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TiVo Series 3 High Definition 250GB THX Certified DVR
$169.99 + $5 Shipping
Condition: Refurbished

Product List:
- 1 TiVo TCD648250 250GB Series 3 HD THX Certified DVR

*DISCLAIMER* Wootalyzer! is in no way affiliated with Woot!, and this post may not always be here!

Does this require any addition payments for service?

Can I use this unit without a TiVo subscription?

Just one question on the multi-room viewing; do I need to have a box for both TVs, or just one?

Or am I completely misunderstanding this product?

TIVO just came out with a new machine that does everything a computer does. This model is obsolete

Can you attach more memory or offload recorded shows onto like a computer or something?

steveng86 wrote:Does this require any addition payments for service?

Remember to read the fine print!

"TiVo® service is required for the TiVo DVR to function and is sold separately. TiVo service and payment are subject to the terms and conditions available at www.tivo.com.

TiVo service is accessed through a standard telephone line or broadband connection. In some areas, local and long-distance toll charges may apply." -bottom of article

I have had TERRIBLE luck with refurbed TiVo's. I'm on my second REPLACEMENT for the TiVo HD I bought on Woot a couple of years ago and about to send it back too. Spend the extra dough and get a new one!

Would this work with DIRECTV?

Plenty of good reviews on Amazon

Yes this will work with Cable and Verizon FiOS

Instead of renting their DVR you call them up and get these things called "CableCARD"s. You stick them in, read some numbers on the screen to your cable company and your TiVo can now tune in.

No you can not use On-Demand.
You will not be able to rent movies or watch free on-demand TV shows.

Verizon FIOS, but not ATT U0Verse... damn.

General Information on TIVO

http://support.tivo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/352

Can i transfer my current lifetime subscription to this one??

HolyMythos wrote:Just one question on the multi-room viewing; do I need to have a box for both TVs, or just one?

Or am I completely misunderstanding this product?

You need a TiVo for each TV.

I'm torn. I've been wanting to get a Series 3 Tivo for my OTA hookup, but with the Series 5 coming out, I think there will be local cheap (used) deals to be had. To woot or not to woot..

For all of you that will ask.....


TiVo® service is required for the TiVo DVR to function and is sold separately. TiVo service and payment are subject to the terms and conditions available at www.tivo.com.

TiVo service is accessed through a standard telephone line or broadband connection. In some areas, local and long-distance toll charges may apply.

steveng86 wrote:Does this require any addition payments for service?

Yes, it does.

do you have to pay a monthly subscription to somewhere? Or once I buy this, do I have 'tivo' like everyone talks about?

WonderWooter wrote:do you have to pay a monthly subscription to somewhere? Or once I buy this, do I have 'tivo' like everyone talks about?

TiVo® service is required for the TiVo DVR to function and is sold separately. TiVo service and payment are subject to the terms and conditions available at www.tivo.com.

TiVo service is accessed through a standard telephone line or broadband connection. In some areas, local and long-distance toll charges may apply.

Does this thing support mcards? the googles are coming up inconclusive. It appears you need TWO cableCARDS to use both tuners simltaneously... anyone that has this thing chime in?

I don't think I understand how Tivo works... Is this an addition you get through your cable or satellite company? And do you keep your original box?

Any hacks? ex: get show channel/time info without using Tivo's service? Transfer recorded video over the network?

So satellite subscribers are out of luck on this Woot. I guess they have their own DVRs and don't want Tivo to come in and "steal" their customers.

brendan948725 wrote:Would this work with DIRECTV?

Sat TV providers do not use CableCARDs, which is what allows the TiVo to decrypt and tune into cable signals.

You have to buy their own DVRs. However, I think DirectTV has a TiVo DVR that works with their service. Just not this one.

These things are great! Tivo is awesome and if you thing a dvr is a dvr, ur are wrong. Ask any Tivo owner. Secondly, these things are incredibly hackable and upgradeable. You can add more hard drive space and all kinds of things. I bought this with a 20 hour HD configuration. After a tiny bit of reasearch, and a new HDD, I have over 143 hours of HD capacity and 1244 hours of standard def recording. Ask ANY tivo owner and they will tell you, we will NEVER watch TV without it.

Can this do Unencrypted QAM Cable?

That's the free Over the Air Network (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX) Channels that the cable companies give to their Analog customers.

WonderWooter wrote:do you have to pay a monthly subscription to somewhere? Or once I buy this, do I have 'tivo' like everyone talks about?

Yes there is a monthly fee but well worth it.

WonderWooter wrote:do you have to pay a monthly subscription to somewhere? Or once I buy this, do I have 'tivo' like everyone talks about?

Again, yes there is a monthly subscription requirement

HolyMythos wrote:Just one question on the multi-room viewing; do I need to have a box for both TVs, or just one?

Or am I completely misunderstanding this product?

You need another Tivo box to use mult-room viewing. The 2nd Tivo box allows you to watch programs recorded on the first, and vice-versa.

And lastly... how HD? 1080p? Does it record movies [Edit: (DVDs, etc.)] you're watching as well? Is there HDMI? Is it component?

So many questions.... My DIRECTV subscription is about to end and I'm curious about this prospect.

wootasourous wrote:Can you attach more memory or offload recorded shows onto like a computer or something?

Yes to both. http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/04/how-to-use-your-tivo-series3-esata-port-to-add-an-external-driv/

https://www3.tivo.com/store/accessories-software.do

Wow that's a good box and a good price.

Cant use it with satellite, but I didnt know you could use it with Fios - that's cool.

I tried getting mine to work with TWC and their cable cards and all of their techs - all seven of them, or the ones who bothered to show up for an appointment - couldn't fix me up with decent cable cards.

I hear that other cable companies are better - more competent - at providing this kind of service.

Other than that, great box! And you do need to pay for Tivo service to get the program updates. That's how they make their $$$. I had the Series 3 with the smaller drive - yeah it's got HDMI but I dont know if it will do 1080p - their website is good for info, though.

be careful!!!!! this only has antenna and cable input

my cable company uses an external box for HD only so this wont work my time warner does not use cable cards

if it had component input or hdmi input it would make a great hd storage but this will NOT

tivos new unit is better i love tivo though i am there 3rd customer since day one but stay way from this one

Remember, folks: only works with cable (sorry, Dish/DirecTV people), and your cable company has to support CableCARDS. Most do, but check if you're not sure. Otherwise, this thing is a paperweight.

Also, don't forget the monthly fee. Somewhere in the neighborhood of $13 a month, I think. Unless you already have 1 Tivo, but then you probably already know about the fees then...

A review at Home Theater Forum

And another at Vanns

Seems like a silly thing to pay a monthly fee for.

No, you can not use it without a TiVo subscription. Yes, you would need a TiVo in each room for to watch a show recorded on a different TV.

Also, the Series 3 is ONLY for cable users- don't buy this if you have a satellite dish.

Looks like this one doesn't support 1080p. Sad day.