Dave Zatz says 180 HR dual-tuning TiVo units are now available. But there’s a catch:
FYI The dual-tuning models work best in homes using analog cable without a cable box and it doesn’t work at all with satellite installations or even plain antennas. Consider yourself warned.
That’s an understatement. Here’s the TiVo ordering page for the new box, which boasts that it’s “optimized for cable!” The fine print at the bottom notes what you can do:
Record from two basic cable channels, or one basic cable and one digital cable channel, at once. Does not support recording from two digital cable or satellite channels at once. Supports recording from cable and satellite sources only; does not support recording from over-the-air antenna.
Hmmm. TiVo’s blurb says, contrary to Dave’s assertion, that this box will work with a satellite source. But it sounds like that’s only for the first tuner, with the second tuner being limited to a direct analog cable connection. I tried to find the user guide for this model, but the TiVo Customer Support site isn’t responding right now.
This product might have made sense two or three years ago, but it’s a little late right now, don’t you think?
11 comments ↓
I’d consider it. I have analog cable, no plans to upgrade, and get frustrated with the one-tuner box I have. I would have to be priced low enough, though, to be really tempting.
I think there are enough folks like me out here. I’ve got analog cable because I have a cable-ready TV, don’t want to hassle with a set-top box, and am not intrigued enough with the additional
crapprogramming on digital cable.I’d like to see a trade-in program from TiVo. That might move me.
Good catch, Ed. I misspoke — you can use the DT with a satellite source, only one tuner will use it. If someone subscribes to satellite, they probably don’t also subscribe to analog cable… so that second tuner may never get any use.
For folks in the know, this box is too late… But there is so much confusion/ignorance out there while we’re in the midst of this digital transition that TiVo may sell a bunch of these. I know I won’t be purchasing anything that doesn’t supply ATSC tuning.
I’ve been a Tivo user and fan since the original Tivo 1 (which is still working as a secondary unit in exercise room!)
I’m currently using a DirecTivo HD unit. I love it but I hate the fact that we don’t have the advantage of the same updates and features that the standalone units do.
Tivo’s only hope of surviving is to offer their software to consumers.
Keep in mind that about half of TiVo’s customer base is on analog cable. That is still a HUGE market and it isn’t shrinking as quickly as we tend to think. There are millions of users in rural areas who do not have the option of digital cable at all. They have the choice of analog cable or satellite, and most of them are on analog cable. Traditional cable DVRs will not work for them. All of the DVRs from Motorola, Scientific Atlanta, etc, require digital cable.
The S2DT is the perfect DVR for them. And if they have broadband - likely via DSL or even ISDN since no digital cable usually means no cable broadband - the S2DT can provide additional IPTV content, which is just starting to grow.
Even for the majority of digtial cable subscribers, the S2DT is useful. Nearly all digital cable systems today are hybrib analog/digital. With analog channels up to 100, digital beyond that. While some systems have been moving to pure digital, most have not. Most schedule conflicts happen on network programming since they don’t repeat their shows like cable and they deliberately counter-program. And most network channels are available in the analog range. So the analog second tuner on the S2DT is very useful for conflict resolution.
There are also households which use satellite for premium content, but have basic analog cable for their locals. And the S2DT is good for them too.
While the Series3 is what a lot of us are waiting for - HD, dual digital tuners, etc - there is a larger market that will be satisfied with the S2DT and for whom the S3 would be a waste.
I’ve posted a reply here….
I have digital cable from Comcast and HDTV DVR (Motorola DCT-3412), but I got a dual tuner Tivo also. Reasons:
1) I live 40 miles from TV towers, can’t-get/don’t-care about OTA.
2) Comcast DVR is a dog, weak search, unreliable recording, irresponsive trick play, only 120GB HDD, I can use it to record a few HD shows, but I need a larger, better, more reliable DVR to do all the heavy lifting.
3) Many shows I watch are on channels like SciFi, Comedy, Bravo, TNT, etc), which are on analog cable anyway, so dual tuner works great, without having to have a second STB.
4) My GF will kill me if I didn’t.
Ed,
I own one of these and I thought the same thing. It was purchased for my 11 year old daughter and actually, its PERFECT. the stb is only used for a digital channels, so its always a dual tuner. for my daughter that means disney or some other higher numbered kids type channels. The lower channels she likes or I allow are all basic cable so she gets her multiple shows at the same time.
If you have cable, this unit works better than you think. Its a dual tuner card where EITHER tuner can take the stb. if you really looked at what you record, its probably rare if ever you need 2 stb channels at the same time. The mapping is easy you tell it if it needs the stb for 1 channel. it had the best stb setup I have ever seen and figured out the exact speed settings over a series of 10 easy questions and got it perfect.
I recommend it for any tivo use who has cable.
I think there are plenty of families out there that get extended basic cable, with no HDTV, that would love this product.
I’m one of those families. The continuing cost of cable caused me to choose between digital cable or tivo. I chose tivo, especially since I can now record 2 shows at once.
Has anyone taken in the fact that on 17th of Febuary 2008 there will nolonger be analog TV. It will not be trasmitted in anyway, shape, or form. From that point you will need a converter to convert Digital TV to antalog, or have a Digital TV to watch any broadcast.
I have found the box perfectly adequate. In my area almost all the digital channels are available on the analog feed too, so, until my cable provider goes all digital, I only have cause to record a digital program about once or twice a week. My two TiVos run at full capacity, so I need another box anyway, therefore I got a HD DVR from the cable company to supplement it. I wouldn’t trust the cable company’s box to record series without screwing up, but it’s perfectly fine for movies and sports events.
…and oh yeah, I record two shows at once almost every day (the best way to manage the thing is to force it to take anything available analog off the analog by unchecking the box selection in the channels you receive menu…otherwise the TiVo tries to do one analog and one digital, which will fail on the digital side if the cable box is off).
Leave a Comment