Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

I now have two DTV DVR's and one standalone Tivo DVR but I am considering moving to cable and dropping Direct TV. My
question is, can I still use any of the Tivo boxes to record cable and not Satellite ?Will my lifetime subscription to
Tivo expire if I do this ?

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"HowdyDoody" <howdy@doody.com> wrote in message
news:7e39g1tfu70e2ena4o4fer8dfo60d1volf@4ax.com...
>I now have two DTV DVR's and one standalone Tivo DVR but I am considering
>moving to cable and dropping Direct TV. My
> question is, can I still use any of the Tivo boxes to record cable and not
> Satellite ?Will my lifetime subscription to
> Tivo expire if I do this ?

Your standalone TiVo will be fine, just need to re-run guided setup. Your
DirecTiVos will be of no use.

Your lifetime subscription on the standalone will be fine.

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

In article <7e39g1tfu70e2ena4o4fer8dfo60d1volf@4ax.com>,
HowdyDoody <howdy@doody.com> wrote:

> I now have two DTV DVR's and one standalone Tivo DVR but I am considering
> moving to cable and dropping Direct TV. My
> question is, can I still use any of the Tivo boxes to record cable and not
> Satellite ?Will my lifetime subscription to
> Tivo expire if I do this ?

Your lifetime subscription (I assume its to the Standalone) will still
be in force.

Most folks are switching from inferior cable to superior DirecTv. You're
bucking the trend.

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 08:34:19 -0500, HowdyDoody wrote:

> I am considering moving to cable and dropping Direct TV.

Just curious why? My brother just switched form cable to dishnetwork and
he says the picture is better and the cost is a lot cheaper.

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Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

Only reason I considered switching was that a friend had done the switch, and he seemed to suggest that the pictyre
quality was better on cable. I really have no way of knowing.. I am having a house built, and am allowed 10 cable
outlets per plan, so it also seemed easier to do cable than directv. Or, can I get Directv and use the connections that
will be set up for cable, are they compatible ?



On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 13:59:49 GMT, Jack Zwick <jackzwick@yahoo.com> wrote:

>In article <7e39g1tfu70e2ena4o4fer8dfo60d1volf@4ax.com>,
> HowdyDoody <howdy@doody.com> wrote:
>
>> I now have two DTV DVR's and one standalone Tivo DVR but I am considering
>> moving to cable and dropping Direct TV. My
>> question is, can I still use any of the Tivo boxes to record cable and not
>> Satellite ?Will my lifetime subscription to
>> Tivo expire if I do this ?
>
>Your lifetime subscription (I assume its to the Standalone) will still
>be in force.
>
>Most folks are switching from inferior cable to superior DirecTv. You're
>bucking the trend.

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"HowdyDoody" <howdy@doody.com> wrote in message
news:f3l9g11pjihpq91miepsvh77b2q13rieta@4ax.com...
> Only reason I considered switching was that a friend had done the switch,
> and he seemed to suggest that the pictyre
> quality was better on cable. I really have no way of knowing.. I am having
> a house built, and am allowed 10 cable
> outlets per plan, so it also seemed easier to do cable than directv. Or,
> can I get Directv and use the connections that
> will be set up for cable, are they compatible ?

Who is better, cable or DirecTV (or DiSH) varies from cable company to cable
company. There is no blanket "one is better than the other". In my area,
cable is also better than DirecTV, but I stick with DirecTV cause my cable
companies DVR is a piece of garbage.

All new houses are being wired with RG-6, so that is fine for satellite
usage. I would just suggest that you have them drop 2 coaxs per outlet so
that if you do decide to go satellite, you can utilize a dual tuner box.
It's real cheap to add extra wires while the walls are open.

Also, all coax lines should be home run to a central location like the
garage, basement or a utility closet.

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

In article <f3l9g11pjihpq91miepsvh77b2q13rieta@4ax.com>,
HowdyDoody <howdy@doody.com> wrote:

> Only reason I considered switching was that a friend had done the switch, and
> he seemed to suggest that the pictyre
> quality was better on cable. I really have no way of knowing.. I am having a
> house built, and am allowed 10 cable
> outlets per plan, so it also seemed easier to do cable than directv. Or, can
> I get Directv and use the connections that
> will be set up for cable, are they compatible ?

Yes, when I switched from Cable to DirecTv 8 years ago I reversed the
Cable wiring to distribute the DirecTv signal to other rooms.

>
>
>
> On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 13:59:49 GMT, Jack Zwick <jackzwick@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> >In article <7e39g1tfu70e2ena4o4fer8dfo60d1volf@4ax.com>,
> > HowdyDoody <howdy@doody.com> wrote:
> >
> >> I now have two DTV DVR's and one standalone Tivo DVR but I am considering
> >> moving to cable and dropping Direct TV. My
> >> question is, can I still use any of the Tivo boxes to record cable and not
> >> Satellite ?Will my lifetime subscription to
> >> Tivo expire if I do this ?
> >
> >Your lifetime subscription (I assume its to the Standalone) will still
> >be in force.
> >
> >Most folks are switching from inferior cable to superior DirecTv. You're
> >bucking the trend.

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

Wes Newell wrote:
> On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 08:34:19 -0500, HowdyDoody wrote:
>
>
>>I am considering moving to cable and dropping Direct TV.
>
>
> Just curious why? My brother just switched form cable to dishnetwork and
> he says the picture is better and the cost is a lot cheaper.
>

In all seriousness, Seth hit the nail on the nose here. It's just not
possible to make a blanket Satellite is better than Cable argument (or
vice versa) because the cable companies' quality varies so much, both
between companies and between areas. Some areas have *awesome* cable
infrastructure and more than enough bandwidth for everyone, plus they
don't try to skimp, and offer quality service (don't laugh, it
happens!). Others still offer nothing but analog service with outages
as least once a week.

The truth is that with decent infrastructure, Cable ought to be able to
stomp all over Satellite. They've got vastly more available bandwidth
to work with, and so *should* be able to provide better picture and more
features, plus much more responsive 2-way features once they start
providing that (like VOD, games, etc). But the sad reality is that
they've (the cable companies) have had it so easy for long as an
unregulated monopoly, that they haven't had any reason to do so, so the
vast majority has dragged their heels on upgrades, skimped on customer
service, and basically took the easy way out. They're now finally
starting to upgrade some (my cable internet service went from 1.5 Mbps
down/128 Kpbs up to 4 Mbps down/512 Kbps up in 1 yr w/ *no* fee
increase) due to increased competition from Satellite (which is one
reason I'm always pulling for them) and DSL (especially with the new
pilot fiber to the curb deployments).

One of these days there will be direct competition between the phone
companies and the cable companies as they're really is no functional
difference between the services that they can provide. But first we'll
have a dozen (or more) years of them pulling every rotten regulation
trick in the book in order to protect their respective cash cows so they
can keep raking in cash with no effort.

But no, I'm not bitter, not at all :-(

Speaking of which, does anybody know anyone who's tried the new Wildblue
satellite service? I know several folks (including my Father) outside
of cable and DSL range, and they can't even get 56K speeds (26.4 Kbps at
best). Wildblue still isn't cheap ($50 per month, $300 equipment, $150
setup all for 512/128 service), but it's way cheaper then existing sat
service. They don't offer it in this area yet.

Randy S.

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

In article <7e39g1tfu70e2ena4o4fer8dfo60d1volf@4ax.com>,
HowdyDoody <howdy@doody.com> wrote:
>Will my lifetime subscription to Tivo expire if I do this ?

If you are one of the people grandfathered into the DirecTV/Tivo lifetime
subscription (no longer offered), that will go away when you cancel your
DirecTV subscription. (That is, it is attached to the account, NOT to the
Tivo like it is for the standalones.)
--
mattack@gmail.com

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

In article <de39s5$18ui$1@spnode25.nerdc.ufl.edu>,
Randy S. <rswitt@NOSPAM.com> wrote:
>Others still offer nothing but analog service ...

That's funny, I consider that an advantage. I'm not sure if you're anti-
analog service, or just the analog services that have outages.

We had a bad signal on some stations for a while, but finally complained,
especially since the cable modem was also going out sporadically. (I was much
lazier than I would have been during the main season with more first run
shows I wanted.) They've since fixed that and I actually now get a better
analog signal than I ever have.

I just like the ability for my Tivos and other devices to tune directly
with no box.

When the Tivo software comes out for the Comcast DVR, I'll likely try it out,
since the dual tuner feature is a great plus for me. But there isn't much
on digital that I'd be willing to pay for. (For years and years and years,
I was an HBO subscriber with _no box_. That was awesome. I'd probably still
subscribe to HBO if I could get it without a box.)


>...with outages as least once a week.

That was the rest of your sentence, to be clear.

>But the sad reality is that they've (the cable companies) have had it so easy
>for long as an unregulated monopoly,

They're not unregulated, at least not in the entire country. Some cities
switch cable companies every few years.

>One of these days there will be direct competition between the phone
>companies and the cable companies as they're really is no functional
>difference between the services that they can provide.

Well, today there was news about SBC picking companies to make their DVR
boxes. I presume you'll only be able to use their box, not have any way to
decode a plethora of channels onto a regular analog cable to use existing
Tivos.

>Speaking of which, does anybody know anyone who's tried the new Wildblue
>satellite service? I know several folks (including my Father) outside
>of cable and DSL range, and they can't even get 56K speeds (26.4 Kbps at
>best). Wildblue still isn't cheap ($50 per month, $300 equipment, $150
>setup all for 512/128 service), but it's way cheaper then existing sat
>service. They don't offer it in this area yet.

Wow, that's expensive, compared to SBC's $14.95/month for a year for DSL.
But my house can't get it.
--
mattack@gmail.com

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 23:03:04 GMT, Jack Zwick <jackzwick@yahoo.com> wrote:

>In article <f3l9g11pjihpq91miepsvh77b2q13rieta@4ax.com>,
> HowdyDoody <howdy@doody.com> wrote:
>What do you mean you "reversed the cable wiring to distribute the Direcctv signal " ?


>> Only reason I considered switching was that a friend had done the switch, and
>> he seemed to suggest that the pictyre
>> quality was better on cable. I really have no way of knowing.. I am having a
>> house built, and am allowed 10 cable
>> outlets per plan, so it also seemed easier to do cable than directv. Or, can
>> I get Directv and use the connections that
>> will be set up for cable, are they compatible ?
>
>Yes, when I switched from Cable to DirecTv 8 years ago I reversed the
>Cable wiring to distribute the DirecTv signal to other rooms.
>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 13:59:49 GMT, Jack Zwick <jackzwick@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>> >In article <7e39g1tfu70e2ena4o4fer8dfo60d1volf@4ax.com>,
>> > HowdyDoody <howdy@doody.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >> I now have two DTV DVR's and one standalone Tivo DVR but I am considering
>> >> moving to cable and dropping Direct TV. My
>> >> question is, can I still use any of the Tivo boxes to record cable and not
>> >> Satellite ?Will my lifetime subscription to
>> >> Tivo expire if I do this ?
>> >
>> >Your lifetime subscription (I assume its to the Standalone) will still
>> >be in force.
>> >
>> >Most folks are switching from inferior cable to superior DirecTv. You're
>> >bucking the trend.

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

On 2005-08-19, HowdyDoody <howdy@doody.com> wrote:
>
>What do you mean you "reversed the cable wiring to distribute the
>Direcctv signal " ?

Take where the cable goes into the house, unscrew it from the cable going
to the pole and screw it into the cable going to the satellite.

That's what I did too. Used the cable the cable company previously routed
in the house and just plugged it into the DirecTV dish.

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

mattack@gmail.com wrote in newse3i36$6j6$1@vax.hanford.org:

> In article <de39s5$18ui$1@spnode25.nerdc.ufl.edu>,
> Randy S. <rswitt@NOSPAM.com> wrote:
>
>>Speaking of which, does anybody know anyone who's tried the new Wildblue
>>satellite service? I know several folks (including my Father) outside
>>of cable and DSL range, and they can't even get 56K speeds (26.4 Kbps at
>>best). Wildblue still isn't cheap ($50 per month, $300 equipment, $150
>>setup all for 512/128 service), but it's way cheaper then existing sat
>>service. They don't offer it in this area yet.
>
> Wow, that's expensive, compared to SBC's $14.95/month for a year for
> DSL. But my house can't get it.

It's also expensive compared to a pack of chewing gum.

Which has nothing to do with anything, of course...but makes as much sense
as comparing it to a product already defined as unavailable in the area.

If Cable and/or DSL are not available, then it really doesn't matter how
much cheaper or faster they are, does it? I imagine that's pretty much
Wildblue's business model. Serve the areas cable and dsl don't/won't,
charge heavily for it.

--
Minister of All Things Digital & Electronic, and Holder of Past Knowledge
stile99@email.com. Cabal# 24601-fnord | Sleep is irrelevant.
I speak for no one but myself, and |Caffeine will be assimilated.
no one else speaks for me. O- | Decaf is futile.

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

> It's also expensive compared to a pack of chewing gum.
>
> Which has nothing to do with anything, of course...but makes as much sense
> as comparing it to a product already defined as unavailable in the area.
>
> If Cable and/or DSL are not available, then it really doesn't matter how
> much cheaper or faster they are, does it? I imagine that's pretty much
> Wildblue's business model. Serve the areas cable and dsl don't/won't,
> charge heavily for it.
>

True, though other existing sat companies are charging even more. I
wish fixed base wireless would hurry up and get here. WiMAX or whatever
technology they might end up using would solve the problem nicely, at
least here in Florida where we don't have any mountains to get in the way.

Randy S.

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

mattack@gmail.com wrote:
> In article <de39s5$18ui$1@spnode25.nerdc.ufl.edu>,
> Randy S. <rswitt@NOSPAM.com> wrote:
>
>>Others still offer nothing but analog service ...
>
>
> That's funny, I consider that an advantage. I'm not sure if you're anti-
> analog service, or just the analog services that have outages.

Digital quality is better than analog, I think you'd have a hard time
disputing that, as long as you don't try to bundle in other factors.

> We had a bad signal on some stations for a while, but finally complained,
> especially since the cable modem was also going out sporadically. (I was much
> lazier than I would have been during the main season with more first run
> shows I wanted.) They've since fixed that and I actually now get a better
> analog signal than I ever have.

Well, that's good I suppose, but one of the benefits of digital is the
error correcting. You basically get a perfect signal or none at all.

> I just like the ability for my Tivos and other devices to tune directly
> with no box.

Ahh, now *that's* a different issue. Yes the fact that an SA Tivo can
directly tune analog cable stations is an advantage for now. One that
will hopefully no longer be one, once cablecard 2.0 is stabilized and
Tivo can release a compatible unit. But