Well since I'm currently using an old DTV/Tivo box I have never had the ability to use any of the extended features on a S2 box.

Can you lay out exactly how TTG, MRV and TRB work?

With MRV, any TiVos on the same network automatically "see" each other and there will be a new icon at the bottom of your NPL labeled with the name of your other TiVo. You can then access this and that TiVo's NPL comes up. Pick a show from it and tell it to transfer. It then transfers the recording to the current TiVo's NPL.

I don't really use TTG, but basically there's a piece of software you install on your computer, which will allow you pull up any networked TiVo's NPL and transfer recordings to your computer.

I'm not sure what TRB stands for.

The only problem I see with MRV/TTG on Series 3/THD is the copy protection flag. Because I'm now getting the digital versions of cable channels, I've noticed a lot more recordings that have the "no transfers" warning. This is a problem with the cable company not setting the flag correctly (probably just flipping it for entire channels) because basic tier and channels you can also access OTA are not supposed to be copy protected.

So with this transfer option enabled, can I use my PC to "backup" shows I didn't have time to watch (but might be deleted because I've run out of space) then RESTORE them to my Tivo for later viewing? Since the Tivo HD only holds 20 hours of HD broadcasts, this may be an important feature for me and my woefully large number of shows I'm trying to watch this season.

Exactly. So my question is - if the majority of items somebody wants to watch (understand that's a big IF) have been flagged because the cable companies decided to flag the entire channel, then the entire concept/capability has very little practical use.

I'd much rather they allow streaming, but I'm sure that has just the same amount of issues.

This sounds like a problem that TiVo as a company needs to work on with the cable companies.

Well, I think I will be buying 2 of these soon. I have Verizon Fios TV from Verizon and their latest software upgrade is the largest pile of poo ever! (maybe an exageration...maybe!)

In any case, anyone have favorable experiences with these units and Fios TV?

Given the possibility of flags on programs, you may or may not be able to do that.

But, "unofficially", eSata has now been enabled on the TiVoHD. It does require some advanced computer knowledge though.

Check here: http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...d.php?t=365215

Oooh! I don't want to void the warranty so I'll see if Tivo enables it by the end of the year like they say. But nice to know there are other options available. Thanks for the linky!

I'm entirely OTA so I don't have to worry about these flags right?

Woo-hoo! Got it to work! Nice to be able to re-use what was basically a "retired" piece of hardware instead of having to buy an expensive new one. Can't wait for the guides to get fully updated, and I can start programming my season passes for the new TV season!

That is the only thing I hate about getting a new TiVo. You'd think with all the networking features they've implemented they'd be able to come up with a simple Season Pass transfer feature.

yeah, no doubt. that'd be nice thing to do when they enable MRV. to download a season pass from an existing tivo.

You can do it all from their website which is far quicker than the tivo interface. Of course you still can't program shows that aren't in their two week program window. Like Lost for example since it doesn't return until Feb.

Bought mine yesterday.

Love it.

But now my DSL won't work.

How are those two things related?

Used mine like the dickens last night with the Emmy awards. Worth every penny to pause, skip and replay HD programming!!!

I've had DSL for over a year and last night was only the second time I have lost internet access. I don't know if it's related or a fluke. I do know that the first time the Tivo tried to dial the phone number it had problems w/ it - then I put the DSL filter on it and it was fine and continued updating the night away.

The DSL light on the modem is on, but the internet light isn't.

For some reason I needed a new password from SBC for my DSL. The original one was no good anymore.

I just pulled the trigger, the sub $300 price tag got me.

I had a series 1 for about 8 years.

This new Tivo HD is a beautiful thing, just watched Big Bang Theory and JourneyMan downloaded for free from Amazon Unbox,

I just scheduled Prison Break and KVille from my computer for tonights viewing.

And I am getting high def with a pair of rabbitt ear antennas for now. Eventually I will put two cable cards in this thing, and at some point upgrade the hard drive with the esata or swap out the internal drive.

Since I own 1 tivo with lifetime service, the 2nd one is as little as $7 a month with a 3 yr commitment.

Tivo HD is great.

I just like having the option of watching something live while recording two other things. Not that it happens very often, if ever, but it's nice to know that I have that going for me.

Well the time-shifting is great especially if you're watching 3 hour-long shows (as I am on Mondays). I mean there's 45 minutes of commercials I can skip - that's a whole addition hour-long show I can watch instead.

Make sure you connect your unit to the internet once you get it back. You can't get Unbox over the phone line (not sure about scheduling recordings online). Plus the software updates are MUCH faster over the internet.

I completely forgot that I have a wireless network in my house as I was setting the damn thing up. I'm sure I'll ditch the phone-line and get the wireless adapter one of these days.

Amazon has the TiVoHD on sale for 10% off with free shipping, in case you need any additional incentive.

I am so glad I cracked open my THD and put in a 500GB hard drive. HDNet Movies is terrible on my TiVo. I hate to think what it'd look like with the stock hard drive.

That would have been nice to know on Sunday!!!!!

Yes, but Amazon still only gets you to the same price as Costco. Honestly that's not too bad - close to the old S2 when you think about it. As a result, that probably means the price won't go much lower, if at all. I wonder how fast the price on the HD unit will drop.

Except my Costco doesn't carry them. Besides I had about $50 worth of Amazon GCs from using their credit card so that helped me out. I don't care how soon it drops in price since I started recording new HD programming as of last night with Prison Break!