Replacement Remote Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I needed a replacement remote for my Series 2 Tivo and this remote worked right away. No programming, nothing.Just batteries.Great price on Amazon.com!

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Product Description:

Black replacement remote works with any Series2 (Series2 DVRs are from TiVo, Humax, and AT&T Broadband), HD, HD XL, TiVo Series3, Philips or Hughes Digital Video Recorder including the DIRECTV® DVR with TiVo service.
Control two different DVRs with a simple flick of a switch and TV input setting.
This remote does NOT work with Sony-branded DVR products, Humax DVD Recorders, or with the Toshiba DVD player with TiVo service.
Requires 2 AA batteries (not included)

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TiVo TCD748000 Premiere XL DVR (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is finally a worthy successor to the Tivo Series 2.While there have been 2 previous HD Tivos before, their relative cost and the lack of available options for lifetime subscription made them unattractive financially compared with the cable company DVR.If you purchase directly from Tivo, there is a (...) lifetime subscription option to those with a previous lifetime subscription.That makes this a worthwhile deal, even if it takes about 30+ months to break even.

If you've not used a Tivo before, I would say it is head and shoulders above Comcast's ugly, ill-conceived interface.If you've used Verizon, it will be a step up, but not nearly so dramatic.If you've used Tivo before, you'll feel right at home.It's basically the 8 year old Tivo interface that's been spiced up here and there, with supporting links to Netflix & Blockbuster for streaming movies.

This Tivo requires an M-Series cable card if you're not recording from an antenna.If you're not sure, call your cable company to see if they support it.Verizon did struggle with this question, although eventually I found someone to confirm the Verizon cable card supports multi-stream.However, the Verizon tech they sent was helpful and had the job complete in about 15 minutes.

Although the Tivo supports resolutions up to 1080P, it is only available at 1080p/24, so if you have a slightly older set that only supports 1080p/60, you'll have to drop back to 1080i.That isn't spelled out anywhere on Tivo's site, although it probably doesn't make much of a difference.

This Tivo networks nicely with older Tivo's allowing you to transfer video between them, although it's not possible to transfer from an HD Tivo to a SD Tivo, although the reverse works nicely.You can also use the Tivo Desktop (a free download) to transfer to your PC.You can even save it to watch later or on your portable (Google "kmttg tivo").

I won't write a review of the Tivo interface.More people have done it better than I could, so Google for reviews.You should know, although the new menus are in high definition, once you get away from the primary menus, it drops back to the old 480/SD menus.The only reason I can tell is the screen on the TV flips a bit until it resyncs with the lower resolution.

This version of the Tivo has a backlit remote, although by default that isn't turned on.It also supports separate volume and muting with an A/V receiver, although it doesn't give you the ability to turn it on with your remote. My A/V receiver did not work with the codes provided, but a chat with Tivo pointed me to a page on their support site where you'll find the new Tivo has a "learning" remote. That did the trick.

If you use Tivo's Chat support, the agents are well-informed and patient.

I've had one brief incident as I messed around with various menus where the HDMI lost sound sync with the TV.A quick resync through the A/V receiver got me back and running in a few seconds.Time will tell if that was a one-time glitch or a problem.

Previous Tivos have worked with Amazon video on demand (which works reasonably well).Now there are additional options to select high-def material, and you also have options to download from Blockbuster and Netflix.Keep in mind there is a charge for this type of on-demand movie, similar to what you'd expect from your cable company.However, this function is integrated beautifully into the overall search function.As an example, let's say you're interested in a program such as "Chuck".As you search for the program, not only will it find the upcoming episodes on TV, but will also present you with the complete episode guide, giving you the options to either record from cable/antenna, or for shows that aren't available you can download them to your Tivo to watch. That's very clever and convenient.

Overall, it's an expensive purchase, but Tivo does their best not to make you feel stupid for buying it.

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Product Description:
TiVo® Premiere is more than a DVR. It's your cable box, movie box, web box, music box, all-in-one, easy-to-use box. It brings broadcast together to give you even more entertainment options. With TiVo Premiere XL you have an entire universe of on-demand movies, TV shows, web videos, and music at your command – all in one place, all just a few clicks away. And with 150 hours of HD capacity and THX video and audio certification it's going to rock your entertainment world.
KeyFeatures

Save up to 150 hours of HD programming (1 terabyte hard drive)
Access the world's largest library of videos on demand: movies, TV shows, music videos, web videos and more
THX® certified for exceptional sound and video quality
Find your favorite shows at once while watching a third
Schedule recordings remotely and take them with you on your laptop or mobile device
Controllive television with pause, rewind slow-mo and instant replay
Full HD support, including 1080p and 1080i HD formats
Connects to your cable service and replaces your cable box
Works with cable and antenna; does not support satellite
What's in the box: TiVo Premiere DVR, TiVo programmable remote control, Quick Start guide, manual, HDMI cable, composite cable, phone cord, 4 AAA batteries

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TiVo AG0100 Wireless G USB Network Adapter for TiVo Series 2 and Series 3 DVRs Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First, thank you to the previous reviewers:I had several questions regarding this product such as "does it support Wireless Encryption?" and the previous reviews really helped...by the way yes, it supports WEP.

What you will need if you want to use this:
1) Wireless Internet Access (Wireless Router and Connection to Internet) within range of your DVR
2) Series 2 DVR (with USB plug)
3) A computer for some of the advanced features

Once you have these two things then using this product is amazingly simple to set up for about 80% of "Lucky People."
1) Plug it In
2) Follow the Instructions
3) Enter your WEP key (alphanumeric or hexadecimal --- alphanumeric is much easier)
4) I had to restart my DVR
5) If you're connecting a computer and using TivoToGo, you have to install the software on your computer...which also has to be connected to the network for your TIVO to see it and for your computer to see your TIVO and you'll need your Media Access Key.

Benefits I received from this product:
1) I don't have to use a phone line to get updates (no dialing)
2) TIVO updates come much faster over Broadband (Faster updates)
3) I bought TIVO to Go Plus --extra $$ from TIVO for the license key that you use with the computer software and I can listen to my iPod music through my Bose in my living room
4) I have my picture library shared....baby pictures are nice on the television....but caution, the quality of the pictures will only be as good as your TV....ie HDTV is still not as good as a good laptop screen and if you don't have HDTV, they'll only look as good as your TVs best resolution.Its still very cool to show baby pictures on the big TV.
5) I have a huge Attached Hard Drive array on my computer...its really a Server...so I offload movies I plan to keep and they're always there when I want to watch them so the 180hour DVR size limit kindof doesn't apply.

Issues / Challenges:
1) You have to know a little bit about computers if you want to get some of the more complex benefits such as share pictures, music, download movies.....ie you have to know about firewalls, how to install software, IP addresses and things like that.

2) If you have wireless access already set up and just want to use it to connect to the internet and get program updates instead of using your phone line, its pretty easy but you'll have to a) have DHCP turned on or b) assign it a static IP......for those of you who think I just typed in Greek, chances are that you have DHCP but if you happen not to, you could bump into problems.

3) If you want to listen to your IPod, share pictures, download to your computer, please make sure to read the software/hardware requirements for your computer.

Overall, these are my thoughts on the average person installing this easily:

A) 80% of the people who buy this should have Zero problems installing this product because you have a standard network configuration, know your way around networks, or are just lucky.

B) 20% of the people who buy this who don't have a standard Wireless network configuration AND don't have some knowledge of networking....you could become frustrated at trying to connect this product ESPECIALLY if you want to use some of the advanced functionality.

My Luck:
1) Start to finish it took me 5 minutes to install this to get its updates through the wireless network.

2) It took me about 30 minutes to install all the other software and get everything configured to share music, pictures and enable TivoToGo on my computer.

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Product Description:
Connect your TiVo Series2 DVR to your wireless home network with this TiVo Wireless G USB Network Adapter, and enjoy TiVoToGo, multi-room viewing transfers, music and photos served up to your television, and easy online scheduling of recordings. If used with a broadband connection, it also eliminates the need for a phone line. With the TiVoToGo feature, you'll be able to transfer programs from your TiVo box to a Windows-based desktop or laptop PC. It works with 802.11g and 802.11b wireless networks.
What's in the Box
USB network adapter, USB cable

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TiVo TCD746320 Premiere DVR (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've been a TiVo owner since 2003 and this is their best TiVo to date. But it isn't perfect. It's a shame that the new HD user interface is still a work in progress. It is buggy and slow. You still have the option of using the old user interface, which is what I do. The processor in the TiVo Premiere is more powerful than the TiVo HD. But the extra processing power is mainly for the new user interface. It has the same recording abilities that the TiVo HD had with the exception of also supporting 1080p. It would have been nice if TiVo would have added a third tuner. Like the TiVo HD, the Premiere only supports cable TV and OTA antenna programming. The Premiere is almost an inch shorter than the HD and is more energy efficient. The main reason I bought the Premiere wasn't to upgrade from my existing TiVo HD, but I wanted another TiVo for the kid's playroom. If you already own a TiVo HD and you are looking to upgrade, you might want to save your money for the next TiVo series. If you don't already have a TiVo or you don't have an HD-capable TiVo for your HDTV, this is a great purchase. While the upgrades from the TiVo HD are lacking, it is still the best DVR on the market.

We use our TiVo with a large antenna in the attic and a $9 per month Netflix subscription. We have more than enough to watch between the DVD's we get in the mail, streaming Netflix to our TiVo from the Internet, and the 30+ digital channels we receive OTA. Actually, TiVo makes using an antenna acceptable for us. It records all the shows we like no matter when they are on and we watch them in our time. I was able to buy the TiVo Premiere and a lifetime subscription with the money we saved over the past year by dropping cable. TiVo also supports Internet video rentals from Amazon and Blockbuster, but we prefer using Netflix because it's cheaper.

This TiVo can record up to 45 hours of HD programming.That sounds like a lot, but you'll be surprised by how quickly it fills up.You can add an external drive Western Digital My DVR Expander 1 TB eSATA Desktop External Hard Drive WDG1S10000VN (Black) to add more recording space.The one big caveat with this method of adding recording space is you'll lose all your recordings on the external drive and your TiVo if you decide to remove it later.The other option is to purchase the Premiere XL TiVo TCD748000 Premiere XL DVR (Black).It will allow you to record up to 150 hours of HD programming and comes with a backlit remote.I upgraded the internal hard drive in my TiVo HD myself and kept the original drive as a backup.I'm waiting to hear from others before I attempt to upgrade the internal hard drive in my TiVo Premiere.To date, no one knows if it can be done or not.

FYI: TiVo has a couple of specials going for existing TiVo users. You can either get $200 off the lifetime subscription for a new Premiere (if you already have a lifetime subscription) or receive a 20% discount off the Premiere itself (if you don't have a lifetime subscription). I believe you must purchase your TiVo directly from TiVo to get the discounts. TiVo offers free shipping, but you'll have to pay taxes on the hardware.

According to a TiVo press release, TiVo is coming out with a wireless N network adapter in May with a retail price of $89.99.They are also coming out with an optional slide-out QWERTY TiVo remote later this year.The remote will utilize a Bluetooth USB dongle that will plug into the back of your TiVo HD or Premiere.

Update 4/18/2010:

I did give the new interface another shot for a couple of days. I like where they are going with it, but as I said before it isn't a finished product. It locked up on me twice while flipping through the menus. As others have mentioned, if you drill down into the menu system you will eventually end up in the old menu system. They have a new option to list Oscar winning films. So I select a movie and it says it's available from Blockbuster. Cool, but I haven't been a member of Blockbuster for years so I go back and configure my TiVo not to search Blockbuster (nice feature). I then go back to the list of Oscar winning films and it still shows the same movie. I select the movie again and this time it tells me it's not available for me to watch. So why would I want to see a partial list of Oscar winning movies that currently aren't available for me to watch on my TiVo?

For people who have rated the TiVo Premiere one or two stars because of the new user interface, well I can't argue with them. Perhaps TiVo should have sold the Premiere with the old user interface enabled with the option of using the new beta user interface. I'm sure TiVo will push out updates in the future to fix the issues, but we're not talking about a few minor bugs here. I think TiVo released the new user interface way too early.

I've been using my TiVo Premiere for 3 weeks now with the old user interface.I've had no issues with it and it's as stable as my TiVo HD.However, I see little difference between my TiVo HD and my TiVo Premiere while using the old user interface.I would still rate the TiVo Premiere as 4 stars with the old user interface. But as I mentioned in my original review, it isn't much of an upgrade from the TiVo HD. One thing that the Premiere has over the HD is the ability to run the new user interface (which isn't ready for prime time).

Click Here to see more reviews about: TiVo TCD746320 Premiere DVR (Black)

Product Description:

TiVo® Premiere is more than a DVR. It's your cable box, movie box, web box, music box, all-in-one, easy-to-use box. It brings broadcast together to give you even more entertainment options. With TiVo Premiere you have an entire universe of on-demand movies, TV shows, web videos, and music at your command – all in one place, all just a few clicks away. Key Features· Save up to 45hours of HD programming (1 terabyte hard drive)· Access the world's largest library of videos on demand: movies, TV shows, music videos, web videos and more· THX® certified for exceptional sound and video quality· Find your favorite shows at once while watching a third· Schedule recordings remotely and take them with you on your laptop or mobile device· Control live television with pause, rewind slow-mo and instant replay· Full HD support, including 1080p and 1080i HD formats· Connects to your cable service and replaces your cable box· Works with cable and antenna; does not support satellite· What's in the box: TiVo Premiere DVR, TiVo programmable remote control, Quick Start guide, manual, HDMI cable, composite cable, phone cord, 4 AAA batteries

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