To TiVo or Not To TiVo…That Is the Question
August 4, 2009 by Jason Bean
Filed under Computers
I’ve been a TiVo subscriber since Christmas of 2004. I was a fan of the service before that, but had just never purchased a unit yet. For Christmas 2004 my wife and I decided that we would get a TiVo and service as a gift to each other. Perhaps one of the best gifts we’ve ever received from one another.
The challenge recently is that through my migration from Comcast and now to AT&T U-verse, I already have a DVR that’s included with my cable TV package. I think the TiVo functionality still trounces the other DVR functionality, but TiVo has become increasingly more difficult to integrate with these other services.
I just can’t bring myself to discontinue my TiVo membership. I’ve been a member for so long I’ve got an amazing monthly rate. Compared to what I would pay if I had to start over, I’ve made the decision that it’s cheaper to keep it each month than to discontinue it and miss it if I ever changed my mind.
I recently decided to setup my TiVo at my parent’s house since they got a new 42" plasma, HD TV. The user-friendly interface would be perfect for my parents. In the process I determined that my existing TiVo Series 2 unit has died.
Here’s my task, do I take advantage of some of the deals on a refurbished unit and setup the device for my parents? Is there an easy way to integrate the TiVo functionality in with my existing AT&T U-verse setup? I’d love to hear some feedback from anyone that’s using TiVo with U-verse. What new features and functionality do you incorporate with your TiVo to extend the usefulness of the device onto your home network or computing tasks?
I use TiVo with Verizon FiOS and it’s easy. Just get two cable cards, install them in the TiVo unit and away you go. All the features of TiVo and at only $2.99 per month, per cable card, it’s only $6 a month for cable cards, versus the $25 a month for a Verizon HD DVR. At $25 a month, you would have paid for a lifetime service for TiVo within a year.
The TiVo Series 2 doesn’t have cable card options, nor does AT&T U-verse use them. I’ll agree though, if you have that option, for me it would almost be a no-brainer.
I am currently struggling with the exact same issue. I tried the TimeWarner DVR a while ago and it couldn’t even come close to Tivo.
Jason, how does U-verse decode their signal if they don’t offer cards? Is it only a set top box?
Brendan, U-verse uses IPtv technology so all their decoding is done through the main box I believe. I’m very pleased with my U-verse experience over what I was getting with Comcast. I just wish TiVo worked with other options more easily.