Tivo and Cox agreement

[Rod Rebello]

Not sure if mentioned anywhere else here, but this sounds great to me as a Cox HD DVR user. Would be huge improvement over the current SA 8300 interface.

COX COMMUNICATIONS AND TIVO ANNOUNCE DEPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
http://www.tivo.com/cms_static/press_105.html

[oscardeuce]

Way cool! I'd been waiting for the Passport 2.7 in hopes it would make things work better, but Tivo is the main thing I miss about switching from DirecTV.

[lateralg]

What's the latest on this?

Any word on TiVo for Cox Tucson?

[bfdtv]

Not sure if mentioned anywhere else here, but this sounds great to me as a Cox HD DVR user. Would be huge improvement over the current SA 8300 interface.

Unfortunately, the software isn't coming to Scientific Atlanta equipment anytime soon. The announcement in question applies to Cox markets using Motorola hardware.

Cox markets with SA hardware could see the Tivo software in 2H 2008, but it's not going to happen this year.

[gwsat]

Originally Posted by bfdtv

Unfortunately, the software isn't coming to Scientific Atlanta equipment anytime soon. The announcement in question applies to Cox markets using Motorola hardware.

Cox markets with SA hardware could see the Tivo software in 2H 2008, but it's not going to happen this year.

That was one of the reasons I held my nose and bought a TiVo Series3 HD DVR. Doing so made no economic sense whatever because, after all, it’s pretty hard to beat the less-than-ten-bucks a month it costs to rent an SA box from Cox. That said, I can’t remember many if any pieces of new HT gear that improved my viewing pleasure as much as my S3 has done. the SA 8300HD with SARA software is truly awful. It beats nothing but that’s all it beats.

[digitard]

I too have the SA8300HD box and it really is filth. The interface is horrible. It randomly doesn't record shows. It will show the red "recording" line on a show when I hit the DVR menu, but its mysteriously gone when the show ends, and their QC is horrible. I've had a few boxes now.

I am "this" close to changing to Dish Network for their dual DVR setup, and actually usable software (seriously, is it hard to make a season pass clone, or a make it so I can rate shows in order of importance in case they overlap suddenly).

If they will release an update for my 8300HD, or just change boxes in general, then I'll stay... otherwise I'm gone.

I had a TIVO based DVR with my DirecTV and I was happy with that. I loved the options, and the service, but the HD version was mad expensive and I wanted immediate HD programming when I bought my HDTV. Comparing this 8300HD SW to my TIVO box previously is just horrible.

Although I did notice today that my 8300HD randomly has a 4th "fast forward" mode so I think there was a mild software update (it didn't previously do that, just 3x FF) and it had another option under my "record all" settings, but honestly the lack of features otherwise and other issues if they dont DRASTICALLY improve I'm just done. Which is a bummer cause I've actually had great service with Cox HD programming (quality, and reliablility) in my area... its just that damn 8300HD filth box.

[gwsat]

Originally Posted by digitard

I had a TIVO based DVR with my DirecTV and I was happy with that. I loved the options, and the service, but the HD version was mad expensive and I wanted immediate HD programming when I bought my HDTV. Comparing this 8300HD SW to my TIVO box previously is just horrible.

The TiVo HD boxes have always been “mad expensive.” I bought a DirecTiVo for my son when they first came out and it cost even more that the S3 I bought for myself a couple of months ago. As noted in my earlier post, an HD TiVo makes no economic sense but I could not be happier with my S3, despite its grotesquely high price.

Before I got my S3 I had forgotten how crippled the SA boxes were – I retired my S1 in 2004. The S3 is everything a DVR should be, while the SA boxes lack virtually every feature that I deem to be essential. It’s a good thing the SA boxes are cheap or Cox would never be able to rent them.

[digitard]

I spoke to my COX rep today (Phoenix where we use SA 8300HD DVR's) and they did confirm that they have plans to bring the TIVO service this year to the PHX market so either we're getting a DVR change, or they're going to have the TIVO updated s/w available before 2008 as previously mentioned.

Good news for us SA8300HD box owners. We wont be stuck with the crap s/w for too much longer.

[gwsat]

Originally Posted by digitard

I spoke to my COX rep today (Phoenix where we use SA 8300HD DVR's) and they did confirm that they have plans to bring the TIVO service this year to the PHX market so either we're getting a DVR change, or they're going to have the TIVO updated s/w available before 2008 as previously mentioned.

Good news for us SA8300HD box owners. We wont be stuck with the crap s/w for too much longer.

That’s contrary to everything I have read but I hope it’s true. I still use one of Cox OKC’s pitiful SA 8300HDs on my second HDTV, so it would be a dream come true to be able to rent a DVR that had TiVo software.

[digitard]

Agreed. The only reason I've stayed with it so long is that its insanely cheap, and their actual HD quality is solid.

I've been debating for a while wether to just switch to Satellite again, look into a Tivo S3 (although that would be my last choice since its 800 bucks since you can get Dish Network HD-DVR for free right now and while it snot TIVO its got the same features) or just deal with my Cox box.

I think I'm going to wait til about 3pm and try them again and see if I get the same info from the next person I speak to.

[esb1981]

Tivo S3 and the new cheaper HD Tivo are not compatible with satelite. If Dish's DVR is as good as they say it is, I would go with that. I've had more than my fair share of problems with the HD Tivo ($279.99) since I got it about a month ago. The tuners are sensitive and I get picture quality issues that I never had on Cox's crappy DVR, and dealing with Cable Card technology is extremely frustrating as the cable companies don't know how to make them work. If I could get satellite service in my condo I would drop Cox in a heartbeat and go to Dish.

[gwsat]

Originally Posted by esb1981

Tivo S3 and the new cheaper HD Tivo are not compatible with satelite. If Dish's DVR is as good as they say it is, I would go with that. I've had more than my fair share of problems with the HD Tivo ($279.99) since I got it about a month ago. The tuners are sensitive and I get picture quality issues that I never had on Cox's crappy DVR, and dealing with Cable Card technology is extremely frustrating as the cable companies don't know how to make them work. If I could get satellite service in my condo I would drop Cox in a heartbeat and go to Dish.

I would hope that your HD TiVo woes are not related to the TiVo hardware. I have had a TiVo S3 for more than a year and, despite its high cost, I have loved it.

Most of the problems I have had with my S3 have been CableCARD related. In addition to being relatively new technology, CableCARD woes have been exacerbated by cable companies’ attitude toward supporting them, which has ranged from apathetic to hostile.

I still have one of Cox OKC’s SA8300HD DVRs with SARA software on by second HDTV. I continue to be appalled by the SARA software’s limitations compared to TiVo's. That difference has made solving my S3’s relatively mild CableCARD problems well worth my time and trouble. The SARA software’s distressing weaknesses are why I am anxiously waiting for Cox’s deal with TiVo to finally bear fruit. I keep hoping that somehow, some way we can get TiVo software on Cox’s SA boxes. Maybe in my lifetime – but maybe not.

[DoubleDAZ]

You might see it by the end of 2008, but more likely sometime in 2009. From what I've heard, they scrapped the non-tru2way (OCAP) version in favor of going straight to the tru2way version. It took them a bit longer than expected to finish the Comcast Moto port (that costs an extra $2.95/mo).

FWIW, Cox is in the process of moving to Gemstar/TVGuide's Passport-based interface and that should be completed by the end of the year in all Cox markets (Moto and SA) as they implement tru2way, though timing is not set in stone.

[gwsat]

Originally Posted by DoubleDAZ

You might see it by the end of 2008, but more likely sometime in 2009. From what I've heard, they scrapped the non-tru2way (OCAP) version in favor of going straight to the tru2way version. It took them a bit longer than expected to finish the Comcast Moto port (that costs an extra $2.95/mo).

FWIW, Cox is in the process of moving to Gemstar/TVGuide's Passport-based interface and that should be completed by the end of the year in all Cox markets (Moto and SA) as they implement tru2way, though timing is not set in stone.

Dave – I feared that actually getting TiVo software on SA boxes might be that far away. As depressing as that prospect is, the deal that Cox has made with Gemstar-TV Guide to rollout Gemstar-TV Guide software to SA boxes makes me feel a little better. Both my son, who lives in Milwaukee, and my brother, who lives in Atlanta, have Gemstar-TV Guide software on their SA boxes and it seems to be significantly more capable than the SARA software is. That’s faint praise but there it is.

[esb1981]

Originally Posted by gwsat

I would hope that your HD TiVo woes are not related to the TiVo hardware. I have had a TiVo S3 for more than a year and, despite its high cost, I have loved it.

Unfortunately I can't tell if the Tivo hardware has played a role. Cable cards have definitely played a role. There are so many things that I like about Tivo, but the tiling problems on pictures are frustrating (not cablecard related, never happened on my Cox box, Cox says nothing wrong with signal, etc etc etc), and the cable-card crapouts every couple of weeks that requires a tech to be sent out is getting extremely old.

[DoubleDAZ]

Originally Posted by gwsat

Both my son, who lives in Milwaukee, and my brother, who lives in Atlanta, have Gemstar-TV Guide software on their SA boxes and it seems to be significantly more capable than the SARA software is. That’s faint praise but there it is.

I'm not sure if that is the Passport-based software Gemstar/TVGuide acquired back in April or not. Passport does have a much better, keyword search, bookmarks, priorities (I believe), etc., but the current version of SARA with the First Run record option is pretty decent and stable, if not pretty, and the search is still useless.

BTW, are they with TWC?

[DoubleDAZ]

Originally Posted by esb1981

Unfortunately I can't tell if the Tivo hardware has played a role. Cable cards have definitely played a role. There are so many things that I like about Tivo, but the tiling problems on pictures are frustrating (not cablecard related, never happened on my Cox box, Cox says nothing wrong with signal, etc etc etc), and the cable-card crapouts every couple of weeks that requires a tech to be sent out is getting extremely old.

You might want to try to get a new M-Card to replace the 2 standard cards and see if that helps.

[gwsat]

Originally Posted by DoubleDAZ

I'm not sure if that is the Passport-based software Gemstar/TVGuide acquired back in April or not. Passport does have a much better, keyword search, bookmarks, priorities (I believe), etc., but the current version of SARA with the First Run record option is pretty decent and stable, if not pretty, and the search is still useless.

BTW, are they with TWC?

Dave – I have the idea that the Cox’s deal with Gemstar does involve a version of Passport software but I can’t recall where that idea came from.

I am a Cox OKC subscriber. They use SA 8300HD DVRs with SARA software. I know that you have taught the SARA software to whistle Dixie, but I hate, hate, hare it. SARA software was the main reason I paid TiVo's grotesque price for the S3. From a purely economic point of view, it didn’t make much sense but I have never regretted buying it. I agree, though, that SARA software is stable, which certainly isn’t a trivial thing.

[DoubleDAZ]

Originally Posted by gwsat

Dave – I have the idea that the Cox’s deal with Gemstar does involve a version of Passport software but I can’t recall where that idea came from.

I am a Cox OKC subscriber. They use SA 8300HD DVRs with SARA software. I know that you have taught the SARA software to whistle Dixie, but I hate, hate, hare it. SARA software was the main reason I paid TiVo's grotesque price for the S3. From a purely economic point of view, it didn’t make much sense but I have never regretted buying it. I agree, though, that SARA software is stable, which certainly isn’t a trivial thing.

Cox's deal is for the Passport-based IPG. My comment was directed toward what your son and brother are using now. If they are with TWC, then they have the same Passport IPG that the rest of TWC uses, at least until they upgrade to Navigator. We're not sure yet if Cox will use that version or if they will wait to switch when the tru2way version is ready to go, if it's not already.

And, yes, I'm still relatively happy with SARA, though more options will certainly be welcome. It's not that I like it though, we simply don't have a choice, unless we want to do what you did and spend some $$$. It will also be nice to have direct access to better search features, etc., that I now use TitanTV for.

[gwsat]

Originally Posted by DoubleDAZ

Cox's deal is for the Passport-based IPG. My comment was directed toward what your son and brother are using now. If they are with TWC, then they have the same Passport IPG that the rest of TWC uses, at least until they upgrade to Navigator. We're not sure yet if Cox will use that version or if they will wait to switch when the tru2way version is ready to go, if it's not already.

And, yes, I'm still relatively happy with SARA, though more options will certainly be welcome. It's not that I like it though, we simply don't have a choice, unless we want to do what you did and spend some $$$. It will also be nice to have direct access to better search features, etc., that I now use TitanTV for.

Dave – My son in Milwaukee is a TWC subscriber, as well as D*; he is as big a home theater nut as I am. My brother in Atlanta (Marietta, actually) is a Cox subscriber, but Cox uses Motorola DVRs and Passport software there.

The biggest benefit I get from my TiVo S3 is the ability to utilize my expensive cable subscription much more efficiently than was the case with the 8300HD and SARA. The power the S3 gives me to find programs, resolve scheduling conflicts, and navigate within recordings is simply unmatched anywhere. But S3s are expensive, boy are they ever expensive!

[DoubleDAZ]

Originally Posted by gwsat

Dave – My son in Milwaukee is a TWC subscriber, as well as D*; he is as big a home theater nut as I am. My brother in Atlanta (Marietta, actually) is a Cox subscriber, but Cox uses Motorola DVRs and Passport software there.

Thanks. I had fogotten about the Moto boxes using Passport.