2nd tivo service?

[jacksprat]

I have had DirectTV tivo for a couple of months. At this year's Christmas party, I won a TiVo. My questions are: Can I use DTivo service? Do I need to activate the stand alone Tivo with DirectTV? Do the 2 talk? Do I need to subscribe to Tivo separately from Direct TV. Do I have a Clue??? Okay, I know the answer to that one. Any info is appreciated. Thanks.

[Ray_Clum]

If you've already got a DirecTiVo, then use it. The SA TiVo and the DTiVo can work together, but why? You would have to pay TiVo for the SA unit (at about $12/mo or pay for a lifetime $250 IIRC). Best bet, eBay the SA TiVo.

[jacksprat]

Ray,
thanks for your advice,
So, are you saying that Direct TV probably couldn't be talked
into activating my SATivo at their $4.95 monthly price,
or that Direct TV's system won't talk to a SA Tivo.
Since we won this unit, we thought we'd use it on
the second floor.
What price could be asked for a brand new TIVO unit
do you think? IT's a 40 hour TIVO series 2.
Thanks and happy new year

[FTA Michael]

Sure, you can activate your SA Tivo directly with the Tivo folks. If you have two SA Tivos in the same family, they'll give you a discount off the normal monthly rate (http://www.tivo.com/4.9.save.asp), but I doubt that'd work with one DirecTivo and one SA. Wouldn't hurt to ask.

You can use your SA with D* (the PQ won't be as nice), or OTA, or anything else. The benefit is if you should ever switch from D* to something else, the SA will still be useful.

[FTA Michael]

What price could be asked for a brand new TIVO unit
do you think? IT's a 40 hour TIVO series 2.Forgot to mention, that same page (http://www.tivo.com/4.9.save.asp) offers that box for $99 after rebate.

[mini1]

Sell the stand alone. Its much cheaper to pick up another DirecTivo and it add it to your account for no more then you are already paying now. DirecTV charges by the account on Tivo, not by the unit. you could have 1 DirecTivo or 5 and still pay the flat rate $4.95. Your best bet is to sell the stand alone before it becomes outdated for around $99, depending on hard drive size. Do not activate it before you sell it. DirecTV will not activate stand alone Tivo's and you can not add them to your bill, you must deal with Tivo directly for stand alones.

[jacksprat]

Thanks, sounds like good advice.

[jdspencer]

Do you know about the TiVo forums?
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/index.php?s=
Lot's of good info there for the standalones and the DirecTV DVRs.