AppleTV + Tivo Series 3 HD (OTA) = Killer Setup

[Icculus]

Maybe its just me, or that I already have 2 TiVo Series 3 HD units in my house, but I am pumped about the setup I am about to have. Here is how it breaks down.

TiVo (1TB Drive Upgraded) -- We no longer have cable so we use this for OTA, Netflix (until AppleTV arrives), and PyTivoX (streams EVERYTHING from Mac Pro. Divx, Blu-Ray/MTS Streams, MKV, etc. I have yet to find something it cannot stream.)

AppleTV -- Get all the other shows that we cannot get from OTA (Basically all my wife's HGTV shows.)

With these 2 devices I don't see a better setup in my future. Until Apple releases a full blown DVR this is perfect, as I will always need a DVR for OTA shows and since we have had these units for years now there is no point in getting rid of them. Yes it does cost me around $18 a month for the TiVo service, but no cable bill and $30 for Time Warner 20MB down and 1.5MB UP will be perfect for AppleTV streaming.

 

[TheBritishBloke]

Wow that sounds pretty damn sweet! Sounds expensive though LOL!

 

[Icculus]

Well The TiVo's were not cheap, but I bought them years ago so luckily the only new cost I have is the AppleTV and saving over $100 a month with Time Warner. So yeah I agree it is a little expensive if you wanted to do this from scratch. However I would highly suggest looking at craigslist for people dumping broken TiVo's who don't know how to fix them. Every component of a TiVo can be ordered online relatively cheap....and I will help anyone who needs the InstantCake software to reload the base image or anything.

 

[TheBritishBloke]

Well The TiVo's were not cheap, but I bought them years ago so luckily the only new cost I have is the AppleTV and saving over $100 a month with Time Warner. So yeah I agree it is a little expensive if you wanted to do this from scratch. However I would highly suggest looking at craigslist for people dumping broken TiVo's who don't know how to fix them. Every component of a TiVo can be ordered online relatively cheap....and I will help anyone who needs the InstantCake software to reload the base image or anything.

Wait, you guys have to pay monthly for a DVR?

 

[Icculus]

Wait, you guys have to pay monthly for a DVR?

Only if you have a stupid TiVo device. I love the device, best DVR imo, but TiVo screws you royally. They charge you $8-$10 a month (haven't looked at bill in years) per DVR for the TV Guide. Total rip-off, but unfortunately no way around it. You do have the option of paying $300 up front and never have to worry about the fee but I am always leary of that as I don't know when the next new bad ass DVR will be out and don't want to be out $300. Although I have had these units long enough where I have almost coughed up $300 in fees....argh. Thanks for making me think of it!

 

[bigpatky]

Only if you have a stupid TiVo device. I love the device, best DVR imo, but TiVo screws you royally. They charge you $8-$10 a month (haven't looked at bill in years) per DVR for the TV Guide. Total rip-off, but unfortunately no way around it. You do have the option of paying $300 up front and never have to worry about the fee but I am always leary of that as I don't know when the next new bad ass DVR will be out and don't want to be out $300. Although I have had these units long enough where I have almost coughed up $300 in fees....argh. Thanks for making me think of it!

the monthly charges for tivo service is comparable to your cable company's charge for renting an hd box and using their dvr services. of course, it depends on your provider and market but with tivo, i haven't paid comcast a dime for renting a box or using their crappy dvr in years.

 

[hitekalex]

Only if you have a stupid TiVo device. I love the device, best DVR imo, but TiVo screws you royally. They charge you $8-$10 a month (haven't looked at bill in years) per DVR for the TV Guide. Total rip-off, but unfortunately no way around it.

Sure there is.. Dump the Tivo's on eBay, and get yourself a copy of EyeTV and a few additional Apple TV's to replace the Tivo's. Then you can run EyeTV DVR on your MacPro and stream all the DVR'ed shows to any of the ATVs around the house. All for zero monthly fee.

 

[PurdueGuy]

Sure there is.. Dump the Tivo's on eBay, and get yourself a copy of EyeTV and a few additional Apple TV's to replace the Tivo's. Then you can run EyeTV DVR on your MacPro and stream all the DVR'ed shows to any of the ATVs around the house. All for zero monthly fee.

For OTA, yes. But for people like me, with cable, you can't do that with EyeTV. You need a CableCARD to get all those other channels.

And I've paid lifetime on my units, and recouped a rather large amount of the up front cost when selling them. So I'm content with that purchase and expenditure for ease of use, quiet, etc. YMMV.

 

[hitekalex]

For OTA, yes. But for people like me, with cable, you can't do that with EyeTV. You need a CableCARD to get all those other channels.

Sure, but I thought the idea was to get rid of the monthly TV bill.. If you're content with paying your cable provider $50+ per month - you're probably not getting the most benefits out of Apple TV / iTunes show rentals.