TiVo without a phone line?

[trevorwc]

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!

[jar]

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.

[CrazyEyez]

[ QUOTE ]
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.

[Randy_Refeld]

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.

[Soul Daddy]

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.

[Paluka]

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.

[CrazyEyez]

[ QUOTE ]
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.

[Alobar]

[ QUOTE ]
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).

[/ QUOTE ]

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)

[Soul Daddy]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
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.

[CrazyEyez]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
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.

[/ QUOTE ]
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.