Once upon a time Jim Robertson shaped the electrons to say... > LCD projection TV (doesn't have the multi-pin HDMA input that's on current > TVs; uses 3 RCA jacks for HD input). I have a series 2 DirecTiVo DVR; I've
So no HDMI, but rather component video. > 1. Does DirecTV's own HD-DVR have a "Season Pass" equivalent? Does it allow > me to watch one thing and record another simultaneously? Yes, it has a rough equivalent to SPs. And it does have dual-tuners, so you can record with one and watch with the other - or record two and watch a recording. > 2. Should I be considering changing to Comcast in order to stay with TiVo? Well, it is worth considering at least. You could use the TiVo Series3 or the TiVo HD and record both cable and antenna HD content, and you'd have access to all the features DirecTV disables - MRV, TiVoToGo, Amazon Unbox, Rhapsody, Music Choice, etc, etc. > What's the current scuttlebutt about a renewed alliance between TiVo and > DirecTV? Still an active rumor. TiVo drops hints about it semi-regularly on their calls and conference appearances. The standing rumor is that once Liberty Media completes their acquisition of DirecTV from News Corp, they may switch back to TiVo. Liberty is a major corporate investor in TiVo - News Corp owns NDS, the provider DTV switched to under their ownership. > 3. Even though I wouldn't save any money by transitioning to DISH (and I'd > have a useless TiVo to boot), does anyone think I'd be happier with the DISH > HD DVR than DirecTV's HD DVR? Probably not. And there is still the patent infringement suit by TiVo against Dish looming over their DVRs. > 4. Currently, I have 2 phone lines in my house. One carries the DSL signal, > and my dim recollection when I set things up was that I couldn't use that > line for the DirecTV middle of the night phone calls that update the TV You should be able to. You probably just need a DSL line filter on the jack to prevent the DSL signal from creating line noise for the modem. > will also bring in the DSL signal, and getting the second line via ATT's > VOIP (CallVantage)service. I'm told there are converters that will allow FAX > signals to run over that service, but I'm not sure whether I'd be able to Do NOT rely on VOIP for modems unless they *explicitly* guarantee that the modems WILL work. Modems generally do *not* work over VOIP lines. If they offer a service that explicitly supports modems or fax machines, that may work. And it would not really be two lines anyway. You'd have a POTS line with DSL sharing the copper, then the VOIP is simply IP traffic on top of the DSL. It is all on the same copper. That's another point in favor of the standalone TiVo - you don't need a phone line, they can use a network connection. In fact, the network connection is better. > concern here is that the max download rate I can get at this address via DSL > is 3 mbits/sec because of my linear distance from the nearest fiber closet. 3Mbps is pretty good actually. > Anyone able to hazard a guess whether that's enough for one line VOIP (it > wouldn't be the primary voice line) as well as general internet access for > 2-5 computers (typical residential use, although my son does some bittorrent > downloads - no hosting - when he thinks I'm not looking). It should be way more than enough. -MZ -- megazone-at-megazone.org http://www.MegaZone.org/ Gweep, Geek, Human, me. http://www.TiVoLovers.com/ http://www.Eyrie-Productions.com/ -><- Hail Eris "A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men" 508-852-2171
