# I screwed up and got a Tivo 2. Does it have any current utility? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 6, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-screwed-up-and-got-a-tivo-2-does-it-have-any-current-utility/502026 "2009-07-06T00:11:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-screwed-up-and-got-a-tivo-2-does-it-have-any-current-utility/502026/1 "2009-07-06T00:11:54Z")
I picked up Tivo 2 40 hour recording model that appears to be new in the box and fully functional with all accessories. I paid $ 25.00 for it at a local thrift but I was so interested in the tech and the cheap price I didn’t stop to think think about the fact that I rarely watch TV and only have basic tier cable. Before I try and dump it on Ebay or give it away is there anything you can do with an older DVR like this? Can I use it to record basic cable (Comcast) without paying some subscription fee? The fold out setup guide seems to indicate it will work with a wireless internet system to play MP3s but you it appears have to get a TIVO wireless USB adapter to plug into the USB port on the back of the TIVO. ---
**Author:** ![sharding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@sharding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sharding)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-screwed-up-and-got-a-tivo-2-does-it-have-any-current-utility/502026/2 "2009-07-06T00:34:14Z")
It’ll work fine for basic cable. It will not do HD, and it will not do digital cable without a cable box (IMHO it’s too much of a pain to use it with a cable box, so I personally would only use it if you don’t currently have a cable box). However, it’s not going to be terribly useful without the TiVo service. If you’re opposed to paying for the service, you should probably get rid of it. ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-screwed-up-and-got-a-tivo-2-does-it-have-any-current-utility/502026/3 "2009-07-06T00:48:30Z")
> [@](#): > > Can I use it to record basic cable (Comcast) without paying some subscription fee? Yes, they can be used as time-based recorders without a schedule like old VCRs. There’s an active tivo forum here: [http://tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/](http://tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/) ---
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-screwed-up-and-got-a-tivo-2-does-it-have-any-current-utility/502026/4 "2009-07-06T01:10:52Z")
> [@astro](#): > > I picked up Tivo 2 40 hour recording model that appears to be new in the box and fully functional with all accessories. I paid $ 25.00 for it at a local thrift but I was so interested in the tech and the cheap price I didn’t stop to think think about the fact that I rarely watch TV and only have basic tier cable. > > Before I try and dump it on Ebay or give it away is there anything you can do with an older DVR like this? Can I use it to record basic cable (Comcast) without paying some subscription fee? The fold out setup guide seems to indicate it will work with a wireless internet system to play MP3s but you it appears have to get a TIVO wireless USB adapter to plug into the USB port on the back of the TIVO. There are many USB Wireless adapters that will work with it. I have a Dual tyuner Series 2 myself