# TIVO subscription, and alternatives? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 15, 2005, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tivo-subscription-and-alternatives/321791 "2005-09-15T15:17:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tivo-subscription-and-alternatives/321791/41 "2005-09-16T02:13:56Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > There’s also a workaround to force it to do the first setup via WiFi. I’m not sure how well this works, but I remember reading about it. It works. I don’t have a phone line, but I was able to do the initial setup through my cable modem with a USB Ethernet adapter. You just have to enter a special dialing prefix. > [@larsenmtl](#): > > TiVo claims these flags will prevent you from keeping “OnDemand” recordings and “Pay-per-view” recordings indefinitely and were put in place in response to pressures from the Networks and Cable providers. From what I’ve heard, these flags are controlled by the content provider and not TiVo, so if you ask me it’s opening up a whole mess of problems. Indeed. People have experienced these flags on syndicated reruns that were broadcast over the air. Everyone says the flags were put there by mistake, but I don’t want some TV station’s foulup or a burst of static telling the equipment _I paid for_ to delete the shows I chose to record. TiVo is supposed to be better than a VCR, not worse. Luckily, my TiVo is running an older version of the OS that doesn’t use those flags, and I’m not going to let it upgrade. > [@](#): > > TiVo uses it’s own algorithm to encode and decode video to MPEG. Whether or not it’s been cracked, shouldn’t be discussed here. You can copy shows from TiVo to your PC and watch them there, so your computer already has the decryption filters if you install TiVo Desktop - you can find programs that’ll use them to turn .tivo files into unencrypted .mpg files, or do it by hand with a free tool from Microsoft’s DirectX SDK. You don’t need to crack the encryption; TiVo gives you the decryption code. If you’re willing to open your TiVo’s case and void the warranty, you can perform all kinds of hacks, from installing a bigger hard drive to disabling the encryption. > [@amarinth](#): > > They also don’t seem to let you record two channels at once… is there anyone out there that will let me do that? If you have satellite TV, you can use DirecTiVo, or if you have digital cable, your cable company’s DVR might be able to record two shows at once. Standalone TiVos can only do one at a time because they only have one MPEG encoder, but digital satellite and cable are delivered to your home as MPEG streams already. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tivo-subscription-and-alternatives/321791/42 "2005-09-16T02:34:37Z")
There are several options. 1. Buy a TiVo with a lifetime subscription on ebay. These are about $250. 2. Build a [computer](http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,109098,00.asp) to function as a DVR. These don’t require subscriptions, just software. 3. Get TiVo basic, which doesn’t have season pass so its not very TiVo-ish but that doesn’t require a subscription. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tivo-subscription-and-alternatives/321791/43 "2005-09-16T06:14:34Z")
> [@Lips\_Obsession](#): > > the latest release of the TiVo software, 7.2, now supports setup via ethernet Excellent! I just scoured the TiVo website the other day, and there was no mention of this. It keeps me from looking into TiVo more seriously, because I haven’t had a land line since February (and the website refrain of “no land line? well, remember that you only need it once!” makes me want to smack someone). Their site _does_ say that you can do the setup anywhere and then bring the unit back to your home to use with the network, but I didn’t find that particularly helpful: like I’m going to take my TiVo box to a friend’s house and hook it up to their TV and phone line, only to have to disconnect it all? And, from what I understand, the initial setup can take a few hours. Uh-uh. However, get me a system that can be completely set up without a land line, and I might just have to finally give in – though what I _really_ want is playback on any TV in my house, not just the one I have TiVo hooked up to. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tivo-subscription-and-alternatives/321791/44 "2005-09-16T12:25:39Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > However, get me a system that can be completely set up without a land line, and I might just have to finally give in – though what I _really_ want is playback on any TV in my house, not just the one I have TiVo hooked up to. 🙂 Any version after 3.x can be set up without a land line. Just put “,#401” in the dialing prefix field, and it’ll use your USB network adapter instead of the phone line. As for watching it on any TV in the house, try a [wireless video transmitter and receiver](http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?cookie%5Ftest=1&catalog_name=CTLG&product_id=15-2572). ---
**Author:** ![MizGrand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@MizGrand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizGrand)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tivo-subscription-and-alternatives/321791/45 "2005-09-16T12:52:24Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > I was looking around the TiVo website and was a little peeved that TiVo still seems to require a phone jack. Au contraire! They tell you that you need a phone line, however, mine is never connected until the receiver tells me it’s been like 45 days since I’ve connected. I hooked up a little 12" phone cord to the receiver and pull my regular phone line from the actual phone and hook it up. Depending on the amount of time since previous connection, updates can take from 5 minutes to about 20. I, like you, didn’t want another phone line mucking up my floor and providing yet another “pull-toy” for my toddler. ---
**Author:** ![Lips\_Obsession](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bbce88/32.png) [@Lips\_Obsession](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lips_Obsession)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tivo-subscription-and-alternatives/321791/46 "2005-09-16T15:11:56Z")
> [@RSSchen](#): > > Au contraire! They tell you that you need a phone line, however, mine is never connected until the receiver tells me it’s been like 45 days since I’ve connected. I hooked up a little 12" phone cord to the receiver and pull my regular phone line from the actual phone and hook it up. Depending on the amount of time since previous connection, updates can take from 5 minutes to about 20. > > I, like you, didn’t want another phone line mucking up my floor and providing yet another “pull-toy” for my toddler. The problem with that method is your program guide information will be less than “full” much of the time, and possibly inaccurate, if program schedule changes have taken place. You might want to look into one of the wireless phone jack systems. That might solve your problem, if you don’t have a home network you can connect your TiVo to. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tivo-subscription-and-alternatives/321791/47 "2005-09-16T15:23:26Z")
> [@Mr2001](#): > > Any version after 3.x can be set up without a land line. Just put “,#401” in the dialing prefix field, and it’ll use your USB network adapter instead of the phone line. Ah, the workaround that everyone else only alluded to … thanks. 🆒 > [@](#): > > As for watching it on any TV in the house, try a [wireless video transmitter and receiver](http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?cookie%5Ftest=1&catalog_name=CTLG&product_id=15-2572). I don’t think that’s what I want: don’t those require the program to be playing on the TiVo set first? I’ve always thought that those things are for watching one show on two TVs. If I hook TiVo up to my living room set, I don’t want that TV to have to be on and playing something in order to watch it upstairs in my bedroom (for example). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tivo-subscription-and-alternatives/321791.md?page=2)