We just added a handful of TiVo DVRs with pre-paid product lifetime service (PLS). We now have some high definition Series3 TiVos with lifetime service, as well as Humax TiVo DVRs with built-in DVD burners and PLS. In addition, we have a supply of Series1 and Series2 TiVos with PLS, with prices starting at $199.99. Considering that the cost of PLS is $399-$499, these are great deals! If you’re looking for a gift for a family member (Mother’s Day?), this is a great way to get a TiVo without any further financial strings attached. All TiVos come with a 90-day warranty from weaKnees.
Category: WeaKnees News
Quite a few people have reported that Series 2 TiVo DVRs with DIRECTV are losing local channels. We don’t know what changes at DIRECTV have caused this issue, but it seems that only units running outdated software are impacted.
So long as your unit is running the latest version of the TiVo software (6.4a), you should be fine. If your unit is running an earlier version, then it is not going to update itself, even if it is plugged into a phone line. Some DIRECTV reps seem to be telling customers that that units will update themselves, but this has not happened in years and we have not heard any reports of DIRECTV turning on automatic software updates for standard def TiVos.
If your DIRECTV TiVo has recently lost its local channels, you might consider a hard drive upgrade kit. Our drives for the Series2 DIRECTV TiVo DVRs come pre-loaded 6.4a. Alternatively, if you know that your TiVo drive is fully functional, we can load the latest version onto your drive (but we unfortunately cannot save your programming or settings). See here.
Here is a list of impacted units:
DIRECTV R10
DIRECTV HR10-250
Hughes HDVR2
Hughes SDDVR40 / 80 / 120
Philips DSR7000
Philips DSR704
Philips DSR708
RCA DVR39 / 40 / 80 / 120
Samsung SIR-4040R
Samsung SIR-4080R
Samsung SIR-4120R
We are still getting emails from customers with this concern, so we thought a blog post might be a helpful way to address the issue.
Historically, TiVo DVRs have stored two weeks of program guide information. On March 2, 2012, TiVo made a change to the software on certain standard definition TiVos, which cut the guide data down to one week.
From what we understand, TiVo made this change to eliminate a problem being caused by bloated databases. There are now so many channels on cable and satellite, that the total amount of guide data was overloading the TiVo databases and causing the TiVos to generate errors when the data was being processed. To solve the problem, TiVo cut the guide data stored from two weeks to one.
If you have a TiVo that now has guide data going out a week, there is no need to be concerned….your TiVo is doing exactly what it should be doing.
The remote that shipped with the new DIRECTV TiVo was certainly a surprise. While it looks and feels like a standard TiVo Peanut Remote, it’s different. It has totally different IR codes (and it has RF!).
Now, up until this point, all TiVo Peanut Remotes basically had overlapping capabilities. They all could share the standard buttons like TiVo, pause, the numbers, channel up/down, etc. And then some had more specific buttons, like the DVD playing buttons the DVD TiVo remotes have, or the ABCD buttons on the TiVo Premiere remotes, or the keyboard on the Slide Remote. But the main buttons just worked with any other TiVo that also came with a Peanut-shaped remote.
The compatibility for any Peanut remote with any other Peanut remote ended with the THR22. The THR22 is just not compatible with any other TiVo remote. So we had to find and source this remote separately, and they’re now in stock – you can order one from our TiVo THR22 accessories page.
But there’s a silver lining here, at least for some. While it’s not compatible with other TiVo DVRs, it is compatible with DIRECTV HD DVRs. So if you’ve got, say, an HR22 and you’ve always fondly remembered the TiVo remote, well, you can use this! IR code wise, it’s basically the same as the white remotes supplied by DIRECTV.
If you’re looking for a DVR that doesn’t require a monthly fee, we have something that might work for you.
We have several TiVo DVRs here that already have lifetime service paid on them. These are true TiVo DVRs that don’t require a monthly fee. Just to be clear, lifetime service isn’t transferable from one unit to another. So to take advantage of the lifetime service attached to these units, you’ll have to actually use this specific hardware.
All of these units have been refurbished, tested, and warranted by us. All ship with cables and remotes. And, in weaKnees fashion, we can upgrade the recording capacity in these units.
TiVo Product Lifetime Service (PLS) alone costs $399.99 to $499.99 from TiVo. Our units, with this service already on them, start at $199.99!
We currently have several different models in stock – Series 1, Series 2, Series 3 (HD) and even some units with DVD burners in them. But we don’t have a lot of any of these, so if you’re looking, don’t hold off too long.
For cord-cutters, these units make a great way to receive and record OTA channels, and pay no monthly fees at all. Just note that for OTA, the Series 1 units won’t work at all, and the Series 2 units will require a digital converter box (separate hardware, but still no monthly fee). The Series3 HD units have built-in digital tuners to receive and record OTA signals, and, in fact, they can record two at once.
Please see our page of TiVo DVRs with Pre-paid Lifetime Service.