Using Tivo for Fins games?

[volk]

Does anybody here use Tivo for recording games? I always get Sunday Ticket to watch the Fins and never miss a game, but this year, it is going to be much tougher to be home when they are on. I was considering getting Tivo for this...anyone else use one? Are you happy with it?

[PhinKev]

I do.

Here's what you have to think about.

1. Make sure you put recording buffers incase of overtime or just a long running game.

2. You have to use up a large amount of hard drive space because the game needs to be recorded at the highest quality in order to get a good picture. So buy a TIVO with a large drive, which you'll want anyway or if you are good with computers, you can hack your TIVO and add a drive. I started with a 40 hour TIVO and added a 120 gig drive and now have 140 hours.

Otherwise, TIVO is the best thng since television itself. And I mean that.

[Lando's Folly]

I LOVE my TIVO... However I got it in January so it's not NFL field tested yet. There is an option to record to your VCR or you can get a Tivo w/a DVD burner for big $$$. There are some neat features, like keyword searches. I type in miami dolphins and it finds ALL the programs involving them (example, Sportscentury, NFL films, Dave Wannstedt Show.. etc.) The BEST part is... you can fast forward commercials.

[LIQUID24]

Did you guys pay the monthly service fee or just the big one-time fee?

[Phinzone]

about this TIVO, is it an option to store what you tape on your HD? I might opt for the DVD burning one if not, but that's pretty expensive, and i'm pretty poor right now.

[PhinKev]

OK,


I bought the lifetiime subscription and I did for this reason. It takes about 2 years to pay the same amount of money on the monthly rate, so if you keep your TIVO for more than two years, which you will, it makes sense to buy the lifetime.

A second reason is that it adds value to your unit if you want to sell it. Whcih brings me to cost. Check out ebay where you can get a TIVO with lifetime that someone is selling.

Lastly, I would reccomend Direct TV with TIVO as it is all in one box and lets you record two things at once and store at the highest quality with less hard drive space.

TIVO is not cheap, but it really is great. I don't even know when anything is on anymore, all I know is that if it has to do with Dolphins football it is there waiting for me to watch. All my favorite shows are recored whenever they are on and only new episodes unless I tell it otherwise. My daughter has her shows and TIVO even records things it thinks I might like when it has extra space and nothing better to do.

[LIQUID24]

yeah, I figured it made more sense to get the lifetime subscription.

[Phinzone]

They have 80 hour Tivo's with DVD R factory rened for 200 bucks on thier main site....not too shabby IMO.

[JJ777]

TIVO IS AWESOME...love the ability to pause, rewind, fastforward through commercials, instant replay. Its great!!!

[jmm13-54]

Can you buy a TIVO unit from best buy or wherever to use with directtv and avoid paying the monthly fee??

[LarryFinFan]

Tivo is the service that allows you to record....A DVR is the actual unit that records the info. I have Tivo with my Directv....Thru directv, it is $100 for the DVR receiver and $5 a month extra from what you were paying. As others have said....it is the best thing since TV itself...

If you go thru Tivo itself, it is about $13 per month plus the cost of your DVR, which you would get at Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. You can also get the lifetime subscription, I don't remember the cost about $300 I think...

[jmm13-54]

Thanks....I hadn't researched it at all... I didn't realize it was a subscription service...:troops: :jetssuck:

[grooves12]

For those of you with DirecTV and Sunday ticket the ONLY way to go is to get a DirecTV DVR w/ Tivo Service. Do not even bother looking at the standalone Tivo's. The difference between them is night and day.

The DirecTV DVR can be picked up for between $49-99 w/ free installation depending on current promotions. You will also have to pay $4.99/mo for the DVR service through DirecTV. (DirecTV no longer supports lifetime subscriptions.) Check out the "DIRECTV Receiver with TiVo" section of http://www.tivocommunity.com for all the latest information on promotions... and lots of other info on DirecTV DVR's.

You will have to play with the Wishlist function, but I have a Wishlist setup with the keyword "Dolphins" and the category "Sports" and it picks up just about anything related to the Dolphins. (Press Conferences, Games, Dolphins Magazine, NFL Classics, etc.) The only problem is during the season DirecTV airs a BLANK bradcast the night before the games that has the same title as the game to be showed on Sunday Ticket. So, you have to check your todo list once per week and make sure you stop that recording or you chew up 8 hours of your space.

Also, for those of you that like to archive the Dolphins games and are "computer savvy" the DirecTV DVR can be hacked to allow you to rip the digital broadcast directly from the Hard Drive and onto your computer. This way you can archive the games at the highest quality without any recompression. I then burn them to DVD's using some tools some other hackers created. If you want info on that check http://www.dealdatabase.com

[grooves12]

Also, one thing I forgot to mention for DirecTiVo vs. Standalone Tivo....

With the DirecTV DVR it is $4.99/mo for adding the Tivo service to your ACCOUNT. This means you can add as many DVR's to your account as you like and STILL only pay $4.99 for ALL of them (plus mirroring fees which you will pay for ANY receiver.)

With the standalone, not only is the hardware more expensive... but the service is PER BOX. So, you have to pay $12.95/mo for every Tivo you own. This adds up quick.

And it REALLY sucks because you only get one tuner with the standalone vs. TWO tuners per box with the DirecTivo (record two things at once... and watch another pre-recorded show if you like)

.... and for those of you with the BIG BUX... DirecTV is releasing the "Hi-Definition DirecTV DVR w/ Tivo Service" NEXT WEEK. I think ealry adopters will have to pay about $900 but expect them to drop within a few months once DirecTV starts subsidizing their sales. But, it would be awesome with Sunday Ticket this year as it is rumored that EVERY game on Sunday Ticket will be brodcast in High-Definition this year.

[Lando's Folly]

With TIVO, I saw Janet's boobie 6 times.. :o