Why Tivo sucks!

[Manipulator]

I bought Tivo around Christmas time and what a nightmare! It took me all day to get the thing working. Then I find out you cannot watch a channel (digital channel) while recording another one. I thought this was one of the major points of having Tivo but no, you have to have two tuners for that. Then I read about it having a USB port where you can get a wireless USB card and hook it up to communicate with you home network. Sounds pretty cool as you can use the online website to control what you want to record, plus you can look at pictures or listen to music from your computer. Also, this way the Tivo automatically updates without having to use a phone line, which takes longer. Thing is, only a select few USB wireless cards will work. I tried three different ones with no luck. What a pain going to Bestbuy during Christmas time buying cards and having to go back to return them. Also, the Tivo communicates with your cable box so when you turn channels there is a choppy delay. Then every time you turn a channel, the cable program info box pops up and so does the Tivo info box, which is annoying. <br /><br />After two days of putzing around with this thing I call them so I can return it. The Tivo comes with a 30 day no questions return policy. They try to tell me that the Tivo can returned but the service I paid for (full year for about $250) was non refundable because it was a “gift subscription”. Thing is I never ordered it as a gift and they automatically assumed I did because it was around Christmas. I explain to them over and over it was not a gift and they keep screwing with me. Finally after an hour of dealing with these idiots and talking to two supervisors they decide to give me a full refund. What an unpleasant pain in the ***! The “no questions asked policy” was a joke. I keep telling them that if I returned the damn thing then why are they stiffing me with service? They come back and keep saying, “because it was a gift” and we go round and round. Thing is they mention nothing about this little clause in their warranty literature. So they want to screw me on the service even though I can’t use it because I’m returning the machine. This is why Tivo sucks!

 

[technostingray]

Re: Why Tivo sucks!

Doesn't sound like the the tivo we have. Nothing but good things to say about our setup.

 

[QC]

Re: Why Tivo sucks!

I have wireless and the two tuners are your TV and the TiVo unit. This is a wiring issue . . . Works well for me.<br /><br />On the other hand, the customer service stuff is pure BS. Makes me mad thinking about it.

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Why Tivo sucks!

What a pain in me arse!

 

[Manipulator]

Re: Why Tivo sucks!

RubberFrog, great avatar! Let me ask this, for those of you having good look with your system, do you have cable or satellite? I have heard that Tivo was designed more for a satellite system. Could be some of the reasons I was having some issues. I have since ordered a DVR through my local cable company. Has two tuners built into it so you can record one digital channel while watching another. Thing is there is a waiting list for units. I keep missing my “Ship Shape Boating” and “Rock the Boat”. Can’t wait until I can just record them.

 

[JB]

Re: Why Tivo sucks!

Most of the "No questions asked" guarantees only apply to qualified buyers.<br /><br />To qualify one must run barefoot down a mile of a Texas range fire front, or similarly painful experience.<br /><br />Sounds like you qualified under the "similarly painful experience" clause, Manipulator.

 

[Twidget]

Re: Why Tivo sucks!

I hope you used a credit card for the purchase. Just turn it over to them with documentation. Good luck.<br /><br />I use the DVR from the cable company. I would highly recommend it.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Why Tivo sucks!

Tivo is just not worth the price.<br />Just go buy a $79 dvd player/recorder, and a couple of dvr/rw.<br />Record what you want for free.<br />Ofcourse you will first have to learn how to set the timer and clock, same as on a vcr. <br /><br />You did learn how to set the clock on a vcr, didn't you? <br /><br />

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Why Tivo sucks!

I have a hacked tivo. Full useage, no service. Spent about $90 total. I am the customer service department.

 

[QC]

Re: Why Tivo sucks!

Originally posted by ZmOz:<br /> I have a hacked tivo.

Please elaborate . . . <br /><br />Manipulator,<br /><br />Mine is on cable.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Why Tivo sucks!

I wouldn’t bother with a tivo. Digital tv guide over the air is free in almost all areas, this is the last year for analog tv broadcasts, and dvrs are cheap and easy. Bottom line, tivo’s days are doomed. The only thing keeping the company from going completely under is their partnership with Directv. Fwiw, I don’t think tivo has yet to turn a profit, a company in the red since day 1.<br /><br />HBO went heads up with tivo, settled by working with tivo to implement a scheme where your recorded programs are installed with a time code tag and will self delete after 3 days or 7 days, whatever the program owner decides. I heard that the Simpsons (fox broadcast) will self delete in a few days, too. This is regardless of how you set up the record option to keep the program. <br /><br />When I get too much free time I want to play around with one of those German-made Dream Machine boxes, build my own tivo/sat receiever combo.

 

[tommays]

Re: Why Tivo sucks!

time code tag and will self delete after 3 days or 7 days

The broadcast flags are still up in the air and at this point are not legal YET<br /><br /> http://www.eff.org/broadcastflag/ <br /><br /> Now that there selling everything on DVD the broadcasters want it BAD and the FCC gave it to them.<br /><br /> BUT the courts came to the consumers rescue and said the FCC had oversteped there bounds in allowing it so its a standoff in OUR favor at this point<br /><br /> http://www.eff.org/IP/Video/HDTV/ALA_v_FCC/ <br /><br /> But there lobbying congress like Hell to take are right to record away from us<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[Mark42]

Re: Why Tivo sucks!

Originally posted by ZmOz:<br /> I have a hacked tivo. Full useage, no service. Spent about $90 total. I am the customer service department.

FYI I guy I used to work with and a few buddies of his went to jail for a while because they were copying those cards that go in satellite service boxes. Got $200 a piece for them. Now everyone they sold them to is due in court too.<br /><br />Just be aware that what you are doing can land you in jail.

 

[PierBridge]

Re: Why Tivo sucks!

Totally Un-related Mark.....and no one is going to jail, not that it matters your friends that use to hack direct tv's cards are being sued in court, thats civil nothing to do with jail.<br />And at this time no one is hacking direct Tv's cards they have a new card that is not comprimised at this time.<br />More on the HACKED Tivo later.<br /><br />Anywho, you can not compare a stand alone Tivo which is used along with cable TV "cable sucks" and a Direc Tivo "satellite" Tivo.<br /><br /><br />Direc Tv Tivos have 2 tuners and both are constantly recording the last half hour on each tuner real nice for watching 2 shows at once, for instance I watch 2 different 10 O'Clock news cast both half hour shows in a half hour.<br />Or if I am not home I can record both news cast and watch both in about 28 minutes or less.<br /><br />Or I can watch any show and record any other show at the same time, plus I can watch a recorded show and record 2 other shows at the same time. <br /><br />What is a hacked Tivo, it one that has been upgraded like mine, it came with an 80 gig hard drive, I installed 2 120 gig hard drives which gives me basically 231 hours of recording space. <br /><br />A hacked unit allows you to do other cool things a regular Dtivo cannot do. Such as transferring one show from one receiver in one room to another dtivo in a different room. Extraction in which you can transfer a recording from your Dtivo to your computer. Then, you can edit it and re-burn to a DVD disc or just watch on your PC if you want. You can also display photos from your computer on your tv via your Dtivo and play music from your PC to the tv via your Dtivo. There are other things you can do, but those are the most commonly used ones. <br /><br />Tivo has changed my life and has given me total control of my TV viewing which saves me valuable family time.<br />I have not watched a commercial in almost 2 years.<br /><br />I could go on and on but you get the point now.<br /><br />Oh one more thing Direc Tivo's are cheap anywhere from free to $50

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Why Tivo sucks!

Originally posted by QC:<br /> Please elaborate . . .

My Tivo has 2 hard drives and a wireless network card. I can move shows back and forth between my Tivo and all of my computers, burn to DVD anything I want to save, watch TV outside on my laptop, and tell the tivo what to record from the laptop. <br /><br />

Originally posted by Mark42:<br />FYI I guy I used to work with and a few buddies of his went to jail for a while because they were copying those cards that go in satellite service boxes. Got $200 a piece for them. Now everyone they sold them to is due in court too.<br /><br />Just be aware that what you are doing can land you in jail.

There's nothing illegal about hacking a Tivo. People get in trouble for stealing satellite because they are doing just that...stealing programming. I'm not stealing anything, I'm just using the box that I paid for to it's fullest extent and using free TV listings. Tivo charging as much as they do for listings is just absurd, when you consider satellite and cable come with free listings, and of course there are many free online places.<br /><br />

Originally posted by PierBridge:<br />Oh one more thing Direc Tivo's are cheap anywhere from free to $50

Definately. If you have satellite TV you should definately have a Tivo. The satellite versions are cheaper because they don't actually have a tuner...they get mpeg video directly from the satellite. Regular Tivos have to convert the video into it's own format first.

 

[deputydawg]

Re: Why Tivo sucks!

Only complaint about mine is that I am too used to it. I try to reqind every TV I see if I miss something. Then try to fast forward through commercials when watching live programming. <br /><br />Other than that I love it.

 

[QC]

Re: Why Tivo sucks!

Originally posted by ZmOz:<br /> There's nothing illegal about hacking a Tivo.

I'm not trying to start a big deal, but how is "hacking" past their security to gain access to their programming not stealing? It may not be, I just want to understand.<br /><br />I have wireless and I have a TiVo and I have a home network, so I am interested, but not if I am stealing.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Why Tivo sucks!

Nothing illegal about changing the functions of hardware you own. Everything wrong with gaining access to programming content you would otherwise pay for. Hacking cell phones has become popular, too, and it’s not illegal, either.<br /><br />Yes, creating illegal copies of DTV access cards is a criminal act, will get you jail time in addition to any civil liabilities. Same for making and selling hardware that will illegally access subscription programming. Fwiw, many of the cable/sat channels are available for free via a sat system (forget the name). All you have to do is buy or make a sat receiver for that sat system, not illegal.<br /><br />Tommays – thanks for the update on the tivo programming expiration flags.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Why Tivo sucks!

Originally posted by QC:<br />I'm not trying to start a big deal, but how is "hacking" past their security to gain access to their programming not stealing?

Tivo does not offer programming. The only thing they sell is TV listings, which I get free and legally elsewhere. I pay Comcast for my programming. "Hacking" simply means using a device differentnly than the manufacturer intended. Usually against their wishes.

 

[txswinner]

Re: Why Tivo sucks!

Pierbridge, I need you to come set mine up, I am a electronic midget. Sounds like you got it down.