DirecTV sent down a message to TiVo users this week about the announcement of a new DirecTV HD TiVo coming in 2009. The screenshots are posted here if you want to see them, but the interesting nuggets of info are:

• DirecTV’s Broadband DIRECTV on DEMAND - which means the unit will have to support networking
• Universal Swivel Search - so it might work with Amazon’s Unbox (now Amazon Video on Demand)
• KidZone - Since this means it interacts with TiVo’s servers, it’ll likely work with some features from TiVo’s website, hopefully online scheduling.

At least this sets the stage for the possibility that TiVoToGo and all of those great networking features will be part of this new unit. Frankly, even if they aren’t, many people will want the unit just for the interface. But we’ve grown accustomed to the evolution of the cable TiVos, and we’re hoping this DirecTV unit will see those same enhancements.

Here’s a proposal for the folks at TiVo: build a lightweight website for us TiVo fans to use to schedule online programs.

The TiVo website has evolved into a truly great way to find and record programs, but a good portion of the time us TiVo users want to set something to record, we’re just not in front of a computer. We’re out and about. But we do have our smart phones.

OK, I know, TiVo and RIM partnered a few weeks ago to bring TiVo-something to Blackberry, and most likely, that will be online scheduling. And before that, TiVo inked a deal with Verizon to do the same for Verizon phones. But why be proprietary about this? Isn’t the key to make this work for TiVo users, no matter what other technology they have?

In a time when the iPhone is gaining a huge amount of market share, and Android phones will probably also steal a huge piece of the action from RIM and the rest of the crowd, doesn’t it make sense to just have a fast-loading, slimmed down website for online scheduling? I’m not advocating an iPhone app or an Android app (although those would be great, too), just a quick way to get logged in, choose that show you forgot to record, and be done.

TiVo recently redesigned their website, and it looks great and has excellent functionality - from a computer. But all of that functionality came by adding a lot of AJAX and, on a mobile device, that can be painful. Just logging in to the site is arduous. Typing an email address in TiVo’s login box is especially painful on an iPhone.

You don’t even need a special domain name for it, but it seems like your neighbor across the bay has already registered tivo.mobi, so maybe they’re working on this?

So how about it?

We really believe that CableCARDs are a great new technology in that they allow DVRs to work with a wide variety of cable providers. But, sometimes, getting them configured is a bit of a hassle.

Early on in their history, CableCARDs caused a whole host of problems, largely just due to the lack of knowledge of cable installers. But since then, the problems have really almost totally disappeared, and their installation and use has become routine and reliable.

But if you do have a problem, you should try calling TiVo’s CableCARD hotline. These folks have pretty deep knowledge of CableCARD issues.

Phone number: 866-986-8486

Hours of operation:
Monday - Sunday
6:00 AM - 9:00 PM Pacific

Well, we were at the point where we were pretty sure it would never happen. And, happily, we were wrong!

TiVo today issued a press release about a new HD TiVo for DirecTV that should be ready by the end of 2009. See the full information in TiVo’s press release.

We’ve had customers complain about DirecTV DVRs for years now, preferring the TiVo interface. And it looks like the day will come again when DirecTV and TiVo work together to make a DVR that has the best interface, and access to all of DirecTV’s programming.

DirecTV and TiVo ceased manufacture of the HR10-250 years ago now. That unit, still very popular among our customers (and still the main unit in my house) was the first mainstream HD DVR at all, and the only HD TiVo for several years, as well as the only DirecTV HD DVR for many years. Many TiVo fans even joined DirecTV just to get to use this hardware.

But as DirecTV decided to move to MPEG4 for new HD channels to conserve bandwidth, they needed to produce new equipment to deal with the MPEG4 signals. So they produced newer DVRs without TiVo - the HR20 and HR21. These units can read the older MPEG2 signals and the newer MPEG4 signals. The TiVo-based HR10-250 can only read the MPEG2 signals, and is therefore unable to get the new channels DirecTV releases in HD - and some even in SD.

During the DirecTV reign of Rupert Murdoch, we guessed that new hardware with TiVo would never be developed, because one of News Corp’s other companies was NDS, an engineer of DVRs in Europe and Israel. NDS engineered DVRs for DirecTV.

But now that Murdoch’s News Corp. isn’t in control any more, it seems that TiVo was able to start work with DirecTV all over again.

For years now, we’ve been helping customers navigate the split between TiVo and DirecTV. It looks like, at last, those days may be coming to an end, and customers who love both DirecTV and TiVo won’t have to decide between them any longer. It may be a long year of waiting . . .

We have previously written about the transition from off-air analog signals to off-air digital signals, set to occur in February, 2009. Remember that this change really impacts those who get television signal from an off-air antenna (rabbit ears). If you subscribe to cable or satellite service, those providers are generally unaffected by the transition.

For those that DO rely on off-air antenna signals and have a Series 1 or Series 2 TiVo (basically any TiVo other than the TCD648250, TCD652160 and TiVos with DIRECTV built-in), the transition to all-digital signals will absolutely impact your TiVo and its ability to record.

Those in this situation have several choices:

IF YOU HAVE A SERIES 2 TiVo (TiVo-brand starting with TCD1XXXX, TCD2XXXXX and TCD540XXX, any Humax-branded TiVo, Sony SVR3000 or any Toshiba-branded TiVo):

1) Continue using the Series 2 Tivo and get a compatible converter box.

2) Get an HD TiVo that can handle and convert the digital broadcasts.

3) Get cable or satellite.

Option #1: TiVo has released a list of compatible converter boxes (see the “Converter Boxes” tab after clicking link, or see the list below). These boxes will take a digital signal from an off-air antenna and convert it into an analog signal. The converter box contains a tuner. It will map the digital signal into an analog station and sent it out to your TiVo in a format that the TiVo can read. In order to change channels, the TiVo will have to communicate and control the converter box using an IR Blaster Cable. To cut the cost of the converter box, you can apply for a $40 coupon (limited supplies) from the Federal Government to help pay for the cost of the box. Remember that as of this date, the converter boxes will not work with your TiVo–you will need to wait for a software update before the TiVo can control the converter box.

Option #2: Get a TivoHD. These boxes are truly outstanding, are fully ready for the digital world, and can output high definition. The HD part may not be important if you don’t have an HD television, but you’ll be ready if and when you do change out your TV. The catch is that if you have lifetime service on your old Series 1 or Series 2, TiVo is not currently offering any transfer options. You would have to get new service on the TiVoHD and then sell or give away the Series 1 or Series 2.

Option #3: If you decide to abandon your antenna and go with satellite or cable, your Series 1 or Series 2 TiVo will work with just about any cable box and satellite (from DIRECTV, DISH Network and providers in Canada) set top boxes.

*Here is a list of the supported boxes:

Supported Models

• Insignia NS-DXA1
• Venturer STB7766G
• Magnavox TB100MW9
• RCA DTA 800A
• GE 22729
• Zenith DTT900
• Channel Master CM-7000
• Lasonic LTA-260
• Philco TB100HH9
• Samsonic FT300A
• Tivax STB-T9
• Artec T3Apro

Not Supported

• Digtial Stream DTX9000

IF YOU HAVE A SERIES 1 TiVo (HDR-series or SVR2000):

It’s a bit murkier for you, but as of now, TiVo is suggesting that it is not releasing a software version to make these units compatible with digital converter boxes. Series 1 owners using antenna signals are being told that Option 2 or Option 3 are the only options. For a limited time, Series1 owners (presumably, only those using antenna signals) can get a refurbished HD DVR for $100 and TiVo will move lifetime service for an additional $300. Not a bad deal at all.

Tags: analog, converter box, digital, digital transition, tivo, tivohd