TiVo without a phone line?
 

I'd like to get rid of my decades old VCR and get a DVR, but I don't have (and don't want) a phone line. Will a TiVo work similar to a VCR, where I can just tell it to record channell 11 starting at 1:00 for 3 hours? Or is there another such DVR that will do something like that?

Obviously I won't get "season pass" or be able to "pause and rewind live TV". That's fine - I'll tell it when and where to record - I just want it digital rather than sh!tty VCR tapes.

Help!

Re: TiVo without a phone line?
 

Well, since you're posting here, I'm assuming you have a network connection of some kind. I believe they have Tivos with a network jack on them than you can plug into your home network.

Re: TiVo without a phone line?
 

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Will a TiVo work similar to a VCR, where I can just tell it to record channell 11 starting at 1:00 for 3 hours? Or is there another such DVR that will do something like that?

Obviously I won't get "season pass" or be able to "pause and rewind live TV". That's fine - I'll tell it when and where to record - I just want it digital rather than sh!tty VCR tapes.

Help!

[/ QUOTE ]
That's like buying a car just for the cd player and never driving it. All that other stuff is the essence and beauty of a DVR.

Check the tivocommunity.com for the phone line question. I think you can do it via the Home Media feature which would require network/internet connection. But I'm almost certain you can't do it if you have DirecTV, because those Tivos are not HMO/network enabled (without hacking the box).

Your easiest option is probably to just call your cable company and ask about their DVR service. They likely have their own which will be very comparable to Tivo.

Re: TiVo without a phone line?
 

It isn't Tivo, but I have DVR on TIme Warner and have never needed it hooked to a phone line (as far as I know there are no options to hook it to a pohone line). Not sure what i am missing out on not having Tivo.

Re: TiVo without a phone line?
 

My Tivo receiver (DirecTV) is not hooked to a phone line, and hasn't been for a year. I get an annoying message every day, but that's it. Everything else is just as functional.

I don't know of any way to record the same channel for an extended period without selecting the individual programs.

Re: TiVo without a phone line?
 

You can actually use the Tivo service without a phone if you hook it up to your network, but you do need a phone for the initial setup. But you can just take it to a friend's house, set it up in an hour, and never use the phone again.

Re: TiVo without a phone line?
 

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My Tivo receiver (DirecTV) is not hooked to a phone line, and hasn't been for a year. I get an annoying message every day, but that's it. Everything else is just as functional.


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I guess I was wrong. Have you noticed if you've ever received software updates? I think those may come via phone line.

Re: TiVo without a phone line?
 

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But I'm almost certain you can't do it if you have DirecTV, because those Tivos are not HMO/network enabled (without hacking the box).

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Im 95% sure this is correct. This is the reason I dont have Tivo, and my friend has spent considerable energy getting his to work without a phone line as well (i.e. hes all over that forum stuff)

Re: TiVo without a phone line?
 

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My Tivo receiver (DirecTV) is not hooked to a phone line, and hasn't been for a year. I get an annoying message every day, but that's it. Everything else is just as functional.


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I guess I was wrong. Have you noticed if you've ever received software updates? I think those may come via phone line.

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Can't say that I have. Perhaps that's why it runs so damn slow most of the time. Hmm...

It's really an example of my laziness that I haven't bothered to hook it back up, but I just never thought there was a point in doing so.

Re: TiVo without a phone line?
 

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My Tivo receiver (DirecTV) is not hooked to a phone line, and hasn't been for a year. I get an annoying message every day, but that's it. Everything else is just as functional.


[/ QUOTE ]
I guess I was wrong. Have you noticed if you've ever received software updates? I think those may come via phone line.

[/ QUOTE ]
Can't say that I have. Perhaps that's why it runs so damn slow most of the time. Hmm...

It's really an example of my laziness that I haven't bothered to hook it back up, but I just never thought there was a point in doing so.

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You may want to do it. Some of the updates have been transparent. But a few months back they did one that substantially speeded up a lot of processes. Looking through the guide, for instance. That use to be slow as hell. Now it's reasonably quick. The other big thing in that release was the addition of folders. It now automatically puts multiple episodes of the same show in a folder in the Now Playing list. Significantly unclutters things.

Re: TiVo without a phone line?
 

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You may want to do it. Some of the updates have been transparent. But a few months back they did one that substantially speeded up a lot of processes. Looking through the guide, for instance. That use to be slow as hell. Now it's reasonably quick. The other big thing in that release was the addition of folders. It now automatically puts multiple episodes of the same show in a folder in the Now Playing list. Significantly unclutters things.

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Well, I'm sold. I'm doing this over the weekend. I do wonder if it will automatically do all of the past updates that I missed. Thanks for the info.

Re: TiVo without a phone line?
 

i have a TiVo hooked up wirelessly to my home network.

Re: TiVo without a phone line?
 

bobman

how was this accomplished? I also have DirecTV, but no home phone line (cell phones only). I want TIVO, but they tell me it is unpossible without a home phone line.

Re: TiVo without a phone line?
 

I don't have a directv tivo, so i don't know if they have special reqs. I purchased a USB -> Wireless adapter, which goes in the Tivo's USB port. That's pretty much all there is to it. Also, when your Tivo is networked, you can move music, video, and pictures from your computer to your Tivo and vice versa. I read in the paper that Tivo would be releasing software to allow you to transfer recorded programs to video Ipods next year too.

Re: TiVo without a phone line?
 

You can do one of these options:

Buy a long (25-50 foot) phone cable and keep it behind your Tivo. Then, plug it into a phone line every 2-4 weeks and manually run the updater through the menu.

Buy a wireless phone jack, this will allow you to be connected without having a line plugged in. Radio Shack sells them. Warning though, these don't work so well if you have DSL filters on any of your phone lines.

Re: TiVo without a phone line?
 

www.tivocommunity.com

Re: TiVo without a phone line?
 

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bobman

how was this accomplished? I also have DirecTV, but no home phone line (cell phones only). I want TIVO, but they tell me it is unpossible without a home phone line.

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You can actually use the Tivo service without a phone if you hook it up to your network, but you do need a phone for the initial setup. But you can just take it to a friend's house, set it up in an hour, and never use the phone again.

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