Hopefully this will be of help to anyone considering purchasing a used Tivo off Trade Me.

The Tivo can only be activated once.

You can create an account on Tivo using the 15 digit number but the Tivo will remain registered to the original buyer.

Once you are registered you can merge the sellers account with your new account through your Tivo Dashboard. To do this you require the sellers original email address and password they originally activated the Tivo with.

My own personal experience is that the Tivo is up and running with program guide info and all functions accept I have no Media Access Key and can't take advantage of the Home Network option or remote record through Tivo Genie.

From what I can tell it looks like the original seller never bothered activating the Home Network option and I can't do it without getting their original registration details to merge the account and then activate the Home Network. Update: Home Network Activation, you need to activate your Home Networking Package by the 31 March 2010 to ensure you get it for free.

If buying, you require the sellers original email address and password they originally activated the Tivo with to transfer full ownership to you.

If they have concerns about providing that information ask them to change their details (email and password)to a disposable email account through the Tivo Dashboard online. And then pass on to you.