TiVo bolt

  • WELCOME TO THE NEW SERVER!

    If you are seeing this you are on our new server WELCOME HOME!

    While the new server is online Scott is still working on the backend including the cachine. But the site is usable while the work is being completes!

    Thank you for your patience and again WELCOME HOME!

    CLICK THE X IN THE TOP RIGHT CORNER OF THE BOX TO DISMISS THIS MESSAGE
I like my TiVo and have both a Roamio OTA and a BOLT. The Roamio OTA does not have the ability to stream to another device like the BOLT, but the Roamio OTA can be purchased with a lifetime subscription for there are no monthly program guide costs. A lifetime subscription for the BOLT, just the subscription, is more than the cost of the Roamio OTA with the lifetime subscription.
If you are not receiving all the channels you should be, then first is to see why they are not coming in now. If you have a digital tuner now and are not getting all the channels, then you most likely will not get all the channels with a TiVo until you find out why they are not being received.
First let us know what you have for an antenna, your tvfool listing, and what you want to get.

Larry1 I have a Samsung smart television in which I have one of the antenna that would help connecting my to the internet. My other television isn't a smart tv but it's a Olivia and the atena that I have for pickups all the channels. I don't know if it's because of different models or the atena.
 
I am busy this weekend, but I'd be willing to bring my Roamio down one evening and let you see if it picks up what you want.

BTW, there were some channel reassignments in Milwaukee a few weeks ago. Try doing a rescan and see if you get more channels.
 
  • Like
Reactions: harshness
I am busy this weekend, but I'd be willing to bring my Roamio down one evening and let you see if it picks up what you want.

BTW, there were some channel reassignments in Milwaukee a few weeks ago. Try doing a rescan and see if you get more channels.
I did a rescan on one but the other I will do that one to see if it will give me all the channels. It would be nice if you can bring it down but my wife would have issues about that and my dog I don't know what she would do to strangers.

Sent from my SM-G950U using the SatelliteGuys app!
 
If it comes down to price is it possible to get the TiVo bolt instead of roamio OTA? I know that I would have to get the lifetime service but without it Can I still get the a good reception?

Sent from my SM-G950U using the SatelliteGuys app!
 
Osu1991 so would the Roamio OTA would be little better than TiVo bolt?

I owned a TiVo Roamio OTA for a few years and it has very good OTA tuners. I don't think there's much, if any, difference in the sensitivity of the tuners in the latest Roamio OTA Vox vs. the Bolt Vox. In fact, they probably put the exact same OTA tuners in both products.

The main differences are that the Bolt can also be used with cable TV while the Roamio OTA can only be used with OTA. Also, the Bolt is generally more powerful, so apps run faster and it feels a little more responsive. Lastly, the Bolt is a lot more expensive while you include the cost of service.

TiVo and Amazon have both been out of stock of the Roamio OTA for awhile now -- which makes me wonder if the product is getting phased out? -- but I noticed that BestBuy.com has them in stock right now on sale for $350.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dishdude
Hasn’t TiVO announced their intention to get out of the hardware business?
TiVo isn't ruling out almost anything. The smart money says that they throw in with Comcast to bulk up the X1 offering but I'm not convinced that Comcast isn't still smarting from their last dance with TiVo.

Here's an interesting read that includes some possible futures for TiVo:

Tivo Might Sell Off Its Products Business | Light Reading
 
Is there a way to find something that will connect to the TiVo Bolt to get the DVR without the service from TiVo?
What part of without service there will be no DVR functionality is confusing you?

If you won't pay for a subscription, you need to look to some platform other than TiVo (or Tablo, I suppose). The longer you wait, the less valuable (though hopefully less costly) a lifetime subscription will be. Unless something changes radically, you can NOT transfer a TiVo lifetime subscription to an upgraded DVR such as one that features a Next Gen (ATSC 3.0) tuner. TiVo lifetime subscriptions are attached to the DVR itself, not the owner.
 
  • Like
Reactions: osu1991
Hmmm. Looks like the possibility can’t be completely discounted that there may not be a TiVo with ATSC 3. There are some years to go to find out.


Sent from my iPhone using the SatelliteGuys app!
 
Is there a way to find something that will connect to the TiVo Bolt to get the DVR without the service from TiVo?

Sent from my SM-G950U using the SatelliteGuys app!

Nope, as others have said, there's no point in buying a TiVo if you don't want to pay for service. If you only want to use a TiVo with OTA TV (never with cable), I would suggest the Roamio OTA Vox for $350 at BestBuy. That includes lifetime service, so no additional costs after that.

Another option you may want to check out is a new product that Amazon just introduced called the Fire TV Recast. Lifetime service is also included with it, so there's no additional fees to pay after buying it. Comes in two models priced at $230 and $280. You would need an Amazon Fire TV box or stick connected to each TV throughout the house and the Fire TV Recast acts as a central OTA DVR to serve up live and recorded TV to each box/stick. First Look at Amazon’s Fire TV Recast, a new device to record live TV, stream it anywhere
 
There are several OTA tuners, with and without DVR. And you can generally keep the recordings as long as you like.

Shop around.

Sent from my iPhone using the SatelliteGuys app!
 
Nope, as others have said, there's no point in buying a TiVo if you don't want to pay for service. If you only want to use a TiVo with OTA TV (never with cable), I would suggest the Roamio OTA Vox for $350 at BestBuy. That includes lifetime service, so no additional costs after that.

Another option you may want to check out is a new product that Amazon just introduced called the Fire TV Recast. Lifetime service is also included with it, so there's no additional fees to pay after buying it. Comes in two models priced at $230 and $280. You would need an Amazon Fire TV box or stick connected to each TV throughout the house and the Fire TV Recast acts as a central OTA DVR to serve up live and recorded TV to each box/stick. First Look at Amazon’s Fire TV Recast, a new device to record live TV, stream it anywhere

$350 for the Roamio OTA Vox is a deal. I don't think you can find a better value for your money.
 
OK, lets summarize.
-TIVO has several model lines. The 3 most recent ones are Premiere, Roamio and Bolt
- The Premiere has a weak tuner and is not recommended.
- The Roamio comes in several flavors.
- The 6 tuner model is cable only and does not contain an ATSC tuner.
- The 4 tuner model can be found as an OTA model only or as the
- basic Roamio that contains the OTA tuner and a cablecard slot for cable. This is the one I own.​
- The bolt also has different models that are either cable only or OTA/Cable compatible. There is no OTA-only Bolt.
- A TIVO is pretty useless without a service plan. Monthly is pricey at anywhere from $13-$20/mo.
- The price for lifetime service used to be reasonable, but TIVO raised it a lot in 2017.
- The TIVI website still offers the Roamio OTA with lifetime for $399. However, it is listed as out of stock. No idea if they will ever offer this again.
- Check that offer at TiVo Roamio OTA DVR | Antenna DVR and Streaming | 1TB Storage and Buy TiVo Roamio OTA, Antenna DVR + streaming. No TiVo Service Fees!
- Your best bet is craigslist or ebay for a 4 tuner roamio with lifetime. I would not pay over $400 and it should be easy to find one in the low $300 RANGE.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dishdude
I should also mention that the OTA Roamio comes with a smaller Hard Disk, but up to a 2 TB disc is a simple drop in replacement. I have a 2 TB in mine and have never come close to filling it up.