I recently made the "switch" to digital cable...had basic cable before but as I have had the immediate need for Internet connection at home now (Neighbor canceled their connection? hehe) it was just as cheap to stick with Comcast and get their Digital Double Plan for $1 more than what I pay for just cable alone. The price is $62/month for 12 months...then gets JACKED up to $104...but will probably have better options by then.
Anyway, if you've read my earlier posting about the Verizon FIOS TV fiasco, this one went a little smoother. Perhaps I just researched it better, dunno.
Let me give you a little background on my home theater setup. I have a receiver which I use as the command center for a DVD writer and a TiVo Series 2 (not a dual tuner). I previously had no cable box as just using the analog cable. This allowed me to record a show on TiVo while simultaneously recording a show on my DVD burner...and if I really wanted to watch a third show live on the TV output.
The big dilemma with going Digital when you have a series 2 TiVo is that the digital signal gives you 1 channel per set top box..and it does not have the option for cable cards like the TiVo HD and Series 3 has.
Fortunately, for those that are curious, you can still get the analog signal until February when it is shut off.
I wanted to post this information for the poor sods like me that have a Series 2 TiVo and are going Digital now or soon. Here is the setup I have. Keep in mind I'm using an AV Receiver to connect all the components together...you may be able to bypass a receiver if you have enough inputs on the back/front of your TV.
Basically, you'll have your coaxial cable coming from the wall. I have a three way splitter. Invest in a good one with low loss...every piece of equipment you hook up will degrade the signal.
Anyway:
Coaxial cable from wall to IN on 3-way splitter.
Splitter Out 1 to Cable Modem.
Splitter Out 2 to DVD Recorder. A note on this: this will record analog only - and will work only until February when the analog signal goes bye bye. This is due to the fact the signal doesn't pass through the required digital set top box provided by Comcast. Before February I'll be purchasing another STB (Set Top Box) and then the Splitter Out 2 will go to Cable Box 2 In; then Cable Box 2 Out to DVD recorder IN.
Splitter Out 3 to the Comcast STB IN; Comcast STB Out to TiVo IN.
That is the extent of the coaxial cabling...you don't even need to run the coaxial from the TiVo to the TV if you use RCA cabling (the yellow,white,red wires) between the TiVo and the TV.
On the Cable Box, I have RCA cabling going from the Digital Out to the TiVo's RCA Input jacks. You can substitute the yellow cable (just leave it hanging) and use an S-Video cable instead if you want to. That's it for the cable box.
Now for the TiVo, I have RCA jacks from one of the set of outputs it has running to the receiver's Satellite inputs. This way, when I want to use the TiVo, the receiver has to be set to SAT (Satellite). I also use an S-Video cable from TiVo out to the Receiver IN. This allows me to not use the yellow cable. It also means the 2nd thing I need to do when using the TiVo is set the input (from the receiver's remote) to S-Video. If you don't have a receiver, you'd just run RCA cabling from the TiVo OUT to the TV's input...that easy!
One last thing for the TiVo and don't cringe. You'll need to use either:
1)Serial cable
2)IR "Blaster" cabling
This will allow you to change channels using your TiVo remote...what happens is you push the channel selection on your TiVo remote and the Serial or IR transmits the information to the cable box and changes that channel on the box too. Very odd I know.
Keep in mind not all STBs have serial ports and even if they do - ask someone high up at the cable company if the serial port is enabled...a lot of them block its use for some reason and you'll be scratching your head for weeks if you don't ask.
If you can't use the serial cable, use the IR cables. If you don't have the one that came with the TiVo, you can buy some at RadioShack. I actually lost my TiVo IR but had one that came with the TV oddly enough. You plug the IR cable in the back of the TiVo (stereo port - looks like a headphone jack) and the other end is the light-emitting portion...you place these lights facing the front of the cable box. When you go through the guided setup later for TiVo - you'll select the IR connection and TiVo will test everything for you!
Other cabling things I have going on is the digital audio out from DVD to receiver which is auto detected when on DVD setting on receiver...also RCA plugs going from DVD player to receiver - again so the receiver can control it.
If I've missed anything or you have any questions, let me know...it was a nightmare at first for me. A lot of research and since people always have different components...instructions vary.
Oh, for the TiVo setup. As I had regular cable previously, I had to reprogram my TiVo for the new lineup. Not much actually changed but trust me you need to do it.
What complicated things for me is that the Comcast tech had no idea what the fuck he was doing and I was trying to do the guided setup on my TiVo and my High Speed Cable Internet Connection Kit had not arrived yet so the guided setup could not continue (needs to contact TiVo servers).
So WORD OF WARNING. Once you start the TiVo guided setup, you are required to have an Internet connection or phone line active or you are screwed. Did I mention I don't have a phone line anymore? Haha.
Good thing was I got the cable modem kit that night and set everything up around 1/3 way through Lost. I had to watch 1/3 of the finale of LOST on DVD and the rest on TiVo.
ANYWAY, start guided setup on the TiVo when everything is connected including the Internet connection. You can start it by going to Settings and Channels I think. TiVo I think even warns you about not being able to go back but I never read directions. It will ask you bone headed questions and then set up your TiVo remote to control your STB.
I will probably remove the STB until February when it is required...and order the new one for my DVD recorder and maybe a third for the TV upstairs. Yes, you still get the analog signal and can use until February so take advantage.
I don't need to tell you that it would be advantageous to get a Series 3 or HD TiVo because you can have 2 cable cards stuck on there...you will be able to record 2 digital shows at once, don't have the channel changing issues and can record above SD (Standard Definition).
Well at least TiVo recently started allowing current TiVo Subscribers to purchase lifetime subscriptions again for new units...$299 (like it was originally). That is why I still have my series 2...it has lifetime service and was upgraded to hold a lot of material. So, if you feel like spending $700-800 on a second TiVo, be my guest....just remember you'll need to purchase a separate STB for your old series 2 before February.
I really only made the switch because I'd lost free Internet access from a friendly neighbor and was only $1 more a month....
But keep in mind it will start getting really busy with people switching over to digital next year...do it during the dog days of summer.
More adventures in home theater systems later.
