Can I still watch HD with a non-HD TiVo?

Question

I don't plan on taping a lot of HD shows, so I'm thinking that the non-HD TiVo will be sufficient for my needs (plus it's a lot cheaper, and a lot less hassle to hook up). However, I might like to watch HD programming sometimes. Can I still view shows in HD with a regular TiVo and see them in HD? I currently have Comcast Cable with an HD box. Thanks for any help you can give me.

Answer 1

No and Yes.

I had a Comcast HD DVR and a non-HD TiVo both hooked up to my plasma HD TV.  The non-HD TiVo does not have the circuitry and software to record, playback, or view HD shows.  To watch an HD show, we had to switch to the Comcast HD DVR.

So, "no", you can't watch an HD program with the non-HD TiVo, however, "yes" you can have a Comcast HD set-top box or Comcast HD DVR and use that for the digital channels and HD programming you want to watch.

Since that time, I have replaced the Comcast HD DVR with a TiVo Series3 (the first HD TiVo) and in my bedroom I now have a TiVo HD.  It is more expensive, but the really nice thing is now I can record programs on one or the other if we have conflicts and then transfer them to the other room to watch.

Answer 2

I have an Series two TiVo and Comcast HD cable.

Any HD show you watch through Tivo will be clearer than regular TV, but it won't be HD.

If you want to see HD part of the time, you will need to have two separate hookups, which you can leave connected all the time. You can then select different inputs on your tv to see TiVo or HD.