@Yankee_Fan wrote:
I am getting FIOS TV installed on Friday. I just received my new Tivo HD which I will be using. Should I wait until FIOS is installed before activating the Tivo, or can I hook the Tivo up to my cable tv, activate it, and then switch it over to FIOS once it's installed? I want to make sure the Tivo is in working order in case I have to return it....I'd rather return it tomorrow before FIOS gets here. Any suggestions??
If you already have cable, you can go ahead and set it up. Be aware that picture quality and channel changing speed on analog channels isn't nearly as good as it is with digital channels. That's because the TiVo must convert analog channels to digital on the fly before it can save them to disk, and this causes some quality loss, as well as added channel changing delay . In contrast, FiOS digital channels are tuned as is, and saved as is, at 100% original quality.
You should also be aware that the TivoHD can be pretty slow out of the box, because (a) all ship with the original 8.1.7 software from Jan'07, and (b) guide databases must be indexed in the background for the first ~48 hours after you run guided setup. The background indexing noticeably slows responsiveness during that period. Most users receive an update to the latest software (now v11.0) after about a week, and guide data must be re-indexed for another ~48 afters after that update, temporarily slowing responsiveness again. Basically, you won't see full performance / responsiveness on the TiVo until you've had it for 9-10 days.
You should probably activate TiVo service before it downloads the latest 11.0 software. The latest 11.0 software seems to cause some problems for unactivated TiVos. As alluded to above, it usually takes about a week to receive the latest software on the TiVo, although you can speed that up to a few days if you make force multiple connections to the TiVo service under Settings -> Phone & Network. You can cancel TiVo service within the first 30 days to get your money back, if you decide that you don't like it.
One tip for your FiOS installation: ask the installer to attenuate the signal to -4 to -6dB (as reported by their signal meter) for the TiVo. The TiVo is more sensitive than the Verizon STB/DVR, and if the signal is too strong, you will see pixelization. In addition, ask them for a spare -6dB attenuator, just in case you need it later.
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