Is TiVo what we needed?

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technicaljoe

248 posts

Master Geek

# 276005 25-Nov-2009 00:12

Absolutely. I wouldn't want the same to happen to me either if I am a retailer. All these opened box goods would be literally useless to me.

I wonder if any retailer has thought about having something like a 48 hours trial unit for those finicky purchases...

rscole86

4354 posts

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# 276028 25-Nov-2009 07:07

Good idea in practice, but who is going to do that, because if they want it, then they will have to come back. And most customers will not want to come back, which is shown by the number that try to get refunds outside the grace period.

RockResearch

152 posts

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# 276035 25-Nov-2009 07:47

I have TiVo with the worst looking aerial on my street (kids laugh at it when they ride past on their bikes) - its a single rod stuck on the end of the pole and not in the slightest bit UHF.

I get great reception on my TiVo, just buy the box and see how it goes. BTW - I don't live next door to the transmitter.

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Stu

Hammered
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# 276049 25-Nov-2009 08:20

I'd be inclined to try the TiVo on your existing aerial, and only call the installer if it doesn't work. No point paying for someone to come out if it's going to work fine anyway. We're in a rather dull spot when it comes to most 'wireless' technologies, including TV and cellular comms! TiVo works great.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

Deev8

481 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 277507 29-Nov-2009 16:29

technicaljoe: I think we will arrange for a Freeview installer to come and test out the signal. If all good, then go get Tivo. Anyone know a good TV person in West Auckland?

If you live in West Auckland then it's likely that you will use the Waiatarua transmitter - sited on top of the Waitakere Ranges.

If you currently get good (analogue) reception of Prime on channel 59 and / or Maori TV on channel 43 which are the channel numbers that Waiatarua broadcasts those stations on, then it's very likely that you will get good Freeview|HD reception. If Prime and Maori TV are a bit fuzzy on analogue then it's possible that you would have to change your aeriel setup for Freeview|HD.

technicaljoe

248 posts

Master Geek

# 281066 10-Dec-2009 00:22

Thanks Deev8!

My reception for Prime is tiny little bit grainy and grainy and flickers a bit for Maori TV.
I think I might see if I could find someone to borrow their Freeview|HD box to test it out :-)

cafeg

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# 281079 10-Dec-2009 05:02

You can buy a freeview box from Dick Smith, try it out and take it back within 7 days for a full refund when it doesn't work if you know what I mean..

juliant

64 posts

Master Geek

# 281387 11-Dec-2009 05:16

Personally I dont like abusing the good will of retailers by buying with no intention of keeping the item. Its a good point though, retailers should offer a way of people taking a demo/shop unit home to double check they can get reception.
Is that a concrete tile roof - if so I think you have more chance of it working than an iron roof.
I second what someone else said - dont pay for an installer yet - beg/borrow a box, hook it up and see if it works. There are maps on the freeview site I think which might give a good indication what areas are OK. What about asking your neighbours?
If you get prime now and its not too bad you should be OK - our prime wasn that good and we dont have a direct line of sight to the transmitter, but we get perfect reception on Freeview Highdef (signal 70 and quality 94). I think unlike analog it is very much on/off -not just varying degrees of clarity.

penfald

94 posts

Master Geek

# 284675 22-Dec-2009 17:54

So, how did it go?

technicaljoe

248 posts

Master Geek

# 284720 22-Dec-2009 21:52

Planning to pick up a TiVo this week, a Christmas gift for the family :-)

I will update this post to let everyone know my TiVo experience.

JAYJAY

119 posts

Master Geek

# 284722 22-Dec-2009 22:04

Not even a week with TiVo and even after forking out $158 for aerial booster, adjustments, tests, up and down off the roof for nearly 2 hours....

I LOVE TIVO! I freaken love it!

What i don't love so much is not having the PRIME EPG. :(

technicaljoe

248 posts

Master Geek

# 284733 22-Dec-2009 22:21

Hopefully we won't run into trouble... I doubt anyone would come out and tweak the aerial for us over Christmas...

JAYJAY

119 posts

Master Geek

# 284735 22-Dec-2009 22:27

Good luck! After many discussions with an antenna/aerial installer if you've got line of sight you have the best chance of getting great reception. I do NOT have line of sight but with a booster installed, and the aerial adjusted to point towards a stronger signal I'm getting 99% quality reception on most channels.

technicaljoe

248 posts

Master Geek

# 285940 29-Dec-2009 22:12

***UPDATE***

Shop Experience:
We got TiVo on Christmas eve. The shop staff weren't very experienced, pretty much rattling off a scripted checklist without knowing what they talking about (a common thing among ALL retailers).

Installation Experience:
The device installation was painless, but entering details using the remote was a bit tiresome. Setting up wireless connection with one of those new Telecom wireless router took a few tries as the router had difficulty to pick up TiVo. The desktop software was a bit buggy, crashed a few times, and silently installed Apple's Bonjour...... It also requires me to install QuickTime and Java...... I haven't play with the software much, so can't comment on its usefulness.

Viewing Experience:
Clear as crystal, everyone in the family commented it's like having an upgrade to the TV! I just programmed in the recording schedules for the next 2 weeks. Will find out how well it works out.

JAYJAY

119 posts

Master Geek

# 285996 30-Dec-2009 07:28

Unfortunately my reception while the weather conditions are raining/cloudy/windy is terrible. Looks like I'll be spending a bit more on the aerial.

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