Tivo, Rogers cable, and the brave new world

[ChrisInKanata]

This is my situation.

I live in Kanata and have had cable TV before Rogers was in the area: originally with McLean-

Hunter, then with Ottawa Cablevision, now with Rogers.

My original installation had three outlets, which I have today. I do not use a splitter but a

video distribution amplifier.

To replace an aging VCR in 2007 I bought a Tivo Series 2 from Best Buy the day they went on sale,

and have been exceptionally happy with it. This is connected to my main TV (which is an excellent

tubed HD set). The other two TVs have been replaced with recent LCD HD models with digital tuners.

Both my Tivo and main TV have two tuners each. The Tivo allows me to record two channels

simultaneously while watching a recorded program.

The two other TVs are connected to cable and use their own tuners for channel changing.

Now Rogers is telling me that some channels will be removed from the analog lineup to digital, and

if I want to see them I have to use a digital adapter which Rogers will provide free.

Reading the material that came with the box it appears I have to phone to get it authorized.

Now I have some questions.
1. What happens if I don't connect this digital adapter and do not phone to get it authorized. Will I just lose the effected channel from the analog lineup?

2. How do I use this digital adapter with Tivo? I'm screwed, aren't I.

3. What does getting the digital adapter authorized do, for example, does it interfere with my analog channel lineup (except as noted by Rogers), or do I keep the analog channels?

It seems to me that everything Rogers does to my service does not improve my viewing experience,

but improves their profit.

[57]

1. Yes, you will lose all the channels above roughly channel 28. Also, in the near future all channels will be digital and you'll then lose those.

2. Pretty well, unless the TiVo has an IR blaster that can control the DTA or a STB. Also, you'll probably only be able to use one tuner, unless you split upstream and record one with DTA and one with TiVo - only possible if the TiVo has two inputs. Or use the one TiVo only for analogue and the other TiVo only for digital.

3. It doesn't affect the analogue channels that remain, when connected directly to the RF-coax without the DTA. Downstream of the DTA you only get the channel to which the DTA is tuned.

Here's the thread on the analogue to digital switch.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=146605


Since you have HDTVs, I strongly suggest that you consider Rogers HDPVRs, or an HTPC with Rogers HD STBs. Here's the FAQ on Recording HD. SD PQ on HDTVs is just so bad, especially via TiVo and RF-coax - I've seen several such installations on HDTVs. TiVo execution is obviously first rate, but the picture quality to an HDTV from RF-coax SD recordings is pretty poor when compared to HD.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=14099


Here's a post useful for those new to the forum - FAQs, Search Tips, Optimization, etc:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=57741

[ChrisInKanata]

"SD PQ on HDTVs is just so bad, especially via TiVo and RF-coax - I've seen several such installations on HDTVs. TiVo execution is obviously first rate, but the picture quality to an HDTV from RF-coax SD recordings is pretty poor when compared to HD."
I disagree. Perhaps installations you have seen were not well constructed; mine is. The only PQ issues are when Rogers supplies a low PQ feed. Otherwise we in my family are really happy with the TiVo functionality and quality. Also, TiVo provides access to another viewing universe through the Internet, where it records short videos on demand from NY Times and other sources. Lastly TiVo allows the transfer to a computer most of what we record for off-tv viewing and recording to DVD. I bet Rogers PVRs are not that smart.
Finally, we have a budget that covers our current viewing requirements. The changes that Rogers is forcing on us means we'll have to pay much more to receive a poorer service to what we have today. We are very happy with SD.

[57]

None of that negates the fact that analogue is going away and you will have to do something about that.

Perhaps installations you have seen were not well constructed; mine is.

I optimize home theatres for a living and have performed hundreds of optimizations. I'm quite familiar with the look of analogue (SD) cable. If you're happy with that look on your HDTVs, that's fine, but it's not HD.

Lastly TiVo allows the transfer to a computer most of what we record for off-tv viewing and recording to DVD

Rogers PVRs have outputs that can feed signals to DVD recorders - say via S-video and to an HTPC via component video using an Hauppauge HDPVR for example and that is HD, something simply not possible with TiVo.

I'm quite familiar with the TiVo functionality and I'm also aware that the Rogers PVR doesn't have the same "smarts", however, since analogue is going away and since HD is a better viewing experience, you're going to have to do something.

As I mentioned earlier, if a Rogers PVR (which can also record two programmes while watching a third recorded programme) is not for you, perhaps you'll look into an HTPC, perhaps for HD (or SD) recording/distribution throughout your home. There is an HTPC section in this forum and we have helped many people set them up with various providers. (not typically recommended for novice computer users) If this is of interest, there are links in the Recording HD FAQ I provided earlier to various threads in the HTPC forum.

[Analogue]

You're not screwed yet. The TiVo will work with the Cisco DTA50 digital adapter using the IR blaster that came with your unit, but you will only be able to use one tuner. The DTA50 is in the Tivo IR database under "Scientific Atlanta". The set-up wizard will get it working and you can refine the settings manually. My setting is: IR Code 10014-A, Channel Digits 1, Enter Button yes. It works perfectly.

Before setting up the Tivo, connect the DTA50 directly to a TV and get it authorized. That will download the software and settings for your account.

I have two Tivo Series 2 DT units. The primary one is connected directly to analogue cable and the secondary one is using the adapter. The two units share recordings.

How do I set up my Series2 DVR with a Digital Transport Adapter?

[ericball]

I had a similar set-up (TiVo S2DT) and complained to Rogers and was able to get an HD PVR & SD PVR for free for a year (at least). You need to express that they are taking away functionality from you because your TiVo will be reduced to only 1 tuner plus the few remaining analog channels.

And yes, the SARA interface is not as nice as TiVo (can't comment on the new HD interface, I'm avoiding it due to the bugs and dropped features) but it does a competent job of simple show recording (assuming you know on which day something is shown). You do lose the wishlists and other advanced features though.

[classicsat]

You can upgrade to digital cable and get a regular cable box which has A/V out for the TiVo A/V in, and still have the dual tuners for remaining analog.

[scarboroughgirl]

for some strange reason two days ago the screen is black for these channels and the message from the TIVO is that its searching for signal on: Basic Cable in

of course ROgers blames Tivo vice versa

anyone have any suggestions?

[57]

Part of the digital migration discussed in the following thread? By the end of the year, channels above 28 or so may be gone from analogue... Did Rogers say that these analogue channels should still be available to you? Perhaps you have some signal strength issues at your home? What package do you subscribe to with Rogers? As discussed earlier in this thread, you will need to get a DTA or STB at some point to view channels above 28 and eventually, all channels since analogue is going away.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=146605


Useful post for those new to the forum - FAQs, Search Tips, Optimization:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=57741