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This is my first foray into the Video Asylum. I've always been a 2 channel audio guy. I was talking to a neighbor about his satelite Tivo system that sounded very cool. Right now we just get locals channels via antenna and the reception is horrible. We scratched out cable, but can't get it anyway. So now I'm on the Internet doing research on Direct TV and Tivo and I'm really confused!With Direct TV do you shop around for a reliable local installer who signs you up for the service? How do you find a good one? How does Tivo play into this? The idea of recording any show to watch later sounds great. My neighbor has his and hers Tivos. I understand there are smart and dumb Tivos. How do I make sure I'm getting the right one?
Is it best to get Direct TV and Tivo all in one package, or get them seperately? What's the best option? Are there "aftermarket" Tivo machines (I think I read that Pioneer makaes one)? In that case do you buy the machine then sign up for Tivo?
Thanks for all the help! obviously I'm really confused.
Follow Ups:
Here is what I know about tivo and direct tv.I ahave a phillips direct tv and tivo combo. I also have a stand alone tivo unit.
With the Direct tv/tivo unit you can record 2 shows at once and watch a third. You can also record in the dolby digital format. The only drawback is that you CANNOT input another source i.e. cable, antenna to record in these units.
With the stand alone unit you can input sattelite, & cable sources. You cannot record in dolby though. The only reason I have 2 units is that we cannot get local channels over our sattelite. These will be available to us within the next six months over our dish, and at that time I will be using only the Direct tv unit.
At this time Tivo does not support HDTV.
Just my 2 cents worth. Good Luck!
Disclaimer: I do not have satellite service. I do have a couple of TiVos.In the US there are two major satellite service providers, Direct TV and Dish Network (there are some smaller providers but these are the main ones). My understanding is that DirectTV is better for people who are interested in Sports and Dish is more movie oriented (and slightly less expensive).
On to TiVo...
TiVo is the most popular Digital Video Recorder on the market. It's success is (in my opinion) due to a excellent, simple user interface. TiVo has generated a large following and there is a growing aftermarket / modifying business as well as several books on hacking the TiVo.The TiVo (original primary) functionality is the ability to store TV shows on it's internal Hard Disk and play them back at a later date (similar to a VCR). This allows one to fast forward through commercials at a high rate of speed.
TiVo's scheduling program is light years ahead of a VCR. Because TiVo has a fourteen day advanced schedule (updated via phone every day) allows TiVo to perform some very sophisticated ways to find and record shows (for example Record all John Wayne movies *or* record every episode of West Wing, etc.). TiVo can either receive over the air programs or controls the set top box (like a cable or satellite box).
(The above is a very abbreviated version of TiVo's capabilities.)The best of TiVo comes in a TiVo that has the satellite receiver (actually two receivers) built into it. This type of TiVo can record two different programs simultaneously, while allowing you to watch a previously recorded program from the hard disk.
If you want a TiVo and you want DirectTV, you should probably buy them both at the same time. You save in two ways; when starting up a DirectTV service, the vendor will subsidize part of the cost of the TiVos (if you buy them at start up) and because each TiVo will also serve as the satellite receiver (eliminating a satellite receiver box that would be necessary if you were using a stand alone TiVo). In addition, this simplifies your set-up and eliminates some complexity.
Go to TiVo.com for more basic info or the Tivo community forum for more info.
Good Luck... Paul
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