Rogue588

...require a phone line?

This is one of the reasons i've resisted a TiVo for so long. I don't have a land line. Have no interest in getting one again.

So, I guess i'll be TiVo-free for the forseeable future.

fiver

Tivo doesn't actually require a phone line. I've had mine downloading its data over my internet connection for a year to year and a half now. Take a look at the following site: http://www.9thtee.com/turbonet.htm

Be warned this requires opening your tivo which could void your warranty. If your TIVO software is up to date at version 3.0 or greater, all you need is a dhcp server on your network and to set your dialing prefix to #401. The tivo will then download its data over the Internet rather than the phone line.

Michael

the aftermath

Alternatively you could get a ReplayTV and use your broadband connection (assuming you have it). No manual labor involved

Derrich

I had my Tivo d/ling data from the net for almost a year. I only changed because I moved the entertainment center to the other side of the room and the cable no longer reached. I didn't have to open the Tivo, I just used a null cable plugged into the serial line. Worked like a charm.

D

Groucho

It's only a PITA if you have a DirectTV Tivo, otherwise it's fairly easy.

mtucker

When I had a Tivo Series 2 I was able to purchase a USB network adaptor into the back of the unit and download that way. The Tivo was the last thing that kept us from ditching our land-based phone line.

Booth

Yeah, my TiVo series 2 is hooked up to my wired LAN. I just set up a TiVo series 2 for my Dad using a wireless LAN. No problems at all.

marty888

Maybe your cable company is offering their Tivo alternative.

Achtung

I believe you'll need a landline for initial setup, but you can just do that at a neighbor's place or something. After that, just hook it up to a wired or wireless LAN, if you have one.

Jadzia

Actually with DirecTivo you get all your programming updates via satellite. The unit only calls in every 3 days or so to check for software updates, etc. I have heard many people at the Tivo forum talk about how they don't have their DirecTivos plugged into a phone line and they only occassionally hook a phone up to force a call and download new software.

Booth

You don't even need a lineline for initial setup. I just setup my dad's using only wireless LAN. All you have to do is, when asked for a dialing prefix, enter ",#401". The TiVo then uses the network connection to make the initial call.

resinrats

Too bad they didn't work like a VCR where you just have to set the clock and then tell it to record a certain channel from one time to another. I'm not that lazy to rely on some computer schedule. I'd by a TIVO then (without a monthly charge). Otherwise, the VCR will work just fine.

Brian_92gsr

That's the main appeal of a tivo. If you have the time to manually program it to record everything you want to watch, then you probably have the time to juggle VHS tapes around as well. I have about 50 season passes on mine, if I didn't have the tivo I'd probably be watching only the 4 or 5 shows I was watching last year pre-tivo (though that might have been a good thing).

And my DirectTIVO has gone 110 days now without a phone call. It pops up a message everyday telling you it wasn't able to call in (and tells you how long it has been), but aside from missing out on any software upgrades it doesn't make any difference.

Spanky BananaPants

That's very true. I don't have a home phone either, I just use my cell. My two DirecTV/TiVo's haven't been plugged into a phone line for almost seven months now. Once a new software update hits, I can just bring them into work to force a call and get the software. I get a nag screen daily to let me know I need to make a callback, but the functionality of the units, otherwise, is unaffected.

Really not a big deal at all.

Groucho

That reminds me, the DirectTV is currently rolling out a new update to fix the erroneous "Acquiring Guide Data" banner. So those of you who aren't always connected will need to dial in if you want it.

Jadzia

Yeah, I've been waiting for mine to update. I heard they were rolling it out in small batches but it hasn't hit me yet.

Groucho

You can record by time/channel on any Tivo, if that sort of thing's your bag. But if you buy a Series 1 Tivo on ebay (or elsewhere), you can do this without a subscription.

I used to think like you, until I actually got one of these things. Using the guide data and season passes beats the manual method by a huge margin. For one, if something changes last minute, your recording time will automatically switch to reflect the change.

Josh H

I'm waiting for that to come to my area. I don't have or want a land line or broad band connection so I'll just do without until comcast makes there's available in my area.

JuryDuty

Been updating my Tivo via wireless broadband for a year now. Supereasy to set up.

JPRaup

what do u need for wireless, i have a linksys wireless network set up in my house

Venusian

i have a series one and i use the manual recording method. i had the service when i first got it but found that manual is just as good

nazz

That's very good news. It hasn't hit me yet but it should since I do have a line connected.

Draven

Spoken like someone who doesn't have a Tivo.

JM

Get a ReplayTV 5xxx. It is broadband enabled out of the box. Plus, it can do a lot more than just getting guide updates over ethernet such as downloading shows to your PC, streaming shows to your PC and/or another ReplayTV, storing Photos on the ReplayTV, downloading shows using IVS in case you forget to record something, scheduling shows to record remotely, etc.

A base Tivo is way behind ReplayTV in terms of making use of ethernet. The Home Media Option improves this for an extra $99, but ReplayTV still has the edge in this area.

Chew

Cool