Home > Consumer Reviews > TiVo TCD648250B Series3 HD Digital Media Recorder

When we purchased an HDTV earlier this year, we resigned ourselves to using the DVR provided by Comcast, our cable company. We knew we needed DVR functionality, and we weren't content to watch only standard definition TV on our new set. So we bit the bullet and replaced our TiVo Series 2 with the Comcast-supplied DVR. I'm not going to review the Comcast DVR in depth here, but it's safe to say that I'm overjoyed to be able to go back to a TiVo device for our main TV.

I've been using the TiVo Series 3 for only about three days, so these are initial impressions. Overall, it's a huge improvement over the cable company DVR. It has the same awesome TiVo interface we knew and loved from our previous TiVos, but it's been spruced up a bit for HD. It looks nice. The picture quality is excellent, and the TiVo Series 3 has a great variety of options for what video modes it sends to the TV.

I had absolutely no trouble getting the two Cable Cards working. I plugged them both in to the box at the appropriate point in Guided Setup, called Comcast to have them activated, and then finished Guided Setup. They've worked perfectly from the beginning, tuning both SD and HD channels, both premium and non-premium.

I stole the TiVo wireless adapter from my Series 2 for the Series 3, and it worked seamlessly. I plugged it in before guided setup, and the TiVo used it for its connection from the beginning.

The only real problem I've experienced is that I've had a few very short audio dropouts. These last for less than a second, and seem to be related to load or resource constraints on the TiVo. For example, on the day I experienced this, I could clearly trigger it by scrolling around in the program guide. Making the box work harder had an obvious correlation to the audio dropouts. However, when I wasn't using the guide, the dropouts were very infrequent, and I haven't experienced them since that day. I don't find this to be a severe bug, but it's obviously something I'd like to see fixed. As it is, it's far less frequent and much less disruptive than the problems I had with my Comcast DVR.

At the time of this writing, a few features have not yet been enabled on the Series 3. This may or may not be a big deal to you:

1. TiVo To Go (transfer shows to and from your computer). I never used this on my Series 2, so its absence doesn't concern me at all.
2. Multi-room Viewing (transfer shows between TiVo boxes over the network). I'd like to have this, but it's not crucial for me.
3. Storage expansion via the ESATA port (attach an external SATA hard drive). For me, this is another "nice to have" feature, and certainly not a showstopper.

TiVo claims that these features will be added in a future release. At this time, it sounds like the ESATA port is less in doubt than the other two features. However, if any of these features is a dealbreaker for you, it would probably be wise to wait until it's actually shipped before you buy a Series 3. There's no guarantee as to when, or even if, these will actually happen. I'm personally ok with that, but you'll have to make your own decision.

I'm extremely happy with the TiVo Series 3. Yes, it's expensive. But to me, it was well worth the cost to get rid of the cable company DVR. To put it in perspective, it costs a lot less than most HDTVs, and in my mind the improvement it brings to the television wathching experience is on par with what HDTV brings.

I've recently upgraded from the original TiVo to the new "Series3" HD TiVo. This review was written with the new Series3 out for less than one month, so some of the shortcomings listed below may have been addressed by the time you read this.

TiVo did a spectacular job with the hardware. The recorder can hold ~35 hours of HDTV or ~300 hours of non-HD programming, which is significantly more than cable company-provided DVRs. The Series3 can record two shows at once -- either OTA (connect an antenna to receive the networks) or cable via CableCards, and if you have a recent HDTV, the TiVo can output all the recording via HDMI (a pure digital connection between the TiVo and your HDTV). It also contains a host of less major upgrades (back lit remote, an OLED display, etc) that improve upon the famous TiVo experience.

I should point out that, at the time of writing, the Series3 is missing functionality that is available on older TiVos, such as ability to export shows to your PC, iPod, etc (TivoToGo), and the ability to view shows recorded on the Series3 on other TiVos in your house (Multi-room viewing). If these are important to you, you may want to delay your purchase until this functionality is added (currently, there is no guarantee they will be available). I rated the item as "4 stars" because of the missing functionality.

If you plan on viewing only OTA (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, etc via an antenna) programming, you can stop reading this review, since the rest of it deals with using TiVo with cable company supplied CableCards.

Most people who purchase a TiVo Series3 do so with the intention of using it with their cable service, and the only way to receive digital (non-basic) cable service on the Series3 is with the use of cable company-supplied CableCards. Unlike older TiVos, a cable box cannot be connected to the Series3. If you plan on using a Series3 with cable, be aware that getting and installing CableCards *can* be very difficult, and you may wish to check with your cable provider prior to purchasing the Series3. Some caveats, based on my experience with the second largest cable provider:

(1) The customer service agents flatly refused to provide CableCards for use in a TiVo. It required multiple calls and escalations to finally have a manager "approve" the install. You should note that cable companies are *required*, by law, to provide CableCards for compatible devices. Most cable companies charge a monthly fee (usually less than $2) for each CableCard.

(2) Some cable companies require a technician to "install" the cards on premises, which may cost you $35 - $45 for the install (again, check with your cable co). Unfortunately for me, the installer couldn't activate the cards. This also appears to be a frequent issue at the time of writing. Multiple calls later, I finally found a customer service agent who was able to activate both cards.

(3) With CableCards, you cannot receive OnDemand and Pay Per View events. You should also note that some cable companies are placing channels on "Switched Digital Video" (SDV). SDV channels are not compatible with the Series3, so check with your cable provider.

(4) Finally, if you subscribe to a cable package such a digital cable + broadband Internet, you cable price may not go down if you return your set-top box. In my case, the price would actually have *increased* since, without the cable box, since I would not be eligible for the package pricing. Needless to say, I kept the cable box.

Overall, I am satisfied with my Series3. The initial installation problems caused a couple of headaches, but once resolved, it has performed quite well. Some of cable company problem might become less frustrating once the cable co gains more experience with this product.

Let me be clear: no other DVR from a cable company can come close to the TiVo experience. TiVo has gotten so many of the fine details right that it's worth every penny of the extra cost.

PROS (especially when compared to cable company DVRs):
-- It could not be easier to find and schedule recordings of your favorite shows. DVR's from the cable company make the process soooooo much more complicated.
-- You can schedule your recordings online from anywhere you have an internet connection. I use this feature all the time -- more than I expected.
-- The television guide is better than any other guide you can find anywhere else. It doesn't get any better. Period.
-- It is so much easier to forward through shows. When you fast forward, it even knows to rewind a few seconds so you don't miss any part of the program. Small detail, but what a difference it makes.
-- The TiVo remote is so comfortable and easy to use. No other remote comes close.
-- You can stream music and videos to your TiVo, so no need to buy a separate multimedia network device. When you have people over, you can leave the tv on and show great pictures or artwork. Very cool.

WHAT'S NEW:
Compared to Tivo Series2, here is what is new:
-- Accepts cable cards, so you can ditch you cable box.
-- Dual tuners so you can watch and record two shows at once.
-- The new remote has backlighting and is a "learning remote"
-- Nice new look that is sleek sitting near the tv.
-- Has a front display that shows the time and other info. You can turn this off if you want.
-- You can hook the TiVo directly into your network with ethernet... no adapter necessary. Or you can use a wireless USB router.

CONS:
While I'm still giving TiVo 5 stars since it does all the important things perfectly, it is important to know that there are some features not available yet, even though they are on earlier TiVo's:

-- You cannot transfer tv shows to your computer or laptop. I use this feature all the time with my old TiVo since it's great for traveling with your favorite shows
-- Kidszone is not available (a great feature if you have kids in the house)
-- Ability to transfer shows between TiVo's.

What to know about CableCards:
-- My cable company had never seen a TiVo Series3, so they were a little confused. Hopefully that will change over time.
-- Cablecards are not terribly common yet and the technology isn't flawless. It took three long visits from my cable company to get the cable cards working. But the problem was NOT TiVo's fault.
-- With the cable cards, you probably won't need your cable box. Since cable cards usually cost a lot less to rent each month, you can save $10 to $15 per month. It makes the cost of TiVo service a little easier to rationalize. ;-)
-- Cable cards do not work if you want to rent movies through your cable company. This is something cable companies are working on, but it could be a while.

I consider myself a TiVo oldtimer. I've been using one for more than 6 years, and am a devout couch potato. I started with a Sony SVR-2000 which I have upgraded from 30 hours to 140, and added a new modem when the built-in one got fried (a common problem).

So when TiVo offered to transfer my lifetime subscription to a Series 3 (for a cost of $200, so they're not exactly giving the transfer away), I decided to take the plinge. What I expected was a lot more storage (300 hours basic, or 30 hours of HD), and a dual tuner (you can record 2 shows, and watch a recorded show at the same time).

Here's some things worth noting: You can hook up a basic able connection, and an OTA (over the air) antenna, or 1 or 2 cable cards (which replace cable boxes). You cannot hook a cable box to the Series 3.

OTA antenna, which most people associate with mediocre quality, now can receive HD digital signals, which if you can pick them up, provide exceptional picture and sound quality. I live about 35-40 miles from Philadelphia, and can receive the major networks, and a few independent stations great with an old rooftop antenna. The quality of the HD broadcasts exceeds any cable broadcast, and even make DVDs look uninspiring. And it's FREE.

If you get a good basic cable signal, you could survive without the cable cards, but you need them if you subscribe to any premium (scrambled) channels, or cable HD service. The cost of leasing the cable cards run from free, to about $3 each per month. Some rare markets charge more. But now the cable companies are required to offer them. Some people have mentioned difficulties in installing them, but I opted to do it myself (some cable companies also require you to pay for installation, but mine didn't). You have to call in to have them activated, which if you follow the included instructions, goes pretty smoothly, and only takes a few minutes to setup.

The old method of downloading program data was over the phone (the TiVo would dial in once a day, and update program data). The newer units can hook up to a home network (if you have high speed internet access). You can connect to your network with a cable, or with a wireless adapter (wireless connection with the Series 3 requires the TiVo adapter, about $50. No other wireless network adapter will work). Again, hooking up the TiVo adapter went smoothly, and only took a few minutes.

Now for the downside: My TiVo decided to reboot without warning or reason. I have heard this happen to others. For a $700 box, this is quite frustrating. The wireless adapter is suspect in causing this, so I may return the TiVo adapter and hardwire the box to my router. Also, when changing channels from antenna to cable stations, there is often a several second delay, while the box figures out how to deal with the change in resolution and signal source.

Also included with the Series 3 is the ability to download podcasts, and certain Yahoo services (like weather and traffic), and a few games.

If you have a lifetime subscription on an older TiVo, you have till the end of the year to transfer it to a Series 3. You can no longer purchase lifetime service from TiVo, so it is definitely something to consider. But it's still expensive ($650-$800 for the box, and $200 for the service transfer). If you don't have service yet, it'll run you between $10-$15/month to $300 for a prepaid 3 year contract.

Most cable companies now offer DVRs for $10-$15 a month, but they're not really in the same league as TiVo. Go to TiVo dot com for more descriptions of features and options, and visit weaknees dot com, for more info, upgrades, or to read the forums. There's also tivocommunity dot com. If you like to watch TV, but hate programming a VCR or watching commercials, put TiVo on your holiday wishlist...

Update 11/2007: Just bought a second unit. Hard to find out from TiVo, but Multiroom Viewing is now available for the Series 3. And for $200 you can triple the capacity with the Expander.

I'll talk about the cons first which other reviewers have mentioned.

Thumbs Down:

- There's no TiVoToGo or multi-room viewing (you can always keep your TiVo 2 active for the TiVoToGo)
- You cannot record HD from a Satellite receiver or cable box.
- One reviewer mentioned sound drop-out when flipping around the guide. This happens to me also.
- Press thumbs-up to record causes problems for me (rebooting is the worst of the problems). I've opened a ticket with TiVo for this and will avoid that feature for now.
- Also, my TiVo rebooted every time it hit a particular part of an HD recording where the signal was dropping out. I've also opened a ticket with TiVo. The problem has only happened once.
- I will have to open a 3rd ticket with TiVo because I cannot access the broadband features like Yahoo. I had the same problem with my series 2 which required a software update to correct.
- Cable card installation was finicky, but not as bad as the other reviewer mentioned. This was the first HD TiVo the tech had encountered, but the problems with the cable cards were with the company, not the TiVo. Both cards were working fine by the time he left.
- Finally, the $800 price-tag is extreme; especially given some of the problems I've experience.
- TiVo's lifetime subscription is no longer available to new customers. (Even the offer for existing customers expires 12/31).

Thumbs Up:

- Being a TiVo customer since 2001, my experience tells me they will resolve all the technical problems mentioned above.
- This is TiVo!!! Any of you who have TiVo know what that means. I was waiting for this TiVo before upgrading to HD and I'm glad I did wait.
- If you have a current lifetime subscription on a series 1 or 2 TiVo and can afford to drop $1000. You should get this unit for the $800 + another $200 to transfer your lifetime service. This means no monthly fees and your old TiVo will still be active for a year.
- This TiVo's set-up does not require a phone connection like previous TiVos. The whole initial set-up took 20 minutes over my home network.
- The remote is backlit and has a couple new buttons, but is the familiar TiVo remote. (I use a logitech harmony remote though, which I love)
- Recording from 2 tuners! The new series 2 also can record 2 shows, but it's a definite plus made available on the series 3. Press live tv to switch between tuners.
- You can hook up an antenna to record HD content from your local stations for free.
- 5.1 sound!!!! It's great that TiVo records the digital sound along with the HD picture. Watching football last Sunday sounded almost like being in the stadium.
- 480i content through the HDMI output is crystal clear.
- The front display has control buttons, a clock, and displays the name of the show it's recording.
- It is quieter than previous TiVos.

Overall, if you're a current TiVo customer and you don't want to lose the interface you love when you switch to HD, you will want this box. If you're new to TiVo, you will be amazed at it's functionality. TiVo can record based on season passes or word-search wishlists and parents will love scheduling approved content for your children's TV time. Some of you may want to wait for the price to come down and for TiVo to resolve some of the kinks before you buy.