Using a TiVo without Monthly or Lifetime Service

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Contents

[edit] Overview

This sections discusses what you can do if you have a TiVo without a subscription.

AKA: unsubbed unit / unsubbed TiVo.


[edit] Live TV

A TiVo without a subscription will continue to maintain it's functionality with Live TV, e.g., pause, fast-forward, rewind, and slow-mo.[[1]]


[edit] Manual Recording

Manual Recording allows the user to set the time, date, and channel for recordings, just like a VCR. Most TiVos require a subscription to the TiVo service for manual recording. There are, however, a few exceptions.

[edit] Series 1 Units

Most Series 1 TiVos can function as a Manual Recorder without a subscription to the TiVo Service.

  • Series 1 TiVos that originally had Software Version 1.3 or below installed when initially purchased have Manual Recording capability. Most Series1 units fall into this category.[[2]]

[edit] Series 2+ Stand Alone Units

Stand Alone Series 2, 3 & TiVoHDs cannot function as a Manual Recorder. Discussing how to use manual recording on these unsubbed units is considered theft of service, and is prohibited.

For Stand Alone Series 2 TiVos, there is a theory that they will continue to manually record by time and date as long as they never connects to the TiVo service after the cancellation of the subscription; the current time/date will be maintained exclusively by the internal real time clock in that case. This has not been confirmed.

[edit] Series 2 DirecTiVos

Series 2 DirecTiVos cannot function without a subscription to DirecTV with the DVR service. These units can only function with the DirecTV service, they cannot work as standalone units with your local cable company.


[edit] Recording Shows through the Guide

All TiVos require a subscription in order to use automatic recording of shows with the Guide, Wishlists & the ToDo List.


[edit] Watching Previously Recorded Programs without a Subscription

All TiVos can play back previously-recorded shows that are already stored on the internal hard drive without a subscription to the TiVo service.


[edit] Multi-Room Viewing

[edit] Stand Alone Units

All Stand Alone Tivos that have Multi-Room Viewing capability require a subscription to use the MRV feature on them. Attempting to activate this feature on an unsubbed unit is considered theft of service.

[edit] Series 2 DirecTiVos

If enabled and setup, hacked DirecTivos with the 6.2/6.2a software can record new shows via the MRV function.

Note:

  • This is only capable if you have multiple DirecTiVos.
  • Unsubbed units cannot view or record “Live TV,” only prerecorded shows from other DirecTiVos.
  • The reason this is not considered theft on an unsubbed DirecTiVo is the MRV feature is not enabled on unmodified/stock units.
  • Due to the questionable status of using MRV on DirecTiVos in this manner, talk of this is frowned upon on DVRpedia.com & TivoCommunity.com.


[edit] Legal Status of using unsubbed units

Although it is legal to use unsubbed TiVo's to watch pre-recorded shows, and in the other circumstances explained above, stealing the guide data is not.

Theft of service is a topic that is not allowed and will not be tolerated on DVRpedia.com, DealDatabase.com & TivoCommunity.com.


[edit] Tivo's Answer

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