A Newbie question I believe anyone can answer

[frogsmasha]

I have Direct TV, and I plan to buy a Tivo..
Should I buy a DirectTivo?

Without buying a subscription to tivo.. what are its basic operations without the service fee.
With DTV-Tivos.. Do the Channel Schedules only come from the Sattelite?.

These are my intentions:

I want to use Tivo as my IRD for DTV. (Using a p3 HU)
I want to install a bigger HDD (Western DIG Caviar 120g)
I want to to bypass the sub because of my location.

im out of states, and the phonebill would be insane.


Where do I look?

[frogsmasha]

What are the basic functions of Tivo without the service?

[rpl]

Frog, I've been trying to answer these questions for you a couple of times in a couple of different ways.

A DTivo gets guide data from the satellite. Standalone Tivos get guide data via phone line.

To do what you want to do you will need to get the DTivo.

what are its basic operations without the service fee.
For the standalone SA models just as a recorder. If you don't set the recording start and stop time it will default to 30 minutes.
I want to use Tivo as my IRD for DTV. (Using a p3 HU)
Thats a DTivo. Simplest is to use a series 1 with version 2.5.2

The Sony SAT-T60, Philips DSR6000, and Hughes GXCEBOT will get you what you want.

[frogsmasha]

Let me rephrase my question.. sorry :(

Well ive made up my mind as far as which Tivo Unit to go with.. and im going with The Sony SAT-T60.

I wont have any service hooked up to this unit because of the Hu situation.. unless i find out how to make the subscription hack work.. but anyways..

Is it possible to use this unit with a HU card without applying the 2.5.2 patch? and if so what will the basic functions without the service let me do?
or will I have to apply the 2.5.2 patch because of the use of my HU card?