I have Tivo series 2 and cable without the box? Please read..?

Question

I have cable, but its the basic without the box and it goes straight into the back of the tv without a cable box so I get around 80 channels. I have a series 2 Tivo. Everything works good. Will the quality get better if I get digital cable with the box even though its still being recorded through my Tivo? I have a 51 inch sony projection tv. It has HD, but if I get a HD package, isnt it useless if its running through my old Tivo? In other words, I wont be able to watch HD programming through my Tivo. I would have to watch it live??? Last question. Remember, I dont have digital cable. If I run the cable that comes into my house into a HD reciever or converter would I be getting HD with my local channels that are broadcast in HD? Or do you have to use an antenna to get the HD signals?

Answer 1

You can what I do.  

You should have two outputs on your HD cable box.  I run one to the tivo and then the standard cable input on the tv and # 2 I run direct to the video 6 on the tv.  

I usually watch everything on video 6, though the kids like to watch the tivo so they'll change it to standard cable input.

Oh, yeah, I do have an ota antenna and can watch all the locals in HD also.  Nice, because Charter doesn't transmit CBS HD here.

Answer 2

Hi mrcarl92807,

You may or may not see a difference in quality on your TiVo if you get digital cable. The series 2 TiVo isn't a HD recorder so your quality is limited by the capability of the TiVo. I couldn't tell a difference on my series 2 TiVo but the picture was noticeably better on my series 3.

You are correct you would have to watch HD programming live. Your series 2 can't do it justice.

With your setup you need an antenna to watch digital pictures. Walmart carries a good assortment and they are pretty reasonable.

You also may not be aware that TiVo is offering a HD TiVo with a lifetime subscription. I have a lifetime on my series 3 and I am thinking of adding a new HD box. You can read about their special here http://www.tivo.com/promo/bluemoon.html

Norm