Tim Holyoke

Some TiVo/DirecTV Questions

I'm starting to look into DirecTivo a bit. Prices on the 40gb models seem to have come down a lot, and me being a poor college student, I needed the prices lower than they were! But $100 w/$5 a month fee doesn't seem bad to me now.

So, my questions.

We have what is probably a 3-4 year old DirecTV system. It's the generic 2-room system they were selling for so long. I don't really know the specifics of it, just that it has 2 receivers, 1 of which we don't even use. That being said, do I need a different dish to use the DirecTivo? (I made the mistake of looking at them at BB, I was just browsing, but as always got attacked by an employee. Surprisingly, he seemed to know his stuff. He said I'd need 2 inputs from the satellite just for the DirecTivo, in order to record while watching a different program...is this correct?).

I guess it goes along the same lines as the first question, but I might want to add the other receiver to another TV. I'm assuming if I need both inputs for the Tivo receiver, I'll need a different dish if I want to add the 2nd receiver? Also, once I have the Tivo receiver, I'd have 2 unused (before adding the 2nd one to a different TV, obviously) - could I actually use BOTH of the other ones (since I've freed 1 up) to have a 3 room setup?

Assuming I need a different dish (especially if I have the 3-room setup), what are my options?

I would record a lot of shows from network TV, and DirecTV doesn't carry my local stations yet (they're saying April now), so I just have a roof-mounted antenna now, we get a decent picture with it. Would I still be able to record these with the DirecTivo?

One last question - the $100 Phillips DirecTivo at Best Buy, or the same deal on a Hughes model at Circuit City - is that a flat fee (minus the monthly fee), or are there special conditions for new DirecTV customers, etc.?

Thanks a lot for any help and answers you provide

Tim

Brian Lawrence

No, the DirectTv/Tivo combo boxes will only record off of the dish.

I just got mine set-up last night I ordered through DirecTv. I had a very old sony directv system, I told them when scheduling the appointment, that I needed everything to be upgraded. The installer Put up a new oval dish, which had a built in multiswitch (allowing up to 4 lines to be run). There was no extra cost for any of this.

Robert_J

That's the price for existing customers. If you order from the DirecTV web site and use the promo code 'ffdvr', you get it for $99+$15 shipping. The best part is that installation is included. Since you will either need a new multi-sat dish or your existing dish and a multi-switch, all of that will be included. BTW, new customers can get a DirecTivo for under $50.

-Robert

Tim Holyoke

Really? This kind of sucks. OK it really sucks. At least half of the shows I'd record are on network tv (the CBS Thursday shows, Fox Sunday, Simpsons, the Packer games, and the girls like all those shows on WB and NBC). Hehe, you're sure you can only record off of the dish? Any way around it? ARGH!!! Thanks for the help though.

Robert_J

It has it's advantages also. Because Tivo didn't have to put in MPEG encoders, the equipment is cheaper. You also get better compression since it is done at DirecTV with their professional quality equipment.

100% positive.

Move to an area near you that has locals. No, you don't have to pack all of your stuff up and rent a U-haul. DirecTV allows your billing address and service address to be different. Your eligibility for locals is based on your service address only.

-Robert

Tim Holyoke

OK, thanks. Local channels are coming to my area in April, they say.

How much is a standalone Tivo? What is the monthly fee? How well do they integrate w/DirecTV? Thanks again.

Stephen Tu

A 40 hr standalone is $200 after rebates, direct from Tivo. For the standalone the unit lifetime $299 fee is much more economical than the $12.95/monthly fee, so $500 total, no monthly fees. (You can recoup a lot of the fee on resale even if you don't use it the full 2 years to get to the breakeven point).

I wouldn't recommend it to you though; I'd just wait until April. Or get DirecTivo now, keep a VCR around to record and watch locals until then.

The standalone is really inferior for DirecTV users. No digital audio, worse video quality, single tuner, a lot more expensive. It's only really attractive if DirecTV locals are a long time from coming.

Tim Holyoke

Thanks a lot, sounds like DirecTivo is the way to go. Is there a lifetime fee option for DirecTivo, or is the $5 monthly fee the only option? Thanks.

Robert_J

That is for EACH SA Tivo.

The Tivo fee is for ALL DirecTivos on the account. A lot of people use DirecTivos at each TV. If you want to upgrade programming to Total Choice Premier, then DirecTV waives the Tivo fee.

-Robert

ChrisClearman

The 40 GB DirecTivo is $99 from DirecTV, $93 at Best Buy.

They waive the $5 fee if you get the Platinum package. It's usually $85 but call them up and tell them you want it for $65 and they'll give it to you. All the channels plus Tivo for $65. Can't beat it.