. Use dialup, it can connect via dialup, which is fine but you have to consider how you are going to run the wires and where the phone jack is.

2. Using cable, can be VERY VERY tricky. If you plan on using cable, I'd just ask how in this thread and we could help you further. But you have to consider how the internet cable is getting to the TV - remember its different than the TV cable.


Once you get it hooked up, its a breeze to use.

[albionmoonlight]

Also, if your parents are into some older shows that are playing at strange times deep in syndication land, you can set up the "season pass" feature and they will all be recorded whenever they come on.

Mrs. A. and I have gotten back into M.A.S.H., which comes on the Hallmark channel, and I could not even tell you what channel is the Hallmark channel.

(One tip for your dad and sports. TiVo records based on how long the show is supposed to last. Which means that you can easily miss the ends of live sporting events if they run overtime. All you need to do in that case is to make sure to record the show that comes on after the sporting event too to be able to catch the end.)

[digamma]

(One tip for your dad and sports. TiVo records based on how long the show is supposed to last. Which means that you can easily miss the ends of live sporting events if they run overtime. All you need to do in that case is to make sure to record the show that comes on after the sporting event too to be able to catch the end.)
This is great advice. Tivo also allows you to set the program to end 1, 2, 5, 15, 30, 60 or 90 (etc.) beyond its scheduled time.

[Daimyo]

The other must have feature in my book is a dual tuner, which allows you to record on one channel while watching live television on the opposite tuner (or alternatively to record two shows at the same time (while, perhaps watching a third show you had previously recorded)).
That's only with DirecTv units AFAIK. I agree its a great feature, but may not be must have for everyone. Most of the stuff I record is on cable or HBO so its repeated 4-5 times throughout the week. It makes a huge difference if you record a lot of network shows though since they're almost never replayed (outside of NBC with Bravo, etc).

[Daimyo]

This is great advice. Tivo also allows you to set the program to end 1, 2, 5, 15, 30, 60 or 90 (etc.) beyond its scheduled time.

I've learned to pretty much set everything sporting event to go 30 minutes longer. They seem to run long more often than they end on time.

[Dekanth]

I have a DVR and love it, wouldn't trade it in for a VCR, etc... but for what you describe I think a VCR is more than sufficient. Most VCR's let you set up a re-occuring recording much like Tivo's season pass. Plus, for 20 bucks you can't beat the price. I think a DVR is only worth the cost if you are going to use more than a recording feature...use the fast forward, pause live tv, rewind live tv, and all the other cool features are what is worth the money.

I have recommended DVR's to family and friends before, and couldnt live without mine, but in this case, meh, doesn't seem necessary.

[Peregrine]

If your parents have DirecTV, they can get (or at least could get, I think it's changing now) DirecTV's DVR which is basically Tivo. One advantage is the monthly fee is only $5 as compared to $13 or so for Tivo.

[Ramzavail]

If your parents have DirecTV, they can get (or at least could get, I think it's changing now) DirecTV's DVR which is basically Tivo. One advantage is the monthly fee is only $5 as compared to $13 or so for Tivo.

Not only does DirecTV have that but all the large cable companies, Time Warner, Cox etc.

[wade moore]

Not only does DirecTV have that but all the large cable companies, Time Warner, Cox etc.Worth noting though that many of these are not nearly as user friendly (especially for older folks) as TiVO...


I'd add comments here as I'm a HUGE TiVO advocate, but I think I'd be just echoing for the most part...

I feel TiVO is a good purchase for anyone that watches TV more than a couple of hours a week, despite what many others say... again, I know of older folks that have gotten it, love it, and are pro's at it within a week...

[JonInMiddleGA]

Okay, thanks very much for all the feedback ... looks like we may have just solved Christmas gift-giving for my parents this year :)

Couple of questions from all the good stuff provided here:
1) re: watching one/recording another -- I don't think there's too many cases where that'll be an issue, but I'm the slightest bit concerned about something similar now -- let's say they turn off the TV & go to bed, they were watching CBS last so that's where it is when they turn it off. Will that present a problem if they're trying to record something on NBC two hours later (while they're asleep)?

What I'm getting at is the iffy proposition that is my parents remembering to change channels before going to bed, especially for a show they've set for SeasonPass.

I don't think that's an issue, but when the multi-channel stuff came up, I started wondering/worrying.

2) They are cable TV subscribers (dropped DirectTV several years ago),not digital tier just "expanded basic" level with service provided by a small local/regional company -- any issues about compatability & such? I know you can't be too specific w/out looking at the company, just wondering if there's any general issues that are known to arise in
situations like that.

Thanks again for the info & input, this isn't my field but I knew FOFC would be all over this one :)

[Kodos]

Tivo is the best thing to happen in television since Batman started being shown in color.

[digamma]

I'm not sure about your second question, but with regard to the first, the Tivo/DVR will change the channel automatically.

[Kodos]

1. No. It doesn't matter what channel you are on, it will go to the right channel. It will also prompt you if you are watching a channel and it needs to go to another channel to start recording a program.

[moriarty]

2) They are cable TV subscribers (dropped DirectTV several years ago),not digital tier just "expanded basic" level with service provided by a small local/regional company -- any issues about compatability & such? I

From the tivo website HERE (http://www.tivo.com/1.3.asp) :

Requirements
1 - Tivo Box
2 - Tivo Service (your monthly fee)
3 - Phone line (need for setup, upgrades)
4 - Program Source:
TiVo works with:
Cable box (digital or analog)
Satellite receiver
Cable (with or without a converter box)
Rooftop antenna
Old-fashioned "rabbit ears"

TiVo is also compatible with virtually any:
VCR
DVD Players
Most TVs

[Daimyo]

TiVo can change channels for you. If you don't have a cable box you can plug the cable directly to TiVo and it will handle the tuner part. If you have a cable box you hook the cable from the wall to the cable box and then the cable box to TiVo. Depending on the cable box you then either hook it up to he TiVo with a serial cable (provided - prefered method) or an infrared cable (also provided). The infrared cable goes right in front of the remote sensor on the cable box and essentially functions a remote controlt he TiVo controls to change channels. The one thing you need to remember is to always keep the cable box on because TiVo can't turn it on if its off.

The infrared thing requires a little more setup as you need to specify the cable box make and model and do a little tuning, but after that it works well in my experience. Some cable boxes apparently have issues so you may want to goole the cable box and tivo to see if others had bad experiences. At worst you'd have to somehow cover the end of the infrared cable and cable box to limit outside interference.

[wade moore]

2. as others stated, no problem. This is the setup I have. Basic cable, no cable box. You just plug right from the TiVO to the TV. But, it will also work with a box, it's just a slight bit trickier on setup, but once you get it setup, you won't know the difference.

As for recording two things at once. The Cable TiVO does not have two tuners, however, if you want to (up to you considering the user) you can setup a switch box that allows you to switch off of TiVO to regular TV. This is what I do, so that I can watch regular TV while TiVO is recording.

[gottimd]

I don't know where I would be if I didn't have TiVo, maybe Laos? Love coming back from vacations and not missing any of your shows as well.

[jbmagic]

directv tivo are the best if you have directv. Directv tivo has two turners


it lets you record two channels at the same time.

you can watch one channel and record another.

and you can record two channels at sametime and watch something on your list that you recorded.

[Raven]

And the "skipping commercials" is not a particularly difficult thing to set up, either. Post a little sticker on the back of the remote to remind them of the sequence (in case the system resets, and it needs to be re-entered), and they will quickly love that feature as well, I suspect.


I'm not sure what you meant by this. Were you saying there is a way to set it up so that is doesn't record commercials?

And if so, how? I'd like to look in to this.

[QuikSand]

I'm not sure what you meant by this. Were you saying there is a way to set it up so that is doesn't record commercials?

And if so, how? I'd like to look in to this.

No, I meant the "hack" to set up your recording to advance 30 seconds at a time. The commercials are still recorded, but you skip right through them one click at a time.

The code for this, in case you don't use is, is:

Select
Play
Select
3
0
Select
(you'll hear three dings to confirm the code as entered)

From then on, your "advance to end" button will simply advance your recording 30 seconds at a time. Six or eight clicks get you right through a commercial break, pain free.


If that's news... hope it's handy.

[jbmagic]

that 30 sec skip is great for football. it just perfect betweeen plays.

[Raven]

From what screen do I enter that sequence? Just enter it while watching live TV?

[jbmagic]

From what screen do I enter that sequence? Just enter it while watching live TV?


yep.

do the sequence in order and you should here 3 beeps when your done.

[Raven]

OK, got it working. Thanks.

[larrymcg421]

One thing to note with TiVo, the advertised storage times for each box are misleading.

The 40, 80, and 120 refer to how much space you have if you record on the lowest quality, which for me, is unwatchable. I record ont he 2nd best quality which gets you about half of the advertised time. So the 40 hr box I have only gets me 20 hours. Keep that in mind when picking a box.

[wade moore]

One thing to note with TiVo, the advertised storage times for each box are misleading.

The 40, 80, and 120 refer to how much space you have if you record on the lowest quality, which for me, is unwatchable. I record ont he 2nd best quality which gets you about half of the advertised time. So the 40 hr box I have only gets me 20 hours. Keep that in mind when picking a box.
This is a good point, although I record everything except sports on basic ... Of course, I have a 27" Admiral brand TV.. soo....

[Ramzavail]

One thing to note with TiVo, the advertised storage times for each box are misleading.

The 40, 80, and 120 refer to how much space you have if you record on the lowest quality, which for me, is unwatchable. I record ont he 2nd best quality which gets you about half of the advertised time. So the 40 hr box I have only gets me 20 hours. Keep that in mind when picking a box.

I have ReplayTV and I heard that was one of its advantages. The lower quality comes out fairly well compared to the TiVo and its true. I have my two boxes on basic.

The other advantage is the natural/non hack commercial skip :)

[Daimyo]

I think basic is fine for normal shows when there isn't much movement (ie non sports). You really do have to set it to best for sports though... That isn't an issue at all with DirecTv units since they don't need to do any analog to digital conversion everything is recorded at the same "perfect" level.