FIOS HD set top box and TIVO HD on same TV?

igginsq1

I searched, but didn't find an answer...

I don't think that the VZ HD DVR will have enough storage space for my needs. I'd like to get the TIVO HD box, but I like the VOD stuff, too.

Has anyone hooked up both the HD set top box and a TIVO HD to the same TV? I'm guessing it would work OK, but I wanted to know if anyone else has tried it.

It would probably be $9.99 for the HD set top box , plus 2 X $3.99 for the cable cards, and plus whatever amount TIVO charges for service ($12.95 or less), per month.

Any comments are appreciated.

JPL

I've never done that, but there are others I've heard about (on another forum) who have. Can't see why it wouldn't work.

rkkeller

I have been debating the same thing too or even getting rid of the Moto DVR.

The TiVo space can be upgraded yourself, has way better search ability, wishlists, better guide and data and a few other advantages.

All the Moto and Verizon has is PPV and VOD right now neither of which I really use. In the future it will have HD VOD and games and the HD VOD is whats keeping me right now. I am worried they will add a lot of HD VOD and count that as a HD "channel" and only add a few real HD channels.

Then I am stuck with a $300-400 investment locked into a long term TiVo contract as thats the only way to get a decent monthly price and missing out on a lot of HD stuff.

JPL

I think you're right to have that concern. I don't think they're going to use Comcast math and count VOD as a channel - they haven't done that to date -- in fact I think Verizon is the most honest when it comes to counting channels. They count channels as... actual channels! Unlike Comcast that counts VOD as channels, or DirecTV that counts things like PPV as channels. Verizon has indicated that they will have 150 HD channels per market on average by end of 2008. And they define that list to include: national HD channels, local HD channels, and premium HD channels (HBO, e.g.). They also indicated that they'll have 1000 HD VOD titles by end of 2008. They actually do separate the two in their accounting.

That being said, I agree with you that they may offer VOD only stuff. And in fact, they do that today. They have FEARNet and some Horror channel stuff only on VOD (what can I say, I'm a horror movie nut), as well as a VOD-only 'channel' that was created - I forget the name, but it only carries a handful of foreign independent films. Plus if you get the movie pack, Starz does early premiers - they put movies on demand a couple weeks before they broadcast them on their standard channels. I actually think you're going to see the advent of alot more really niche VOD only channels pop up. It makes sense. If you have a real niche type of programming that you want to offer (foreign independent films, e.g.) you can just set up a handful of servers, and you're good to go. No need for a TV studio... no need to hire on-screen personalities, or run commercials, or any of that stuff. It's a relatively cheap alternative to setting up an actual cable channel.

Quake97

Sure, you can do this, just make sure your TV or receiver has enough inputs. Ideally, you'd run HDMI for everything so if your TV only has one HDMI port get a switcher. That's what I did. I have a Series3 TiVo and a PS3. I have the HDMI cables going into the switcher and one HDMI cable to the TV. I run the audio into the receiver.

Joe

igginsq1

Yeah, I'm planning on getting a new LCD, as I'm out of HD inputs on my HD CRT. If I don't get an HDMI switcher, I'd need 5 HD inputs (HDMI or COMPONENT), because I have way too many devices! Some of the panels have 4 HDMI inputs, and a couple COMPONENT.

So, thanks for all of the replies. It sounds like VZ wouldn't have a problem supplying both a set top box and cable cards for one TV (now that I think about it, it's like having two TVs...). I may wait for a month or so, to see if the cable cards are better understood by VZ techs.