TiVo Frequently Asked Questions - TiVo FAQ
TiVo with DVD Recorder FAQ
Can the Humax DRT400, DRT800 and Toshiba RS-TX20 and RS-TX60
record VHS tapes onto DVD? Can I record home movies onto DVD?
Yes. Using composite inputs (red/white/yellow) or a FireWire cable
(DRT800 and Toshiba only) you can attach any input source, including
a home video camera or a VCR for recording to DVD. Once you have
the external source connected, the unit will allow you to record
to DVD from that source.
Will the TiVo DVD recorder allow me to edit content before
burning to DVD?
No. The units do not include editing features. But they will
allow you to set the DVD to burn several shows in order, and it
will create a TiVo-style menu on the DVD for accessing those recordings.
How long does it take to burn DVDs?
The units include up to 4x record speed. It takes about 15
minutes to burn a 1-hour program to DVD in basic quality mode (using
DVR Version 2.0 4X Media). Recordings at higher quality levels
will take somewhat longer to burn. Recordings from an external
source (video camera, VCR, etc., burn in real time).
Can I burn multiple recordings onto DVD?
Yes. Before burning, you will be given a list of your recorded
shows. You will select which shows you want to burn and the order
in which you want them to appear. When played, the burned DVD will
show an on-screen menu allowing you to navigate to the show you
want to play.
If I use the TiVo to burn a DVD, can I move that DVD
to a laptop or other DVD-player to watch the recorded shows?
Yes. The DVDs recorded onto the TiVo will play in most standard
DVD players, including DVD players in PCs.
I have a Series 2 standalone TiVo with the Home Media
Feature. If I buy the TiVo/DVD combo, can I burn the shows from
my other TiVo onto the DVD in this unit?
Yes and no. No, you cannot use the Home Media Feature to burn
shows in digital format. You can, however, connect the standalone
TiVo to the combo TiVo and burn recordings in real time, just as
you would save a show to VCR.
Do these units come with lifetime service?
Yes and no. The Humax DRT400 and DRT800 require TiVo service,
but are eligible for monthly service and lifetime service. The Toshiba
units include"TiVo Basic" service, which is a stripped-down
version of the full TiVo service (called "TiVo Plus").
If you want the full features of the TiVo service, you must order
TiVo Plus. If you want to network your TiVo and take advantage of
the Home Media Features, you must purchase the TiVo Plus service.
See the chart below (Source, TiVo.com)
|
Feature |
TiVo Basic |
TiVo Plus |
TiVo
Plus with Home Media Feature |
|
Hard Disk Recording |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Record from Guide |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Record by time & channel |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Control Live TV |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Program Guide Data |
3 days |
14 days |
14 days |
|
Broadband Connectivity |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Search By Title |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Season Pass? |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
WishList? |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Smart Recording Options |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
TiVo Suggestions |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Digital Music & Photos |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Multi-Room Viewing |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Remote Scheduling |
No |
No |
Yes |
Do the combo units work with DirecTV? I have DirecTV
and want TiVo and a DVD burner, what should I get?
The TiVo DVD combos will work with cable, DishNetwork, DirecTV
and antenna inputs. However, these units do not have a built-in
DirecTV receiver. The TiVo DVD combo units lack many of the features
present in the DirecTV/TiVo DVRs (such as the ability to record
two shows at the same time).
If you have DirecTV and are looking for a TiVo that can also
burn to DVD, then you have a tough decision. On one hand, you can
purchase a DirecTV/TiVo unit and a separate DVD recorder without
TiVo. Alternatively, you can purchase a TiVo DVD combo and use
it with a separate DirecTV receiver. Here are our thoughts:
Using DirecTV
with a DVD-Recorder: The Options
| |
DirecTV/TiVo
with separate DVD-recorder |
Standard
DirecTV receiver with TiVo DVD combo |
|
Cost
of TiVo service |
$5.99/month or free for Total Choice Premier subscribers |
TiVo Basic service: Free (Toshiba
only)
TiVo Plus service: $6.95/month- $12.95/month or $399 for the
life of the TiVo
|
|
Availability
of Home Media Feature (networkability) |
Not
currently available |
Free with TiVo Plus |
|
Record
digital picture to hard drive for playback without first converting
to analog |
Yes.
Digital signal from DirecTV will be recorded in digital format
on the DirecTV/TiVo hard drive. |
No.
Digital signal from DirecTV receiver will be converted to
analog signal when sent to the TiVo DVD combo, and then
converted back into digital before being recorded onto the
TiVo DVD combo's hard drive. Television viewed through the
TiVo DVD combo (whether recorded or live) will be analog. |
|
Conversion
from digital to analog and back to digital. |
Yes,
when burning DVDs; no, when watching recorded shows that have
not been burnt to DVD. When watching shows from the TiVo,
there will be no loss of picture quality, because the TiVo
is recording the all-digital signal from DirecTV. When burning
to DVD, the digital signal must be converted to analog before
being sent to the separate DVD-recorder. During this conversion
to analog, there will be some picture quality loss. |
Yes,
in all cases. The TiVo DVD combos will convert DirecTV's
digital signal to analog, at which point there will be some
loss of picture quality. The degree of loss will depend on
the level of compression. You can choose the level of compression
using the TiVo DVD combo's recording quality menu. Once a
show has been recorded to the hard drive, it will be in digital
format and can be burned in digital format to the DVD. |
|
Menu-driven
DVDs |
Generally
no. Your standalone DVD-recorder will determine the features
of your DVDs; ie., whether you can edit content, create menus, etc. on
your DVDs. Generally, lower-end DVD-recorders function like
VCRs and record whatever is being sent to them. |
The
TiVo DVD combo will record multiple shows to DVD and will
create a menu within the DVD that enables you to select which
show you want to watch. The TiVo DVD combo will not allow
you to create multiple chapters within each recorded program. |
|
Record
multiple shows to DVD |
Cumbersome.
The DirecTV/TiVo will not currently allow you to play multiple
programs back-to-back. Therefore, if you wanted to record
multiple shows to DVD, you would have to manually select the
shows to save. |
Yes.
The TiVo DVD combo will save multiple shows to DVD. Once
you select which shows to save, no further user input is
required. |
|
Time
to burn DVDs |
Real
time. One hour of programming takes one hour to burn, etc. |
Digital;
depends on the quality of the recording and the DVD media
being used. A one-hour show at basic quality can take as
short as 15 minutes to burn to DVD. |
|
Digital
(5.1) sound output |
Includes digital optical (5.1) out for playback of live
TV and recorded programming. Will pass 5.1 to DVD recorders
supporting this feature. |
Digital
(5.1) output available for playback of DVDs that have been
properly encoded with 5.1 sound. DVDs burned using the TiVo
DVD combo will not have 5.1 sound, and live TV and recorded
programs will not play back with 5.1. |
|
