Sending a NZ TiVo to the UK

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swalker5872

60 posts

Master Geek

#63607 30-Jun-2010 19:38

Hi folks,

I really love my Telecom sourced TiVo here in NZ and am seriously thinking about sourcing one and sending it to my parents back in the UK. However I cannot figure out if it will work on Freeview over there, including if EPG info is available as apparently TiVo are not currently selling over there although they did previously.

Does anyone on Geekzone have a clue about this?

Thanks

marmel

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#346760 30-Jun-2010 20:07

Won't work.

Kiwi1971

696 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#346864 1-Jul-2010 08:53

The Plasma I brought back from the UK with me had built in Freeview which didn't work with the NZ system, so no is the answer.

There are any number of similar devices to TiVo in the UK anyway, the only differences being the suggestions function and the on-demand side. Probably some others but they have all the basics of the TiVo system.
I used to have a Humax Freeview PVR which was very good. Lots of recording space, twin tuners, 8 Day EPG, series record, PIP etc, with the added bonus of
A: Being able to ad skip [set it for 15,30, or 60 seconds]
B: Being able to edit recorded shows through the remote control [Clip out ads and bits of other shows at the beginning and end of recordings if you wanted to keep the shows on the player or even download to a PC.
C: USB transfer of recordings as standard without any sort of extra cost package. Sluggish but easy to do and the recordings were in a format that can be used by many converters.

It would be cheaper to find one of these and buy online for delivery within the UK than buy one here and ship it.

Something like the PVR9300T
or the Sharp TUT2HR32

Jughead

141 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#346927 1-Jul-2010 10:54

absoultly not.

Tivo NZ will only work here and in Australia. The epg downloads programme data from tivo nz via broadband which is ip address locked.

there is no way, no how that it will work in the UK.

They used to have the American version in the UK but they have stopped selling that there.

Any views expressed here are my own and do not necessarily represent the views of my employer Telecom NZ

swalker5872

60 posts

Master Geek

#346970 1-Jul-2010 12:58

Thanks for that.
Sounds like I will need to source a PVR in the UK for them and then play helpdesk for a system I have never even seen without even an instruction manual on hand to help out. May have to investigate the TiVo (Virgin?) tie up and see if that device will be the similar to the NZ TiVo to make things a bit easier. Or else leave them in the 20th century and using a VCR!

NonprayingMantis

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#347235 2-Jul-2010 11:00

Sky+ in the uk has a pretty decent PVR - better than MySky over here IMO.

Skolink

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#347935 5-Jul-2010 10:55

The official TiVo service is still running in the UK, although you cannot by new units. You can purchase a second-hand Thomson Series 1 TiVo on Ebay or elsewhere, and use it in conjuction with analog broadcasts or a setellite receiver. Many people use (hacked) Thompson TiVos here in NZ as they are designed primarily for PAL, unlike the US S1 (Philips / Sony) which are originally designed for NTSC.