[Paul McPherson]

Please indulge me with one more question. I am helping my neigghbor hook up their AV equipment to their receiver and they have digital cable. I have DirecTV so my hook up is different.


Apparently, they have the digital cable box and their TiVO box hooked to it. Is this the best way (only) way to connect this? I am having trouble getting sound to come out through the receiver and I think the cable box-TiVo unit is the culprit.


The thing I noticed is with digital cable (in this set up) you cannot watch one show on Tivo while recording another (this sucks!). I can with DirecTV (as long as I set up both Sat 1and Sat2).


I realize I could split the cable and run one through the digital cable box/ Tivo and one cable directly to the back of the TV but I give up TiVO functions this way (worthless).


Save me from convincing them to scrap digital cable altogether and going with DirecTV so they can record one show while watching another (and still have all TiVo functions available to them). Is there any way to make this digital cable box/ TiVo connection work to get full TiVo capabilities with this equipment?

 

[CCarncross]

Nope, you need 2 digital cable boxes to do that. FOr the sound issue, try making sure you have sound from teh cable box alone, connect it to the a/v receiver. Then switch the connections over to the Tivo to bverify its sound is alright.


The only viable solution with digital cable is to get the cable companie's tivo like box(Digital DVR) or whatever those lamers are calling them now.


The problem here is the Tivo unit needs to have the tuner integrated into it for full tivo functionality, and currently you dont have that.

 

[Paul McPherson]

Thanks, I was fearing that. I'm so thrilled to have DirecTV and TiVo. This is my first exposure to digital cable and it suucks. I researced the Scientific Atlanta 8000 (combo digital cable box/ PVR) the cable company recommended but I don't think my neighbors want to pay the extra $10 per month.


The only reason I came over to help them was because they were jealous we are able to watch one show while recording another on DirecTV-TiVo. I assume this could be done on theirs with a splitter (yes and no). I can get it to work but they give up digital cable on the channel they are watching while Tivo records another channel in the background.


The other option is what you suggested (getting another digital cable box).


Thanks.

 

[CCarncross]

If they dont want to pay to play, then let them continue to be jealous..





Lets face it, there really arent that many(if any) free rides left in television options if you want something of quality or convenience.