TIVO has refused to provide me an upgrade.

I believe it’s a breach of their terms and conditions because the the earlier T&C’s had language in it saying lifetime included “Lifetime serivce”…not “lifetime product” therefore they have to honor this earlier version of the T&C’s

Does anyone have a copy of this earlier T&C doc? Or can someone point me to folks that have been successful in getting their Series 2 Lifetime units transferred to TIVO HD at NO COST?

thanks,
bob

There are people like me who bought a lifetime agreement solely to receive over the air listings. I have never subscribed to cable or satellite with TiVo. The current agreement says they don’t have to support all features. But the ability to receiving usable listings for over the air broadcast is not a feature, it is a main function of the unit. Further, the digital transition included converter boxes specifically to minimize consumer loss due to the transition. These boxes do work with Series 1. The hardware is not obsolete nor has it ceased to function. TiVo updated the software of all machines except the Series 1. I would argue that that in itself is a violation of the agreement but I don’t want to focus on that. The real problem is that they are not making the listing available on Series 1. The listings exist and are being sent to all other units. The Series 1 would continue to function normally if TiVo would simply include the DTV lineup as a cable or satellite lineup with 3 digit codes (021=2.1, 251=25.1, etc). Right now today, if a new cable company is added in your town, you can access its program listings by doing a guided setup. The new company will appear in the lineups. No Series 1 software has to be touched. In the same way, TiVo could provide the DTV listings as an additional cable and/or satellite lineup. Think of a provider name such as OTA-DTV. There are DTV converter boxes that could be used with no software update. For example, the Zenith DTT901 works with 3-digit LG satellite box codes and the Channel Master CM7000 works with 3-digit Pioneer cable box codes. Problem solved.

But TiVo has not made a good faith effort to provide over the air listings to Series 1 lifetime agreement holders. It is irrelevant if over the air is analog or digital since TiVo doesn’t deliver content, just listings. If the unit were not capable of receiving the listings or digital programs or if it could not control the converter, that could impact the discussion. But that is not the case. As it stands now, I can get major channels only (2.1, 4.1, 5.1 etc) by picking the Comcast analog over the air lineup. That proves it works. It isn’t a long-term solution since that lineup will cease June 12th and I have no assurance that any usable lineup will be available. Besides, it leaves out all minor DTV channels.

Maybe after June 12th I will find I have a DTV over the air lineup available. But damage is being done right now that can not be repaired. People are selling off their Series 1’s with lifetime cheap and others are paying TiVo the big bucks it obviously wants because they believe they are no longer supported.

Back to Ryan’s post, TiVo might find the actions he mentioned to be the least expensive way to meet their obligations to Series 1 lifetime subscribers. Unfortunately, the cheapest solution is to NOT honor their obligations and rely on our defective legal system that sometimes provides justice but more often provides for those who can afford the biggest legal bill. That would be TiVo.

Instead, though not “officially” supported, you can use a converter box just like everyone else out there that has an analog only tuner be it a TV, or TiVo in this case. So for $20 after coupon(or there abouts), your tivo can do what it was built to do, does do, and will continue to do as long as the box works. You are not entitled to have tivo upgrade you for free or at any price break for that matter, there is nothing in the agreement or contract stating they will upgrade you to the latest technology in any way; though they have offered some incentives in the past, evne though they don’t have to. You are not entitled to suddenly receive and record the new sub-channels that only exist due to digital broadcasting, which is obviously not part of what the original TiVo series 1 could do. All they agreed to do was to continue providing usable guide data for the TiVo as long as it lasts. When it comes to not being able to get guide data for the S1, then we will have something on them, but not before.

There are many solutions out there, some require hacking your TiVo, then you can record any channel you want, including sub-channels. Or if you prefer like me; just a few tweaks to the settings of the TIVO with the CORRECT converter boxes, and you can still record the original stations that you got via analog, only now it’s almost digital quality, very crisp and clear pictures. You still can get guide data for the programming as well (at least currently as of my post). Simply redo guided setup on the tivo, select ‘cable’, then select ‘w/ box’ and then select ‘OTA-Antenna only’. Don’t quote me on the order or exact wording, but the basic idea is there. That will give you the guide data the TiVo needs to record your shows.

For what it’s worth, I’m using an APEX DT250 (though a newer better model is out I understand) on my Phillips S1 with the above setup. Been running fine for several months now, and before that I had just found a local provider with a similar line up as regular broadcast, then deleted all channels I didn’t receive. But that was the hard way, the new way with selecting cable->cable box->OTA-Antenna Only, is much easier with no hassle.

Also recommended if you are not already, put the TiVo’s and converter boxes on a UPS, so that small power blinks, etc will not affect the equipment as well as make them last even longer. And you need this for the converter boxes because all of them that I know off default to OFF after loss of power, which obviously is not good if you’re trying to record something.

Ok I’m done know, had to add my two cents, and yes it would be awesome if TiVo gave us a very good deal as they did the very early TiVo S1 lifetime subs (prior to Jan 2000 I believe). or some other sweet deal. But, TiVo is like a personal computer, at some point it will be too old, and cannot do whatever the latest technology is unless you upgrade.